Has anyone gone to Italy?

DirtyWater · January 2012

If you have any info < Insert Here>

FIL and FMIL, couldn't resist "stopping by" our house that is an hour away from theirs today, after we told them we were not going to visit every week anymore. They showed up with a check with a promise of another check at the wedding to go towards the honeymoon.

We were thinking a cruise but feel like we wont see everything we could/should if we go with that option. Any thoughts?

npott044 · January 2012

I spent two weeks in Italy when I was in college. We had a big bus and toured Europe for six weeks. My favorite place was Riva Del Garda. I don't know much about taking a cruise in this area though.

SCogs18 · January 2012

I went to Rome, Florence, and Venice in 2010. Rome is very historic and beautiful, but was incredibly crowded (and hot!--it was July) and kind of dirty. I'm glad I've seen it, but I am not particurally interested in going back. Florence is beautiful and has amazing art (I have a BA in art) and great shopping, especially for jewelry. Venice is by far one of my most favorite places in the world. I would go back tomorrow if I could. There is a ton to see and do and amazing food. There are gondolas, the glass factory (murano glass), lace making (burano island), the square, churches...I can't list all the neat things to see (and buy!). I'd go to Italy for my honeymoon, but I'm not sure a cruise is the way to see it.

romamor4 · January 2012

I lived in Rome for 3 years! And I have to say that Venice is by far my favorite! I would go back time and time again. I've visited once by myself, fell in love with it thenv visited again with my daughter and FI and can say that we almost had our wedding there too. If you have any ?'s let me know! I speak fluent Italian and can give you guidance on inexpensive places to stay as well!

miichlmc · January 2012

I went to Italy once. I took a tour and visited Rome and the Tuscany region, including Pisa, Florence, San Gimniagno (sp?), Luca, Sienna. I loved it and would definitely recommend going! There is such great history there!

celticmyss · January 2012

SCogs summed up my feelings pretty well. Despite being a huge history buff, Rome was rather disappointing but I think it was because of the heat. I was also with people who refused to do anything but walk everywhere. It is still worth seeing though. The gelato alone makes it worthwhile!

Venice is amazing and one of my favorite cities ever. The best part was getting ourselves lost and finding interesting places that way. We ended up behind a glass factory on Murano and when he saw us peaking through the window an old man passed us tiny, misshapen glass horses through the window grate. That is still my favorite memento of the trip!

I haven't been but Cinque Terre is supposed to be phenomenal.

I would NOT do a cruise but then again, I'd never do a cruise period. You get such a superficial view of each stop and you're herded around with large groups. Italy was easy to travel by train and every city we were in was very English speaker friendly.

kateynjoe · January 2012

FI and I went to Venice last spring and it was Amazing!!! The boat trips to murano and the other nearby islands are fantastic and no matter how long you're there you'll wish you had more time. Everyone will tell you to "get lost in Venice" and that was our fave thing to do, just walk and take it all in. I agree with the other knotties and highly recommend Venice. Greece and Turkey are pretty great destinations too.

NO2012 · January 2012

Several people I know have recently taken Mediterranean cruises with several stops on the Italian coast (I believe they flew into Rome and went from there). They all absolutely loved it. Keep in mind these are older adults, not in their 20s or 30s. I have been to Italy and to Europe a few times and it is wonderful. I wouldn't mind the idea of this type of cruise because of the built in relaxation time. Traveling overseas, while extremely rewarding, can also be tiresome with language barriers, figuring out itineraries, train schedules, where to stay, etc. For a relaxing honeymoon in Europe, I would consider the cruise, especially if it is not your first time to Europe. If it is your first time, I don't know that you would get the full experience.

romamor4 · January 2012

Speaking of cruises, have you ladies seen the cruise ship that recently flipped in the Mediterranean right off of the Italian coast? Really scary. I feel so bad for the people on the boat. FI and I thought of doing a few days in Venice since its my favorite place and then taking a cruise out of there to Greece or something.

DirtyWater · January 2012

Thank you for all of the suggestions! I really hope we can afford it. We should have $10,000 for it. Does that sound like a good enough amount or are we dreaming?

romamor4 · January 2012

Oh that's plenty!! And if you need any advice or suggestions for places to stay, let me know. I still have a lot of friends there and visit frequently. Infact I have several friends that work at hotels and bed and breakfast places in Rome and Tuscany.

DirtyWater · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_anyone-gone-italy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:0ae18fdc-5cbc-4755-b411-32bf82f7c564Post:620c6e61-5acd-44ae-a745-a1e07001fc7b">Re: Has anyone gone to Italy?</a>:
[QUOTE]Oh that's plenty!! And if you need any advice or suggestions for places to stay, let me know. I still have a lot of friends there and visit frequently. Infact I have several friends that work at hotels and bed and breakfast places in Rome and Tuscany.
Posted by romamor4[/QUOTE]

I'll take any and all suggestions on places to stay and where to go. We really want this to be awesome. We should have 14 days total to take. So I think that would be 11 or 12 spent in Italy.

NO2012 · January 2012

It will be awesome!!

npott044 · January 2012

I really think you should look up Riva Del Garda.

volleygurl0306 · January 2012

Spent a semester in Perugia, Italy which is a mid-size town. It was fun for a semester but not a big tourist spot UNLESS you are there in October for the Chocolate festival. If you are traveling from city to city within Italy, train is by far the cheapest way to go. Word to the wise though, you need to be relaxed because they rarely run on time so if you are go with the flow people you should be okay, otherwise maybe rent a car. I disagree with PP about Rome...I'm obsessed with it. It really depends on the type of people you are. Rome has a lot to see so if you want to see it all you'll have to be pretty active and like history. Venice is by far the most unique place I've ever been so this is a MUST as PP said. Pompeii was really cool if you like history but a lot of walk. I hear the Amalfi coast is just gorgeous. I unfortunately didn't make it there but it's supposed to have beautiful beaches. Someone mentioned Cinque Terre. It is also an "active" place to visit because you are meant to hike it. It is gorgeous though and worth the work. You can always take the train from town to town if you aren't down for the hike. If you go to Pisa, just know that you don't need more than probably an hour there. It's literally the leaning tower and that's it. Romamor has me beat with three years but anything else I can do to help let me know!

romamor4 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_anyone-gone-italy?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:0ae18fdc-5cbc-4755-b411-32bf82f7c564Post:d6833158-8b40-498a-a4fe-63df24b1db33">Re: Has anyone gone to Italy?</a>:
[QUOTE]Spent a semester in Perugia, Italy which is a mid-size town. It was fun for a semester but not a big tourist spot UNLESS you are there in October for the Chocolate festival. If you are traveling from city to city within Italy, train is by far the cheapest way to go. Word to the wise though, you need to be relaxed because they rarely run on time so if you are go with the flow people you should be okay, otherwise maybe rent a car. I disagree with PP about Rome...I'm obsessed with it. It really depends on the type of people you are. Rome has a lot to see so if you want to see it all you'll have to be pretty active and like history. Venice is by far the most unique place I've ever been so this is a MUST as PP said. Pompeii was really cool if you like history but a lot of walk. I hear the Amalfi coast is just gorgeous. I unfortunately didn't make it there but it's supposed to have beautiful beaches. Someone mentioned Cinque Terre. It is also an "active" place to visit because you are meant to hike it. It is gorgeous though and worth the work. You can always take the train from town to town if you aren't down for the hike. If you go to Pisa, just know that you don't need more than probably an hour there. It's literally the leaning tower and that's it. Romamor has me beat with three years but anything else I can do to help let me know!
Posted by volleygurl0306[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I agree with all of this! Rome became an obsession of mine and it really depends on your personality whether or not you'd like it. That said, if you want to see the major sites of the city, you should plan on spending one day at the vatican and then two days to split between site seeing. And that's pushing it! </div><div>
</div><div>As far as Venice goes, I could spend days there. I love it. I went there for the first time by myself and ended up extending my trip by a day. FI and I went there for a few days last winter as well. It is so magical especially if you go during lower season, which would make it a great place to be in September/October. FI and I are infact trying to make it work where we can go back for a few days over our honeymoon. </div><div>
</div><div>Tuscany is really romantic as well. We also stayed at a bed and breakfast last year near San Gimignano. It's so nice to be in the middle of the rolling hills! When you narrow down where you want to stay, let me know. My roommate while I was living there works at a 5* hotel across from the embassy in Rome and knows the best places to go all over the country too. We are actually debating on doing Sicily for our honeymoon.

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