Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
First time traveling to Italy...opinions please
I'm planning on going with a tour group since I'll be traveling alone. I would actually prefer to do all the planning myself and do my own thing, but I'll catch too much crap from family lol. And if I have it my way, this will only be the start of traveling overseas for me, so I'll likely go back.
Here are the 2 tours I'm looking at.
#1 - Start in Rome, stay for 2 nights. Then spend 4 nights in Montecatini and visit Siena, Florence, Piza while there. Then back to Rome for 1 night before flying home.
#2 - Start in Montecatini stay for 4 nights - tour Cinque Terre, Florence, and Siena. Then head to Sorrento for 3 nights, but visit Pompeii on the way, then see Amalfi coast and Capri.
Which would you choose and why?
A little background for me, the places I want to definitely see are Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence, and Siena. I just am not sure about going all that way and not actually seeing Rome...but then I would miss out on the beautiful coast.
Re: First time traveling to Italy...opinions please
#1...My best friend is from Montecatini and we used it as a home base for half of our trip a few years ago. That being said, Siena, Florence and Pisa are all short distances away. We did stay in Florence for three or four days before getting to Montecatini though.
Cinque Terre is doable from Montecatini, but is a bit much for a day trip, so, you'd lose a lot of time traveling. Also, Rome would be good to do with a group because of the museum tours. Personally, I'd do the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre when you'd have more time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere a bit instead of just passing through. Does it tell you where in Montecatini you will be staying?
For number 1, we would stay at Bellavista. Number 2 is Grand Hotel Plaza.
What kinds of things do you like to do?
When we went in October, we did Cinque Terre, Florence, Venice, Siena, and Rome. I know a lot of posters here love Rome, but it's just not my thing. We did 3 nights there, and while it was really neat to see, I don't need to go back. Calvin really expected Rome to be his favorite city, but it was neither of ours.
I'm not a city girl at home, so it makes sense that I wouldn't be when traveling either. I loved Cinque Terre though. I think you should choose the itinerary that matches up best with your specific interests.
The things I'm most looking forward to while over there is definitely the food & wine. Also though, I really want to experience their culture, landscape, and see the gorgeous architecture that is over there. Of course, I want to see the famous landmarks and such where ever I end up, but that is really secondary since once you've seen it, you've seen it, if that makes any sense.
Ideally, I would love to do more of a backpacking trip and not have something so structured. But a tour group will give everyone around me peace of mind since I'll be with a group instead of completely by myself. Plus I'll know where I want to go next time
What tour company are you looking at? I'm not a tour person at all, but a few friends have done tours with Intrepid Travel and have raved about them - it seems to be a younger crowd and they're small groups so you can really get so see things properly.
Of the options you've given, I would do #1. I absolutely loved Rome and I'd think that you would have more time to yourself in a city as opposed to travelling around the Amalfi coast. Honesty though, you can't go wrong - I've been to Italy four times and it's still my favourite place to go, everywhere I've been has been gorgeous.
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks
This. I wish that for #2 you did either CT or Amalfi Coast but not both and then Rome in place of the other. That would be ideal.
Blog Sale
<a href="http://s582.photobucket.com/albums/ss262/hzswanson/?action=view
am i the only one here that thinks that unless you're only 15 years old you should go by yourself and let your family yell and scream? it's not their trip-it's YOURS. from the itineraries you gave i feel that no, you wont see what you want to see. florence as a day trip, especially after reading about your interest in architecture, wont cut it.
here's what i suggest. go alone. book private transfers from city to city (or take the train if you prefer. there's a fast train from rome to florence that takes only 90 minutes and is easy! ) if you want to put your family at a bit more ease and you can certainly join tour groups for specific things while you're there. but with a trip like you want to take and the itineraries you provided i think you'd be makling a big mistake taking either of the tours.
if you do opt to do a tour (and I hope you dont!) find out what the food situation is. a friend of mine took a tour and was PISSED when she got there and realized that they had to choose from VERY limited menus-essentially price fix with a choice of 3 apps, 3 primis, 3 secondis and 3 desserts. that's it. and couldn't choose the wine they wanted.
