Should I cancel my trip to Florence?
 

I am an extremely heat sensitive woman in her sixties who was misinformed by a friend that Florence weather in August was in the 70 to 75 degree range. Because of he way I booked my airline tickets they are nonrefundable, as is the lodging deposit. Because I am caring for and supporting a number of relatives, most quite old, I haven't taken a vacation in many years and I sorely need one. I will be traveling with my husband who is cranky and doesn't like to spend money on cabs. I realize that I should have been more careful in planning such a rare hiatus but when I realized that I had almost two weeks where I wouldn't be beholden to anyone, I jumped at the chance to visit Italy. At this point, my question is simply this: should I forget about the lost money and stay in my air-conditioned Washington, D.C. apartment? I don't mean to sound cavalier about the money because paying for the trip broke the bank but I also don't want to take a trip where I will only be miserable.

I would greatly appreciate advice.

Churches are usually cooler than the outside air. Buy a fan for your hotel room.

Most nonrefundable airfare isn't completely lost money. It usually means if you cancel then the money will be held by the airline as an electronic certificate (ecert) less a change fee (usually $150-$250) per ticket that is valid for up to a year.

So I would recomend you try to reschedule your trip for cooler weather. Maybe the hotel will allow you to change your reservations for no fee, and then you will only be out airline change fees and any fare difference.

No, you should go. You already booked your trip, how can you cancel it because of a little warmth? I would suggest going other places besides Florence - museums will be packed and not cool, I wouldn't go near the Uffizi. You can visit other towns in the region and they won't be so crowded, and so the heat won't bother you as much. Bologna and Perugia have some nice museums.

Thanks tremendously for your answers. My husband and I have rented a tiny apartment and the proprietor told me that there were no refunds. Unfortunately, the airline tickets are also nonrefundable. I really created a mess, didn't I? One happy note is that the sleeping area of the apartment is said to be air-conditioned, although I am not sure how well. Other than the financial loss, I'm not sure I'll be able to get away from ailing parents and in-laws in the foreseeable future and so I would like to take this trip unless it is insufferably hot in August. I greatly appreciate the thought that staying inside a church might provide some needed redress from the heat! I wonder if it is cooler anywhere not more than an hour or two by car away from Florence?

Thanks, travelinsong. I take it that museums in Italy are not air-conditioned the way they are in the United States.

In 20 yrs, for example, if you too are in the same physical conditions as the ones you are caring now and can no longer travel anymore, cool or otherwise, what would you wish you have done with this trip? Would you regret not taking the trip when you had a chance in spite of the climate?

I agree with Greg about having regrets later if you cancel.

It's true that July and August are the warmest months which will likely be in the high 80's perhaps reaching 90. (Can't imagine why your friend said it would be in the 70's) However, as everyone has said, there are so many things that you can do/see which are indoors and air conditioned. That's one option. Another is to find out what you can see in the mornings and evenings when the weather is nicer. If you find it intolerable over the course of the first couple of days, stay in your apartment during the hottest hours and go out in the morning and evening.

Be creative and consider your options before you cancel. Florence is lovely - go for it.

I agree with CYESQ .I think you will go on!

Tango77, I feel your pain. Do not listen to people who encourage you not to be detered by 'a little warmth', they have no idea what you're talking about and have no trouble tolerating 85+degrees. Italian AC is not American AC. Buy a travel fan, seriously. After a three day stint in Madrid one June, when it was actually hotter than it was in Cairo during the same period I don't remember more than one or two pleasant things about Madrid as a result (and I DID have an AC room). The next year in British Columbia, the B&B did not have A/C and I promptly hauled off to the Home Depot and bought what was left: a child's fan, about 12" in diameter with 2 speeds. It is purple plastic and glows in the dark and it goes everywhere with me now. It has saved me more than once in Europe, Australia and all over the US. Stay in during the heat of the day, bring a really good hat, and one of those beanbag things that you can soak in water so that the crystals expand and then wear it around your neck. Forget how dorky you look; you will be cool enough to enjoy your surroundings, and you will never see these people again anyway.

I would take the trip. Plan your sightseeing for mornings when it is cooler. Once in Florence you can book tickets for the museums when they first open and in the afternoons when it is really hot go back to the apartment to relax.

You can take a bus to Fiesole, a town above Florence where it will be cooler - I did that one warm, crowded Sunday in Florence and it was delightful.

Eat lots of gelato and granita to cool off!

