Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and Italy

Warmish places to go in Europe?

walla — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:44:37 -0800

Where in Southern Europe should we go for a few winter months? We work remotely and are considering spending January through March in Europe. We've done this before in Northern Europe (Germany, northern France & Italy), but because of the season we're thinking about going south. Ideally we'd rent an apartment for a month in each of 2 or 3 places.

We love smallish, walkable, affordable cities - Freiburg, Germany was one of our favorites - but we're flexible. It's great if there are day trips nearby, as we won't have to start working until 3 PM.

Thanks for any ideas!

Help finding and renting apt west of Ancona, Italy.

avocade — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:12:27 -0800

Good inexpensive family apartments for rent inland from Ancona, Italy in end-October? Need some assistance. We're going with the family to Venice from Sweden by plane, then car down to Ancona (my dad is an accordion freak and wants to visit the famous maker there). We're thinking of heading straight inland from there, up the mountain range and hopefully stay in a nice, very italian apartment in some nice, very italian (see a pattern?) picturesque town where we can just enjoy life (gastronomically and wineonomically) for a week or so longer.

Any tips? Need to probably book asap, over the internet would be best. None of us speak italian (I know a few phrases), and only my mother has been to Italy for a week or so (Milan, Rome). We're five people, youngest is 22 yo. No smokers, no pets :)

Holy juxtaposition

acidic — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:41:50 -0800

What's the story behind the (contemporary) sculptures scattered in and around the Forum in Rome? When I was in Rome earlier this month, I was surprised and delighted to see almost a hundred white sculptures (many of very abstract, spherical human bodies) scattered around the ruins of the Forum and surrounding areas. Google failed me. What are they? Did the artist win an amazing competition of public art, and was there ensuing art-world controversy? Do the installations rotate? Etc etc.

8 Hours in Milan?

universal_qlc — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:31:45 -0800

Things to do close to the central train station in Milan? My good friend and I have a few hours in Mllan (probably about 2 PM until 11, when we get on an overnight train) in late July; neither of us have ever been there before. Ideally, we'll check in our luggage at the central station and wander around for the day. What would be some good things to do (preferably within walking distance of the train)? Most tourist sites I've seen assume that we'd be staying for a few days.

I like shopping, but am not made of money. We both like eating ridiculously good but cheapish food. Like most tourists, we love seeing and doing new things, especially things we can't do just anywhere.

Bonus: how avoid looking too much like nerdy Americans while we're there?

Thanks!

Help me plan my destination wedding in Italy (and avoid getting scammed).

mockjovial — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:19:44 -0800

Help me plan my destination wedding in Italy (and avoid getting scammed). My fiancé and I (thank you green team for helping to make it happen) are planning a destination wedding in Rome for June 2010.

We have been exchanging email messages with a planner through a site called http://www.italian-weddings.com.. This site is associated with a firm called World-Weddings LLC which is apparently based in Colorado somewhere. The specific planner who has been emailing us is from Euroevents & Travel, LLC. Even though she has been helpful so far, after some Google action, I think I am SCARED. of Euroevents & Travel, LLC.

My question is: Can you recommend any quality planners or firms (based on your or own experience or that of someone you know) to help us set up our dream wedding in Rome next year?

Italy or bust

sundri — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:23:38 -0800

Traveling the Italian coast This summer (end of July) my spouse and I are planning on driving the coast of Italy. We are taking the car train to Calais and from there driving down, little by little, to my families town of origin -- Castellammare di Stabia outside of Naples. We have been all over France so our stays along the way will simply be functional unless there is something "must see" that we may have missed.

We are planning to hit some of the major sites -- Vatican, Rome, yada yada. But we would love to have some "off the beaten track" experiences. And we love wine and food, so...

Here is map of the route without detours.

Any suggestions, anecdotes or warnings would be appreciated.

Advice on my trip to Italy

Rustbeard — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:48:17 -0800

So I'm going to Italy for a class and then I'm planing on traveling around for a little while afterwords in the month of August. I'll probably stay mainly in Italy, but I would like to go to Greece and maybe visit my cousins in France. I've never done something like this so I really could use some help with my trip. Is there some guide for people for backpacking in Europe? What are just some overall recommendations on traveling like this? What type of bag and what to bring. How do I go about getting a euro pass? Or is it better to just rent a car? Should I go to hostels? If so how should I be prepared for that, I've never stayed at a hostel? what do people generally do about cell phones when traveling abroad?
How do people generally book hotels and other things if they can't speak the language?
I'll probably be bringing my netbook since my class recommends to bring a laptop, anything I should know about converters and stuff like that?
Is it better to get Euros here in the US at a bank or somewhere else?
Also I don't speak another language but will try to learn some Italian before I go.
Aslo some recommendations on where to go and what to see would be great. I'm more into nature and ruins, as well as food. Not really into clubs and touristy areas, crowds in general.
Sorry for the mass of questions. I'm a bit of an introvert and never really planned a trip like this for myself. And I will probably be doing this by myself so I'm a little nervous about it.
Just some general advice and recommendations would be really great.

