View Full Version : So then, the land of spaghetti and vineyards...
missyburd
12-01-10, 03:29 PM
Hello all,
Well I am booked to go to Italy at the beginning of March with a female friend, we plan to stay for about a fortnight, maybe longer, trying to fit in as much as possible. We plan to get one of those Interrail passes, which will allow us easy travel about the country.
Just wanted to know what people have to say about the country really, tips about where not to go and where not to miss out on, what not to eat etc :-) Our flights land us in Milan and we plan to fly back from Naples.
Cheers in advance!
MYC xx
Bluepete
12-01-10, 03:34 PM
You'll need a driver then. Someone with training and experience?
Me?
Please?
You'll love Naples, go to Capri, Sorrento, climb Vesuvius.
Jealous?
Me?
Hell yes!
Pete ;)
The Ducati factory at Bologna?
Florence is lovely. Pisa is not.
missyburd
12-01-10, 03:42 PM
The Ducati factory at Bologna?
Florence is lovely. Pisa is not.
Tuscany and Florence is definitely in the itinerary, what's wrong with Pisa then? Ducati factory....hmmm...might have trouble persuading my non-biking friend to do that one but might just do it myself
And Pete, cheers for the heads up on Mt Vesuvius, didn't know it was open to the public!
Bluepete
12-01-10, 03:44 PM
And Pete, cheers for the heads up on Mt Vesuvius, didn't know it was open to the public!
Check opening times, they switch it off on Wednesdays.
Pete ;)
the_lone_wolf
12-01-10, 03:55 PM
Pisa is too touristy (edit to add: It's worth stopping through just to see the tower, but don't plan on spending more than an hour or so there)
Sienna is beautiful
Spiderman
12-01-10, 03:55 PM
Never been to the mainland onyl to Sicily but i doubt you wanna go that far out.
Eat EVEYRTHING is my advice, its all fabulous.
what's wrong with Pisa then?
It's a scheiss hole. Just the tower and that's about it, apart from a pile of smelly drongs walking around it.
missyburd
12-01-10, 04:01 PM
It's a scheiss hole. Just the tower and that's about it, apart from a pile of smelly drongs walking around it.
Hmm something to think about then!
Spidey, food is one of the main reasons I'm going nomnomnom. IMO you cannot go to a foreign country and NOT eat all the food, it would be such a waste!
Pisa is too touristy
Hmm yes we thought it would be, but I think it needs to be visited and e've deliberately not gone in the tourist season hoping to dodge most of them...
Oh and for the record, I haven't yet been abroad...this will hopefully be my second time...
Spiderman
12-01-10, 04:07 PM
Spidey, food is one of the main reasons I'm going nomnomnom. IMO you cannot go to a foreign country and NOT eat all the food, it would be such a waste!
Good girl! We went to a place that was a full on feast, you can see why Italians need 2 - 3 hours for lunch. Half the place was self service buffet that you had between the courses that were brought to you. I think they had to bring you some of the stuff only cos they knew most people were too full to walk to get some more. My god it was good.
When i lived abroad i used to encounter brits who would bring a suitcase full of tins of Heinz beans and other junk like that cos "you can eat this foreign much all the time, you know" :roll:
dizzyblonde
12-01-10, 04:13 PM
what's wrong with Pisa then?!
I think it mighta smella of de pis!
missyburd
12-01-10, 04:42 PM
I think it mighta smella of de pis!
:lol:
Dave20046
12-01-10, 05:13 PM
Sorrento's cool - mmm lemon cello. Apparently Naples is really dirty (including the sea IIRC)
Oh yeah and pizza's you'll be eating are the nicest tasting pizza's you'll ever have - and cheaper than ze uk too!
Been going for years, first time '85. Done the northeast, around Venice/Rimini and further down the coast. Done Sorrento and the Amalfi coast loads, inc Naples. Been to Sicily. Rome is stunning. Food, wine, the people. We're back to Rome this year, Eurostar to Paris, then the overnighter to Rome.
Wherever you go, find where the locals eat and drink. Talk to them, they are the friendliest people and will welcome you into their conversations/meals/drinks, e.g. its not unusual to be invited to birthday parties/christenings/bbq's/weddings whatever just by really getting involved in a local wine bar.
If you do the tourist sites, and can stand the heat, do them in the afternoon when all the cruise people have headed back to the boats.
Rome; get Frommer's guide to Rome, day by day £7.99 - best guide book I've ever used.
