Trip to Italy

[Dismagic1]

Hey guys,

Anyone ever gone on a trip to Italy? I want to do it soon. Been thinking it about it for a while and I've decided I'm just going to do it.

Did you do a lot of tours or just do it yourself?
What cities are a must?
Did you hit the beaches? Any favorites?
Any favorite restaurants?

 

[MassJester]

I have been to Italy a few times. The first time when I was still in HS, and then from time to time since then.

I'm not sure I would pick Italy to go to the beach. There are probably nicer beach experiences closer to home where you don't have to trade off other interesting places.

Rome is impressive. Not pretty, but very impressive. Don't spend less than three full days there, and I'm not sure you couldn't easily fill up three full weeks. Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Assisi and Capri really should be on your short list of places to see.

I'd avoid the summer months (July and August) because it gets hot, there isn't a great deal of air conditioning, and save for the north many places close up.

Tours can be a nice way to get around. Be careful crossing the street--I believe there are extra points handed out for actual contact with a tourist on foot

 

[ElizK]

Take me with you!!! I want to go, too!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We went to Italy when dh came back from Iraq. We flew into Milan, then took the train to Florence and stayed there for 5 days. We did a day trip from there to Pisa and another one to Chianti to see the wineries. It was an easy train ride to Pisa and we rented a car to go to Chianti, but if we do it again next time we will do a bus tour to Chianti (for wine drinking purposes). Beautiful.

Then we took the train to Venice for 4 days. We both loved Venice. Some people say to only go for a day but we could have stayed longer. We just liked walking around the canals and people watching.

From there we took the train back to Milan for a couple of days then flew home. Milan was interesting but since we live in a major city we don't really care to vacation in one. We would return to Florence or Venice but would skip Milan next time.

We loved Italy! We went in November which was the slow season. It was cool, but not cold, very nice for walking around. It wasn't crowded at all so it was very easy to see all of the major sites. Mostly we loved the food, super yummy!

On a separate trip to Switzerland we also spent a short amount of time in the Lake Bellagio/Lake Como area. Beautiful!

 

[Pakey]

My husband and I spent a few weeks in Italy 3-4 years ago. I would strongly recommend arranging a Vatican tour ahead of time as the lines to get in can be very long and most of the tours can get in early before it gets really crowded. We also bought tickets ahead of time for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence but it wasn't a tour; just a way to avoid the standby entrance lines. I think everything else we did on our own by just buying tickets the day of.

Although the Vatican and a few other sights in Rome were spectacular, we didn't enjoy our stay in the city as much as we had enjoyed Florence and Venice. We also stayed in Milan and Sorrento. Rome was the end of the trip and after 2+ weeks, I think I was just worn out by the time we got there. I would not recommend Milan although the language problems have given us fun stories to retell.

I have no idea on beaches as that was not an interest we had. As far as food, we never had a bad meal. We didn't plan any meals ahead of time, we would just walk until we found something that looked good and we had great luck.

 

[Katy Belle]

Italy! We went for about a week a couple of years ago. So gorgeous! We planned our own trip, but did use guides at some of the major attractions... The Vatican, The Coliseum, etc. Our style on any vacation is to do it mostly on our own, but have guides for some things. You will see and understand so much more if someone tells you about it...in English

We just did Rome, Pisa, and Venice. Kind of regret not getting Florence in there...but we can always go again!

Get a couple of Guide books and start planning!!! By the way... my favorite guide books, for anywhere, are Fodors and Frommers. Both have decent websites as well. Oh, and tripadvisor.com! Great forums, like the Disboards!

Have a great trip!
Katy

 

[FireDancer]

I did a two week trip through Italy in 2008 and loved every minute of it. I went with a friend from high school and we split it between just exploring on our own and an organized trip.

We arrived in Italy and spent a day in Venice before taking a train down to Florence. We spent on night, the next day, and until noon on a third day exploring on our own. We then met up with VBT for a week-long cycling trip through the Siena province of Tuscany. After the trip the tour organizers, VBT, dropped us off in Rome and we spent 3 days on our own exploring the capital before returning home.

The biking portion of the trip was by far the highlight and I can't recommend strongly enough seeing Tuscany on a bike. Florence was the best of the three other cities but not even it could compare with peddling between the little towns of Tuscany with nothing but a bike.