Florence, Italy. Good idea to skip the tourist traps?

kdern — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:16:20 -0800

Visiting Florence, Italy for the first time in June. Should I skip the popular tourist attractions and just explore the actual city? It's my first visit to Italy. I'll be on a business (sightseeing) trip in Rome and Venice for 2 days each, then I'm going to Florence on my own for 2-3 days. I am considering skipping some of the "must see" tourist attractions in the city in favor of more time just exploring the city. I'm also considering a day trip to Siena.

I just don't think it would be a good use of time to spend 2 days among crowds of tourists, standing in lines to see the same attractions every other American sees while in Florence.

I don't know what I would see instead, but the idea would be to explore the city itself instead of hitting specific attractions. If someone asked my advice about NY, I'd recommend they explore neighborhoods rather than wait in line for the Empire State Building.

Does this make sense for Florence?

One other piece of information - I am hoping to go back to Italy for 2-3 weeks next spring with my fiancee.

Help me go hiking in the Dolomite Mountains

sumiami — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:09:34 -0800

A friend and I are traveling to Italy at the end of June and will be going hiking in the Dolomite mountains. We plan to head out from Bolzano on one of the lifts and hike from rifugio to rifugio (and then back) for about 5 days, with the route to be chosen with help from the tourist office there. Has anyone done this and have 1) any specific advice on which trails to take; 2) recommendations for inexpensive lodging for our one night in Bolzano; 3) suggestions for what we should bring with us (keeping in mind that we want to travel light)?

Where should we stay in the Italian countryside for 2 nights between Rome & Milan?

comah — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:57:25 -0800

Where should we stay in the Italian countryside for 2 nights between Rome & Milan? A friend and I will be in Italy for a week in June. We are flying into Rome on a Monday morning and out of Milan the following Monday morning. We're staying with friends in Milan, and will probably have dinner plans in Milan on Friday night.

In between cities, I'd really like to see a bit of countryside. I'm dreaming of a B&B in a little tuscan village, but we'd be open to pretty much anthing. (My friend has been to cinqueterra). If we leave Rome on Wednesday, where should we go en route to Milan, & stay Wednesday/Thursday nights? Would like something small, but also need to get there from a train stop.....

Thanks!

What t see, do in trip to Italy

Postroad — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:46:04 -0800

Sites regular and offbeat to see in Italy Using AskMetafilter search has been helpful, but specifically, we are going for two weeks, in August (yes hot), to Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi, Naples...we are not going with a group or tour but have hotels and trains etc taken care of via agent. Looking for those places worth seeing that might not be among the usual, the ones we should and will see too. any suggestions?
ps: trip is to celebrate my 80th birthday (getting around no issue), and have a 16 year old daughter and a 21 year old son 9he wants to see the Vatican).

Help me plan a few days in Italy, starting from Venice.

kdern — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:13:05 -0800

Business trip in Italy in June, ending with one day in Venice. I am going to stay a few extra days in Italy on my own... should I stay in Venice or go elsewhere? Have to decide about plane tickets in the next 2 hours! I love to travel but have never been to Italy. I'm on a business trip that will be 3 nights in Rome and 1 night in Venice. Business portion of trip will include sightseeing.

I am staying a few extra days on my own, starting out in Venice. Some options I'm considering:

- Hang out in Venice, fly home from Venice
- Fly home from Milan, exploring the area between Venice and Milan
- Spend a day in Venice and a day or two in Florence, fly home from Rome (wasting too much time on the train?)

What would you do? My boss wants to buy the plane tickets around lunchtime today, so I have to make a decision soon.

The business part of the trip ends on a Wednesday... so I am thinking I'd fly back to the US on Saturday or Sunday.

A little about how I like to travel...
- I am an amateur photographer
- I am not crazy about touristy things (no tours!)
- I prefer to explore an area rather than visit a list of specific sights
- I research like crazy in advance
- I'm more interested in authentic, old Italy rather than big, modern city life
- I have no interest in fancy restaurants or nightlife (I prefer local, rustic, inexpensive food)
- I am planning a possible return trip to Italy next spring with my fiancee, which could be 2-3 weeks long.

