Going to Italy this summer...what should i know?

[berettafan]

Taking the family to Italy this coming July. Working out details now. Initial plan, subject to change, is to do Rome, Parma and Venice. Figure to stay maybe 10 days. Looking for history, food/wine and beautiful sights.

Beyond great meals and wine my personal must do's are a visit to Beretta near Brescia, Benelli in Urbino and any related smaller shops. Also want to visit the Mille Miglia museum in Brescia.

Appreciate any tips on finding best plane tix, neighborhoods to seek out, hotels, restaurants, vineyards, and also how to get around while there. I'm not terribly wild about renting a car and driving myself there and would prefer public transportation where possible.

We have two kids, one in 4th grade and one in 9th.

There was some brief thought on trying to see a bit of Switzerland but I'm not thinking a 10 day trip would give us the time.

[LakeCleElum]

Will start with a Venice: Cheaper to stay at a hotel by the airport and use hotel shuttle. There is a Best Western and Courtyard. I stayed at: Agriturismo Cą Tessera...There is a little business district there with a few restaurants. Then, take the bus to Venice. It runs quite often. Buy bus tickets at the newstand store, which closes in the afternoon. Cash only for the tickets. Bus drops you off where you can hop on the Vaporetto (water taxi) or the train station is right there.

Been to Italy at least 5 time. Fav places are up around Lake Como and the Amafi coast. A side trip to San Marino is lovely and allows you to check off another country.

Driving in Italy is an aquired taste. A guy came at me wide open in a clapped out Alfa on the wrong side of the road in a curve. With a rock wall beside me, I could only get over a bit and he took out the whole side of his car on my rear bumper........Driving there is not for the faint of heart........

July will be hot a very crowded. All of Europe goes on vacation in July/August. Way back in year 2000, a bartender in Florence told me 2,000 tour buses a day arrived in the summer.....I usually go late Oct/early November. No crowds.

[tttoon]

Bologna's very nice too, at least in terms of food. Ducati and the main car companies are nearby. Bologna has free movies on the main square in summer, pretty nice.

[cairns]

July will be crowded and HOT. Hordes of tourists and Europeans are on vacation. You might want to wait until Fall. When in Rome I stay at the Eden. It's just down from the Pines of Rome and there are tons of wonderful restaurants in that area. Take a tour of the Forum and Coliseum. Definitely see the Vatican. Don't eat anywhere near the Via Veneto- the only place in Rome where the food sucks and is overpriced. You don't need to drive in the big cities (like Rome) but you can't see a lot of things outside the city easily unless you do. Just remember to stay in the right lane unless you're passing on the autostradas, understand there are no rules for the scooters and be bold. My favorite guides are the DK ones- well laid out so you, your wife and kids can easily choose what to see. If you leave from IAD I think UAL has a daily to Rome- I know they do to Milan. The Rome airport sucks BTW.

Hope this helps. FWIW my favorites are also Lake Como and Amalfi. Driving around the latter is definitely not for the faint of heart. I loved it.

[masraum]

They speak a completely different language than us. Their pizza is nothing like you would expect, and everything is really old.

[Starless]

Originally Posted by masraum

They speak a completely different language than us. Their pizza is nothing like you would expect, and everything is really old.

And it's full of Italians.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by masraum

They speak a completely different language than us. Their pizza is nothing like you would expect, and everything is really old.

I was gonna say they talk funny, but i think your words are more good.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Italy is an amazing place to go on holiday, we lived near Maranello for 7yrs and loved it

If you think you can handle USA road speeds x2 without the lane displine you're accustomed to then give it a go, if not use the train. Italy has a very good rail network and it's not expensive to use. Just make sure you stamp your tickets using the punch machine usually located on pillars along the station platform or you will get shouted at.

Rome is amazing, so much history, give yourself at least 4 days there, make sure you go to Pompeii. Just be aware of the usual tourist rip off price scams eg ask for the price before jumping in a cab and don't let the waiter chose your dishes for you.

Venice is like no other place in the world and very expensive, arrive by train is a must as walking out of the station is like walking onto a film set.

Instead of Parma I would suggest stopping at Sienna (one of my favourite cities), great city to walk about in. You could also stop at Florence. Bologna is also worth a look not just for the city but the Ducati museum and the Pagani factory tour are worth doing. If you like chocolate Perugia is the stop for you. All of these places are not too much of a detour to go and see.

If you can find time Lake Garda is worth a look, Sirmione has a pretty castle on the lake.

Maranello is ok, Ferrari museum is ok, not worth taking a day out of your holiday for unless you are a Ferrari tifosi.

This last piece of advice is the single best piece of info. I can offer.

The best places to stay and eat in Italy are called Agriturismo's, these are family run accommodation and/or restaurants usually located on a farm and they only serve locally grown organic food and drink. The meals you will have will be probably some of the tastiest meals you will have ever had. It's usually a fixed menu with fixed price and when your finished you'll be stuffed full.

