I'm helping plan a trip to Italy with my family, no kids going. We want to go with a tour group as it will be easier to get around, we'll probably see more places, and don't have to plan as much. Is this a good idea? We're going to try to find one that also gives plenty of independent time. Do you guys know which tour companies are good? which cities are the best to go to? what are the best things to see? Please tell me any other recommendations.
I'm planning a trip to Italy, any suggestions?
- Thread starter Azndude51
- Start date
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
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I lived in Italy for ~ 5 months. Honestly....if you want to enjoy yourself I would take it easy. A lot of those tour groups rush you around and you never get to absorb anything. I can tell you the places that you want to see....but it all depends on how much time you are spending there to maximize your fun/culture. You probably won't have ttime to see the really interesting villas scattered throughout Tuscany (most are touristy anyway), but you must try and get to Siena.
PM me, I'll give you the lowdown
PM me, I'll give you the lowdown
(1) i would avoid tour groups like the plague
(2) the cities you should check out depend upon your interests (ancient romans, medieval, renaissance, wine, food, etc)
(3) do you like big cities? small cities? towns? farms?
(2) the cities you should check out depend upon your interests (ancient romans, medieval, renaissance, wine, food, etc)
(3) do you like big cities? small cities? towns? farms?
- Jul 19, 2001
- 38,572
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were going in March/April (11 days split between Switzerland and Northern Italy), just finished booking the hotels... I send what zin said, i'm not a fan of big tour groups... Finding you way around in a country that speaks a foreign language is half the fun. Its also the best way to get to know the people.
Some helpful sites;
http://www.tripadvisor.com - The hotel reviews are excellent, make sure to check out the candid pics. Found some AMAZING gems on that site. The forums are great as well.
http://www.raileurope.com - Consider a Pass, Can save you a bundle if your using the trains alot. Also, great site to check train travel time between cities.
Some helpful sites;
http://www.tripadvisor.com - The hotel reviews are excellent, make sure to check out the candid pics. Found some AMAZING gems on that site. The forums are great as well.
http://www.raileurope.com - Consider a Pass, Can save you a bundle if your using the trains alot. Also, great site to check train travel time between cities.
1. Florence
2. Rome
3. Venice/Sienna
I've never been on a tour group before, but if you've never been and you'll be with older people who may not enjoy a lot of spontaneity, I think a tour group may be better. It can be intimidating for people who've never been before..
2. Rome
3. Venice/Sienna
I've never been on a tour group before, but if you've never been and you'll be with older people who may not enjoy a lot of spontaneity, I think a tour group may be better. It can be intimidating for people who've never been before..
If it were up to me, I would take my time and explore independently, but my parents are scared of getting lost as their English isn't so great. Also, I think they don't want to deal with the hassle of figuring out where to go and what to see.
GTaudiophile
Lifer
- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
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I am totally against tour companies.
Select some cities.
Read up on them.
Get your hotels.
Arrange your transportation.
GO!
Explore on your own. Don't learn through someone else's filter.
I highly recommend Bellagio on Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Parma, and Rome as a start.
Select some cities.
Read up on them.
Get your hotels.
Arrange your transportation.
GO!
Explore on your own. Don't learn through someone else's filter.
I highly recommend Bellagio on Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Parma, and Rome as a start.
Tips on Italy.
Don't drive, they are crazy over there.
Their are a lot of thieves, watch your wallet.
Don't drive, they are crazy over there.
Their are a lot of thieves, watch your wallet.
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
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i would put Rome 3rd.
Florence has 2x the Rennaisance art that Rome has, and Siena is just kick-ass. Venice you visit just to visit...b/c you have no choice in the matter.
Avoid Milano like the plague, or just go straight to Como if you're in the area. (you have no choice but to pass through if taking a train/bus from Switzerland so...)
IF it's soon, then you won't be in peak tourist time, so a little easier, but still cold (Florence is about the same latitude as VA, so they get similar weather) Tuscany is all about hills and valleys, which means that a lot of the spots you'll be walking around can get chilly.
Try to spend time here:
1) Florence (1 week is minimal)
2) Venice (~4 days is good)
3) Seina (can be part of Florence trip, spend a day there)
3a) various villages in Tuscany (San Gimignano, Greve, Panzano, Assisi if you can get there (which is in Umbria I believe)...whatever)
3b) La Cinque Terra. If you like to hike and love incredible views in quaint towns with great food, these isolated cliff villages are spectacular. Heavy during tourist season. Very little english spoken, though. actually takes ~3 days to see it all (relaxed). The hike is easy if you've hiked moderately only once in your life
4) Rome. ...it's Rome. why not? you must see the Vatican. check out the Forum, and the tomb of Julius the second is very close to the Colloseo/Furo area (Michalengelo's "Moses" is there; largely considered his greatest work Others: David--Florence; La Pieta 1, Rome. La Pieta 3, Florence (my favorite), Last Judgement/Ceiling, Rome.
(can be done in 3 days)
IF you're an art whore, spend your time in Florence. Rome has great stuff of course, but simply can not compete with what Florence has to offer. (Uffizi, L' Accadamia, Museo del' Duomo) Both have excellent cathedrals and churches to check out. IF you need some more suggestions for Florence, then let me know....
Florence has 2x the Rennaisance art that Rome has, and Siena is just kick-ass. Venice you visit just to visit...b/c you have no choice in the matter.