Easter Monday in Italy

thinkingwoman — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:33:14 -0800

Italy the week after Easter: deserted or still a mob scene? Help us save our honeymoon from the herds of the faithful. The fella and I are planning our wedding for next spring, and for various reasons, the only time we will have for our honeymoon happens to be the two weeks following Easter.

We really, really want to go to Italy. We want to take two full weeks and visit Florence, Venice, and Rome. Or maybe we'll just park in Rome for two weeks, using it as a base camp for shorter excursions. (Both have their merits, and if anyone has an opinion on that, speak up.)

But the main question is this: are we insane to even try the week after Easter? We really want to avoid the religious zoo, and are hoping that the week after in Rome will be as dead as the week after Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Yes? No?

Or should we just go somewhere else? I totally love the idea of Croatia, too, and perhaps it will be a bit lower-key.

Help my foreign friends enjoy their American experience...

whiskey point — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:51:05 -0800

Any ideas on a route (and some great points of interest) for some Italian visitors to take from Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Fargo, ND? It'll be their first time in the U.S. and would like to see as much as possible. The parents of the Italian foreign exchange student (and said exchange student) who stayed with my family in high school are making their first trip to the US to attend his college graduation. They're going to rent a car to drive from Mt. Vernon (near Columbus) to Fargo, ND.

They would like to see any big attractions or wildlife, basically taking in some Americana. I'm sure any Italian-American towns/areas would be great for them to check out. Also, a fun place for them to stay overnight would nice (they'll be splitting the trip into two days, so somewhere close to the halfway point).

If you've taken trips along the route, or live along the route, any advice you have would be greatly appreciated - these people are very special to me, and I'd like them to have the best experience possible! Thank you in advance.

Mobile software for the mobile traveller?

zaebiz — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:30:18 -0800

What applications/software for your mobile device did you find useful/essential for travelling? I will be travelling initially around Europe and then who knows.... I have an iMate JasJam phone running Windows Mobile 6 but would acquire another device if this will be more suitable for running useful applications.

I'm leaving on a Jetplane (or Two).

santojulieta — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:22:25 -0800

Can you help me figure out flights to Milan, Italy in two weeks? Right now, I can fly [Chicago - Frankfurt - Milan] and [Milan - Copenhagen - Chicago] for about $525. I'll be traveling March 25th to April 1st.

Two questions.

1. I have the opportunity for longish layovers in both Frankfurt and Copenhagen. Can I do anything in either place for about 7 hours?

2. Would it be more practical to fly into a different European city and then Easy Jet or Air One into Milan by booking two separate flights rather than one two-leg flight?

What can I buy my sister that she can use on her trip to Italy this Spring?

Bunglegirl — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:06:37 -0800

What can I buy my sister that she can use on her trip to Italy this Spring? My sister's 33rd birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I usually spend around $50 on her present. I thought it might be fun to put together a few little things that she can use on her upcoming trip to Italy. I'm not sure if she has a guidebook yet.

I was thinking perhaps some cute or well-designed travel gadgets (she hasn't been to Europe or a long haul flight in 10 years). But I was thinking of getting some things that pertained to Italy or were Italy-specific like the *Wallpaper Rome Guide. She appreciates nice design and I've gotten some good ideas from this Design Sponge post. I want to put together something that will make her smile when she opens it (she lives across the country and it will be sent in the mail). Any ideas?

Da Palermo a Roma!

verevi — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:28:01 -0800

For vacation, I was thinking of starting in Palermo and making my way to Rome. I know next to nothing about this part of the world, so I don't know how good or bad of an idea this is. Any thoughts from those familiar with the area would be greatly appreciated! Some specifics of areas I'd love to have addressed:

* Are 6-7 days enough for the one-way trip?
* Does a rental car make sense, or would trains / buses be better for all or part of the journey.
* What are must-see cities / places? Where should we avoid?
* How are the highway / road conditions?
* How are accommodations?

If we don't do this, we may instead check out the Czech Republic instead. The Italian idea is sort of a pilgrimage to see the area where my family's ancestors came from.

I did start by reading these three posts which were helpful. So anything in addition to those recommendations as well as the practical concerns of getting from Palermo to Rome would be greatly appreciated!

PlanMyTripFilter: Help me Booze and Peruse

milqman — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:43:31 -0800

Going to Ireland and Italy. Tell me what not to miss. The womans and I (23 and 26) are going Dublin, Ireland for 3-4 days (straddling St. Pattie's Day). Where in Dublin should we stay? What should we do? What should we see? We are interested in food, landmarks, booze, and antics.

