Can't stop changing my mind February or Easter? February is usually way cheaper for everything but I have been told some things aren't heated and I tend to get cold easily. Is this true in February or exaggerated? Anyone been there then? Want to go with wife and three teens Venice, Florence, Rome, Turino would be way out of the way but is it worth seeing the olympics? ANy guess if getting tickets in the last minute would be easy like last olympics or will this be a harder find? SUggestions on how I could do spring at close to same price or it just isn't happening? Thanks. You guys always come through
Ken

Heat in Italy in February? Of course! I have never seen a place in Italy that doesn't have heat. Sometimes the heat does not work very well (like in my apartment!)but there is definitely heat. Sorry I can't help you with info regarding the olympics tickets.

If you want to travel at cheaper prices and way less crowds-then travel in February. Easter/spring break time has become just as obnoxious for traveling to Europe as the summer months-think packed airplanes,lines for museums,etc.The key to traveling in those months is to layer your clothing and you will be fine. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that you may only need a heavy sweater in some spots.I love traveling during those months as you can get a better feel for a place without all the crowds. As for Torino-unless you can get the hotel accomodations NOW, I do not think that I would chance last minute. (When we were in Torino in Oct.2003, the hotel had already blocked rooms for the Olympics and would not allow us to make a reservation.)Always remember my mantra-you can eat gelato at any time of the year!!!

I have been to the Olympics in Los Angeles and Atlanta and while the Olympics are fun and exciting, please don't feel compelled to stick it onto this trip just because you will be "near there."
There will be so much to see and do in Venice, Florence and Rome. Do not short change yourself.

On the issue of Feb. or Easter we just came back from 2 weeks in Italy. Arrived the Sat. before Palm Sunday and left the Sat. before Easter. I am sure it was more crowded then in Feb. but we did not find it overwhelming. We did Rome first so to avoid being there closer to Easter. We did notice a lot of French and German highschool groups travelling in Rome.

Despite the reports a few weeks earlier of one of the coldest winters the weather was very nice while we were there. Not to worry about heat. We stayed in 3 star hotels/B&B's and had plenty of heat!!!

First check to make sure that prices will in fact be cheaper next winter in Italy versus at Easter, as with the influx of tourists for the Olympics, hotels everywhere in Italy may raise their prices as they may expect people to visit other parts of Italy before or after attending the Olympics. Also note that as Easter is in April, pre-Lenten activities like carnival will take place in February (Venice’s is February 21-28 next year), which means increased prices, and as this coincides with the last week of the Olympics, prices all over Italy could be even higher.

Turin is quite out of the way for your itinerary. I have been to the Montreal and Sydney Olympics and definitely though they were “worth it”. Note that the venue for the various events are quite spread out, only skating and opening and closing will be in Turin, so you could stay in outlying areas and still see many events.

It terms of prices, you might be best going in March when carnival is over as are the Olympics, but Easter prices have not been put into effect.

I have never found heat in buildings to be an issue here, in fact, most places are way overheated, IMO and I am always opening windows in my office and at home. (I live in Zurich)

Cicerone, thanks you were super helpful.. Right on all counts. So far, I am seeing fares absolutely no better than previous springs, yet of course, still better than summers. I will look where the hockey is and see if I could stay near there, if not maybe just forgot Turin (Me and boys want hockey, wife and daughter want skating), what do you think of Carnival week? Hope you don't mind, I am going to post a new one also on that.
Thanks
Ken