ltlmezyoung

I am planning my first ever trip to Europe for my 10 year anniversary which is later this year. We are going to Italy and I need help with the planning. Looking for the most of the trip spending the least amount of money. We don't need a luxury bed, just a comfy mattress and roof for the night, we plan on seeing and eating as much as we can. We would like to see Milan, Venice, Florence and ROME and will be there for 10 days. Please let me know if I am missing a must see city! Thanks in advance for the help and advice. When is the best time of year to go?

A_Brit_In_Ischia

As long as you're OK with the temperatures, for most cities it might be an idea to consider August...

Many of the local residents will be away on their own vacations, and it's a time when there are few business visitors - which often results in nice hotels having very good offers...

Rome for instance can be especially pleasant...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/romeaug08

...but four places in ten days is probably quite enough if your anniversary isn't to become too hectic?

This site has some good suggestions.... http://www.discoveritalia.com/cgwe/index.asp?lingua=en

Enjoy!
Peter

dreamon

The slower trains in Italy are cheaper than the high speed trains. You can save money by knowing which train to catch. There are touch screens at the stations to help with this. If you don't specify when booking at the ticket window, they tend to put you on a high speed train.

I agree four places in ten days is plenty and wouldn't add any more.

adrienne

Get a copy of Let's Go Italy guide book. It's a great book for people on a budget.

<< Please let me know if I am missing a must see city >>

You're missing thousands of great places but in 10 days I think you already have too much to do - you'll have 2 days in each place since you have to allocate time to get from one place to the next; not enough time.

I think the best time to go is May.

k9korps

With only 10 days, including travel time between cities (lots of travel time if taking slow trains), I'd cut out one city, probably Milan.

Look for off-season deals, especially in winter. Not the perfect time to go, but it is cheaper.

ChallengerGrey

We did that type of trip a few years ago and it can be done if you fly into Rome and out of Milan. We spent 4 nights in Rome then rented a car and drove to Florence (stopped in Assisi). Spent a few days in Florence then drove to Venice for a few days then drove to Milan. We didn't spend the night in Milan but we flew out from there. As for "on the cheap", most hotels include breakfast and you can budget $50 a day for lunch / dinner for two. Food is inexpensive but wonderful in Italy.
I've said it many times, half the fun of travel is the research on what to do when you get there. Enjoy.

qwovadis

do this a lot

www.eurocheapo.com great budget guides lodging

hop regional trains like a local from 2 euros per hour

Find RT MXP(Milan) usually cheapest for flights

www.cheapoair.com will save a tonne on flights usually

Train around from there cheaply on REGIONAL trains.

kfusto

I would not recommend a car for these cities as it is more hassle than it is worth.

With only ten days, 4 cities IMO is too much. The first way to save money is to cut out 1 or 2 of these stops.

Some smaller B&B's discount for cash payment.

Priceline is a very good option in Milan and Venice IMO and IMO.

We do not find food inexpensive in Italy at all, especially with the poor USD to Euro exchange rate and in the cities you listed, three of which are the major three tourist cities in Italy. We spend far more than 50 USD a day which IMO is not adequate for two people unless you are of with a panini or pizza for every meal. That is 17E per day for each adult and will not buy you much.

Venere.com is a good source for 2 and three star hotels and B&Bs. Lots of reviews as well.

I would go in winter to get the most bang for the buck and the fewest number of tourists. We will happily sacrifice warmer weather for lower prices and fewer people.

Kathy_Montrose

I agree with the other posts - too many stops in too little time!

Hotels in Italy are expensive in comparison to the US, especially with the exchange rate. You might check out agriturismo. The trade off is you may spend much of your time getting to the sites, because, while charming, these inexpensive locations aren't usually in the city.
http://en.agriturismo.it/

To save money, make sure you get the bus pass in Rome:
http://www.atac.roma.it/index.asp?p=14

You should also check online before you go - many of the tourist sites have advance purchase tickets and you will save a lot of time waiting in line. Easily an hour and a half at the Vatican Museum alone!

One final note - If you really want a "taste" of several locations, you might check out a cruise vacation. There are some nice and reasonably priced trips that hit the highlights - as long as they are near the coast. You will be visiting the sites along with many tourists, though, on packaged excursions. If that's not your thing, forget about it.

Whatever you do, bring good walking shoes!

Mimar

Look for open jaws plane tickets, into Venice out of Rome. These should cost about the same as regular round-trip tickets but save you time and money you'd spend back-tracking. (Connecting flights out of Venice leave very early, so by leaving from Venice you'd lose time on the ground.)

Another way to save on acommodations is to stay in monasteries and/or convents. Look at www.monasterystays.com. The only problem might be if you like to stay out late; these have curfews.

I agree you have too many destinations. Maybe you want to look into an inexpensive tour. Because all the transportation is built-in, you can see more in a short time.

hazel1

I would agree with kfusto that a $50 per day food budget for two people is far from adequate - maybe per person, but not two.

adrienne

In these cities you could only do $50 per day for 2 people if you never stop for a coffee or gelato and do not drink anything but tap water. You can buy a panini off a truck for lunch or stand up at a bar and find cheap places for dinner but you would be denying yourselves many of the pleasures of Italy.

nytraveler

You have too many places for such a short trip. I would stay in 2 places only and perhaps do a day trip from earh - otherwise you wil be spending a large part of you vacation in train stations, on trains and checking in and out of hotels.

