We're Retiring!!And Going to Italy for2 months!! And don't have much money!!
 

We have gone to Italy maybe 7 times in 5 years..spending about $5000 US over 2 weeks.. and have longed for the time we would be retiring and be able to spend many months in various parts of Italy..and I suppose other countries eventually. So this week (the 2nd worst week in the stock market) we retired!! We are now making our plans for the first trip..for 2 months for March and April and hoping to spend $5000 per month..for everything (excluding airfare). We are able to rent an apartment near Montalcino for 900 euro's for the month...and an apartment near San Remo for a month for 1100 euros. Are thinking is that the price is very good and we will have the chance to "feel" the area if we are there for an extended time. We've been to both places for a couple of days. Is this the way to do this?? One month in each place..of course with a rental car...

I think it's fantastic and that you can do it. But let's talk about the costs of the rental car, and let's not forget the petrol prices....

Are you definitely set on renting those two apartments?

You have 3500 Euro per month, so 7000 total. Subtract the intended apartment costs and you are left with 5000 Euro for two months, right?

Do those costs include everything..heat, for example? Phone?

(I hope my math is correct..I have been known to make horrid mistakes!)

Ourjet - it sounds quite reasonable and I completely understand your choice in Montalcino since you can tour Tuscany quite easily from there. I just wonder if you will have enough to do in the area of San Remo for a month, unless you want that month to be quiet and beachy? What are you interested in seeing more or less in that area?

You are living my life!!! You rock. I want to retire someday and spend months in Italy with very little money! I think it can be done. Let us know how it goes!!!!

Sounds just wonderful - congratulations!

But a month in San Remo? I think I'd start to lose it after a week, if that. Montalcino I can heartily endorse, but I just cannot imagine a month in San Remo.

How about someplace on the Adriatic, if it's a water venue you're looking for and something totally different from Montalcino?

I definitely agree about San Remo.....a month is far too long! Montalcino is worth a month's stay. I'd rethink the San Remo apartment unless you have a compelling reason to have chosen that location.

Hi,

Look into leasing a car. From what I have read on this board, it appears to be cheaper than renting for such a long period of time. Another thought is buying a car in Europe and then having sent back to the states. Do you need a new car? I can't wait to hear how all of this goes. DH and I are almost ready to do the same and hopefully for a longer period of time. We might throw in France or Greece into the mix.

Yipper

Sounds like a great plan. I second the idea of leasing a car, it is way cheaper than renting. We have only done this in France but I am sure the Italians will do it also.

Good luck,
Schnauzer

cannot wait to hear all about it - this is a DREAM of mine!!

I'm coming with you!

If you have good knees and "footmobiles", train travel is so very easy in most places. I'd think cheaper also (factor in taxi ride to city centers). But you must be able to do stairs with train travel.

Please report back after you've done this!

Your plan on renting monthly properties is great; it is the choice of locales that I have to question. An apartment near San Remo for 1100 Euros does not sound like a good deal. While the Italian Riviera saw many days of glory, there are better home bases for better prices. If I were you I would head out to Sicily, Dolomites Region, Abruzzo, or Puglia.

I think it's definitely doable and I'm ever so jealous - the longest we have spent in Italy was 1 month and I long for the time we can do what you are going to do.

I can see that you could eat up a lot of your budget with petrol prices. Perhaps you can use the train for a lot of your exploration.

The fact that you will have the opportunity to go to the markets and bring your food back home to prepare - that's going to be economical as well as scrumptious.

Limit your purchases of "treasures" and gifts to take back home - that gets out of hand very fast doesn't it!

Hopefully you will will be not be traveling so far from your bases that you will need to spend more $$ on overnight accomodations on top of your apartment rental.

Please, write a thorough trip report while you are over there...a journal of sorts?

april in the dolomites could be quite beautiful. we spend a few days in cortina last september and loved it. We also really liked the area around Lake Garda - there are some fantastic little towns with wine cooperatives, small lakes to die for and of course, 'the' lakes themselves - garda and como. We also had an apartment just outside Montalcino for a week and loved it! The unit next to us was rented to a german couple of a month and they looked so relaxed and happy.

I am so excited for you and know you will have a wonderful time. This is exactlly what my husband and I want to do. We are going on a Danube river cruise in Nov. and will be gone for 18 days, but of course I'm sure that won't be nearly enough time. I'll be anxious to hear how well things turn out. Are utilities included in your rental?
Hope so!

What's wrong with San Remo? I've never been but I perceive it as being very well located for travel to both French and Italian Riviera?

San Remo is ON the Italian Riviera. What's wrong with it is that it's shabby and boring...well, it's ok for a day or two, but definitely not a month.

Boring might work well as a nice, untouristy place to vedge at the end of a touristy day; Shabby could be helpful in saving euros.

Hey, ourjetboats, what did make you choose San Remo and Montalcino? I'm seriously curious and not judgemental.

TDudette-- you can save Euros without staying in a shabby place; not a new concept.

Sounds like a great plan. I haven't been to San Remo, but I can say Montalcino and environs you could easily spend a month or more. Why not consider basing there in that apartment for the whole two months and make several day trips? You could even visit Orvieto for the day from there - Rome too for that matter although it would be a long day.

If that length of time in one spot doesn't sound appealing, the Dolomites would also make a great base and you have a lot of options there, not limited to Italy, too. You could visit parts of Austria and Switzerland very easily and Germany is pretty close too.

I agree with another poster - if you're staying in Tuscany part of the time - basing in the Lake District for the remainder would be a lovely option.