spb825

My dream trip is Italy and I have been thinking about doing one for some time now. My question is since this will be my first time, should I take a tour or do the research and plan it on my own. My problem is not booking an airline or hotel, it's getting from place to place and being able to speak the language so I can ask questions if I need to while I am there. Do you need to know how to speak Italian while you are there? I have read on this forum that most of the people who post here plan their own trips. Any assistance anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.

rex

See my answer here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34736202

What month do you have in mind?

Best wishes,

Rex

spb825

I was thinking about October. Would another month be better?

BeniciaChris

My husband & I have been to Italy 2 times-some on timeshares & some on our own. The last time we went we drove around Italy for a month-no problem with the language.
I have a friend who went on the Perrala tour & were very impressed-except for the flight over & back.

Robert2533

This is what I do for a living now, but my first response is for you to do the research, pick the minds of everyone on Fodor's, or anyplace else, and make your own plans and your own mistakes, it will be much more memorable in the long run. If there is anything specific you want to do or see, then by all means contact a tour or travel service. They have the connections you need for certain things in life that only experience and connections can give you, but it is hard to compete with the sheer enjoyment of discovering everything on your own. Mistakes are part of life. When you’re older and have a little more money, you can use the best services, but if this is your first trip, then enjoy the experience of discovery.

rex

September is a tad "better" (likewise June)... but October can be a bit cheaper than either of those two.

How many in your party? I might be quite interested in helping you to put together a Fodorites trip to Italy for 2007. My "services" (if they can be called that) are entirely no cost to you, and I pay my all my own expenses, no different from you or anyone else traveling. No kickbacks, no discounts under the table to me, no hidden catch.

I just like small group travel.

See also my answer on http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34845005

Joe18

On the two organized trips I've taiken I've felt a little like a spectatator in a zoo. On the other 18 or so trips to Europe, I'be been a participant--much better in my opinion.

spb825

I was thinking about October 2008 for a trip for my wife and I since it will be our 10th wedding anniversary. Is now too soon to start planning a trip that will take place two years from now?

LoveItaly

Hello spb, I think you will not be able to make reservations (flights, hotels etc) this far in advance but you can certainly start researching where in Italy you want to go to and what you want to see.

I would think you will find that travelling on your own will be more fun for you and your wife than taking a tour. Trains are easy to use and if you want to rent a car for all of part of your trip you will find that will be easy to do also.

Regarding speaking Italian, no you do not need to know the Italian language but I would strongly suggest that between now and 2008 you do learn some Italian as it will add to your fun in Italy. You have plenty of time to do this, maybe start with getting some CD's from your local library for now. Just learning some basic polite phrases will be easy for you to learn and with the time you have you no doubt will learn even more.

After doing some research (such as getting travel books and coffeetable books with lovely photos of sites in Italy at your library) you can post back here for more detailed questions and advice. And if you are lucky you can find some information on the search box here on Fodor's. I don't find it as workable as I would like but you no doubt can find some information. And of course there is constant threads and posts daily here on Fodor's about Italy so that will be a big help to you.

Having your 10th Anniversary in Italy will be beautiful!

Nina66

spb, your first post sounded as if you would be traveling alone, but then you said that you and your wife would be going.

IMHO, the answers would be much different if you were going alone, or with someone else. Some people don't want to spend their entire trip by themselves (ME), so in that case, I would have recommended a tour.

You have asked many really good questions so far, so it sounds like you, with the help of Fodorites and travel guides, etc.. will be more than able to do it on your own. You have so much time to decide what you want to do and see, and then like a true Fodorite, do an about face and go off in other directions everything you discover something that sounds better. Until non-refundable $$$ is put out, that is the major benefit of traveling independently.

Keep reading the board, do a search on Italy and in late 2007 or early 2008 - or up until you date of departure choose what areas etc.. sound best to you.

We travel independently, but sometimes take day trips or city tours to get acclimated. A day tour may seem rushed, but it will give you an idea of other areas and you can return to them if you wish, on your next trip.

Trains in Italy are good and that is an easy way to get around. Check Italian railpass prices.

I hope that you and your wife realize that your dining room table/kitchen table/coffee table/night stands, etc.. will no longer be empty. The will be piled with books, maps,
magazines, print-outs etc.. You have given up your life as you now know it.

Welcome to Fodors .... you have a friend in the business

Nina

Nina66

Also, language, or lack of, will never be a problem. Follow LoveItaly's advice. A big smile, shrugged shoulders, eyes looking upwards, best when combined with shrugging your shoulders, and lots of hand talking, will get you through in any country. especially Italy and France. English is widely spoken and by using a few polite words, people will be glad to help you. Bone up on rail schedules, as that is the most important part of the trip. Hotels,restaurants, museums and other sights will be no problem - all you have to do is get there.

Nina

ira

Hi Sp,

You have plenty of time to plan your own trip.

You even have time to learn Italian.

It is never too early to plan a trip.

You can't buy airline tickets more than 330 days out.

Most hotels won't take reservations until Jan, 2008.

Italy has an excellent rail system.
www.trenitalia.com

Have fun planning your trip.

nytraveler

Traveling Italy speaking only English is not an issue. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, tourist sites, etc - and it is unusuall to find that no one speaks english unless you are relaly off the beatne track.

However, you still have plenty of time to learn a little Italian - at least the politenesses and enough basic questions and answers to get by can easily be learned in a couple of hours. That and apocket dictionary should be fine for any (extremely rare) situations in which no one speaks english.