We are thinking of taking a last minute trip to Italy for two weeks after Christmas. This will be our first visit to Italy. I know this isn't an ideal time to go but this is the only time we can fit it in to our year. Is it worth going at this time? Are most of the main attractions open? Which cities would you recommend that we visit? Is France a better option? We are open to any ideas .......
Thank you

Well, I would go to Italy when I could go. May I suggest Rome. Milan and Venice will be rather cold.

I have never been to France.

Maybe one week in Paris and than go to Rome. Buy an open jaw ticket.

Or Paris, Florence and Rome.

Mentioning these cities as you asked about cities.

Am sure other poster will give you their ideas.

Whatever you do, have a beautiful trip!

I was in Florence, Venice, Rome and Paris last Jan/Feb. I like the winters in Europe as the cities are less crowded and the hotel rates are down.

We flew into Florence and home from Paris on Delta. We did the one way Rome to Paris on Volare which is now defunct but there are other options.

If you go to Venice, be prepared for the crowds and prices of Carnavale which makes it even more expensive than normal. We had snow and rain in Venice, rain in the other three cities. Winters are the luck of the draw as far as weather is concerned.

Two weeks is time to do three or four cities. I do not like Venice - was there because my companion had never been and wanted to see it - but many do. It is an easy train ride from Florence.

I think an open jaw is your best bet and is the most efficient way to travel.

I am not a Francophile so Paris is also not one of my favorite cities. If you go there, be really careful of pickpockets. I have been travelling internationally since 1974 and Paris is one of 2 cities where I had a problem as I am very careful. Also, I find the smoke here in restaurants and cafes to be very intrusive. In Italy there is no smoking allowed on trains anymore and many restaurants are non smoking, at least til quite late. In Paris, smoke was everywhere and the windows are all closed of course, so it was nasty. If this does not bother you, it will not be a problem. I hate smoke and felt like I could not take a clean breath for the 3 days we were there.

I think Rome, Florence and Paris would make a nice trip. Milan is a city I visit on business and I am not very fond of it. Perhaps I have not explored enought, but it is the financial capital and as such is more like any big city.

Italy is fabulous every time of year and you will have a wonderful time!

Paris hardly has a "monopoly" on pickpockets..well, perhaps it does for someone who openly admits they don't like the city if you know what I mean.

Two weeks would give you more than enough time to explore several areas of Italy and in many ways this is a much MORE "ideal" time to visit in terms of crowds and prices.

Frankly, since you seem somewhat unsure in the first place I don't see any reason France would be any better an option than is Italy...it probably isn't since for whatever your not-yet-revealed reasons you are thinking of Italy in the first place. Stick with it.

Shonna:
Lucky you! It would help to know if you've travelled in Europe and, if so, what you liked. Do you ski? What kind of New Year's celebration...city party atmosphere or romantic countryside? Any budget concerns? Do you want to avoid car rentals?

All such information will help people give you specific help in planning your itinerary.

Hi
Aside from shorter days,and some cold and wet weather which affects most of the northern hemisphere to one degree or another, you can have a great time.
The obvious picks in Italy are V, F, and R. Daytrips can be done to Lucca, Pisa, Assisi, Siena, even Naples and Pompeii if you can handle a long day.
I think it will still be a bit early for the Carnevale crowds. Some attractions and a few hotels and restaurants will be closed New Year's weekend, or even for a bit of early January, but not enough to spoil a trip.
Many places will be very glad to see visitors at that time of year. Hotel and airline rates can be the best of the year. Do fly into one city and home from another so you don't have to backtrack.

Yes, if you can say more about your interests (what leads you to consider Italy in the first place) and your budget, there is lots of advice to be had here.

I have files on V, F, and R--if you'd like to see them, you can email me at
[email protected]

Hello Shonna,

I have not been to Italy, but my husband was in Rome in January, several decades ago in his student days. He loved it.

We've been to other European cities, such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt in winter (December or January).

It's a pleasure to visit the museums, art galleries, and churches at that time of year, because there are few other visitors.

The downside is that there are fewer daylight hours, and museums often are open for fewer hours a day than is the case in the summer.

In the cities most of the attractions are open year-round. The attractions that close for the winter tend to be in the countryside.

Unless one is into skiing, I think winter is a good time for concentrating on the cities more than the countryside.

I loved Paris in December, and would have no hesitation in recommending it.

I do long to visit Rome, though. One of the things that attracts me about Rome, from what I've read, is that there are artifacts from so many periods of history concentrated in a small area -- Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and so on.

I agree with those who have said that 3 cities in 2 weeks would be about right. I would not take on any more than that. I like to see places in some depth if at all possible, so I might even be inclined to visit only 2 cities. I think it would be good to choose cities that are relatively close to each other -- ideally not more than a 4 hour train ride apart.

Although I have not been to them myself, I think Rome and Florence would make a good pair.

London and Paris also would make a good pair, IMO. London is very expensive, though, and it would be more ideal if you had more time in which to do research, as that would help you to keep the cost of your trip more reasonable.

Amsterdam and Paris would make another nice pair, IMO.

No doubt people who know Spain also could suggest a couple of Spanish cities that would qualify very nicely.

Anyway, if it was my trip, I wouldn't give it any more thought. I would jump on a plane for Rome and Florence.

But it's <b>your</b> trip.

Intrepid1: No, I really do not know what you mean. I did not say that Paris has a &quot;monopoly&quot; on pickpockets. There is apparently enough of a problem that signs warning tourists about the pickpocket problem are plastered all over the Eiffel Tower. There were at least 4 people in my elevator alone who were pickpocketed on that same ride down that trip alone.

Yes, I &quot;openly admit&quot; to not liking Paris. Imagine that, expressing an opinion on a travel message board. And I thought that was what Shonna was looking for!

I've see &quot;pickpocket warning&quot; signs in London, New York, Chicago, Warsaw, Hong Kong, Moscow, Barcelona, etc.etc.

The only place that I did not see one during my extensive travels is Singapore. I believe they do have very stiff penalties there for any criminal act. But then again they have about 20 &quot;DO NOT&quot; signs aimed at their citizens and tourists alike. Take your pick.

I've see = I've seen

about 20 &quot;DO NOT&quot; signs = about 20 <b>different</b> &quot;DO NOT&quot; signs