Traveling to Italy -- tips?

[EKKC]

Thinking about going off to Italy with the gf around May 06. Anybody know of any good websites for traveling Italy tips?

Planning to fly Alitalia and go to Rome and take train to Venice. Where should I get train ticket? Here in US or wait till I get there?

I know its half a year away, but thats good enough time for my lazy self to do researches

 

[nageov3t]

tip: know at least passing italian

 

[EKKC]

really? i dont. i only know some spanish. but i thought out of French, Germans and Italians, that the Italians are the most friendly europeepz out there

 

[sonz70]

Bring condoms

 

[tennisflip]

Take a winery tour.

 

[EKKC]

hahahaha... i sure will

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: EKKC
really? i dont. i only know some spanish. but i thought out of French, Germans and Italians, that the Italians are the most friendly europeepz out there

maybe

but they dont all speak english. youve got several months, thats long enough to get some basic vocabulary going for you, and will make the trip easier and much more enjoyable.

and eat. eat alot of great local food wherever you go.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: EKKC
really? i dont. i only know some spanish. but i thought out of French, Germans and Italians, that the Italians are the most friendly europeepz out there

the only place I had a harder time finding an english speaker (outside of the touristy areas) was Monaco

 

[mrrman]

I am Italian and have family still there...buy the train passes there, get a simple phrase book that will help you speak some words. It will be much more appreciated. If staying in Rome you can get a cheap hostel near the train station, that way your are clsoe to all the site otherwise a hotel will cost about $100-$150 per night. PM me if you want to know more.

 

[iamtrout]

It really depends on which team you're on. If you're CT, you can either go through the apartments, the market, or the area with the stairs. I hate the apartments because the exit can be a huge bottleneck, and it's easy for a sniper to get you. The stairs are alright, but T's have the initial high ground so it can get tricky. The market is my favorite because it's easily conquered. Then do your best to get to the house.

If you're T's all you really have to do is stay at spawn and guard the long hallway, the stairs, and the apartments. You are defending the hostages after all. Have an awper in the second level of the house snipe the hallway and another the bridge area where the CTs come out of the apartments.

 

[Dimmu]

Originally posted by: iamtrout
It really depends on which team you're on. If you're CT, you can either go through the apartments, the market, or the area with the stairs. I hate the apartments because the exit can be a huge bottleneck, and it's easy for a sniper to get you. The stairs are alright, but T's have the initial high ground so it can get tricky. The market is my favorite because it's easily conquered. Then do your best to get to the house.

If you're T's all you really have to do is stay at spawn and guard the long hallway, the stairs, and the apartments. You are defending the hostages after all. Have an awper in the second level of the house snipe the hallway and another the bridge area where the CTs come out of the apartments.

oh...my....that's....just, wow. *sakes head in disaproval*

 

[Ornery]

INNOCENTS ABROAD (II)

• Bathrooms are a point of culture shock for North Americans. Italians ? Europeans, generally, in my experience ? do not truly understand the shower. They understand the bath (and the bathtub), and out of sensitivity for their foreign guests they have tried to graft the American-style shower onto it. When they provide a shower stall, it is often so small that an average-sized person has trouble turning around in it...
  
  Italians have discovered how to achieve full employment in a stagnant economy. At the entrance of every restroom in every truck stop or other public place in the country sits a man or woman (sometimes both) collecting money from users of the facilities. Sometimes an actual cashier collects a set fee of 50 Eurocents ? about 60¢ US. (By my informal accounting we spent at least $50 using public toilettes in Italy.)

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: iamtrout
It really depends on which team you're on. If you're CT, you can either go through the apartments, the market, or the area with the stairs. I hate the apartments because the exit can be a huge bottleneck, and it's easy for a sniper to get you. The stairs are alright, but T's have the initial high ground so it can get tricky. The market is my favorite because it's easily conquered. Then do your best to get to the house.

If you're T's all you really have to do is stay at spawn and guard the long hallway, the stairs, and the apartments. You are defending the hostages after all. Have an awper in the second level of the house snipe the hallway and another the bridge area where the CTs come out of the apartments.

I didnt really get this until I thought about counterstrike... a game I no longer play

no train tips? should I leave Rome at night and try to spend the night in the train so I arrive Venice in the morning? save some extra Euros from a night in hotel? how much those train tickets run for anyway

 

[us3rnotfound]

Originally posted by: iamtrout
It really depends on which team you're on. If you're CT, you can either go through the apartments, the market, or the area with the stairs. I hate the apartments because the exit can be a huge bottleneck, and it's easy for a sniper to get you. The stairs are alright, but T's have the initial high ground so it can get tricky. The market is my favorite because it's easily conquered. Then do your best to get to the house.

If you're T's all you really have to do is stay at spawn and guard the long hallway, the stairs, and the apartments. You are defending the hostages after all. Have an awper in the second level of the house snipe the hallway and another the bridge area where the CTs come out of the apartments.

QFT

 

[chcarnage]

Between Germany, France and Italy, there's a compromise, geographically speaking: Switzerland But okay, let's talk about Italy

Italian cuisine is among Europe's best in my opinion! Pizza and Pasta, Lasagna and a good variety of salads should be available in every restaurant. And the desserts, yum: Tiramisù, Ice Cream, Panna Cotta... A speciality in northern Italy are Cantucci cookies and a sweet wine, Vinsanto. They're often eaten together, maybe you can try them, too... But since menu cards often only are Italian I'd suggest to learn some vocabulary, else you risk to miss some good stuff.

In some of the biggest cities, like Rome and Milan, you'll encounter people mostly from African provenience who tries to sell you stuff like wristbands or cardboard toys. Some of them are pickpockets and con artists so just ignore them. I'd only buy from the people who have a stand, if necessary.

If you plan to visit churches like Saint Peter's Dome in Rome, there's a dresscode: The shoulders of male and female visitors must be covered.

There are tons of showplaces in Italy... Try Wikipedia for a convenient search.

 

[Linflas]

Been a long time since I was there when I was in the Navy but I really enjoyed the time I spent there. Try to find restaurants frequented by the locals. If they give you the standard 5 language euro menu try to see if you can get the "real" menu, the one that has more than spaghetti, pizza, lasagna etc on it. We did a lot of train travel on overnight runs and on uncrowded trains we could generally sack out in the compartments without paying the sleeper surcharge. Try to always get tickets before you get on the train, they have surcharges for buying them onboard. If you know some spanish then that will help you get by as well, after all the languages share a common root.

 

[chcarnage]

Originally posted by: Ornery
INNOCENTS ABROAD (II)

This is a good find! I agree with most of what he writes.

But I've the impression that likely he visited Italy with more money and less time at hand than EKKC is going to. If you're searching fast food in Italy, really, stay with simple things like Bruschetta and sandwiches or go straight to McDonalds.

I don't like the Italian tapwater because it's often chlorinated. But bottled water isn't dear if you buy it at a Supermercato and not on the street. And, the lack of water fountains is typical for Italy but absolutely not for its neighbor countries, especially Austria and Switzerland.

Originally posted by: EKKC
no train tips? should I leave Rome at night and try to spend the night in the train so I arrive Venice in the morning? save some extra Euros from a night in hotel? how much those train tickets run for anyway

Price informations are available here. I once took the night train for a trip from Switzerland to Rome and I had no problems (on the other hand, I don't have sky-high demands). I remember that in the night the train stopped at a train station and I've had neon light in the room for a quarter of an hour though.

 

[AndrewR]

Heed the advice in this thread. Some good nuggets here. I loved Italy though I really didn't travel as much as I wanted to there (5 days in Rome, 4 days on Cinque Terre). Avoid the tourist traps and watch out for gypsies trying to pickpocket you. They can be really nasty near the forums in Rome. If you're pressed for time, you might consider Firenze (Florence) instead of Venezia. It's closer to Rome, and everyone who has been there raves about it. I've heard great things about Venice, but it's sometimes tempered with some downsides. Can't recall ever hearing anything bad about Florence though.

One thing to keep in mind with overnights on trains is that if you get a sleeper car, you are less likely to have to worry about being robbed when you sleep (especially if you rig the door with a seatbelt to lock it). I personally never had any trouble, but I know that people that did.

Have fun!

 

[Gamingphreek]

While you are there...it is quite a trip >2 hours, and you need a car or something, but you really need to take a trip to Volterra. The view as you look back is utterly breathtaking.

Florence was also very nice. Stay away from Naples though. Very rough city. If you go across the bay to Sorrento, you can check naples out for the day though, and then you get some realy awesome (ie: romantic) shots on the beach or something at the bay of naples (from the Sorrento side).

As for Italian, well when i went there you would be suprised how many know english. YOu shouldn't have too much of a problem. It is always nice know your basic words like "Please, Thankyou, How much? etc...).

My group of friends didn't really have problems with Gypsies. One was hanging around in the group and one of us shooed her out ("VI VI") and she put a curse on us but other than that they weren't too big of a problem.

Alitalia was a very nice flight in my experience, from what i remember they use the Tri-Engine Airbus A320 jets. Space was kind of cramped and it is ~9 hour flight (layover included). YOu may want to save for first class so you can put your seat back and get some rest. Jet lag really does kill you there.

When you are there, try not to drink from the fountains whenever possible. The water is really fine, but there is some slight variance in the bacteria than what you might be used to. People react differently so it is hard to tell.

The best advice i can use is to get a debit card or a check card or something. Instead of carrying travelers checks simply go to the ATM every once in a while and withdraw some Euros. You can then use the Check card for meals and what not. That way you aren't carrying a crap load of stuff around. Keep your passport on you. I wasn't pick pocketed or anything, and i recommend a neck strap "thingy". You should be fine with a wallet or something, but if you have your passport and stuff (dont leave it in your room, on you at all times) it is usually good to take extra precautions.

In all reality though, you hear horror stories, Italy is really a very nice place. Most of the people i ran into were very nice and helpful; people weren't stuck up or rude or anything.

Feel free to post or PM with any more questions.

-Kevin

 

[ubergeekmeister]

Watch out for pickpockets.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Traveling to Chechnya -- tips?


A friend told me Grozny is action packed, nonstop fun.

He said to bring lots of condoms and... a flak jacket? Wtf? Odd.

Any other tips?




Anyhow, my sis went to Italy. She did quite well with a rail pass using the trains. I think the last train might be at midnight in some places though.

 

[EKKC]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
While you are there...it is quite a trip >2 hours, and you need a car or something, but you really need to take a trip to Volterra. The view as you look back is utterly breathtaking.

Florence was also very nice. Stay away from Naples though. Very rough city. If you go across the bay to Sorrento, you can check naples out for the day though, and then you get some realy awesome (ie: romantic) shots on the beach or something at the bay of naples (from the Sorrento side).

As for Italian, well when i went there you would be suprised how many know english. YOu shouldn't have too much of a problem. It is always nice know your basic words like "Please, Thankyou, How much? etc...).

My group of friends didn't really have problems with Gypsies. One was hanging around in the group and one of us shooed her out ("VI VI") and she put a curse on us but other than that they weren't too big of a problem.

Alitalia was a very nice flight in my experience, from what i remember they use the Tri-Engine Airbus A320 jets. Space was kind of cramped and it is ~9 hour flight (layover included). YOu may want to save for first class so you can put your seat back and get some rest. Jet lag really does kill you there.

When you are there, try not to drink from the fountains whenever possible. The water is really fine, but there is some slight variance in the bacteria than what you might be used to. People react differently so it is hard to tell.

The best advice i can use is to get a debit card or a check card or something. Instead of carrying travelers checks simply go to the ATM every once in a while and withdraw some Euros. You can then use the Check card for meals and what not. That way you aren't carrying a crap load of stuff around. Keep your passport on you. I wasn't pick pocketed or anything, and i recommend a neck strap "thingy". You should be fine with a wallet or something, but if you have your passport and stuff (dont leave it in your room, on you at all times) it is usually good to take extra precautions.

In all reality though, you hear horror stories, Italy is really a very nice place. Most of the people i ran into were very nice and helpful; people weren't stuck up or rude or anything.

Feel free to post or PM with any more questions.

-Kevin

wow thats very detailed info. that will sure come in handy. again im not planning for until may of next year. but i am so lazy so it wont hurt to start with some info now.... will sure to come back to this thread and then PM all of yous when its Feb or March next year.

i dont think the flight will be bad. I'm from HK and I flew back there a few times on the 14-17 hour flights. I also fly every other week or month or so for business. I've never been to Europe myself, and this will be my first of hopefully many trips. I heard Italy is an amazing country, so just planning 2 cities for this trip: Rome and Venice. I heard great things about Milan and Florence, but I probably cant hit all those places in a 10-day to 2 week trip.

I'm not too keen of the Frenchies but would love to see German, Netherlands and Belgium too. Italy is on the top of my list now though.

thanks again for all the nice advices

 

[supe]

I highly recomment checking out some of the travel books from Rick Steves. http://www.ricksteves.com/ . I'd get his handbook "Europe through the back door" which is a handbook that provides basic tips for overseas travel (how to pack, train passes etc). Also get a country specific book, in your case Italy. His books are great because they encourage you to try to live the life of the locals so you can really get a great/unique experience of Europe. And remember dont think you have to be stuck with just Italy, all the countries are so close, so you could check out say Switzerland very easily as its just a trainride north.

 

[tennisflip]

Also check out the DK Eyewitness books. We had one for every major city we visited in Europe and they were all great.

 

[bandana163]

Be prepared to be disappointed in Venice.