So far we have:
-Probably a hotel, it looks like they are cheaper for a pair of people than a hostel
-Guinness Brewery (I am a big Guinness fan, so this is a must)
-Maybe a whiskey distillery of some form?
-Some daytrip to somewhere sweet?

After Ireland, we are going to Italy for 10 or so days. I think the main spots on the trip (in order) will be Venice, Florence, and Rome.
-What things can we absolutely not miss?
-How should we divide the trip across those cities?
-Where in those cities should we stay?
-How should we travel between cities?
-How should we pack?

I think after the drunken debauchery in Ireland we might be looking at a slightly more civilized adventure here. Food, Architecture, Art, Landmarks, and History. We want to do our best to experience Italy in this amount of time.

I look to the hivemind to fill my itinerary with sweetness. What do I need to do? What should I not do? What are the answers to the questions I forgot to ask?

more bang for my meager buck

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:35:50 -0800

I'm going to Rome for one week in February. How can I cheap out on lodging while there? I'm traveling with my boyfriend. The trip itself is only affordable to begin with because of the awesomeness of EasyJet. We're planning on trying to couchsurf but, if that doesn't work out, do you know of any hostels/hotels/monasteries where we can stay for less than 30euros/night total cost? (if you have any other advice on enjoying oneself in Rome while not spending much money, that's welcome too!)

Should I go to Italy?

Pocahontas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:30:26 -0800

Is it a good time to plan a trip to Rome? I'm USian. I have frequent flyer miles that will expire soon, and I was considering traveling to southern Italy in November. Knowing that nobody has a crystal ball re the economic crisis threatening to pull down western Europe's banks that are closely tied to US banks, is it a good time to go? (I would fly a US airline, and what if I can't get cash at the ATMs because the US banking system has plotzed?) Any suggestions on where to find out more about the situation?

Be My Italian Guide

defben — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:24:23 -0800

I'm leaving for Europe this week and will be gone for about two and a half weeks. I've got a bunch of family in Germany so they'll be showing me around there, but I'm also planning on going to Italy for approximately five days, give or take (no rigid schedule). I was hoping some people could give me some first hand recommendations on what would really make my experience a blast. I've done some reading and am thinking of visiting Rome and Florence, but nothing set in stone

I'm a bit of a foodie/cooking enthusiast, so I'd love to sample some great authentic food while there. I'm not a nature nut, but do love its beauty (hoping to hike some of the FichtelGebirge while in Germany). I would love to get a feel for the culture, if that's at all possible. Maybe some market places and such. But really, any recommendations would be appreciated. Not a huge museum guy, but am open to hitting one or two. Maybe some music or nightlife?

Also, what does everyone recommend on travel? Is the Eurail the way to go or are they're cheaper alternatives?

Thanks for any recommendations.

Please evaluate my route from Italy to Spain by car

zaebiz — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:07:07 -0800

I plan to drive from Venice, Italy to Valenica, Spain in April or May 2009 using the following route. I will stay for a few days or weeks in little spots along the way. I should have about six weeks in total. I mostly want to see a little of Spain and Italy, the French Riviera, Montpellier, Marseilles and finish at Valencia. Apart from that anything else I should try to see? Any parts of the chosen route I should avoid? What's driving like along that route? Any rental car companies which will let me pick up in Italy and drop off in Spain?

Foreign guides around Europe

vizsla — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:21:43 -0800

How does a 40ish year old male with enough money find his way around Europe without foreign language skills? Is it possible to hire guides to travel with, or at least to show them around on a city-by-city basis for this sort of thing? I'm thinking specifically France, Spain, Italy. Willing to use University students or some other creative possibility. Mostly there for a holiday but may also need to talk to real agent agents about places in France or Spain.

What is the best way to travel throughout Italy?

petah — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:20:43 -0800

What is the best way to travel throughout Italy? So far we're looking at Venice, Florence, Pisa, Milan, etc. People have been recommending the Italy Rail Passes from here. Is it better to get one of these? Or would it be better to get a ticket at the train station for city to city? Or are there other options that I should know of? The biggest issue we have with these Rail Passes is that we have to get them while we're in the States, because each "day" comes out to 62 dollars in cost, but on some days, like the days where we might be traveling between Venice and Milan, or a trip that is shorter than Rome to Milan, it might not be worth it. Also, I'm not even sure how the Rail system works in Italy, it seems like Trenitalia is the big line, but then there are a lot of online vendors that sell the same "EuroRail" pass at similar costs.

Also, if you guys have any random general tips regarding Rome/Italy, feel free to post them. They'd be much appreciated. Thanks!