My husband and I returned from a magical month in Italy this previous autumn, and I was just 'startled' by the thought from someone about having her 40th birthday in Italy in 2003. What a WONDERFUL idea!! That will be my 40th birthday too, and what a way to celebrate! Mine is early January, and I am wondering if anyone has recently returned from Italy at this time, with first hand knowledge of weather, off-season problems etc... especially does it SNOW anytime around now! I would especially love to return to Venice... does it snow there? What about places like Lucca, San Gimignano, Perugia ? I know that it does snow somewhere there, like the dolomites, but where we are from in Australia, I've never seen it, but would love to. What about around Positano and Capri... Has anyone been there around the off season... Would the La Syrenuse still be 'out of reach' for the budget minded? Still, with 2 years to save for it, maybe it could be possible... Anyway, any first hand info for this time of the year would be very welcome.... Thanking you all.....

Debbie, <BR>When I first read this post, I did not pay close enough attention. <BR>I was going to suggest that even though your B-day is in January, you could delay your B-day trip til later. <BR>My 50th is April 2003, and I will be doing a "girlfriend" trip to Italy to celebrate it (instead of a family trip, like the one planned for this summer) <BR>But I am delaying the trip til end of May to fit in better with the weather I like (*warm*,cause I am from Vermont) and my children's schedule. <BR>BUT, I then read you would like snow! <BR>I think that anywhere in the Alps regions will be a sure bet for snow. <BR>Venice maybe too close to the water, and it would just be damp. <BR>Do a search here under 'text search' <BR>Someone even asked about snow about 3 weeks ago. <BR>Also, you could go to the Weather Channel and do a favorites page there and monitor the weather in a few different towns this winter to see what the conditions are like. <BR>I did that last summer for the Rome, Naples area. <BR>Anyway, I think special trips to honor ourselves for our Birhtdays is a wonderful way to celebrate. <BR>I got my idea because my best friend took 7 of her close friends away 5 yrs ago, for her 40th. <BR>So, have fun planning. <BR>2003 isn't *that* far away! <BR>

Thank you very much Nancy for your helpful reply. I have tried a few weather pages, but can only seem to work out the temp averages. I haven't been able to find one that mentions snow. Would anyone have any ideas on this please? Also, the Amalfi coast, we just loved in the autumn, but has anyone been there in the winter? Perhaps that would be a more 'summer' type of trip? <BR>Anybody recently back from Italy this winter (or another winter!!), I'd love to hear about your travels.... With thanks... Debbie Lee...

Debbie: Check out cnn.com site look for weather, then region and then the country you want to look. It will show <BR>current weathers conditions.

I've been in Rome and Venice in December. It was sunny, but cold -- in all of our pictures, we're wearing winter coats/gloves. I have also been to Rome in March, when it was spring-ish but we still dressed in layers. I prefer going there in the spring/summer/fall, but I found Venice to be absolutely lovely in the winter without the tourists -- almost haunting. It is a completely different feel than the feeling you get in July. There was no sign of snow either time I was there in winter -- it was in the 40s in December, and probably the 50s in March.

We drove from Nice to Venice last week, and there was some snow in the higher elevations. The weather was cold, but not bad (we're Floridians). I would suggest you visit the southern parts of Italy and then Venice, and then head towards Austria. You will definitely find your snow. <BR> <BR>The best part of traveling off season is you do not have the crowds. We do not make any hotel reservations (other than our first and last nights), and have not encountered any problems. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps.