Italy!

[disneylovin24]

A few people brought this up in the Paris thread so I figure I would start it since I am the one who first asked for tips about it.

So, pretty much this is a thread to discuss Italy.



Im going in April for the first time. Im going on a EF Tours tour and we're doing 3 days in Venice, 3 days in Florence (with a side trip to Pisa), and a day in Cinque Terre. Pretty much our trip is all planned for us so Im not really looking on tips on what to do but more on the do's and dont's of Italy (if that makes sense).

 

[mickeysgal]

We went there as part of a cruise...Rome, Florence, Naples (Pompei and Amalfi Coast). We didn't see Venice, so it's high on my bucket list. I'm hoping to go next year. Loved, loved, loved Italy. A cruise was nice as we were able to see a lot of things in a short time, but I really wanted to put my feet on the ground and explore.

 

[luharvey77]

Do have a glass of wine each day of your trip.
Don't rush. Savor that beautiful country!

We did the first thing, but not so much the second, and when I do travel internationally again, I definitely plan to pack as light as possible, and to try as much as I can to immerse myself in the culture.

 

[Lavaluma]

Know Italian or carry some sort of Italian/English dictionary. I know it sounds like common sense, but we went on a tour through 8 different countries so we didn't take any Italian translation books. We knew some of the other languages and figured we would be with the tour group for most of the trip so it would be okay. We had no problems with communicating the entire trip except for Florence. After exploring the city by ourselves all day, we had problems finding the train station to get back to our hotel. Then once we found the train station and figured out which tickets to buy, we couldn't figure out which track we were suppose to get on. Luckily, another American helped us and we made it on the train with seconds to spare.
If you choose to sit down in a restaurant to eat (which you should do), you probably will have to pay an extra fee for that as a service.
Make sure to get gelato, it's so much better than anything you'll ever get in the US.
Beware of some of the bathrooms. They're not always what you expect. Some don't have toilet seats and some only have holes in the ground. Which can be an unpleasant surprise after waiting in line for 10 minutes for a bathroom.
Be prepared to buy a lot in Italy. Of all the countries we went to, it's where we spent the most money and I still regret not buying more, especially another pair of Italian boots in Florence and a Murano glass decanter set in Venice.
Enjoy your trip, Italy is beautiful. The architecture there is amazing.

 

[ZachnElli]

What's an EF tour? Dh and I are looking at a trip to Paris and taking a train over to Italy. We are just beginning to look. Our 20 year anniversary is next year and he has the frequent flier miles!

 

[can84]

I just returned from Italy in May--2 days Rome, 3 days Florence, and 2 days Venice. I never thought I would love it as much as I did!

I would say definitely learn a few phrases. Everyone I encountered pretty much spoke some English, but they appreciated when you make the effort! Also make time to sit and savor a glass of wine.

A good map of Venice would probably be a smart investment! We were so lost trying to go around! Then again, getting lost in the alleyways was wonderful way to see more of Venice

For Florence, you may want to make sure you have mosquito repellant and some anti-itch cream. I came home with quite a few bites from there.

Have a wonderful time--I can't wait to go back!

 

[CurlyGirl]

I love Italy! I did Rome, Florence, Pisa, Bologna, and Venice on a two week trip several years ago and would love to go back.

I found the Romans to be very warm, friendly, and helpful.

I loved the market in Florence ... bought tons of leather goods and shoes as well as wonderful stationery and paper products.

Rome -- oh, I could just wander those narrow streets for days and days! And the food is just ... beyond amazing! We did the usual tourist attractions there (St. Peter's, Vatican/Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, etc. We found that the public transportation was very easy to use but did a ton of walking.

In Florence, hit Vivoli for the gelato. And if you're looking for gloves, hit Madova at Via de' Guicciardini. They will fit you for gloves and their products are wonderful and worth it! I still have my black leather Italian gloves and I love them! And, they fit to perfection!

In Venice, I bought a small cameo ring that I love and still wear on a regular basis. Bought a mask, too. I loved the Murano glass candies and bought some of those, along with other beads. We hit a few nice markets in Venice that we really enjoyed. We didn't do a gondola ride because we thought it was pricey and prefered to spend our money on a good dinner instead!
I thought Venice was such a romantic city, especially on a foggy, drizzly night! We stayed at the Hotel Boston right off of the Piazza San Marco. Don't know if it's still there, but it was a great location.

Adding that we ate at a cute little restaurant while in Venice called Alla Scala or A la Scalla. It was recommended by the desk clerk at the hotel. Anyway, we had to take this crazy route to get there, across foot bridges, down alleyways, etc. Then we got to this area near the water and were like "Where is this place?" Sure enough, as the me of the restaurant suggests, it was under the steps of this footbridge!!! It was the cutest little (and I do mean little) restaurant! The food was really good. I don't know if it's there anymore but it was nice and (at that time) wasn't a tourist type place.

And ... the hotel restaurants are really good. From what we learned, the locals even eat at the hotel restaurants!

Have a great trip!

 

[disneylovin24]

What's an EF tour? Dh and I are looking at a trip to Paris and taking a train over to Italy. We are just beginning to look. Our 20 year anniversary is next year and he has the frequent flier miles!

Education First Tours. Its a touring company that puts together international trips for high school and college groups.I know that most of the adults on here bill probably never get the chance to use it but if anyone ever has a child that gets a chance to go with them I would highly recommend it! They take care of so much for you, all you really have to do is pack and show up. They give you bags and pasport holders too and all of thise little guides of safe traveling and things like that. We also had an AMAZING tour guide, seriously this guy was one of a kind! Maybe that is why I am very partial to EF Tours but from my teacher who plans all of the trips I have heard that they have never had a bad tour guide. Oh, and the hotels we stayed at last trip were beautiful. The restaurants we ate at (they provide you with dinner and breakfast) were good. They do a great job planning out your days too, they make sure that you hit all of the big spots. We had a few issues last year with time but that was because my chaperones changed a few things up


Love how many people said drink wine! Since Im only going to be 17 at time of trip, I don't drink so that is out for me.

 

[disneylovin24]

Know Italian or carry some sort of Italian/English dictionary. I know it sounds like common sense, but we went on a tour through 8 different countries so we didn't take any Italian translation books. We knew some of the other languages and figured we would be with the tour group for most of the trip so it would be okay. We had no problems with communicating the entire trip except for Florence. After exploring the city by ourselves all day, we had problems finding the train station to get back to our hotel. Then once we found the train station and figured out which tickets to buy, we couldn't figure out which track we were suppose to get on. Luckily, another American helped us and we made it on the train with seconds to spare.
If you choose to sit down in a restaurant to eat (which you should do), you probably will have to pay an extra fee for that as a service.
Make sure to get gelato, it's so much better than anything you'll ever get in the US.
Beware of some of the bathrooms. They're not always what you expect. Some don't have toilet seats and some only have holes in the ground. Which can be an unpleasant surprise after waiting in line for 10 minutes for a bathroom.
Be prepared to buy a lot in Italy. Of all the countries we went to, it's where we spent the most money and I still regret not buying more, especially another pair of Italian boots in Florence and a Murano glass decanter set in Venice. Enjoy your trip, Italy is beautiful. The architecture there is amazing.

If you don't mind me asking then, how much money would you suggest I bring? I will probably be taking a back up credit card but last year in Europe I had some troubles with the credit card so I would prefer not to end up using it.

 

[Andtototoo]

We went three years ago and it was the best trip of our lives. Our favorite city was Venice and our favorite small town was Lucca.

We did do a gondola ride in Venice, because, well, it's Venice. We enjoyed it.

We also loved visiting Burano when we were in Venice -- the technicolor houses are amazing and so different from Venice.

The most surprising thing we saw was the mummy of St. Zita in a glass coffin in a church in Lucca -- we just stumbled onto it and whoooooa!

We went in July so we ate gelato every day for our lunch (yes, our lunch was gelato).

I don't buy things as souvenirs, so we didn't spend a lot of money on that sort of thing. If I were going to buy something, I wanted a black glass chandelier from a Murano shop. Couldn't afford it, but I still remember it!

It was indeed very hot and there is no ice for drinks and the AC is either non-existent or feels that way. You deal.

 

[gracie1]

What's an EF tour? Dh and I are looking at a trip to Paris and taking a train over to Italy. We are just beginning to look. Our 20 year anniversary is next year and he has the frequent flier miles!

I was looking into the train to Italy as well from Paris (although my trip is much farther off than 1 year!!) Then I thought flying would be easier, since it's only a 2 hour flight. Have you thought about flying to italy?

 

[LA PIG]

Love Italy! I lived in Rome for a few months and I have a lot of family in Tuscany. One thing to keep in mind while traveling, especially when using public transportation: make sure your wallet is not easily accessible. Do not keep it in your backpack or your back pocket. Be sure it's somewhere in a zippered compartment. There are a lot of pickpockets and they really good at what they do. You won't even feel them stealing your wallet. I know because it happened to me on a bus.

 

[gracie1]

I am thinking of going to rome for a couple of days from my paris trip. What do you think about Venice? I would love to do a gondola ride, but is it worth traveling there for a day trip??

 

[Andtototoo]

I am thinking of going to rome for a couple of days from my paris trip. What do you think about Venice? I would love to do a gondola ride, but is it worth traveling there for a day trip??

Yes! I would make a plan for what you want to do. Typical attractions are:

Doge's Palace
St. Mark's
Rialto Bridge -- walk up to the apex of it and look in both directions at the Grand Canal
Gondola ride (to me it's like going to NYC and not going to the Statue of Liberty)

You can easily do all those in one day. If time permits, I'd also say to walk around and leave time for getting lost. Just soak in the atmosphere! And take plenty of pictures -- it's almost impossible to take a bad picture in Venice.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I have a love affair with Italy. Italians love life, food and vino... and they enjoy it. I think, this is truly my favorite part..I love soaking in the culture.

