Italy?!?!

Captain Slow IRL

Wanna book a holiday for May - valentines gift for herself, but clueless about Italy.
Was thinking of Venice - anyone been here? How far is the airport out of the city - what's the public transport like? I was thinking of hiring a car out, but would rather spend the money on me and her!
Is Venice a nice place for young couples, or would there be somewhere else more suitable?!
Thanks for your help!

robbie2003ie

Hey ya,

If i was you i would skip Venice and head to Positano on the Amlfie Coast absolutely breath taking Views. Talented Mr Reply was filmed there,The town is build into the Rock face facing the Sea, you can take boat ride to Sorrento or Napels.

or you can hire a car in Positano and drive all along the coast of Amlfie and visit Rivalo ( Pavarotti Played there in the open theater looking over the Amlfie coast, Friends also got married there!) and Amlfie village and other little villages all along the coast absolutely beautiful views and drive.

Really cheap flights to napels , when you get to Napels get the Ferry along the coast to Positano or sorrento.

It was so nice in Positano, me and the misses are thinking of getting Married there.

Good luk

Let us know how you get on

Rob

Mr. Presentable

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with Venice either. Fly to Pisa, check out the tower and then take the train to Firenze (Florence). Sorted

Captain Slow IRL

How many airports are in Italy?

Sleepy

Another vote for the Amalfi Coast here. Stayed in a beautiful little place called Minori. We were practically the only tourists there at the time and were able to spin along the coast to Positano, Sorrento etc. Fairly decent bus service too if you don't fancy driving on those roads. Even if the place wasn't one of the most beautiful I've ever been in I'd recommend it for the food. Really, really, stupidly good (and reasonably priced) Italian food made by Mama in the kitchen with Papa acting as Maitre D and the kids doing the waiting! Fantastic.

newbusiness

land9 wrote: »

How many airports are in Italy?

132 aeroports as of 2007
101 with paved runways.

I wouldn't recommend driving in Italy though.

They don't obey traffic laws (certainly south of Rome where everyone is suggesting). They have a sort of equilibrium system that is based on power, respect, fear and balls.

Great place for couples though. It's cheap, food is great, people are helpful.
So for OP I'd recommend.

Captain Slow IRL

Let me phrase that better then - which airport should I fly into?!

Grettbags

Hi,

I was in Venice with my boyfriend in Sept 07. Its one of the most amazing places I've ever been. Just like in the movies! Very romantic. No cars enter the city, you do it all on foot/ boat. The bus takes about 20 mins from the airport. We spent 3 days there (plus 3 days in Florence and 4 in Rome). Your Girlfriend will love it. The only negative thing is it is Very expensive and the food probably isn't as great a other Italy cities. I guess it all depends on your budget and how long you want to spend there. 3 or 4 days is plenty of time. Email the George Hook Travel show on Newstalk, they will send you some really good info on Venice. Hope that helps! P.S. Rome is amazing also!!

Captain Slow IRL

I was looking at lonelyplanet.com - there's an awful load of gay bars in Naples, even a feckin theme-park style pub!

ixoy

land9 wrote: »

I was looking at lonelyplanet.com - there's an awful load of gay bars there, even a feckin theme-park style pub!

Not in Venice there isn't and there isn't much in Rome either - I should know as I was looking it up before the bf and I went a year and a half ago.

I'd recommend Venice - it's a lovely city and as it's mostly pedestrianised (or by boat), you don't have to worry about cars. Lots of small little streets that are like a little maze. I'd advise you eat in one of the smaller restaurants off these side streets rather than those in the main areas, which are rip offs and generaly of poor quality.
Be sure to get on the ferrys and visit the nearby islands - Murano, Serrano, etc to get a better taste of the area.

Captain Slow IRL

I meant in Naples!

Looking at hotels in Venice, early may - 5/600e for the 2 of us for a 3 night stay, not bad!

Zaph

Avoid Naples like the plague, it's an awful hole of a place. Sorrento and the rest of the towns on the Amalfi Coast are only an hour or so away and are a much better place to go to. Absolutely beautiful scenery, excellent restaurants and lovely people. I'd also highly recommend Rome, I loved the place and can't wait to go back there soon.

pobyrne2000

Hi Heading to italy in two weeks. flying into pisa and out of rome, renting a car a driving down the coast.

i hear everyone going on about the Amalfi coast, and i know i am going there, but i still not sure what it actually is??
where does this coast run from and too??

confused..

rossie1977

the amalfi coast starts about 1 hour drive south of naples, the drive goes roughly from sorrento to the town of salerno

http://z.about.com/d/goitaly/1/0/I/0/-/-/amalfi_coast_map.gif

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh13/AaronGershfield/Amalfi_Coast.jpg

pobyrne2000

thanks rossie,

thats first time i've actually seen a decent map that clearly shows where everything is.

TravelJunkie

Venice is great. Touristy, but great.
Try get tickets to theatre - very big there and spectacular (for the gf's sake!!)
Masquerades were famous there.

There are no cars in Venice city (they all park outside the tourist area) Accesible by train and boat. You can get around venice quite easily in water taxis, etc. The gondola ride is brilliant. Guy sings and all. It's the italian version of the dublin taxi driver (ie. free tour while you are transported)

Some lovely hotels there too.

bills

I second venice. Such an amazing city & so different. You really cant beat it for romance either. Its not cheap but its worth it.

Florence is also very nice & accomodation would probably be cheaper. You can fly into pisa with ryanair. Can do a lot of the towns in tuscany from there too.