Avoid Milano like the plague, or just go straight to Como if you're in the area. (you have no choice but to pass through if taking a train/bus from Switzerland so...)
IF it's soon, then you won't be in peak tourist time, so a little easier, but still cold (Florence is about the same latitude as VA, so they get similar weather) Tuscany is all about hills and valleys, which means that a lot of the spots you'll be walking around can get chilly.
Try to spend time here:
1) Florence (1 week is minimal)
2) Venice (~4 days is good)
3) Seina (can be part of Florence trip, spend a day there)
3a) various villages in Tuscany (San Gimignano, Greve, Panzano, Assisi if you can get there (which is in Umbria I believe)...whatever)
3b) La Cinque Terra. If you like to hike and love incredible views in quaint towns with great food, these isolated cliff villages are spectacular. Heavy during tourist season. Very little english spoken, though. actually takes ~3 days to see it all (relaxed). The hike is easy if you've hiked moderately only once in your life
4) Rome. ...it's Rome. why not? you must see the Vatican. check out the Forum, and the tomb of Julius the second is very close to the Colloseo/Furo area (Michalengelo's "Moses" is there; largely considered his greatest work Others: David--Florence; La Pieta 1, Rome. La Pieta 3, Florence (my favorite), Last Judgement/Ceiling, Rome.
(can be done in 3 days)
IF you're an art whore, spend your time in Florence. Rome has great stuff of course, but simply can not compete with what Florence has to offer. (Uffizi, L' Accadamia, Museo del' Duomo) Both have excellent cathedrals and churches to check out. IF you need some more suggestions for Florence, then let me know....
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,994
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- 146
Their English isn't great? hmmm, you should have no problem in any major town with English, German, or French. It's Europe, so they speak several languages very well. You probably know this, but....
Anyway, most of the places you will ahve time to visit should be no problem. Italian is so close to Spanish that it isn't funny. (If that's what your parents speak?) Gestures are big too. Italians speak with their arms; it's easy to learn.
Check out my mini-guide to Italy on my friend's travel site. Also, there is a lot more info on Italy on his site.
http://www.travbuddy.com/The-most-important-cities-in-Italy-for-tourists-v1031
http://www.travbuddy.com/The-most-important-cities-in-Italy-for-tourists-v1031
Cefalu, Sicily. A beautiful mountain's cliff face overlooks the entire town. You can climb to the top in the morning and see the sunrise alongside some Norman/Roman/Greek castle ruins. The beach is nice. The people are nice.
Sicily Sicily Sicily. You must see Sicily. The train to Palermo stops in Cefalu. Take a few days there and continue on to Palermo.
If you are 80 years old, go in a tour group. If not then avoid.
Sicily Sicily Sicily. You must see Sicily. The train to Palermo stops in Cefalu. Take a few days there and continue on to Palermo.
If you are 80 years old, go in a tour group. If not then avoid.
Fern
Elite Member
- Sep 30, 2003
- 26,907
- 174
- 106
I lived in Europe for about 8 years. My wife is Southern Italian, so we go back to visit the family etc.
Me - I would skip Venice, or make the visit really short. Its just waaay too turisty for my tastes. Over-priced crappy food only fit for tourists and tons of boobs with camera's. Might as well be at Disney World.
Instead, check out Sorrento and nearby places such as the Amalfi Coast, Capri (and other islands), Mt Vesuvious etc.
Rome's cool. So is Florence.
Check out some of Southern italy too - Sicily etc.
Enjoy,
Fern
Me - I would skip Venice, or make the visit really short. Its just waaay too turisty for my tastes. Over-priced crappy food only fit for tourists and tons of boobs with camera's. Might as well be at Disney World.
Instead, check out Sorrento and nearby places such as the Amalfi Coast, Capri (and other islands), Mt Vesuvious etc.
Rome's cool. So is Florence.
Check out some of Southern italy too - Sicily etc.
Enjoy,
Fern
Metron
Golden Member
- Oct 16, 2003
- 1,163
- 0
- 0
The Gotthard Pass between Lucern, Switzerland and Lugano, Italy is a really nice drive. Some of the hotels in Lucern on the lake are very nice. Spend some time in Florence... 3 cathedrals there, lots of leather goods (bought a nice briefcase there), and a museum with many of Michaelangelo's works, the Gallery of the Accademia di Belle Arti.
If you get time to drive down, spend a day at Pompeii.
If you get time to drive down, spend a day at Pompeii.
Great places...I have family in Rome and Genoa...to bad you dont have time or can arrange to go down to the Calabrian Region( Reggio de Calabria) thats the boot and there are some nice beaches, quaint towns and very peaceful. Its a change from the hussle and bussle of the major cities.
What I meant was that there are a lot of thieves in almost every densely populated area, especially ones with a lot of tourists around. Europe has a lot of large cities with a ton of tourists. But of course there are pick pockets in other large cities outside Europe too.
I would go with a tour because they make it simple for you to go around and highlight the important places. However, if you really want to take you time, I would just use the public transportation there because if is very efficient. That way you can take your time and look at the important places and the not so important places. When I went to Italy, I went on a Trafalgar tour and it was very enlightening since I did not know my way around. When my grandparents went, they took a whole month and traveled using the trains, used a guidebook, and learned a lot as well. It just basically is how much time are you planning on putting into it and do you want stress.
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