Viva Italia!!

[mouthdoc]

Just booked the Viva Italia for June 2011. This will be our first ABD tour. Any and all suggestions, tips, and opinions will be welcomed. Packing, what to do during free time, restaurants, etc, etc. I've read the trip reviews section - a lot of good information.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Congratulations...you are going to love this trip. Buy good tennis shoes to walk in and make sure they are worn in a bit. There is a lot of walking on this trip, but it is soooo well worth it. The guides will make some great suggestions for dinner. Il Chianti and La Roma (I believe those were the names) were the two places that we ate at in Rome. Buonissimo! If you are going in June, the temps will be warmer so you should be able to get away with shorts most of the time. You'll need long pants for men and skirts/capris for women to cover your knees in the Vatican. You'll also need to cover your shoulders there as well, so no tank tops in the Vatican. For your downtime in Venice....walk, walk, walk. Go to wherever your feet take you. It is an amazing city. I wish we spent 3 days or more there. Although, I will go back to Venice at some point on my own. Feel free to ask me any questions that you have.

 

[CocosMeme]

You will love it. It is my favorite vacation EVER! I ditto the comfortable walking shoes. I did not take tennis shoes with me and wound up going to the Puma store in Rome and paying a lot of money for some. I do love the shoes though! It is a lot of walking over ancient streets but it is so worth it. I still can't decide what my favorite place is between Rome, Florence, and Venice. I do know that my favorite hotel was the one in Artimo.

 

[tigger_ttfn]

You will love this trip! It was great! I loved all three, but Venice was my favorite.

Yes, definitely comfortable shoes!!! LOTS, and LOTS of walking. Several people wore Keens and swore by them. I bought some after I got home.

Expect to get lost when walking on your own...it's part of the adventure (especially in Venice).

Make sure to bring extra camera batteries, chargers, memory cards. There is so much to photograph.

The villa in Tuscany was the most beautiful and relaxing place ever! They have a huge pool so bring your bathing suit. They even had free WIFI in the 2nd floor lounging area. Rome had WIFI for only 3 euro for one hour, which was enough time to check in on life back home each morning.

Don't eat at White in Rome. It was suggested as a close place for lunch on our first day and we were too tired and hungry to care. It was very touristy, over-priced, and not very good. Not a good first impression of Italy. However, PePe's Bar next door had really good quick sandwiches. We stopped by there one evening.

A good restaurant in Rome was "alla Rampa" it was just a little ways down from the Spanish Steps, tucked in a corner.

 

[Diskidatheart]

A good restaurant in Rome was "alla Rampa" it was just a little ways down from the Spanish Steps, tucked in a corner.

That's the place we ate at...not La Roma....How quickly one forgets. I agree it was fantastic. For 10 Euros, you get one trip to the appetizer bar. My plate was stacked so full I was afraid stuff was going to fall off on my way back to the table. It was all good too.

 

[disneyfankev]

someone told me they were doing work on the Sistine Chapel and had scaffolding around it. they didnt know if it was still there. anyone know if it is.

 

[sayhello]

someone told me they were doing work on the Sistine Chapel and had scaffolding around it. they didnt know if it was still there. anyone know if it is.

There wasn't any scaffolding when I was there in May.

Sayhello

 

[disneyfankev]

There wasn't any scaffolding when I was there in May.

Sayhello

thanks

 

[LTFrench]

That's the place we ate at...not La Roma....How quickly one forgets. I agree it was fantastic. For 10 Euros, you get one trip to the appetizer bar. My plate was stacked so full I was afraid stuff was going to fall off on my way back to the table. It was all good too.

It was absolutely fabulous as were our dining companions, ; ) but somehow that menu tempts you for even more good things, now doesn't it???!

I have to say this was the best, by far the *very* best Eggplant Parmesan, I have ever had in my life. Pretty sure no one else got *even* a taste! DH absolutely loved the veal, too, but somehow I doubt it outranked the appetizer bar or the eggplant!

Il Chianti is another don't miss restaurant, very near to the fountain of Trevi, great for evening photos. The absolutely best Pasta Fagioli Soup, ever. Simple-ly-delicious! On via della Panetteria, Gelateria San Crispino, is the best for an after dinner gelato, even the non dairy eaters can find something delicioso, here!

Another late to learn lesson... If you like wine, order the house, anywhere in Italy, doesn't matter red or white or even walking along the street you can get a liter to go, or a taste, from the mom and pop shops, for the price of many a glass in the U.S. It goes down like water! And don't worry, you will walk it off in no time at all! After all, you are in Italy on the vacation of a lifetime!

 

[corky441]

The more I read from all of you, the more I "need" to do this trip.
Just waiting on another possible adventure, but if that doesn't pan out I will be putting down a deposit faster than you can say "Caio Italia".

 

[GAN]

My suggestions:
1) Men, wear comfortable pants -LL Bean sells beautiful lightweight pants. As they say, "when in Rome" couldn't be more true -sure you can wear shorts but Italians almost never wear shorts. Become part of the culture.

2) When dining try some different things -not things you can get at home. Food is an adventure in Italy, I don't consider myself very adventurous and had no problem. If you can find it, go for the cinghiale(wild boar) and Ribolita(if you will be visiting Tuscany.

3) Try to speak the language -Italians will have much more respect for you(and will help you). Learn the basic simple phrases and words.

Have a great trip!