This link should give you plenty of options

https://www.agriturismo.it/en/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyrTyjOvU3gIVo7XtCh0yaAUbEAAYASA AEgIR0vD_BwE

I could type on forever so feel free to PM me if you have any questions or want to pass a few ideas by me

[berettafan]

Wife is a teacher so we’re pretty tied into July. Constant sports June and August so July is it for us.

Is Venice not worth a few days? Should that be a side trip for one day and stay elsewhere?

[Seahawk]

A good friend of mine was the Navy Transportation Officer in Naples for four years...he and his family lived out in town.

He loved Italy, except the driving part. Be careful if you are planning on renting a car.

Edit: Venice in the summer is Rehoboth Beach.

[VincentVega]

At least its not Dewey

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Wife is a teacher so we’re pretty tied into July. Constant sports June and August so July is it for us.

Is Venice not worth a few days? Should that be a side trip for one day and stay elsewhere?

Yes, Venice is worth a couple of days, only so much walking about over and along canals before you've seen most of it, very crowded, so best to just wander off and get lost around the back streets, grab a slice a pizza and an ice cream (oh the ice cream forgot how good the ice cream is) and go exploring.

If the crowds are getting too much for you, take a boat trip to Murano for the glass craft shops and Burano is a bit quieter.

On one of my Porsche parts buying trips I dropped the family off at the Venice car parking then drove north a bit to buy a gearbox, spent so much time talking Porsche with the seller, looking at his stuff when I came to collect the family I got off the water taxi collected the family from the middle of St Marco's Square and left, in and out of Venice in less than an hour

[LWJ]

You will love it.

Traveling with kids is a little different. They need down time. They need comforts. Swimming pools, and wifi are great ways to make them happier. Also, air conditioning!

We are dragging my kids to Britain shortly and understand that big people and little people have different travel agendas.

Good luck!

[Rick Lee]

We drove to Venice from Austria and stayed on Lido Island (ferry ride for car required). That's a way to get away from the crowds after a day of sightseeing. The water taxis are everywhere. Just buy a day pass. In fact, those water taxis are a great way to get a birdseye view of the whole place without going on an organized tour. Just get on one and take it for its whole route, then, when it's heading back toward where you started, get off where you want. There are absolutely zero cars in Venice and I don't think even any bicycles because of all the stairs going to/from each bridge over the canals.

Get ready for crowds like this. Ugggh. You don't want to stay near such unwashed masses of humanity.


And be prepared to pay upwards of 2 Euros to use the bathroom in Venice outside of your hotel or wherever you're eating. I really don't know how that place warrants more than two days. You'll have your fill before then.

[p911dad]

I have a recommendation for Venice: We steyed at the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente in the old Jewish ghetto in Venice,(has a great breakfast!) somewhat away from the tourist area, but within an easy walk through the neighborhoods and over the little bridges over the many canals. Try to arrive by train if you can, it backs into the station, you exit directly into the boat terminal. There you get a ticket and take a water taxi to your hotel. There is also local boats (like city buses) that follow a route around and trhrough Venice. It will take you you to Murano if you like. If you fly in, get a water taxi to the dock nearest your hotel from the airport dock. We have had no problem with the language in places like Venice. Have fun!

[Jims5543]

I want to get over to Italy, Venice does not even interest me, the locals hate the tourists and the crush of tourists is actually driving locals to move away.

I would rather wander around little villages in the middle of nowhere.

I would go to Rome only to get a look at some of the historic landmarks then run away.

[996AE]

Venice is a must, Florence is amazing but with kids head to the Med or do all three. Read up with Rick Steves books. His recommendations are always spot on.

Cinque Terre is a fun train ride from Venice or Florence. Hot in July so water must be part of the trip.

Pick 3-4 must see cities. Enjoy those. With 10 days 3 days in each with train ride day trips from these home base Cities.

A dozen plus trip to Europe for holiday and a dozen more from business travel.

Enjoy.

[Walter_Middie]

If you're in Florence, I'd recommend this:
https://www.500touringclub.com
My wife and I drove a 1968 Fiat 500 with a whopping 16 HP. People were honking, waving, and taking pictures of us as we drove through small towns on our way to the next vineyard. No syncros - double clutch is a must. This was a really well done tour, and a lot of fun.

[908/930]

First thing to know is avoid driving in and out of Rome, three lanes and four rows of cars at the light.
The rental company was surprised when I brought the car back without dents, I think it is less expensive to book the car from here if you are getting one. Would also recommend not spending that much time in Rome, the small fortified towns and villages are great.

Do you like wine?

[fintstone]

Don't drink the water unless bottled...or any drink with ice in it. If you take a photo of the leaning tower, don't let yourself automatically compensate for the lean by tilting your camera. Don't go into the water anywhere in Venice and when you walk under balconies and bridges, be careful as folks dump their chamber pots out the window into the canal without looking. Bring good shoes and plan to walk a lot. If you take a long drive, plan for no open rest areas...and realize that Italians drive like maniacs...and use a condom...regardless of where you put it (or if you are shooting blanks). Remember, there are a lot more virgins there than there are women who have never had sex.