Anyone been to Italy?

[Miklos]

First time to Italy on the 31st of this month, for me, the wife and 2 year old daughter.
Looking really forward to it, but has anyone been?
I keep hearing mixed stories like "oh, you'll love it, it's fantastic", and "take plenty of cash with you, you'll need it" etc.
Is it really as expensive as people say?

We are doing 2 weeks in Tuscany. First week in Lucca and the second week just outside Florence.
We don't do night-life, so a litre carafe of local wine sat on our patio at the apartment will be the order of the day!!!
Meals out will be confined to just lunches because with a young daughter onboard, we don't want to alter her sleeping pattern (took us ages to get her into one) - evening meals will be 'cooked' inside the apartment - so it won't be that expensive, will it?

Been all over the Middle East, Spain, Greece, Turkey but never done Italy - CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Any advice would be taken onboard, thanks.

Mike

[reddiesel]

Originally Posted by Miklos

First time to Italy on the 31st of this month, for me, the wife and 2 year old daughter.
Looking really forward to it, but has anyone been?
I keep hearing mixed stories like "oh, you'll love it, it's fantastic", and "take plenty of cash with you, you'll need it" etc.
Is it really as expensive as people say?

We are doing 2 weeks in Tuscany. First week in Lucca and the second week just outside Florence.
We don't do night-life, so a litre carafe of local wine sat on our patio at the apartment will be the order of the day!!!
Meals out will be confined to just lunches because with a young daughter onboard, we don't want to alter her sleeping pattern (took us ages to get her into one) - evening meals will be 'cooked' inside the apartment - so it won't be that expensive, will it?

Been all over the Middle East, Spain, Greece, Turkey but never done Italy - CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Any advice would be taken onboard, thanks.

Mike

I went 2006 to pisa for a week and a week in naples, visited florence (firenza they call it) very nice lots to see, be carefull if you go on open top tour bus ,you can get decapitated by lamps and tree branches . went to pompei ,vesuvius etc, while in napoli, florence isnt too far from pisa, the leaning tower ( its not that big) , prices are similar to here, plenty of supermarkets but you wont find a lot of stuff your used to, strange meats, cheese, bread etc,( try finding bacon ), anyway you will love it, im going back in september, ten days in rome and another week in naples. one last thing be carefull crossing roads as a lot of mad drivers.

[Miklos]

Thanks reddiesel for the good advice!

Shouldn't have any problems with the supermarkets, we always eat what the locals eat - "when in rome" as they say!!!
As long as I can get hold of chicken or fish fingers for the young 'un - we'll stick to local food.

The roads can't be any worse than Tehran, Iran mate - for crossing that is.... I still have nightmares

But that's the sort of advice I was looking for - cheers!

Mike

[Jimdefruit]

Hi Miklos. I was in Tuscany for a week early in June and apart from thunderstorms it was great. Due to the poor Euro exchange rate costs are higher than they were but slightly cheaper than in SE England. The supermarkets are very good although unlikely to be open on Sundays. Go for the local wines and enjoy.

Have a good time.

[Miklos]

Originally Posted by Jimdefruit

Hi Miklos. I was in Tuscany for a week early in June and apart from thunderstorms it was great. Due to the poor Euro exchange rate costs are higher than they were but slightly cheaper than in SE England. The supermarkets are very good although unlikely to be open on Sundays. Go for the local wines and enjoy.

Have a good time.

Cheers mate! I plan to enjoy...... I live for my holidays!!!
Tuscany was the wife's choice - if it had been mine we'd be going back to Crete (Matala in the south of the island) - the holiday of 2005 was one of the best if not 'the' best holiday of my life despite receiving some tragic news on the second day!!!
Loved it..... that's if you didn't mind spending your entire fortnight in the company of German's.... not a British 'chav' in sight!!!!!

[fj1200]

I think your wife has made an excellent choice. Beautiful part of the world. Stayed in Massa Lubrense, near Sorrento, in 2006. Did alot of traveling around and found it hard to dislike anything. Nice friendly people, good food/drink and great weather. When eating out avoid touristy spots, go where the locals go, prices are much cheaper. Same with drink. Supermarkets and local shops are well stocked with all kinds of goodies and are not over priced. Wine is especially cheap. Most shops close for the afternoon but are open late in the evening. Learn a few words of Italian, it goes down very well with locals. Try and get to Rome for a daytrip. Its well worth the effort. Great open top bus tours around the city. If your hiring a car get the smallest one you can fit into. There's alot of very narrow roads and its best to have a small car as the driving can be...well lets say interesting! Bring some mosquito spray. We were eaten alive. Have'nt been to Tuscany but i've heard nothing but good reports and I'm planning to go there next year. I think you'll have a great time.
And there's no chavs!

Just to add they, Italians, are very fond of children so you should'nt have any problems with the youngster.

[billybob69]

I've been to Italy a few times now and have a 'love - hate relationship" with it; I love the country, but find the people a bit rude - OMHO!
I liked Pisa, but others have come away and said "it was just a leaning tower", so I guess it depends on what you expect. Florence; lovely place. If you want to do some shopping there, there used to be an outdoor market selling cheap leather goods (jackets, belts, bags etc) and silk.
As others have said - try to go to Rome for a day or two; not only for the Roman ruins, St. Peters Square etc but to get a taste of Southern Italy - which can be very different to the North.

bb69

[Miklos]

Thanks for the replies (billybob & fj) good sound advice!!!

Second week (in Florence area - San Casciano in val de pesa) we aim to hire a car and see the sights, so Rome will be in our radar!!
First week will be a chill-out session in Lucca. Do some walking, exploring and maybe a train ride into Pisa or Livorno (or both).

Owners of the second apartment/house has already invited us up onto their balcony for coffee & ice-cream and watch the San Casciano firework displays
Now there's hospitality for you!!!!!

27 days and counting..........