My husband and I are planning on going to Europe, particularly Italy, next August. I've read a few times that many shops, etc. in Italy are closed during the month of August. Is this true???

I don't think that closings are so much a problem as the (sometimes) sweltering weather - - roughly south of the Milan-Venice autostrada.<BR><BR>But that still leaves some of the most delightful parts of the country.<BR><BR>Combine with a little bit of Austria (or Slovenia? - - not sure, never been there) and you have a great August vacation.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

for jsurveyor<BR>

Can anyone else comment on Slovenia? Crowded in August? Deserted? Hot? Lake Bled?<BR>

Not to turn this original "Italy August" thread into an "explore Slovenia" thread, but if you (Joel) are interested in Slovenia in August, and if you have not been to those areas of Europe before, then think about what the weather in August is like in, say, upstate New York or Vermont. You'll have a similar kind of weather in Slovenia. If you can't relate to the U.S. comparison, I'd just say the weather in Slovenia, around Bled and the mountains to the northwest, will be warm in the daytime (but not oppressively hot) and cool in the evening. If you need a real temperature guesstimate, expect a high around 85 (more or less depending on altitude) and a low around 65.

We were staying in Positano on the Amalfi Coast, south of Naples, during the last week of August last year. Because that is a tourist destination, the shops were very much open and operating. The weather was spectacular, and not as hot as could be expected in Rome because of the sea. I could not recommend a more lovely place to visit.<BR>Of course, we were primarily interested in relaxing and sitting by the sea, as opposed to visiting museums etc. We did take a day trip to Vesuvius and did not find it to be too hot. Enjoy.

to higher altitudes where it is not too hot in August.<BR>

Some business close from August 15th to the end of August. My daughter was in Italy on Aug. 15 and had a hard time finding a restaurant open in Venice.

Would Goriza be more hot in August or more like Venice? Is it higher in elevation? Is the adjacent town in Slovenia of interest?<BR>