Thanks ladies for your input!!
HZ - I completely agree about wishing #2 had either CT or Amalfi, and included Rome.
Alithebride - you pretty much summed up why I'm hesitant about booking a tour. I'm still looking to try and price everything out, so I still may decide to go alone not on a group tour. And I would really hate for my trip to end up something I don't absolutely love especially since I'm going for my 30th birthday since it has always been my dream to go to Italy. I also wanted to see if anyone else thought my family was being ridiculous about not wanting me to travel overseas by myself because I don't see anything wrong with it
I agree with this 100%! I took a trip to Europe by myself several years ago after my divorce and had an amazing time. I actually enjoyed being myself because I was able to see and do and eat whatever I wanted without having to compromise or ask anyone else's opinion. As alithebride suggested, I did sign up for a few guided tours during the day which I enjoyed having company for. Europe is so easy and safe to travel within; definitely a great place to travel solo!
With all of the combined knowledge on here we can help you plan one hell of a trip
I feel your family is right to care and worry, but ultimately, if you want to do a solo trip especially for a milestone like 30 then i think you should do it. I dont feel they're being ridiculous-they care abotu you and want you to be safe, which is nice of course, but to a point LOL. do you think it would help if you worked with an experienced travel agent also? that might put their minds at ease a bit. good luck!!
First, I want to say that I totally agree with the PPs, you're a grown woman, and if you want to travel alone, that's what you should do. I'm sure your family is just concerned for your well being, but at the same time, it's your life and you've got to live it!
That being said, if you do decide to do a tour, I wanted to second a PP's suggestion of Intrepid Tours. My H and I did a 3 week tour with them this summer through Italy, Switzerland, and France, and it was great! We chose to do a tour because we were a little bit nervous about navigating the public transportation system, etc... Intrepid was great because our tour guide took care of all of our train travel, got the tickets, etc... There are some activities included in the tour, but everything is optional. Food is not included, and you can really eat whatever you want, whenever you want. Typically, our guide would eat with us one night per location, and the other nights we could eat as a group or not, and venture out on our own. And, the one dinner with the guide was optional, not required.
I think Intrepid guarantees you no more than 12 in your group. Our group was 3 people...me, DH and a guy from Australia. So, the 3 of us traveled around with our group leader, and could really blend in and not make it obvious we were a big tour group. It was a really great setup, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
As for your initial question, I would go with option 2, but that's just based on my personal preferences. I loved the CT, so I wouldn't want to miss that. I also loved Rome, but I'm not a city person, and the first itinerary is a little bit more city intensive. Pisa was nothing great, so I wouldn't worry about missing that. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll have a great trip!!!
Of the choices I'd go with #2--- since #2 covers more ground than #1, it's handy to have the freebie transportation. Further, it's typically easier/cheaper to get a direct flight into Rome and explore it on another trip (and, I bet you'll want to return
).
That said, having been to all the places you're interested in visiting, I don't think you'll have any hassles. IME, Italians are lovely people, very family oriented and will go out of their way to help you. The stereotype of men "cat calling", etc is totally overblown... yes, in a club, dressed to be in a club, you'll get attention. But just living your life, it's NBD. More importantly, violent crime, even in big cities, is rare.
Not trying to cause drama, and I do understand how families are, but really, I can say with pretty legit knowledge, Italy is not a dangerous place for women. As a point of reference, I grew up in a very small town in New England where, literally, we did not lock the doors, so I'm hardly an urban thrill seeker. And I've spent the last three years living in Naples, IT (3rd largest city and certainly the highest per capita crime rate).
It seems like everyone has covered Italy (and tbh I don't know much about it), I just wanted to chime in on the traveling alone bit and say that you should do it. I spent my 28th birthday in Damascus, Syria (in 2008) on my own and my family didn't even know about it. Clearly I lived to tell the tale.
Bad things can happen, of course. But Italy is pretty safe and at 30 years old, you're allowed to do what you want. Don't let your family complaining stop you from the trip you really want.
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks