Anyone ever been to Italy?

[REV2XHEART]

Looking to go with a small group of friends next year. Would like to see as much as possible but don't want to be running around all the time trying to get everything in. Was looking at tour companies that plan everything. Anyone ever try or use something like that?

 

[Longhorn]

Looking to go with a small group of friends next year. Would like to see as much as possible but don't want to be running around all the time trying to get everything in. Was looking at tour companies that plan everything. Anyone ever try or use something like that?

My wife and I went to Spain about 6 years ago, and the company is now gone, but they did the planning, and it was great, busy schedule each day, but everything taken care of, and we saw so much more than we would have on our own...we had lots of options for 'free time' as well. We really enjoyed it!

 

[Work2Ride]

Be sure to do a background check, Italys not so bad but theres a lot of sketchy companies out there.

 

[funtimes]

My wife and I went last year. We had planned on spending 10 days in Rome but found that it was to long. If you stay by the Pantheoen you can pretty much walk to all of the major sights, with the exception of the Vatican. The metro system is easy to navigate.

It would be best to invest in some tour books. I recommend Rick Steves, and buy for the citys or regions that you are going to visit. They are more informative then the whole book he has on Italy. They have better descriptions on sights, places to eat and stay, and also have guide lines to tours that you may take. Also download of his website and Itunes audio guides for the tours that he has on them as well.. He takes you to the most important locations and provides lots of great info.

We were a little worried about touring around by ourselfs but in the end found it very easy. I would recommend geting a Euro pass for the train to travel you can book tickets and change times you want to leave places.

When we were in Italy we went to Rome, Venice, and Florance. Have fun:d I really enjoyed it. If you have any questions ask me and I will try to help you out..and let you know what we did.

 

[Summitric]

Also check with sledbunnyracing..... He went last year too........ He was in italy with his wifey for 3 weeks. He has lotsa literature and pics too.

 

[Polarblu]

Defiantly a euro-rail pass so you can city hop! Stay in hostils or campsites(campsites supply everything) they are cheap and clean and you will meet people and gain info on cool places to see, deals on food and booze and well hippy chics are always fun!!

Daily tours are worth it and usually comes with admission so the price is right.

Main thing is to get there and get into a hostil and meet people then play it by ear that way you see what you want not what a tour company wants.

oh and to book a room at the next town just hit an internet cafe go online to expedia or other site and set it up that way you have a bed waiting but your still flexible!

i have been to 15 country's this works!!
Have fun

 

[cueball115a]

I used to be station in Germany in the mid 80. All the familly did come to visit europe but the inlaws wanted to see Italy so we did.

A 10 days trip was planed from Baden Baden to Rome. And we had planed a full 5 days in Rome and it end up been to long. Don't waste your time to be there on a Tuesday or Thursday to see the Pope. There planty to see but there is so much more to see around to. France, Germany,Switzerland are so close by . Train are a excellend way to travel around or if you have a bigger budjet, there is used car you buy, and resale after. Almost like rent a wreck.

Do your study well off before you go, and have a nice trip.

 

[j335]

What do you want to know? I was there in June when I backpacked Europe.

-Landed in Frankfurt Germany, went to Amsterdam, next Berlin, then Munich, then Salzburg Austria. This was 1.5 weeks.
-Night train Venice and to spent full day and the night. It was enough time for me, but then again I wasn't there for the romantic side of it! :d
-1 full day in Florence seeing the sights, but stayed/partied 3 nights
-1 full day in Tuscany area, took a bus tour and drank wine. The place is beautiful! Even for a 23 yr old!
-1 full day to hike Cinque Terre on the coast (long day.... but awesome views)
-1 day to check out Pisa then to Rome
-1st day in Rome saw Vatican, Spanish steps, Fountains, Pantheon (I could have done the Colosseum/Roman forum too)
-2nd day Colosseum/Roman Forum. Stayed 2 nights, partied last night hard only slept 2 hrs then catch flight back to Canada. I must say I sure enjoyed that flight cramped against the window!

The trip was great, my favorite area was Florence area. I'd say spend 1 full day in Tuscany, 1 day in Florence and a day or so to relax in Cinque Terre on the coast. Of the whole trip my favorite was Germany, the people are awesome. I had some bad experiences with the Italians let say...

1st pic is fountains
2nd is the Vatican, this was the day before a big speech from the pope.
3rd is Cinque Terre where we hiked

Oh yah, if you need a personal tour guide let me know!! I work for :d

 

[SledMamma]

Looking to go with a small group of friends next year. Would like to see as much as possible but don't want to be running around all the time trying to get everything in. Was looking at tour companies that plan everything. Anyone ever try or use something like that?

I just got back from Croatia, which shares the Adriatic Sea with Italy. We hopped a sailboat that took us up the coastline for eight days. Not a tonne of people on the boat, two meals a day included, decent sized cabins, and lots of really quaint destinations. I believe that they have a few boats that serve Italy as well. A really awesome and safe way to travel. Check their website maybe: Escorted Group Tours and Tailor-made Holidays to Egypt, India, China, Jordan, Morocco, Russia, Turkey, Africa, Croatia, Himalayas and more They even have a few boats that have mountain bikes on them, so you can tour with the bikes at each destination-- such a fun way to travel!

Also, if I may: I would highly recomment that you consider Croatia- its alot like Italy, but less people/tourists and very very beautiful. It is also quite inexpensive and almost everyone in even the tiny towns and villages speaks a little English.

Have fun!

 

[Hariprasad]

Great pictures indeed! Thanks for that upload! Italy is really a magnificent place to visit because it has the good culture. It has been ranked as the world's 23rd most developed country. One of the favorite spot is Rome Colosseum.

 

[eclipse1966]

Like several have suggested get a eurorail pass. Great way to travel from city to city. We were in Greece 3 months ago for 3 weeks and rented a car for 15 days for Euro450.00 so it was reasonable. Anyway, if you go to Northern Italy go to Maranello where the Ferrari factory and museum is. Neat to see. It is near Bologna. Have fun!!

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

We backpacked and stayed in 2 and 3 star hotels (never a bad one).
We then we went to Siena's Palio Horse Race it was awesome (they were filming James Bond there)
Then we were off to Pisa and spent a day, should have spent just hours.
Then it was 4 days in Cinque Terre - wow was that awesome.
Then we went to Venice for a few days, caught a free Elton John concert on the night of our anniversary and then back to Rome for a couple of days.
We could have seen more but wanted to enjoy the culture of some areas...well worth the trip.

 

[REV2XHEART]

Blast from the past, I have since gone and come back. We went to Rome, Barcelona, Dubrovnik Croatia, Venice, Sicily, Naples, Florence, and Monaco. My tour group buddies opted for a cruise. It had its benefits and its short comings, but I did get to see a ton of stuff! The pizza, pasta, and vino flowed everyday! Gained 12 pounds on the trip! I finally got it back off now though.

I just also got back from San Francisco. It was cool, but not as cool as Europe.

Next on the list is New Zealand and Aussieland in March!

 

[polarman]

We just came back from Italy. Landed in Venice and spent day one there, 4 nights at a Tuscan Villa where we relaxed and drank wine and ate great food just outside of Siena. Siena was one of our favorite places, less crowded than Florence which was only about 45 min away. Did wine tasting tours, took back roads and really enjoyed! From there to Alba Island for 2 days, and off to Rome. Road the shuttle from our Hotel with Alice Cooper and his band, and had a great visit with them over the next 2 days. Will go back in a heartbeat