<p>We went 3 weeks to Italy and the four stars aren’t in all the best places–rent a home if you get the chance.and time. We rented a farm house in Italy for a week (again 9 of us) and were very surprised to have dinner prepared for us on arrival with the renting family–everybody–mom,dad, sisters, brother, fiance, grandparents. What an experience! Dinner on the lawn with long tables and candles glowing. Simply captivating. Only one person on the Italian side spoke fluent English. Some of us knew French so muddled through since the language was close enough and the wine was plentiful… SO much fun on both sides. We repeated that experience a couple days later–we invited them all back to repeat the party and it was just as much fun! Unfortunately you can’t plan things like that. The only thing you can do is be open to them.
Same trip we spent about a week at Lake Como. So beautiful. Our kids struck up a friendship with the kids around and spent time playing soccer on a tennis sized court (granddad played too) and exchanging the swear lingo of both languages. Sort of a cultural exchange that won’t be forgotten. </p>
<p>Look up cultural nuances no matter how you travel (tour or on your own)-know the differences between a restaurant and a trattoria for example. Know tipping practices. Know things close on a whim sometimes. Make reservations at museums before you leave home. Know how shopping practices are–shop owners can be pushy or laid back depending on the part of the world. Knowing the cultural differences makes it so much easier to enjoy your experience no matter where you go.</p>
<p>conmama, we probably won’t know where we’re flying into until close to the trip start time. But I’m thinking that Rome might be easier, as we can get there in two legs as opposed to three. I have a mental block about flying three legs, it just doesn’t happen. It also seems a little cheaper to fly into Rome, so I’d guess we’d go there, given a choice.</p>
<p>Argh!! Now hubby says he’d rather do southern Italy (Pompeii and the Amalfi coast) than northern Italy - so no “My Way” tour. Maybe we’ll look into the RS southern Italy tour instead…</p>
<p>Busdriver…if you fly into Rome and only have 5 nights I would consider staying in Sorrento, also. It’s not the Amalfi Coast per se, but a great spot to tour from.pompeii, Capri, Positano…plus Sorrento itself. It will take about 3hours to Sorrento I think. If you go my route…Salerno, then ferry to Positano, you could always spend one night there. I heard its just so full of tourists, but in the evenings they all leave and it’s gorgeous to sit out for dinner, enjoy Tha magnificent view into night. Leave the next day and do 4 nights Sorrento. I can give u the names of he hotels I have researched in Positano when I’m back at work.</p>
<p>Naples is a very cool city…like Palermo, it has an authentic, less touristy feel. The art, churches, architecture, and the food is incredible. There is some petty crime…just be careful where you go after dark.</p>
<p>Are any of you savvy about airfare? The prices into Rome and out of Florence for July are sooooo high. We don’t know if there’s a chance they will go down or should we book this trip now? </p>
<p>If you book your return from the same city, it should be lower - instead of flying out of Florence, can you take the train back to Rome and fly out of Fiumicino?</p>
<p>What is the airfare right now, EPTR? You may be booking too soon, but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>I would appreciate your recommendation of hotels, conmama, only if it’s not much trouble. I’ve planned a European vacation for us for perhaps the last 15 years. Only two of which we’ve gone on. This summer we even bought nonrefundable tickets to Stockholm. Trip cancelled. So I don’t get too excited about anything anymore.</p>
<p>Well scratch my plan going to Morocco day trip. I looked at the map again, it’s next to Algeria and I don’t want to be a target for whatever reason.
I use fly from USA to London. Then I book from London to wherever. I did for my daughter on first class to France using my mileage from British Airways. She said it was heaven.
This kid better gets rich because she has expensive taste. :D</p>
<p>Every time we go on vacation with our kids, we clarify that the only reason they get to fly first class is because of upgrades, and we would NEVER pay for it. But I think they’re getting use to it. In the back, center seat would be a shock. But I still feel the need to explain it’s just a deal, not a paid for luxury.</p>
<p>What??? A typo? Too late to edit? The horror, the horror, unheard of by the ultra elite parents of cc. Never happened before on this hallowed sight. Or is it site… </p>
<p>OP…I did a quick peek at Travelocity from my Midwest city to see what the cost would be in July. It was coming back around $1800 pp. I think that seems a little pricey and that was round trip to Rome. It wouldn’t stop me from going, but I wonder why so high.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s what we are seeing. A little cheaper if we are willing to add a stop on the way to Rome. I think it is so high because it is high season in Italy. I have no choose except to wait until I retire from teaching in 7 years so we are willing to pay it. But I wondered if it is likely to go down or, God forbid, up before then. </p>
<p>Also, some cheaper fairs through Turkish Air. Anyone ever fly them?</p>
<p>I found a couple of airfare trackers that might give you a better idea of prices. I googled “airfare history” Here’s one: <a href=“Airfare History Charts: Faredetective.com”>http://www.faredetective.com/farehistory/</a> Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to tell you when is the best time to buy them, so that’s not so helpful. I would set some fare alerts up so you can keep an eye on the prices. You may also think of getting an airline credit card for the perks. My husband recently took a trip on US air and brought home an offer for a bunch of miles and two companion tickets for $99 each. We might get it just to pay for tickets for a trip we’re taking next summer. </p>
<p>If I remember correctly, I paid around $650 for our RT tickets to Dublin and bought them in November for my son’s travel in January and our travel in late April/early May. I had to book ours early because I wanted us together on the flight home. </p>
<p>Try checking airline sites directly for better prices.
Last time we flew to Belgium it didn’t make a difference if round trip or one-way.
Friend of mine ended up going to AAA to get airline tix and ended up cheaper than internet prices.</p>
<p>Try checking airline sites directly for better prices.
Last time we flew to Belgium it didn’t make a difference if round trip or one-way.
Friend of mine ended up going to AAA to get airline tix and ended up cheaper than internet prices.</p>
<p>I don’t usually book my flights until 3 months prior. I would fly to Milan or Rome, and travel to other cities via train. Air Alitalia just sucks. They don’t fly if there is rain, fog, or for whatever reason. There is no real big difference in price when flying in/out of different cities.</p>
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