There is so much information out there that there is no reason you can't see the larger cities on your own with a little research.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Florence is my favorite city in Italy. I can't imagine not visiting the Accademia Gallery to see the statue of David. There are so many beautiful cities, though, do some reading and see what appeals to you. Art, churches, ruins from the Roman Empire...

Venice is beautiful, Rome of course, Sicily, Vatican City. Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are interesting sights. The Sistine Chapel and the Last Supper are amazing to see. Going into the Blue Grotto on Capri is one of my favorite memories.

We never did any tours. When I was a kid, we'd rent a car and drive all over (my dad grew up there, so he knew his way around!) As an adult on my own, we just took the train from city to city, walked, bussed it or got rides from my relatives within different cities and went to the sights we wanted to see. I personally don't like tours because I don't like to be on someone else's schedule, but some people love them. Either way, I'm sure you'd have a great time.

Beaches, my uncle had a place in Tonfano and I wouldn't recommend it. Much better beaches in the U.S., and I personally would rather spend time in Italy's many fascinating cities, and save a beach vacation for another time.

Have fun. Italy is beautiful and so rich in art and history. You will love it!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Am I the only one who wants to make a joke about visting the Volturi and visting the coliseum (i belive). Ok im twilight addict

 

[themilesfamily]

Am I the only one who wants to make a joke about visting the Volturi and visting the coliseum (i belive). Ok im twilight addict

I was thinking about the movie "A Room with a View" -- the first half was set in Florence.

 

[Mamu]

We have been 5 times.

We have done the Italian Riveria and into France, Lovely!

We have done Florence, Venice, Rome, Pisa and Southern and Northern Tuscany, Liguria Region, Lombardy Region, Emilia Romagna Region and the Veneto Region.

We do not do a tour. When we are in the country we stay in B&B's and take day trips to the small towns. Here we rent a car. When we stay in the cities we stay in hotels and take the train.

I do the planning. Our first tip make lots of mistakes. We now do the cities first and use the train. Then rent a car and do the country.

My favorite area's are Tuscany, and the Italian Riveria. My favorite cities are Florence, Rome, Siena and The Cinque Terre. I love all of Italy and Southern France. We have not traveled south of Rome and have not done the Umbria Region. (I plan to do the Umbria region next trip, I hear it a lot like Tuscany)

I did lots of reading before going and still made lots of mistakes, but you do learn from your mistakes.

We do not do tours I find them too restricting. We love the night life in the big cities. There so much to do. We do our sightseeing in the morning (Churches, museums etc.) Siesta in the afternoons. We walk around, have our dinner then enjoy the night life in the evening. Nothing like sitting on the bench till 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning at the Trevi or the Spanish Steps in Rome, or dancing the night away in St. Marks Square, Venice, or just sitting in one of the squares in Florence and people watching. I always hate to return home. ( don't tell anyone but I love it more then Disney )

 

[shortbun]

Take a look at www.italiatours.com

I used to use them for independent prepackaged Italy programs. I think you'll at least get some ideas from the site. It's a nice way to do some independent touring and some prebooked tours all in one prebooked program. You can put it together yourself or call them and they can make recommendations. If you consult with the experts, you are less likely to waste time and end up someplace you don't like.

 

[tiggerlover]

My husband is retired military and we spent 8-1/2 years of his 20 year career in Italy. I have lived in Aversa (outside of Naples), Gaeta and Verona, I love Italy, there is so much to see and do there.

As someone previously said, I would stay away from Italy in July and August, way too hot and starting about mid-July is vacation time, with August being the main vacation month of most Europeans and the country pretty much shuts down. If you are looking to go soon, June is good as the weather is bearable and in country it is considered low season. Late September and October are nice as well.

Beaches would not be my choice destination for a trip to Italy, there are so many other things to see and do and in my opinion the beaches are just mediocre.

As for the tour guide, they can be helpful, however, I think you get more out of your trip if you did it on your own (with lots of research you can have a fabulous experience). The eurorail is a great way to travel, so I would definitely look into using that to visit the different cities.

Some of my favorite destinations are Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Rome, Venice, Lake Garda and Verona.