trippster

Hi everyone,

I am planning to travel to Europe in May-June '05 with my family (husband, dad and a sister) I was wondering which area to chose given the fact that my dad may prefer "natural" beauty to historical / culturally heavy places.

I had these specific qs

1> Would a 10 day stay in predominantly Tuscany region along with Venice be a better bet than Norway & Sweden?

2> Will there be a huge cost difference between the two options? (Am planning on budget accomodations where possible)

3> Is Italy in last week of May - first week of June worth going to at all? (Given the scary messages about summer heat, summer tourist crowd etc How would Sweden / Norway be in the same season?

Any pointers in this direction would be welcome.

Thanks & Best Regards
Vidya

WillTravel

I like visiting Scandinavia in the summer, because there is so much light, and because you usually do not have excessively high temperatures. But I'm not sure how much light there is in late May, or if that's a worthwhile factor to consider. I didn't notice a huge tourist crowd when I was there in July 2003. I haven't been to Italy other than this winter, which was often crowded.

As to which is cheaper, it all depends. You can save in Scandinavia by not having to get A/C accommodation, which I certainly would in Italy at that time. One huge cost in Italy for me was attractions - I think Scandinavia might cost less in this respect. Italy would certainly be cheaper for proper restaurant meals, except possibly for Venice. I'm not sure there's a huge difference in grocery costs.

It's true Scandinavia has less art than Italy, but you can still see a lot of interesting history and culture if you want to - certainly enough for 10 days.

Just start a spreadsheet and see what you come up with.

nytraveler

For weather - Italy will be warm and pleasant and scandinavia wil be cool and pleasant. the longest day of the year is June 21 - so you will be not far from that - with dark only from perhaps 11/12pm to 5am - or so I seem to remember.

Neither wil be cheap - but as always you can spend more or less - deoending on how thrifty you want to be.

The real question is what you want to see/do. SCandinavia has only relatively newer history - and great natural beuaty. Italy has practically every bit of history and art you can think of - as well as some lovely areas - but you won;t be able to see all of that in 10 days - you'll have to choose.

If you've never been to either I would pick Italy - more WOW factor - although I happen to love Scandinavia - it can be somewhat less accessible.

trippster

Thanks a ton for your replies.

Scandinavia sounds like fun but I have aother query : Will I be able to drive around Norway / Sweden on a rented car? Or is it better to stick to trains / buses? My concern is because we will be carrying our luggage around, A car may give us better flexibility to see around as well as ease of managing luggage...

nytraveler

Why wouldn;t you be able to drive around Scandinavia? That's assuming that you mean drive through - not a complete circuit of the whole area - for which you wouldn;t have the time.

ira

Hi tripp,

Re cars vs trains:

Enter yourproposed itinerary at www.railsaver.com. It will give you a very good cost estimate.

You can then compare this to the cost of renting a midsize car for 4 people at www.autoeurope.com and www.novarentacar.com.

mamc

On my first trip to Europe, we visited Scandinavia and Italy and many points between. I am happy to have visited Scandinavia and enjoyed our time there but have never had the desire to return. We will return to Italy for the 6th time this fall. Italy is wonderful and I would definitely recommend it if you have never been. If you like "natural beauty", Tuscany and Venice would be great.

Budman

I would recommend Tuscany/Venice. Accommodations can be relatively reasonable if you chose the Apt route and take day trips. For Tuscany, I would think somewhere around the Siena region would be best -- lots of places to go/see within one hour drive N, S, E, or W.

Do any of you imbibe? $7 for a beer in Norway vis-a-vis a couple of $$ for some vino da tavola in Italy.

Norway is a beautiful country -- very expensive in my opinion, but I wouldn't cross it off my list of places to see/go.

kswl

What is your background in terms of nationality/ethnicity? Perhaps your visit would be more meaningful and your destination easier to choose if you have ancestors from one of those areas? Just an idea--

Personally, for a first trip I would absolutely go to Scandinavia--stunning scenery outside the cities and some wonderful museums with Viking artifacts; Elsinore Castle; Tivoli Gardens; beautiful, modern cities.

But then, I prefer Scandinavia over Italy. This is very much an apples and oranges comparison.

trippster

ira, thanks for the suggestion. It s a iood way of figuring the 'car vs trains' dilemma. i also read your italy trip report. looks like a great trip

nytraveler, yes i meant 'drive through' the region. what i meant by my question was whether the train network in norway / sweden is so good (and cost effective) that we would be crazy to consider the drive-through option.

mamc, budman, kswl - thanks for the opinions. i think i am personally tending towards the drive-through-italy option. though i will allow the rest of my family also to have a say in the matter

we are coming from india. and italy definitely has more of a "wow" factor. moreover i have seen a bit of norway last time i was in europe (nutshell tour. and it had been lovely) and though i would like to repeat the country sometime, i feel tempted to see italy this time around.

thanks again for the responses. what a great forum this is i shall keep u all informed of my final plan and maybe ask more specific questions on the trip once the detinations are fixed.

nytraveler

Sorry Trippster -

the train issue was not clear. We are almost always road trippers - have only done long distance train (vs in-city transit or a brief day trip) twice - and we don't like it.

But then we both have control issues - and feel that the serendipity made possible by having a car is one of the major joys of travel - never mind the opportunity to escape our local dreaded 55 mph limit.

Bjorn

May/June are marvellous in Norway - lightwise and bloomingwise. May however can be cold.
Italy in July/August is a nightmare temperaturewise. In July the rain risk in Norway is bigger than in June/August.
The chance for cultural highlights is high, high high in Tuscany. I'd not say the same regarding Norway.
Hence I recommend, by all my heart, that you go to Italy!
My last stay in Tuscany was in Florence for a fortnight in early June, and with a rental. Fantastic! Especially because of our lodging position in the Fiesole hillside some 5km north-east of the trafficed and heavy airpolluted Florence, and with magnificant Tuscany and Florence views.
Pensione Bencista! Locate it on the web or thhrough Karen Brown's guidbooks and website. If you can get a room there, your holydays will be superb.....

Anyhow and any time, welcome to Norway!

Bjorn, Oslo

Bjorn

Trippster
I certainly woill recommend a rental instead of train/public transport if you go Norway. A car gives you far more flexibility. The rail lines diverge from oslo in three directions: One north-bound to Trondheim with a split in the Alesund direction when you reach the Dovre mountains, one west-bound to Bergen and one south-west via the southern coastal towns ending in Stavanger. To Experience Norway you better go south-north along the western coast, i.e you have to depend on all different buses and ferries inbe3tween the "east-west" rail lines. A rental therefore is a relief, and driving in Norway is not dangerous and not difficult. The roads are slim though, and may feel some curvy, but you will be fine. Speed is moderate, but a rental might be costy. I guess hiring a car in combination with your air ticket will be a good idea...
Bjorn, Oslo