Italy!! Give me your advice

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I am loving all the Italy details!! keep them coming!! I just saw pictures of Capri and have added it to my list!! I think I just need to retire and win the lottery!! There is no way I can afford all I want to see and do!

You can see and do it all on an escorted tour but it won't be as leisurely.
I find that the less that is included in the tour, the less touristy the tour will be. Plus since most meals aren't included, you are on your own to try different restaurants off the beaten path. A couple of years ago, Mom and I did a tour of just Switzerland and Northern Italy in the Lake District. Fabulous scenery and a nice enough pace not to be too fast or too slow.
We came 2 days early and saw Zurich on our own before the tour started.
It was actually one of my best tours in Europe so far. It was even a cheap tour by Cosmos but the pace was great and the places we visited spectacular and not alot of shop steering at all compared to Trafalgars.
No we weren't in the city center most days but it was so nice to actually not be in the city centers and see the towns that most of the big tours bypass.

Although I now prefer TS based vacations, in Europe sometimes it makes sense to do a tour. Not the, "if it's Tuesday then this must be Rome" type, but a regional tour can be alot of fun and you make friends on the tour. I've met alot of Aussies and South Africans on the tours we did over the years in Europe. It makes for an enjoyable holiday except for the hotel hopping.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

If I were you, I would take a guided tour of Italy or do it on your own first to see where you might want to spend more time in a particular area. We have been three times now and prefer the northern area and always stop in Venice for a few days each trip. A tour of Venice, Florence, Rome and if time permits Cinque Terra gives you the "best" of tourist Italy. Another good place is the Lake Como area.

I DO NOT Recommend driving as Italian Drivers fell it is their birthright to drive as if they are in a F1 race. If you drive in the cities, you will experience a feeling never to be forgotten and it will not be good.

Cheers

We've found driving mostly not as bad as advertised, and do recommend a car ('cept in the cities - park outside and take a train in). We don't like guided tours at all, don't care for bus or van travel, and like the freedom to see and do on our own.

There's a different mindset for sure tho - stop signs, lane markers, etc are taken as suggestions to mostly be ignored tho, not rules - all drivers point and accellerate, so you might need to step up the more aggressive driver in you, and the first one there gets the right-of way, and everyone else is expected to yield. Other drivers, though fast, did seem careful and focused for the most part, they just follow this different protocol. 2 lane roads are created for potentially 4 lanes of traffic. And if you're not in the act of passing, for heavens sake get over, before you have someone materializing out of nowhere and flashing their brights right up your butt.

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

Unfortunately hubby and I are not cut out for guided tours-- we are always the stragglers in the group-- We did a one day tour when we were in scotland-- they had a scheduled lunch spot at a touristy rest stop--hubby and I walked 2 blocks down the street to a great cemetary with beautiful gardens and picniced... everyone in our van tour was jealous when I showed them the pictures..but thought we were crazy for leaving the rest stop????? we had watches on -- anyway- a planned toured vacation might not be us!

I do think that doing 1-2 days in Rome and then taking a train on to a timeshare might be the way to go.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

From Rome, you can take the train south to Sorento and stop on the way (train stops right in front of the entrance) to see Pompei. Sorento is absolutely beautiful and you can take a public bus along the Amalfi coast and return to Sorento in one day. Like so many other spots in Italy, it would be a shame to miss Amalfi and Pompei.

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

that does sound wonderful!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Dancingfish....My favorite part of Italy was the Amalfi Coast. It is just breathtakingly beautiful!

Sorrento is a great base for visiting the Amalfi coast. From there, you can easily get to Capri, Amalfi, Naples, Pompeii, Positano & Ravello.....They are not to be missed.

Rome & the Almafi Coast is a great trip. In fact, I'm planning on redoing that exact trip next summer.....I think: Fly into Naples, and spend 5 days on the Amalfi Coast. Then, train or bus to Rome for 3 days....From Rome, we are planning on taking a 7 day Mediterranean cruise.

Italy is a great country with much to see & do. Whatever you decide, you will have a great time.

[BWolf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BWolf]

I agree with the above comment on the Palazzo Catalani in Soriano nel Cimino. My husband and I stayed there in July and the Palazzo, the people, and the town were all fantastic. We drove there but parked the car once we arrived and retrieved it when it was time to head to our next destination so I can't speak for the public transportation. We liked it so much we skipped our prepaid, nonrefundable walking tours in Rome (skipped Rome completely!) without regret. We had already been to Venice (and loved it) and Florence (didn't love it) and decided that we didn't want to see another big city.

What is there to do around Soriano nel Cimino? Winerys, grottos - caves, small villages to admire????

[sheilaanthony Member Find all posts View Profile Close sheilaanthony]

For the person who asked what there is to do in the Soriano area, there was much more than we could do in a week so we cut out Cinque Terre and spent our additional 3 days in Soriano, without going to Rome except to catch our departing flight. Soriano itself is very historical dating back to prehistoric and then Etruscan and Roman peoples, and Christianized in the 2nd Century. It is the leading town of the Cimini Mountains. The 13th century Orsini castle there is very well preserved. In early October there's the Chestnut festival that draws 1000's. In the general area are some equally wonderful towns with catacombs, grottoes, museums, theater, beautiful countryside, forests, lakes, and more. And Rome is less than 50 miles if you're so inclined. I could go on about all the nearby towns, but I think you get the picture. And regardless of what others have said, I believe the Italian drivers are amongst the best in the world. I live in L.A., and we should only be so lucky. The roads are in very good condition, the crossroads and directions very clearly marked even for non-Italians. I would highly recommend a rental (hired) car as each day trip can be an entirely unique experience.

[willobey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close willobey]

Italy

They honk a lot but are very nice. I love Italy. My favorite area is the Venice/Treviso area.

[willobey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close willobey]

Venice area

Hi,
I love the Venice, Treviso and Conegliano area. Great cities and also great shopping.
Conegliano for cloth and purses (my wife loves those)
Treviso for showes also great city.
My friend Sabina owns a beautyful Bed&Breakfast.
Her website is: ilfae.com
Hope you will have a great time in Italy. I used to go for business every week.
Was like vacation.

[Colin Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Colin]

Dancingfishperson,

We have a week TS at Borgo di Vagli in Tuscany starting Sept 12th which we are not using this year.
Drop me a PM or respond to this message if your interested.

Colin

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

Colin-- Thank you so much for the offer but Italy is a trip for 2011 for us.. Sept we are trying to hit the caribbean!!

[Plummy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Plummy]

Hi

This may be a bit late for you and you may have already made your trip to Italy but my timeshare near Cortona in Tuscany may be just what you are looking for! Borgo di Vagli is an amazing 14th Century medieval hamlet which has been authentically restored. More importantly it is very easy to get the train to Florence or Rome. I rent my timeshare week every other year and it is currently available in 2012, for more info see my website at brastock.co.uk