Perhaps you could leave the cranky husband at home!

Its cooler in the shade.So an umbrella would certainly help.A lot cooler inside buildings,as in churches & museums.Very doable.Do not change plans.Moreover,its very engrossing,steeped in history,art and culture.Your mind will sure be occupied & the little discomfiture would disappear.Restrict visits to mornings and late afternoons.Take a break,post lunch.I'm sure a good book on Florence will whip up your DH's passion:)

Walk in the shade - it's surprising the number of people who don't think of doing that

Love oliveandharry's suggestions ad empathy. As mentioned, if you are an early riser, enjoy the mornings then escape the heat during the day at museums or in ac room. then head out again in the afternoon when sun has gone down. pace yourself and do not attempt too much walking. drink plenty of liquids and find your favorite air conditioned cafés for pleasant meals.

"Because I am caring for and supporting a number of relatives, most quite old, I haven't taken a vacation in many years and I sorely need one. "

Based on my elderly relatives they'd tell you to go - but put it more bluntly

tango - i agree with the camp that are encouraging you to go. you know that the apartment has some sort of AC, and if it is as hot as you fear, you can adjust your habits to those of the locals - get up early [some museums open before 9am] get your sightseeing done early, have a long lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant, go back to the apartment for a sleep, then get up at 8 pm and go out again.

did you know that the Palazzo Vecchio is opening until about 11pm some of the time? it is vast and airy. you can also climb up to the piazzale Michelangelo above oltrarno to get the evening airs, or get the bus up to Fiesole.

you can get a schedule of museum opening times on the firenze card website.

Well, I'm in the minority (postpone) camp if you think you will be miserable. Is there another time you could go? If you were to simply time shift your flights and accommodations the penalties might not be as stiff as you think (i.e. complete forfeiture). It would be something to look into before throwing the towel in.

weather2travel.com Climate Guide

Washington DC is sweltering in the summer

far more humid heat than Florence.

LOTS of AC places in Firtenze a wonderful walking city

Gelato Shops my fav place to hang out or Along the Arno

GREAT breezes... So get your money's worth and go for it.

eurocheapo.com Florence great budget guides relax have fun!

I'm with the camp that says "go". The weather does not exist for the perfect vacation - it'll either be too hot or too cold or too wet or too dry.

The best suggestions so far:

1) take a lightweight small umbrella. It'll protect you both from the rain and the sun. I don't like hats because they make me sweat more, but men like to travel with hats - so your husband should bring a favorite hat that, preferably, will cover his neck in the back.

2)eat lots of gelato (is this suggestion hard to take? :) ) But be careful! Florence is a tourist mecca. I was once taken for 10 euros for a very small! two scoop gelato cone. So, be sure to ask for the price or see what others are paying. 2-4 euros for a two scoop in a cone is reasonable, less if you skip the cone and go for a cup.

3) plan your activities so that you are walking about early in the morning and late towards evening. There's a reason why the "siesta" was invented.

lastly, I have a suggestion of my own - find some really light, breathable clothing that you feel comfortable in. The expense of buying something that doesn't make you feel like you're suffocating in the heat will be well worth the price. If you can't afford two sets, then buy one and wash out the top at night. so find something that dries fast. This means that you have to also bring a light, stretchable cord (for hanging up your laundry!)

Also some comfortable sandals, not the cheap flip-flops, but something really solid. Break these in before going.

I'm certain Fodorites have lots of suggestions on which brands have worked the best for them in the past.

Oh, one last thing - travel light, travel light, travel light. Do NOT bring the kitchen sink with you, no matter how useful you think it may be.

Get a small, lightweight 21" suitcase, pack it up and trying walking around with it around your block. You'll soon find that you really don't need that kitchen sink after all. The best thing to do is to lay everything out and reduce it by half. Pack what you think you can't do without into the small suitcase and walk around the block. Come back, lay everything out and reduce by half again.

You'll also have a less cranky husband if you travel light. :)

Enjoy your trip to Florence! You deserve it!

Get up early, take a siesta during the hot afternoon (I hope your ac bedroom is adequate but buy a fan in addition) and do take taxis when you need them.
I'd skip some of the gelato which can be expensive and take a taxi to escape the heat. If your husband is cranky then tell him taxis in Italy are cheap (they're not but Florence won't be 70F either!) and if he's unaware of the exchange rate then he won't notice so much especially if you pay.

Good luck!