Italy suggestions

magicmushroom

Hi all

My boyfriend and I would like to visit Italy for our first holiday together this year.

Neither of us have visited the country before, hence why we chose it, so I'm looking to hear from those of you that have been and your recommendations for the best area to go to, accommodation etc.

We're not fussed about beaches - so long as the hotel has a pool then we are not fussed if we are inland.

We want somewhere that has a lot to see and do, this won't be a 'sit by the pool all week' kind of holiday - we want to be out and about for most of the time.
I know Rome is an obvious choice but I would think of there as more of a long weekend city break? And also expensive from what I hear.

We're thinking of going in September so I'd like to hear if that's a good time to go as well please.

All suggestions and recommendations welcome!

(Should probably also mention our budget is up to €700 each for flights and accommodation, we are not fussed at all by fancy hotels and would happily stay somewhere on the cheaper side once the location is good)

Is a package deal the way to go or book flights and accommodation myself?

Thanks

toadfly

I have been to Rome twice, Venice & Sardinia once each.

What I would do is fly into Rome for 3/4 days and get an overnight train to another part of Italy, fly home from second location.

We done something similar a few years ago, flew into Salzburg for 4 days, overnight train to Venice and flew home from there. I would definitely recommend Rome, loved it. If going to Venice, 2/3 days is loads, not a whole pile to do there.

Sardinia is lovely but more of a sun/pool lounging holiday although we did travel around and stayed both north and east of the island.

magicmushroom

toadfly wrote: »

I have been to Rome twice, Venice & Sardinia once each.

What I would do is fly into Rome for 3/4 days and get an overnight train to another part of Italy, fly home from second location.

We done something similar a few years ago, flew into Salzburg for 4 days, overnight train to Venice and flew home from there. I would definitely recommend Rome, loved it. If going to Venice, 2/3 days is loads, not a whole pile to do there.

Sardinia is lovely but more of a sun/pool lounging holiday although we did travel around and stayed both north and east of the island.

Great idea! I've always wanted to go to Salzburg, I never would have thought of combining the 2! Thanks a million, I'm all excited now

Meathlass

Myself and 3 friends spent a week in Italy in June. We flew in to Bergamo airport and got the train to Verona - gorgeous old city. We spent 4 days there sightseeing and relaxing and did a day trip to Venice as well (about 1.5 hours each way on the train from Verona).

We then spent the remaining 3 days of the holiday in a apartment on Lake Garda in the town of sirmione (bus from Verona to Sirmione was about 2 hours). Apartment had a pool but we also swam in the lake - very very relaxing. Lovely touristy town with great restaurants.

Think we spent about €600 on flights and accommodation over the week. We probably spent about €50 a day eating and drinking though we really splurged and drank a lot, did some touristy stuff - you could certainly do it for a lot less.

That week is the only thing keeping me going in the last 9 months of work!!

coylemj

You can get around by rail very easily in Northern Italy and there's loads of places to visit - Verona, Pisa, Florence, Milan, Como, Venice etc. - all accessible by train. If you plan in advance you could spend a few days in each of two or three towns or cities and use them as hubs to explore other places on day trips by rail.

mfceiling

2nd all the advice here. Trains are great if you don't fancy driving. I love the north west of italy (the italian riviera)...stunningly beautiful, cheap as chips and lovely people.

For reasonably priced accommodation try airbnb or google "agriturismo" for some unique italian places to stay.

Uncle Ben

Another plus for Italian rail.I did the southern end many moons ago. Rome into Paestum, Herculaneum, Naples Pompeii, and boat train across to Sicily.Plenty of ancient Roman sites plus Vesuviius and Etna.
On the way back you could spend a few days relaxing on the Sorrento / Salerno coast.
I went b&b and hostels and it was clean, reasonable and safe. Italian rail were doing a monthly special during the summer months where one could hop on and off. An enjoyable experience for young couples who are prepared to travel with just a haversack and a wallet.