Italy in August is hot, humid and mobbed - and budget accommodations may not have AC. How do you want to balance cost versus amenities? For lodging you save money by going for a pension with stairs versus elevator, no AC and bath down the hall versus in the room. (I persoanlly would never consider anyplace without AC - but I hate heat - I know some people don;t mind that much.)

As for timing - IMHO for a first-time visit you need at least 4 nights in Rome and 3 nghts each in Florence or Venice. I would skip Milan on a first trip. Also you don;t say in yuo have 10 full days on the ground - or if that includes the day you arrive and leave - which you really can't count for sightseeing.

nytraveler

Sorry - agree that 2 people can;t eat for $50 per day unless you are making sandwiches from things you buy at a grocery store and perhaps sharing a small pizza and bottle of water for dinner. Things just cost more than that.

StCirq

The best time of year to go is spring or fall. If you're serious about your budget, those are not the cheapest times to go, though. With only 10 days, you will be stretching your budget by moving around so much, plus it will make for a harried trip. You can't really eat well in Italy on $50 a day,either. In your situation, I would say wait until you've saved more money or stay put in one or two places and rent a cheap apartment and buy food from markets and grocery stores.

clayman

Take a look at an apartment rentals. An APT. will allow you to fix inexpensive meals. There are lots of choices www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/europe/italy is a site I've used to locate apts. We had a good experience last March with www.thekeytoitaly.com/rome. There are lots of price choices

Any sit down meal for 2 at a resturant will begin at 50 euros, splurge two or three times on your trip, but eat on a budget with cheese,salami, and wine while you sight see.

StCirq is correct. Choose Spring or Fall for your budget. Some good advice I gleaned from a Rick Steves graffiti wall post was...don't treat this as a trip of a lifetime..treat it as a first visit. Too much will keep you exhausted and moving fast is expensive. Try to think about what you can experience instead of what you think you can see. Skip Florence and Milan this trip. 10 Days will go quickly, make them count.

Venice is expensive and will consume a good bit per day of your budget. If you must cram a lot in, I suggest, fly into Venice, spend a couple of nights and move south of Florence in the Tuscan or Umbrian area (by train)stay in a small hilltown for four nights(Montepulciano,Pienza, Greve in Chianti, etc.,) rent a compact car for a couple of days and drive about soak up the experience. You will treasure this part of your travel if you do this.

Then move on to Rome and fly home from there after three nights. Rome is money and time consuming..the vatican can eat a day easily. Experience the night walking and eating on Camp de Fiori, P.Navonna,or on a trek to the S.Steps. If you arrange for an apt, ask your host if they can get transportation to the airport instead of having to call a taxi. However you execute your trip, I wish you great joy in all of it!

kybourbon

What do you mean by cheap? If you want really cheap, hostels or convents/monasteries are the cheapest. Many convents will have double rooms (usually twin beds though) with private baths. Some have shared baths down the hall.

>>>Another way to save on acommodations is to stay in monasteries and/or convents. Look at www.monasterystays.com. <<<

I wouldn't use monasterystays as they are a reseller and just markup the rates 10-15€ per night. Book directly with the convent or monastery. In Rome, you can find them for anywhere from 20€-300€ per night depending on location and amenities. If you don't mind staying behind the Vatican there is a cheap one for about 55€ per night for two with a midnight curfew. Prices on this may be a bit out of date.

PICCOLE SUORE DELLA SACRA FAMIGLIA, Casa Di Accoglienza Paolo VI
Viale Vaticano 92
00165 Roma
Tel: 06.3909.1411; Fax: 06.3909.1427; E-mail: [email protected]
The rates are: 32 Euro for a single room; 55 Euro for a double room; 73 Euro for a room with three beds; 85 Euro for a room with four beds. No breakfast or other meals are served. Curfew is at 12:00 AM.

The Rome Tourist Board lists 213 convents in the city. Use the advance search on the right to search by area or price.
http://www.060608.it/en/accoglienza/...tuti-religiosi

Here's a list for Venice with some having 12:30 curfews. All are in Venice proper.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-360224-2.cfm

For Florence, you might try:
http://www.fmmfirenze.it/

ltlmezyoung

Thanks EVERYONE! There is A LOT of great info for me to research and take in. I appreciate everyone's help. Milan is my family heritage so I definitely plan on keeping that "area' of the trip and Rome. If I can add one more city probably Venice. Thanks all!

feda

if you click on my name you'll see many posts I wrote about Milan and what to see in the city and where to hang out at night ....might be useful

ltlmezyoung

we have tightened our plans up a bit. We are now flying into Milan at the end of May and out of Rome 10 days later. If we don't get to Venice we aren't too upset. We hope to do the Liguria Region and then at least 3 days in Rome. Florence is another city we have eliminated. Any suggestions on the cheapest way to travel from Milan to Rome?