Catbert

Italy is my favorite country, and there are certainly many diverse places to visit. I like to think of it as visiting old friends again (Rome, Paris, London, Sorrento...) and making some new friends along the way.

Try the Ticino region of Switzerland. You'll get to be in another country that feels like Italy.

tcreath

I have this problem when planning each trip. I feel fortunate enough that we (DH and myself) have been to so many great places that we always have conflicts between returning to a place/country that we loved or trying somewhere new. Next year we are going for both. A week in Umbria (we love Italy) and a week in Croatia (never been). But we also absolutely loved Bavaria and Austria and are craving that as well. I guess its a never ending battle...

Tracy

crefloors

Not having lots of time and money, I really would be just happy to go back to London and Paris again and again. It's kind of nice to be able to say "oh, I know where that is". Plus you could spend a lifetime discovering those cities. I'm off to Copenhagne and Stockholm right after Christmas because my neice is there and on break from school and will be my guide and I really have always wanted to go to Stockholm. My grandmother was Swedish so nice to follow the family roots so to speak. The problem is, I'm flying right by Paris..oh no!!!!!! So, I know what you mean, it's really hard when you only have so much time and money. Actually there ARE many places I would like to go..some I'll get to and others I won't for various reasons. I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have had..some people dream all their lives of going to Europe and never get there so I have nothing to complain about.

Jackie_in_Italy

What a neat thread!

I agree about Italy--I loved it so much, I decided to never leave! (well, finding true love here was the main reason, but still...I fell in love with Italy immediately) Honestly, I rarely leave Italy unless it's to go home to the states. We would like to visit other countries for vacation, but there's always something here we have yet to see, something worth staying around for, worth not vacationing elsewhere for. it's amazing.

Thanks also to duckpond for the review of Slovenia--we might be going up north to Trieste this summer, and we have considered heading into Slovenia. I've read so many good reviews of Lake Bled, and I had really just begun by searching for info about Ljubljana. Everyone seems very enthusiastic about Slovenia. It sounds like a beautiful country.

Lily

I posted this last year and in May of this year we took a trip to Europe that included the Netherlands, Brugge, Mosel, Rhine, Munich and Bavarian Alps. It was wonderful and I loved all of these places but to be honest, I still love Italy more. The weather was quite cold in May so I kept suggesting to my husband that we hightail it to Italy! My husband also loves Italy but he suggests we see new places and not always return to the old. He's right in many ways and next year we hope to go to Spain/Portugal or Greece/Turkey but I'm always thinking of Italy, bella Italy.

LoveItaly

Hello Lily, I had the opposite problem, my late husband always wanted to return to Italy so we did. But consequently I have never been to any of the other European countries like most Fodorites.

I love Italy and with all the people I know there I just keep returning to Italy also. If I had an unlimited travel budget I would go to other countries I guess and then end up in Italy. I don't think I could handle being in Europe and not going to Italy.

An interesting thread.

Tiff

Hi Lily ~

Very ironic that you topped your original post as this morning I was thinking, "How do I visit another country and not my beloved Italy."

I know many here travel frequently but I feel quite grateful for my two trips to Italy. And honestly I don't know if I will ever love another country as much as I loved and felt a part of Italy.

So, your question is a good one, however I do not have the answer. I think it would cause me physical pain (lol) to be a train ride away and not visit my now favorite haunts.

I think perhaps the next journey will be Italy and ___________. I don't think I could exclude her.

I will read on, thanks for topping, and we'll see if anyone else has a cure for our disease.

