references for planning a trip to Italy?

Old Aug 13th, 2000, 09:28 PM
  #1  
Stephanie
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
references for planning a trip to Italy?

My husband and I are in the early stages of planning a 2-3 week trip to Italy. There is so much to do and see in Italy. Any suggestions on a good reference to start with? We still haven't decided WHERE and WHEN to go, so a general book about travel in Italy would be great - or any useful resources online...

Thank you.
 
Old Aug 13th, 2000, 10:27 PM
  #2  
Tony
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Check your local library for the "Eyewitness Travel Guides",
You can get them for countries and major cities such as Rome, Venice etc., and they are extremely comprehensive.
They will certainly point you in the right direction on where you would want to go. I find it best to use the net AFTER you have decided where you want to go, for info.on travel, tickets, hotels etc.
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 04:17 AM
  #3  
elaine
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Stephanie
I have notes on Florence, Siena, and Venice that include long lists of websites. If you are interested in the whole bit, email me.
Here are just a few
www.initaly.com/
www.italyguide.com/
www.hotelguide.ch/
www.italyhotel.com
www.italiantourism.com/
www.museionline.com museums all over Italy
www.traveleurope.it/
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 06:03 AM
  #4  
BOB THE NAVIGATOR
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Stephanie, You need 2 books to start your homework--The Eyewitness is the best for in-depth and the Michelin Green
is great to travel with. You can buy both at amazon .com for about $35 total.
Then, go to the most complete site
on Italy, www.initaly.com and read their
many fine articles. Then, once you have
some ideas give me a holler and I will
try to help. Remember, it takes about 6 weeks to see most of Italy so you will have to make some tough choices. It is
often best to start with a north or south orientation since it will be hard to do both in that time. Always try to
determine WHEN--HOW LONG---HOW MUCH for
that will eventually determine WHERE.
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 06:26 AM
  #5  
elvira
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Borrow every guidebook on Italy from your library - each one gives you different information. Some have great pictures, others have extensive info on museums, others have recommendations for budget travel, etc. I've never found one guide that did it all.

As Bob the Navigator pointed out, you can't see it all in 3 weeks; think Northern Italy or Southern Italy, so you're not spending a lot of your time driving or training up and down the length of Italy.
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 01:02 PM
  #6  
wes fowler
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Stephanie,
In addition to your WHERE? and WHEN? and Bob's HOW LONG? and HOW MUCH?, consider also WHY? and BY WHAT MEANS? Why do you want to visit Italy? For its art and architecture, its history, its opera, its cuisine? Knowing why you want to go will help in deciding where.
Are you thinking only of cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice? If so, you have no need for a car. If you're contemplating travelling through small towns or the Italian Lakes, Tuscany or Lombardy, you'll need a good map for planning a trip by auto.

For a light, easy to read, laced with humor overview of Italy and most of its major cities and regions, look for the Insight Guides to Italy, Rome, etc. With beautiful photography, the guides are written by people who live and work in the areas written about. You get a true insight into the character of the country, its cities and its citizens. If your interest is in art, look for the Blue Guides (to Northern Italy, Southern Italy, Florence, Rome, Venice and Tuscany). These read like textbooks for ART 401 (not ART 101) but are excellent resources. Once you've homed in on particular areas of interest, look for regional guides, Passport Books publishes a number of regional guides, with walking and driving tours and maps. There is one for the Italian Lakes,for example. Hunter Publishing also publishes regional guides, the Visitor's Guide to Italian Lakes being one. For accommodations, consider Karen Brown and her Italian Country Inns and Itineraries and Italian Country Bed and Breakfasts. Augment any and all with material from the Italian National Tourist Office and the regional tourist offices, as well as the websites indicated earlier.
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 05:51 PM
  #7  
Anne
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Wes,

Wow! You honed right in, got to the core and gave all of us precious insight for future Italy planning trips and resources. Thank You!

Anne
 
Old Aug 15th, 2000, 06:26 AM
  #8  
BOB THE NAVIGATOR
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Sage advice here for all to ponder.
As usual, Wes goes beyond the sound bite
mentality. It pays to do your homework.
To the top !
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -