Going to Italy question

Thinking about taking a trip to Northern Italy (Renaissance area) to treat Wife. She wants to go to Venice.

I'm leaning toward an organized tour as it is more economical and efficient.

Any thoughts? When to go? Tour operator? Etc?

and the working people. they make better food.

a few years ago. Great sandwiches in the canteen and only 0.90 Euros to boot.

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I hear that sorta stuff is getting unpopular around the globe.

1. Insight Guide: for general information on culture and history and narrative descriptions of the sights

2. The Rick Steves guidebook (if you haven't been before), because he practically talks you through the most common sights

3. Lonely Planet, Fodors, or Rough Guide, best for info on lodgings and food, although take the recommendations with a grain of salt and check travelers' reports on lodgings with the website called TripAdvisor. On my 2006 trip to England, I was considering staying at a certain B&B in Oxford, which was recommended by Fodor's, but all the recent reviews on TripAdvisor were exceedingly negative. The B&B had come under new management, who had let the place run down and were grouchy besides.

and have a couple of his books. He also does tours.

I am a person who (perhaps unfortunately) travels with a Plan. My Mother on the other hand is an intrepid traveler who shows up in Moscow and then looks for a place to stay.

And I have a soft-spot for Venice. It's like no other city in the world, as you walk around there you can pretend you're living in another century without too much suspension of disbelief.

Until you get the credit card bills!

I travel to Western Europe every year if I can, but this year I just can't justify the cost. My suggestion to you is to spend some time in Venice, but beware the tourist traps. Yes, you have to go to St Mark's square, but don't even think of buying dinner there. And as for a Gondola ride--I've never taken one, haven't been too upset because I missed the experience. They're pretty touristy as well.

And as for accomodation, a few years ago I found a website called Venere.Com which has never steered me wrong for nice lodging in Europe. I stayed at a really cute B and B right by the Ferrovia (railway station) in Venice 2006 which was not too expensive.

I can't stress the sticker-shock of converting Yankee Dollars to Euro enough! If budget is a concern, remember in Venice you're very close to Croatia. I stayed just east of Trieste in a little town called Rovinj, which is absolutely charming--in the Croatian wine country. The currency over there is called Kuna, and it's only 2 hours by train and bus outside of Venice. I also got a cool stamp in my passport, cuz I transited thru Slovenia. Everyone in Croatia speaks English and the Istrian peninsula is really pretty.

Just a consideration. And although I enjoyed Croatia, nothing compares to Italy. I'm just in love with the place, and I can't ever leave it for too long!

I worked with some Croatian engineers for a few years in the late 90's. Lovely people. One guy pressed his own olive oil and made his own grappa.

go on a tour.

Personally I'd rather wander around at my own pace though.

No organized tour though. The hotels we stayed at were right in the main tourist/attraction area where walking was not a big problem.

Florence is beautiful and rich in art and culture. Go to The Duomo <sp>,The Accademia and Ufizzi Gallery. Take the double decker tour busses where you can get on and off for a 24 hr period. About 13 Euros per person but worth it.





Venice is the coolest city I have ever been to. Boats, water and SHOPS everywhere. The restaurants are expensive, but with the dollar in the toilet, you'll see that all over Europe. Take a boat tour to Murano. The glass work you will see there is unbelievable. St Marks Sq is a great if you have a camera. Just beware that there are hundred of thousands of tourists there every day.





Can you say Gelato??

Rome is Rome and everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.We stayed a mere 15 minute walk from the ancient city.
What was kind of funny was that out hotel was right across the square from the Italian Parliament. Soldiers with automatic weapons standing around smoking cigs and taking pics with tourists. Very friendly in Rome.





Once a month on a special Sunday, the Coliseum is FREE! Its a Vatican thing going on. We happened to be there on that day. It was awesome!
Take the double decker tour in Rome too.
The Vatican had 20,000 people waiting in line outside so we decided not to go there.

Tip: Never deal with anyone who approaches you for taxis or tours etc. They charge you three times as much as the more established and state sanctioned services and you always end up getting short-changed or ever robbed.
We went in late September when the weather wasnt too hot. I hear that July is a bad time weatherwise.

If you are inclined to take the tour group route you will have no problem finding a service. Check with your travel agent. Never buy a tour from someone who approaches you on the streets. Be prepared to wear a headset and walk around behind a guide for hours a day.

Italy is very beautiful with very friendly people. Its expensive but I reccomend it to all.

Good luck with your trip!

You can drive up there, but the walk (it's a bit of a hike) up there is great--through the old gates of the city and up the hill to the top, where there is plenty of open space, a large replica of David, and a truly amazing view, particularly if you're there for the sunset ...

has statues and a great gallery.

Both towns are spectacular.
Venice is nice but do not plan on more than a couple of days there.Spend your time in Florence and Sienna instead.

Personally, I don't like tour groups. I like to experience places at my own pace...and see what I want to see. My big thing, when traveling, is to pretend I live in a place instead of visiting it....and, ironically, people often ask my husband and I (especially in Hawaii) if we are from the places we visit! lol :hi:

I don't like those that have every minute regimented.
But I do like to have some plan when I travel overseas.
Like where I'm gonna lay my head at night.
And I recommend a local hotel, not a Holiday Inn or other chain.

Some sights are best seen by guided tours. Especially by a native.
You can usually sign up for them locally through the concierge.

And there are some organized tours that get you from airport to hotel, and between hotels, and hit the important sights, but leave you quite a bit of free time to explore on your own.

Good luck and I wish I could go with you.
Italy is one of my favorite places.

We have been on two Cosmos tours and have LOVED the experience. The first time we did "The Best of Britain" and the second "European Jewels." This time our tour is "Focus on Italy and Paris" and is similar to the "Jewels" one, with the addition of Rome, Capri and Pompeii.

We met so many wonderful people of all ages and from all over the world. The tour directors were extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and we were given ample time (for the most part) to see the best parts of various cities. We would highly highly recommend it.

We went to Britain right after 9/11 and were the only Americans on the tour, as everyone else had canceled due to fear, I guess. We went on the other tour in November 2005, which was too cold - the Piazza in Florence was absolutely FREEZING and windy. Now we're going from May 10th-26th, which should be a much better time.

I'm told to NOT go in July and August - way too many people going on holiday then.

Here's their website if you want to take a look:

http://www.cosmos.com

And with their discounts it became somewhat more affordable.
Buy the trip insurance too. Its great if you get sick/hurt etc...We had to use their 24 hr concierge service when I forgot to pack the flight info from Paris to Venice. Had no idea what flight or airline. I called them at 3:00 AM US EST time and they gathered our flight info for us in about 10 minutes.
Its about $200.00 per person but well worth it.

The architecture in Florence is spectaular. The crowds can cause claustrophobia,
and the pushy Arabs, Pakistanis and Gyspies will get on your nerves if you let them,
and not if you don't. Too crowded for my taste. See the sights, and then go across
the river and up to Fiesole to relax.

Siena is beautiful. I loved the place, and the interior of the cathedral is a marvel,
much as is the outside of the one in Florence. I have never been to Venice, to the
great disdain of all my European friends, but everyone says it's amazing.

With the current exchange rate, be prepared for some serious sticker shock. The Italians
milk tourists for all they can, and then some. A breakfast of coffee and a roll can run
you $20, and simple meals $30-$50 per person. You'll have to search and dig for cheaper
places. They're there, but not obvious to a casual visitor.

Shopping is an experience there (again, be prepared to feel faint when you convert the
prices into dollars), and learn some Italian, even some simple phrases, if you want a
friendlier reception from the natives. The places that will give you the best bargains
(a relative term with the euro at $1.58) are the ones where the owners speak the least
foreign languages.

Don't go if you have heart problems (I do). The food is to die for, and I nearly did!

Not caring about costs at the time (it was our honeymoon),after the meal I realized it cost us about $147.00 in US dollars.
Go outside the tourist areas for affordable meals.

But the next time you go, either make sure your spouse's name is "Gates" ot "Buffett,"
or start caring about the costs! I've been stationed over here (Europe) for a long while
now, and I've never had to deal with costs like these. The dollar slipped BELOW parity
with the Swiss Franc for the first time EVER. It is getting VERY scary.

You're right about going outside the tourist areas, but even for normal mortals cooking
at home, it's a challenge. We had my mom-in-law down last week (my wife is German), and went
grocery shopping for 3 days. We got everything the old-fashioned way, at the open-air market
in town from the farmers that come in 3 times a week. The tab came out to $250 when converted
into dollars.

But a little extra precaution and not putting cash and credit cards in the same place on your body helps a lot. I suggest making a photocopy of your passport and redacting the number in case anyone wants to see your ID, since state drivers licenses don't always do the trick. Put your real passport in the hotel safe.

I must take exception to your characterisation of "Pushy Arabs and Pakistanis". Alarm bells go off whenever I see an adjective in front of a whole cultural group. I would politely request that we don't stereotype like that on DU.

And they were pushy. I was in no way referring to Arabs and Pakistanis as a whole.
I have friends among both groups who quite agree with me about their countrymen in Florence
(and other European tourist spots). When I refer to ignorant arrogant Americans who
barge into shops over here, speaking only English, not even asking if they are understood,
and referring to the locals as "stupid foreigners," in no way do I characterize my own
country as being inhabited solely by such people, either. But there is no denying that
many tourists from America ARE that way. In neither case was a generalization expressed
or implied.

called "Life and Art in Renaissance Venice." I also have Frommer's Northern Italy and Fodor's Italy 2007. Everything you want to know, including temperatures each month and best times to travel places.

I am going on a tour but it is with a new company so I cannot recommend it yet. In 2006 I went to Italy on a Smithsonian tour "Italian Masterpieces." It is one of the the FEW Smithsonian trips that are affordable. Look this one up at www.smithsonianjourneys.org. Look for "value priced" tours, there aren't very many. This one was good. If you go on tour, ignore the meals they "include" at the hotels and restaurants where they pick the menus for you. My friend and I just set off on our own and found great places to eat. We got lost at night trying to get back to the hotel from the Colesseum (we wanted to see it at night) and spent a long time finding our way on the confusing streets. But it was fun and not at all dangerous for two women at night (Naples would be another story I hear).

I do the tour thing because I am older. I probably would do Tuscany in a car if I had someone younger with me driving. There are little places in Tuscany I didn't get to visit that I would like to. And you can just drive around to local restaurants for fabulous meals.

Besides the usual Rome, Florence, Siena and Venice, I would strongly recommend Lucca, which you can get to by train. Also Perugia, which is actually in Umbria, where you can buy fanstastic chocolate and eat pasta with truffles. Altho I loved Assisi for the Giotto masterpieces in the basilica, I was put off by the prevalence of cheap religious stuff being sold everywhere in the town.

AS for language, learn what you need to know, such as directions, and what you'll need to know at the train station. It helps to know the names of food, but of course the Italians have lots of menu items that name the dish after the chef (so you don't know what's in it)! I had a semester of Italian I had taken in 2005 prior to going. And I had gone to Sicily in 05, so I had experienced the language first hand.

I didn't bring along much in the way of dollars (just enough for when I returned to the US). The best way of getting euros is in the ATM machines, just make sure your PIN number is all in numerals (not letters). They won't take traveler's checks anymore, BTW. My ATM card and my Visa (another MC for backup) were fine for everything. It helps to get as much change in euros as you can.

If you are going to Venice, you might want to stay in nearby Padua and take the train in. It's cheaper and you can also see the magnificent Giottos in the Capelli degli Scrovegni there.

Hope you are prepared for the 24 hour clock. I still have to pause to figure out 1800 (6 pm)for instance.

I'm also going to Turin and Bologna on this May trip. I will give a report back to DU when I return. PM me if I can be of any further help!

Personally I'd go on my own time and book a day trip as the urge takes me. You can usually find Tourist Information Centres in most city centres throughout Europe.

One of my best friends was married in Florence a few years ago. They toured all over the area on their own including Venice. Booking side trips as the urge took them. They had a wonderful time.

But getting around Venice (since you have to park off the island and take a vaporetta in to the city itself, no cars allowed) is dicey. Suggest trolling around northern Italy with car and arranging a tour to Venezia. Might be easier.

PM me if you need help. I live 4 hours from Venice.

Lucky me!! :hi:

Me and sweetie are going in September (the boy in the army gets out then YEAH). I know nothing about the area, never had a chance at all to go to Europe. We will be up near Vicenza, right next door to Venice. The man wants to go to Rome, and Germany he also want to rent a plane and fly around the Alps (sometimes he has rather different ideas), I want to go to Venice. Somehow we will manage to each get some of what we want. Truly the best part will be seeing the child whole and safe after a stop loss return to active duty in Afghanistan.