If, I had to chose a few "must know" words, I'd pick:

Dov'e - where is

Per favore - please

Gratzie - thank you

Quanto costa - how much

Troppo caro - too expensive.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks! And thanks for the couple phrases! I am going to have to sit down with an itinerary and try to figure things out. Like I said on my Paris post, I am not huge on museums so that will actually free up a lot of time in Paris. Although I do plan on going to the Louvre and seeing the most popular exhibits (like Mona Lisa!)

Any other tips for Italy, please post! Places you stayed in Rome, and what is in walking distance would be great.

How much spending money is recommended and are there really great bargains in Rome?
Is it hard to get around not speaking much italian? Are there signs in English for the train, or metro (not sure what they have??)

 

[TLSnell1981]

If you've never been to Italy, I really recommended Italy For Dummies. It has a lot of easy to digest info, a great way to "get your feet wet".

 

[disneylovin24]

I read in my guidebook that gondala rides are 80 euros Im assuming thats correct which is insane!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I visited Italy on a cruise back when I was 16 and have been chomping at the bit to go back ever since. The second half of the big Europe trip I've got planned for this fall is in Italy - 2 days Venice, 3 days Florence (one will be spent hiking the Cinque Terre), 4 days in Rome and 2 days in Sorrento. We were going to spend half a day in Milan, but I couldn't get tickets to the Last Supper, so I decided to spend extra time in Venice instead. Here are my impressions of the major cities from one short trip over a decade ago and my planning over the past 9 months.

Venice - Stay on the islands, not the mainland. Everything except the lagoon islands (Murano, Burano Torcello) is in easy walking distance. Vaporetto trips are expensive, buy a pass. It costs a lot more if you want your gondolier to sing. If you visit in late fall, bring rubber boots. The Bellinis at Harry's bar are overpriced and not that good. Beware the pigeons. This is one city where it's worth it to get a little lost. That being said, buy a good map. Venice's major sights can be covered in a day trip, but it's a very busy day.

Florence - Orange. I recall Florence being the most beautiful city I'd ever seen, but very orange. Once again, the major sights are all within walking distance. This is a museum city, and cannot be done in a single day (especially if you actually want to enjoy the art). Make sure you get reservations ahead of time for the Accademia and the Uffizi, or get the new Firenze pass that just came out this year. This is the place for leather goods. Don't actually buy anything sold on the Ponte Vecchio, it's way touristy and overpriced. Florence is the gateway to Tuscany, and the best place to serve as a central location for visiting Pisa, Siena, Luca, Fiesole and other lovely Italian towns.

Pisa - Can be done in 2 hours. See the field of miracles, then you're done. The leaning tower now has online reservations.

The Cinque Terre - Actually, I don't know much about these. Never been there. DH is the hiker. A park hiking pass/train combo costs about 10E. Hiking north to south is supposedly easier than hiking south to north. There's a sweet local wine that's supposed to be very good, and the anchoives are supposed to be excellent.

Rome - Rome cannot be seen in a day...or two days...or three. The Vatican takes a day, the forum area Roman sites should take a day...the majority of my memories from my quick jaunt to Rome consist of me thinking "OMG, there is just waaaaay to much to see and do here!" There's a Roma Pass (which is nowhere as good as other cities' passes, but still better than paying full price). The Vatican now has online tour reservations (yes, EVERYTHING is now online). Then there's the sites just outside Rome: Ostia Antica, Tivoli (with Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este), Tarquina, Ceverteri, etc. Oh, and did I mention my DH was a Classical Civilizations major?!? I'M SPENDING 4 DAYS THERE AND DO NOT HAVE NEAR ENOUGH TIME TO SEE ROME WITH A MAN OBSESSED WITH ROMAN HISTORY!!!!!

Sorrento - If Florence is the most beautiful city I've ever seen, Sorrento is the most beautiful town. This lovely little laid-back location is the gateway to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Positano, Paestum and Capri. Wonderful pizza, beautiful woodworking, ocean views to die for...and I can't wait to try the limoncello.

 

[disneylovin24]

Love Italy! I lived in Rome for a few months and I have a lot of family in Tuscany. One thing to keep in mind while traveling, especially when using public transportation: make sure your wallet is not easily accessible. Do not keep it in your backpack or your back pocket. Be sure it's somewhere in a zippered compartment. There are a lot of pickpockets and they really good at what they do. You won't even feel them stealing your wallet. I know because it happened to me on a bus.

I was warned by so many people before I went to Europe last year about pick pocketing so I ended up going alittle bit paranoid. After my second day in Madrid I realized it wasn't bad unless you were "stupid" (not trying to be offensive). Like, even in the US if you put your wallet in a backpack you are risking it being able to be stolen rather easily. The first few days I wore a jacket with a front pocket and kept my stuff in there but then I losened up and went with a cross th body bag. I thought it was perfect! It fit just enough stuff that I needed and I felt my stuff was very safe in it becuase I could keep it in front of me and keep my hand on the zipper at all times. I also would pack my bag with my wallet on the bottom, camera on top of it, and phone on top of that just in case someone did pick pocket me it would be hardest to get to the wallet.