CatchK

Hi Everyone,

I traveled to Italy for my first trip to Europe about a little over a month ago, and had the most amazing time of my life. My trip report is still in the works, but studying this forum and the recommendations that I received here are a large part of why my trip was such a success.

Now I have another task - I will be returning to Europe this summer with my great aunt. She will be 71 and I will be 29. We are very close and traveling with her is an amazing opportunity. I am just beginning the planning process and am finding it difficult to come up with a general idea of where to go.

We have about 3 weeks, a mid-range but flexible budget, and some timeshares to trade. We have both been to Italy once.

We have super different interests, I love to be outside and to hike, bike, and do anything crazy and athletic. For example, in Positano alone, I rented a scooter for a day and also hiked the Path of the Gods in the middle of August. I am a history freak and love the arts, she is ok with some, but is not a history fan.

We both love the beach, beautiful places, and good food, and we both have aspirations to see the world and experience new cultures.

Neither of us want to waste TOO much time traveling crazy distances, but we have no interest in staying put for too long either.

The one definite is that we will spend time in Brescia and Garda in Northern Italy. We have family there and this is where our family is from - basically the reason for our trip, so this is not flexible.

For everything else we are very open! Last year I saw Brescia/Garda, Positano, and Rome.

This year we were thinking maybe start in Switzerland or Austria, work our way down, then after Brescia/Garda, to Florence, Portofino/Imperia, Monaco, Nice?

If you think this is no good, what do you suggest? RIght now we are very open.

I am looking for specific suggestions of towns and cities, and what to do there! Where have you all been and what would you suggest?!

Thank you in advance!

bilboburgler

No logic in going to Monaco, nothing there of any interest to a sensible person.

From your two centres Brescia and Garda you could do a trip by bus or bike into the PO valley, in particular the Euganian hills and the many fortified cites down there (lots of bike paths and rentals) or go down to Ravenna and Bologna, Ferrara etc using a train as your main transport. You could even visit the city where Don Camillo was based on. Some info here on
http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Venice_and_the_Po.php
http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Verona_Guide.php

Florence, is a nice small city which can get very packed, but again using the train is easy to get to and offers the art lover lots to do. Assume you need at least 2 whole days there just to take the tops off.

Switzerland is pretty and pretty expensive, Austria much nicer and you could even start in Slovenia and the Julien Alps

Calabria62

Since you're up in Garda, I'd add Vicenza and Verona, both lovely, manageable (nice market in Verona, as well as a colliseum)with some nice Palladio archchitecture, if you're into that. I'd skip Monaco, too, unless you want to visit the Aquarium. For biking, how about the bike path in San Remo? That goes along the coast on old train tracks. That's on your way to Nice.

bobthenavigator

Is a car an option?
What about the time shares? If they are mandatory then that may shape your itinerary.

I would include the Dolomites as your mountain fix.

CatchK

Ok - great options to think about - thanks!

I had heard that Monaco may just be something different and nice to see once. I will have to look into that more I guess!

A car is definitely an option - and the timeshares are not necessarily mandatory and they will not shape our itinerary. Just a nice bonus (money-wise) and something that we will use IF they are a convenient for where we want to go.

I think Florence is probably a must at this point, since we have both done the other cities but not Florence.

I was iffy about Verona, heard that there was not too much there except for opera which will bore her - but maybe I am wrong?

And I had never even thought of Slovenia and know nothing about it - I guess I will be hitting the books as I would like to have at least a general itinerary to present to her by next month.

This is difficult! Last year was easy as I had a short amount of time to plan, was by myself, and had very specific places and things that I wanted to see. ALthough I know that it can be great to relax and let things happen, I am a planner and hate to see time and opportunity wasted. My dream is to see the world and it is so hard to decide where to start!

nytraveler

I would look at timeshares very carefully. They tend to be at the end of hell and gone - for people who want to vacation in the countryside - but often hours by either public transit or even car - from places you would really want to see.

I would look very carefully at the sights you really want to see - then build the trip around it.

Monaco is fine if you know why you are going - to see the uber wealthy, shop at the most exclusive shops, drop a fortune for dinner and visit a very upscale casino (properly dressed only). We go every time we are in the area - as a hoot - but for a first trip to the area I would pick other things.

dwdvagamundo

Maybe Vienna, Salzburg, Venice, stop in Padua on way to Florence, then Verona. That would be a nice three week trip. Of course, it doesn't offer too much adventure, so you might want to consider Innsbruck, Austria as place to hike, bike, etc. as well as in the mountains around Salzburg.

Venice is totally different from any other city. Also has a beach: The Lido. If you see it and Florence you will have seen the Italian "Big Three."

bobthenavigator

You have a wealth of great options--let me give you a start that would appeal to me:

Land VCE---3 nites
Get car---to Val Gardena via Cortina---3 nites
To Brescia/Garda area---you pick the time
To Ligurian coast---Camogli or SML---3 nites
To French Riviera---stay in Menton or Nice
To Piemonte wine villages via Cuneo---3 nites
To Lago Orta---last 2 nites
Depart from MXP---drop car

That is what I would do---hope it helps.

CatchK

Ok - this is exactly what I need! It is difficult to plan a trip around sights if you have no idea what sites you want to see - this is my problem!

Although Italy was insanely beautiful and I am SO excited to be going back, I also want to see other places (meaning that if it weren't for family I would be seeing the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and other spots on my bucket list haha). That being said, I am so excited to see other spots - it is just that I have never even considered where to go or other places to see.

These recommendations are perfect and give me a jumping off point to research these spots and narrow things down.

And I think I forgot to mention - I DID get to see Venice, but only for one quick day last month, so some more time would be great.

NY - we are hoping to use some timeshares, but it is not a necessity and it will not dictate where we go!

dwdvagamundo - unfortunately I failed to mention that my Aunt is also super paranoid of anyone else getting hurt while doing adventurous things, so probably won't get to do too much. Is Innsbruck/Salzburg good for things other than that or no?

Bob and others - AWESOME recommendations - this is exactly what I need to get started -thank you so much!

bobthenavigator

A variation on a theme---and better car rates--is to fly to Munich, and start in Salzburg and end in Munich. Thta would include a stop on Lago Como on the way back via the Engadine valley. I would prefer the Dolomites, however. The car rates will be perhaps 30% lower in Germany.

In the above itineray, I would stay in Alba at Villa Favorita.

dwdvagamundo

Both have interesting city center areas, especially Salzburg.