Any of you guys been to Italy?

[Wallcrawler]

So, Ive been blowing off suggestions of vacations for a long time now. I just don't really have a desire to get out and do much of anything. My idea of a vacation is just hanging out around the house.

Its been several years, and the wife really has this thing for Italy, and I could actually be down for that because I would be interested in checking out the Colosseum. Seen tons of pictures but I think standing in it and touring the underground chambers would be pretty cool.

Ive seen a few tour sites, and while Im only interested in the Colosseum there are a few that offer a 5 day "Best of Italy" tour with English speaking guides. Since its such a huge thing for her, I wanted it to be the biggest bang for our buck and see as much of it as we could because we aren't going to be able to get more than a week off from our employers to do something like this.

If any of you have gone, or you've travelled out of the country and know of some companies to go with, or to avoid, Id love to hear some suggestions.

[bobbymitch]

I got to spend three weeks in Naples back in '68. But since it was courtesy of the US Navy, I don't think you probably want to go that route. Since I was at the NATO base, it was away from the touristy areas and since I was mostly broke, I had to hoof it everywhere, but found great cheap places to eat and little out of the way historical stuff to visit.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Rome, Florence and Venice are worth the trip. Never was much into the guided tours. There was a small town located on a cliff with a beautiful beach that I stumbled upon. Can't recall the name, I'll post it later.

Cinque Terre?

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Cinque Terre?

PFFFFFFFFF.


Go south of Amalfi to a coastal town that isn't swimming with people there for the "authentic" experience.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by bobbymitch

I got to spend three weeks in Naples back in '68. But since it was courtesy of the US Navy, I don't think you probably want to go that route. Since I was at the NATO base, it was away from the touristy areas and since I was mostly broke, I had to hoof it everywhere, but found great cheap places to eat and little out of the way historical stuff to visit.

My brother was stationed in Naples as well. Last Christmas we were hanging out in Rome and he took a day to go see his old neighbors. Of course they still lived there and remembered him.

Italians are the ****ing best.

[OldSchool]

Been in one, never been in Italy though.

[Cheater5]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

PFFFFFFFFF.


Go south of Amalfi to a coastal town that isn't swimming with people there for the "authentic" experience.

Agreed. I lived in Italy (Vicenza) for 4 years, and although I enjoyed visiting Cinque Terra it was overrun with tourists. Lots of good advice on here, but Saphojunkie IMO is on it.

[Rain Man]

I'm hoping to go to Italy next year, but it's iffy.

I've recently been intrigued with the Isle of Capri there.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Rome, Florence and Venice are worth the trip. Never was much into the guided tours. There was a small town located on a cliff with a beautiful beach that I stumbled upon. Can't recall the name, I'll post it later.

I'll add Milan and Ravenna to the list.

Catacombs, cathedrals, art museums, gondola, st marks square, strolling on city streets and stopping at cafe are on the to do list.

[cdcox]

Also Venetian glass works.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Cinque Terre?

Thats it. I was doing a lot of drugs at that point in my life. Memory is a bit fuzzy. We took a train to Venice from Rome and got off at the wrong station. Discovered it by complete accident.

We stayed in a persons house that rented it out. They and others in the town were very friendly, especially the women.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

PFFFFFFFFF.


Go south of Amalfi to a coastal town that isn't swimming with people there for the "authentic" experience.

WTH!! Its a tourist trap now?

[DaKCMan AP]

There's a high likelihood that DaKCMan AP will travel to Italy next year. No way in hell DaKCMan AP hires a tour company, however.

[NewChief]

Sad to hear the reports on Cinque Terre, but it doesn't surprise me that it's overrun, now. It was already pretty popular when I was there 20 years ago, and I'd always wondered if it had become too touristy.

[MahiMike]

Italy is pretty awesome. It's the Florida of Europe. Even shaped kinda like it. It's always warm and usually sunny. Just know that it was a communist country and the infrastructure shows it. Crossing over from Switzerland is like going from 5 star hotel to a budget motel. But that's also it's charm.

It's the biggest tourist destination in Europe so that's both good and bad. We tended to stay in the northern section where they speak German. If you go to the true American spots where they know English, prepare for huge crowds and double the price.

Umbria is a good compromise.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Sad to hear the reports on Cinque Terre, but it doesn't surprise me that it's overrun, now. It was already pretty popular when I was there 20 years ago, and I'd always wondered if it had become too touristy.

Wellll ****!!!!

I was there in 1985. That was such a cool town. If I'm remembering correctly, its actually several towns but you would never know that unless you lived there. Townies were friendly and welcoming. It was definitely not a tourist town. There was some but that's true in every town by the water since time immortal.