Happy travels, Tiff

susanteach

I've been saving for and going on trips to Europe since my junior year of college, and am addicted. My DH and I did opt for Costa Rica as a honeymoon, but since then, it's been all in the EU. I think all of my trips, and esp. the repeats, which are different each time because of my own lifestyle changes. When I was a dirt poor college kid, I couldn't afford any good restaurants or hotels. My experiences and tastes have changed greatly as I've matured, married and make a better living. We continue to go back to Germany, Austria and Switzerland though, because my DH has business trips there and I can join him while he's racking up more hotel points. I've been to: England, France, Spain, Germany, Aus., Switz., Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Rep., and Belgium. Anyway, I thought the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland would spoil any other place for me...until I went to Italy last summer with my sister. I honestly can say that the country exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait until I go back with my DH.

bettyk

I'm definitely in the minority but I was have no desire to return to France or Italy. However, I never tire of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. There is so much diversity in the landscape and the people have always been very friendly to us. Also, the food and wine are yummy too.

I also want to return to Scotland to see more of that amazing country.

Poohgirl

I really loved Ireland (scenery, people, easy public transportation system), plus I think Austria is severely underrated - at least where I live. Some people around here still think kangaroos live in Austria!

europa

I keep saying I want to go to Spain....
but Italy calls my name.

The people, food, wine, art, landscape, architecture,ect. It has it all.

It will be my 4th trip this fall.

I have been to France, Sweden, and Norway once. Holland twice. I will also be going to Amsterdam this fall.

I forgot who wrote this but this little quote sums it up.
"You may have the universe,
If I may have Italy."

TylerTraveler

You know, I LOVE Venice but as a whole, Italy wasn't at the top of my list of favorite European countries (I've been to 29 Euro countries). I highly prefer Switzerland, Slovenia, Turkey and Germany to Italy. Greece is nice as well. And Sweden... and...

Underhill

We've been returning to France for quite a few years, especially loving Burgundy and Provence. Since you like Italy so much, give Provence a try; I guarantee you'll love it.

LoveItaly

Hi darlin' Tiff, do you realize we were posting with the same thoughts at the same time? Great minds etc.

But seriously, I can truly understand how people can "fall in love" with a country no matter which country it is and want to continue to go back to it. I even feel that way with some places here in the US. We each have a special place or two that pulls on our heartstrings.

Keren

It's been mainly France for me in the past 3 years and I will never stop going there, for me it's the ultimate joy, I've been there 5 times since 2003.

But it's becoming quite clear that Italy is joining in. Since going back there last October after many years and spending a fab week in Verona, I visited Rome last March and I'm going to spend 14 days in Italy in September-October. It's mainly because of 2 exhibitions I'd like to see in Bologna, so I'm taking this opportunity to explore the city, plus returning to Rome and to Turin, of which I have wonderful memories from a few short stays in the late 90's.

I love Holland and Belgium and have to go back there, too, and to London, and now I've started warming up to Prague and Vienna (mainly because I'd like to visit the places where Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert lived in). But frankly, it's hard to imagine not being surrounded by Italian or French speaking people my trips, I think I don't even want to hear any other languages right now. And all this sensuality in both places, I feel it can't be beat anywhere else. But I'm very curious about Portugal. So I'm now hoping I can do a week in Lisbon next April, with some days in Paris afterwards, to satisfy my ever present French fix.

nonnafelice

My husband wrote a pretty cute essay with his thoughts about Italy after our most recent trip to France. You can read it here:

http://mikeroz.blogspot.com/2006_04_...z_archive.html

LoveItaly

Charming comments Nonnafelice!!

zwho

I swore my allegiance to Turkey and still want (and plan) on returning for another visit, but since then I have fallen in love with Spain, 5 trips and still want more and on a cruise we stopped at Dubrovnik and I have a feeling when we go to Croatia, that'll be a favorite too. BTW, I love Italy too, but need to see more of the small towns and villages. To bad I can't just take trips all the time.

chicagolori

Nonnafelice - truly one of the funniest things I have read. Tell your husband I said thanks for the endless giggles...

LuvToRoam

We did Italy (see our post- http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2
in 2004 and are returning this year to the Lakes region, Dolomites and Venice. Germany and Austria are a close second for favorites though. So many places, so little time and money... Shirley