Venice; stay t'other side of the lagoon, and get the waterbus across - miles cheaper.
Naples; be very careful where you wander. Pompeii; don't get a guide, get an audio guide then you can go around at your own speed, and you can wander more. Herculaneum is better preserved than Pompeii, but a lot smaller - you can get a ticket that covers both.
Sorrento is mega expensive, e.g. we paid £2.50 for a coffee in Sicily, and £4.50 in Sorrento. Thats pretty much typical around Sorrento. Try and get down to Ravello and Amalfi on the local Red bus, and travel back to Sorrento on the boat. Capri; diy again its miles cheaper and at your own pace.
Sicily; Train from Rome or Naples is quick and easy. Taormina is the main tourist place and is stunning. But if you do get as far as Sicily, try Syracuse just south of Catania too.
I've not done the northwest coast Genoa/Portofino, nor the Lakes/Alps.
Me and Mrs B will be buying over there soon, our intention is to retire there sometime in the next 10yrs....ah dreams...
Speedy Claire
12-01-10, 05:26 PM
Can`t advise as sadly I`ve never visited Italy, mum and dad used to love Sorrento. Have a fantastic holiday though x
missyburd
12-01-10, 05:32 PM
If you do the tourist sites, and can stand the heat, do them in the afternoon when all the cruise people have headed back to the boats.
Rome; get Frommer's guide to Rome, day by day £7.99 - best guide book I've ever used.
As far as standing the heat goes, we're going in March, think the temperatures are mild then, about 15degrees.
At the moment I have this guide (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rough-Guide-Italy-Rob-Andrews/dp/1848360312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263317366&sr=1-1), seems great so far, really detailed and worth the cash.
Thanks a lot Bri, lots of useful info there :-D At the moment we've got the obvious places on the list, Milan, Rome, Naples, as well as Cirque Terra (those 5 places on the coast, all joined by a coastal walk, gonna be travelling light :D), Pompeii and that Hercules place you mentioned, Florence and Tuscany. Don't think we're bothering with Venice to be honest, not heard much good about it although would be nice just to say we've been and looked.
the_lone_wolf
12-01-10, 06:13 PM
Avoid Italy.
A drunk, xenophobic Scotsman...
Mama Mia!!
:p
Avoid Italy.
Avoid Aberdeen
missyburd
12-01-10, 06:20 PM
Avoid Italy.
Bit late for that now dear :-P And I think you could be right Bri, Aberdeen really should be avoided at all costs, according to Frankie Boyle anyway hehe
urbane1
12-01-10, 06:42 PM
Venice for the achitecture, Bologna for the Ducati factory, and Rimini for the great beaches and nightlife, oh yes, and the Bimota factory!
maviczap
12-01-10, 07:31 PM
Sister went to Pompei and Mt Etna, bit touristy and when they went it was during a heatwave, but unlikely when you're going. Well worth a visit.
Me I've only been skiing in Italy, but the grub was the best I've ever had on a skiing holiday
Check opening times, they switch it off on Wednesdays.
Pete ;)
Really?
I thought it was half day Tuesday. My Hairdresser when I was growing up was Italian and she only worked half day Tuesday, told me once that was why.
A drunk, xenophobic Scotsman...
Mama Mia!!
:p
Not drunk, possibly xenophobic, definitely a Scotsman. :drunken:
Avoid Aberdeen
I agree, I am really a choochter :) :D
Bit late for that now dear :-P And I think you could be right Bri, Aberdeen really should be avoided at all costs, according to Frankie Boyle anyway hehe
And what reasons did he give? :king:
shonadoll
12-01-10, 09:29 PM
Florence is lovely, Milan I found awfully dreary and industrial. We got tickets from a street seller so see Rigoletto(in Verona) in the open air, in the evening, and it was quite a spectacle as it was totally lit by candlelight, and I don't even like opera but what an experience. It's expensive but if you wait till just before it starts they often let the cheap seats go really cheap, it was absolutely incredible.
Venice smells in summer, but if you can, get the canal bus to the island with the cemetery on it-absolutely amazing, ask someone or google it, we spent a day on that(free) amazing faded frescoes, and paintings ans mosaics. The water laps at the edges of it in places coming over the edge, just beautiful. You'll love it.
Oh, and in a coffee shop, sit at the bar(cheaper than a table) and do not have a coffee in St Marks square(£6.00 each 15 years ago).
You'll love it.
Vindaloo
12-01-10, 10:29 PM
Only briefly been to Naples ... and that was when I'd just finished school, so .. erm ... err ... three or four years ago ;-). Thought the place was a real dive - dirty, busy and crazy and completely out of my comfort zone - and would never want to go again (at the time). Now I'm a bit older, those are all the things I look for in somewhere to holiday as that tends to make it a bit more exciting.
We went to Pompeii and I remember it as being one of the best places I've ever been ... probably from the point of view of doing Romans in history at school and being able to go around a real roman town - and the fossilised remains of people caught escaping the eruption. I seem to remember it's a train ride direct from Naples.
I could do with knowing a bit more about Rome - a friend fancies a bike trip there this summer :-).
Adrian
missyburd
13-01-10, 03:13 PM
Thanks a lot guys and gals, some great advice there!
I'd love to see an Italian opera Shona, so will definitely be on the lookout for one!
maviczap
13-01-10, 04:49 PM
Oh yes, my sister used to work as an Au Pair in Florence, so that also gets the thumbs up, as the others have said
missyburd
25-02-10, 03:05 PM
Ten days to go!!! :smt040:smt040:smt040
So this is the basic route we've planned.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8012/route.jpg
If you can't read it then it's Milan - Lakes (possibly all 3 will see how it takes us) - Verona - La Spezia via Genova for the Cinque Terra then on to Pisa - Florence - Rome - flying back from Naples.
Sorted out so far: health insurance, Interrail Pass, YHA membership.
Need to sort out travel insurance! Not had to buy it before, anyone got any tips?
Also I'm starting to compile a list of stuff to take with me, any stuff you think I might need and am likely to forget (i.e. not toothbrush and head ... :???::rolleyes::p)
I'm planning on taking a large 55litre backpack and that's it so I won't be packing the beloved kitchen sink ;-)
If your account has changed into a graduate bank account, check with them about insurance as mine comes with travel insurance :-D
missyburd
25-02-10, 03:09 PM
If your account has changed into a graduate bank account, check with them about insurance as mine comes with travel insurance :-D
I have got a graduate account, I did look briefly but will look more thoroughly now, cheers Lily :-D
Take your driving licence, both parts, just in case you need wheels in an emergency.
Camera, spare battery and spare memory card.
Buy a big brolly when you get there - it can be very wet this time of year.
And remember to enjoy yourself.
missyburd
25-02-10, 03:26 PM
Take your driving licence, both parts, just in case you need wheels in an emergency.
I can drive over there? :smt040 (not passed yet lol). Was going to take my provisional as backup photo ID anyway :-)
Camera, spare battery and spare memory card.
I spent a whole hour yesterday wiping photos of 2 2gig cards yesterday hehe. Also got another XD one to take, I'm not taking no chances. Also have a travel adaptor for my battery charger.
Milan is an awesome city, lived there for 5 years and really loved it, just watch out for the pick-pockets around train stations and main touristy areas as Milan and Italy in general is notorious for them. Great to see that you're taking in the lakes too, awesome up there.
If you do have spare time head over to a place near San Marino called Urbino (do a google search for images to see what kind of town it is). It's a university town but the views from the top are spectacular. Nice to see you're missing out Venice.....been there a few times and it was rammed full of tourists and the price of things there was just stupid.
Take a phrase book too and learn the basics. Like any other place where English isn't the native tougue, if you make the effort people will be much more friendly.
Enjoy! :D
EDIT -> ....and, if you say to Italians that you are English, expect the standard response to be "Ah, 'ooligan!" (something to do with football etc), don't be offended :D
missyburd
25-02-10, 03:39 PM
Cheers Davies :-) No worries about pickpockets, being northern we're born with paranoia as a 6th sense lol.
San Marino looks a bit out of the way but will certainly bear it in mind! Looks beautiful.
Already learning a bit of Italian, very nice language actually.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee so excited!
Plently duty free drink for me please on you're way back :drunken:
keith_d
25-02-10, 04:00 PM
Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. Very pretty but not much happening, still worth spending a day or two around there browsing the galleries and enjoying the scenery.
Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculanium. All worth a visit though of course they're prime tourist territory so expect to pay a bit more for everything.
I've not been to Florence myself, but everyone says it's lovely.
Spring is a good time to visit Venice - the lagoon is pretty smelly later in the year. Try and pick up the water bus along the Grand Canal late in the day when the sun is shining across the buildings.
Have a great time, enjoy the food and especially the ice cream
Keith.
missyburd
25-02-10, 04:08 PM
Cheers folks. Any recommendations for travel insurance? I'm a newbie :-)
Quiff Wichard
25-02-10, 05:10 PM
why aint u takin chris??
Get an EHIC card if you haven't got one already - entitles you to free medical treatment. It's not a substitute for insurance. Apply on line. Type EHIC into google and away you go.
missyburd
25-02-10, 05:26 PM
why aint u takin chris??
Uni commitments, 2 weeks is too long away from finals :( And he's always said he doesn't like Italy, they make Ducatis :p
Cheers Ed, got the EHIC card already :-)
Ok i will not repeat the many places already mentioned. If you do head down to the south of Italy my favorite spots are Tropea
http://tc3.smugmug.com/Holidays/Italy-June-2007/Tropea/IMGP5505/168077633_VPrnJ-M.jpg
Maratea
http://tc3.smugmug.com/Holidays/Italy-June-2007/Maratea/IMGP5533/168093195_7YTQZ-M.jpg
http://tc3.smugmug.com/Holidays/Italy-June-2007/Maratea/IMGP5526/168720331_hfYSc-M.jpg
and La Sila mountain range (parents live half hour from here) however you will need a car to get around there.
http://tc3.smugmug.com/Holidays/Italy-June-2007/La-Sila-mountain-region/IMGP5407/168098781_wEKo5-M.jpg
Get yourself down to Sicily too as ir should be warm and my favorite town there is Taromina. Have a brilliant trip. The south has had a very mild winter this year.....New Years day reached 25 in the town of Cosenza and on New Years Eve we were in the town at 3:30 in the morning for the brilliant firework display and it was a hell of a lot warmer than here :)
slark01
25-02-10, 08:24 PM
Lived in Milan for a few months. A must for the city is the Duomo ( cathedral ) and the castle. Some fantastic shops, restaurants, clubs. Rome is very good for architecture and culture. The Vatican museum is a must.
Ste.
missyburd
09-03-10, 10:21 AM
Well it's all gone a bit Pete Tong. Come half2 yesterday morning, the morning we're supposed to be flying out to Milan, and I'm getting very friendly with the toilet bowl :-( My friend was also ill a couple of hours before so we had to miss our flight. Spent the entire day in bed yesterday, got up occasionally to refill my glass, didn't eat a thing.
Wanting to claim on the travel insurance for having to cancel a hotel booking (only booked one for 2 nights, hostel not open yet) and the missed flights.
Contemplating postponing the entire trip until next month, what do people think? Should we just fly out in a couple of days and carry on regardless or wait till next month when a) we'll be 100% fit and b) all the hostels we wanted to stay at originally will be open?
What a ball-ache.
Go as soon as you are better! :-D
Don't put it off, you never know whats around the corner!
Wait til you're 100% better whenever that is - check the weather out there & decide. Get yourself down the Doctor to claim off the ins.
Sorry to hear, but hope it all works out.
Disaster! GWS then go and have a great hols - don't forget, you'll need to be fit if you're doing loads of walking
dizzyblonde
09-03-10, 02:19 PM
Don't leave it too long, or before you know it you'll have missed your opportunity. Why waste all that planning.
GWS, then sod off on yer jollies :-)
What a shame. You must be thoroughly annoyed.
I think if you can postpone without too much loss, then do so but reschedule promptly. You're young and fit so shouldn't take too long to kick off a stomach bug. If you leave it too long you may find something else crops up and before long you cancel the trip indefinitely.
Alternatively, cancel anyway and come along with me next month.;)
missyburd
09-03-10, 11:07 PM
Thanks for your comments. I think we've decided to postpone the trip until a later date.
Not eaten for 2 days now aaargh!
BernardBikerchick
10-03-10, 01:43 AM
Hello all,
Well I am booked to go to Italy at the beginning of March with a female friend, we plan to stay for about a fortnight, maybe longer, trying to fit in as much as possible. We plan to get one of those Interrail passes, which will allow us easy travel about the country.
Just wanted to know what people have to say about the country really, tips about where not to go and where not to miss out on, what not to eat etc :-) Our flights land us in Milan and we plan to fly back from Naples.
Cheers in advance!
MYC xx
well i get lost in the bath ... however Venice and specifically St marks Square is a MUST its so lovely and beautiful riddled with *****s wanting to go on gondolas ( sp) but non the less lovely place to visit and you can buy sweets made of glass so lovely ! I sang in my choir there I will remember it like it was yesterday so exquisite ( sp) and the water is Green lol
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.