I need recommendations for a trip

Parent Cafe
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<p>We did a 2 week graduation (from HS) Italy trip last summer. Left So Cal 6/28. In general, Italy was opressively hot last summer, especially Rome. I will never go to Italy in the summer again. Having said that, I agree with the other posters to limits what you will do so that you can slow the pace and relax. I love Italy and will go many more times, just not in the summer. We rented a 5 seater car and drove. It cost less to do this than use the train for a family of 4. Plus we had the freedom to explore, on our own schedule, not the train schedule. When we were in the city, we just paid to park the car and leave it. If you are going to just do big cities, forget the car. If you want to see Tuscany, Cinque Terra (which by the way is very crowded in summer…it has been discovered thanks to the Rick Steves guide books), you need a car. I used Rick Steves books as my planning guide, but apparently, so is everyone else these days.</p>

<p>Another possibility: Many years ago we were able to do the Italian Alps/Lake Country. If you and your family are more the hiking, lakes and mountain people, consider going north of Milan into the Lake Lugano and Lake Como area. Take a car and go north and after that into Switzerland. Interlaken and St. Moritz are gorgeous in the summer. Less crowded, less heat. This, I would do again in a heartbeat.</p>

<p>My HS grad D really wanted to spend time in Florence, so we based most of our trip last summer around Florence and the hill towns of Tuscany, plus Siena for the great Palio on 7/2. If you are travelling with those who do not enjoy the beauty/charm of the small towns, then just hit Florence, then Rome and Venice with probably more interesting “stuff” to do and will quickly fill 2 weeks. </p>

<p>Tuscany was incredible and the hill towns beautiful. Siena is also a great small Tuscan town. If you think you will be near Siena July 2, the Palio is going on. This is an amazing ancient historical horse race and parade around the town square. It is a mad house, but definitely worth doing once (only) in a life time. Because of the Palio, this area is booked well in advance during early July. </p>

<p>We had a great private guide from the Tuscan hilltown of Cortona (Under the Tuscan Sun fame). Giovanni can be reached at cell) 347 17 62 830. He took us to three great hill towns with a local’s view, helped us with wine tasting and local food. Excellent full day and we were able to get the best of Tuscany. We also stayed 2 nights in Florence. I would give Florence, Siena and Tuscany a full week. In Florence we stayed in a great B and B run by a young man, within steps of the Duomo. Tra le du Torri was the name and the phone is 39 055 2670261 If you use Florence as your center of action, you can work from there. </p>

<p>Avoid the really popular/tourity Pisa, San Gim…</p>

<p>The best hilltowns are Cortona, Lucca (near Pisa and much nicer) and Volterra
My kids actually enjoyed a bit of the Italian wine tasting, which is perfectly ok to do and also at meals. HS and/or college grads should be allowed to try the great Italian wines. You can rent rooms in a working Tuscan farmhouse if you want to do a full week in that area. Use the farm as a base and see the countryside, including Siena. Then spend a several days in Florence. That would fill 2 weeks easily and be at a wonderful pace.</p>

<p>Facts:
Rome is hot, expensive and crowded in summer. Go another time.
Venice is hot, expensive and crowded in summer. It’s ok to go in the summer if you are ready to be sweaty.</p>

<p>We flew in and out of Milan, so we had a chance to explore Parma and stay on a farm/cheese making factory. We also were able to go to “Alta Bergamo” which is a great walled ancient town perched on a mountain. You can stop off in Verona and Padua between Milan and Venice if you are taking the train from either direction. Both small towns are interesting…for a very short visit.</p>

<p>Venice is amazing and you either love it or hate it. I loved it. My husband hated it. It’s the kind of town you need to just take time to wander all around. We spent an entire day visiting the nearby islands of Murano (touristy for glass) and Burano (much less touristy with charm). </p>

<p>Good Luck. I have been to Italy several times now, so if you have questions as you firm up the trip, feel free to message me. Get your flights soon, as I booked in late December (from LA) and we were very limited with flight choices.</p>

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<p>By the way, everything is very expensive in Italy now, with our lousy dollar. No matter how frugal we tried to be, dinner always seemed to be around $60 for a family of 4; more with good wine or the finer resaurants. A Diet Coke will cost you $5!</p>

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<p>DD is going on a school spring break trip. She pays for her own snacks, drinks, souvenirs and I think a couple of dinners. Anybody venture a guess on how much money she should take?
They are going to the usual tourist haunts.</p>

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<p>eebbeeee: just figure what she would use here and double it.</p>

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<p>Regarding Pisa, I think it’s worth seeing the leaning tower just cuz… but, one doesn’t need to spend any nights there to do it - a few hours is adequate and it’s on the way to the Cinque Terra. </p>

<p>blucroo:
I also went to Italy in July and it was definitely hot. I was expecting it to be hot so I didn’t mind so much but another time of year would be much better. We also headed to the north and into Switzerland where the weather was about perfect.</p>

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<p>A friend went to Rome for a week in the fall with her daughters to visit her son while he was there for a semester study abroad. They stayed in an apartment near the Spanish steps. She said it was wonderful because they had more room and could eat whatever meals they wanted to there and it was much more affordable. They walked and took public transportation or taxis everywhere. They did a walking tour of Rome with a guide and another one of Florence.</p>

<p>We did a Mediterranean cruise a few years ago with stops Italy in August. It was no hotter then Pennsylvania in the summer. Mid 80’s. We just always made sure to have a few bottles of water on us, but I do that here too. We loved every city but Venice had to be the most unique. The other tip I can pass on is that if you plan to visit the Vatican you are not supposed to wear tank tops or shorts.</p>

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<p>“A Diet Coke will cost you $5!”</p>

<p>but a carafe of lovely Italian wine that serves everyone will run you about $10, and the tap water is perfectly safe to drink.</p>

<p>“Vino della casa blanco” (house white wine) or “vino della casa rossa” (house red)
“piccolo” (small)
“medio” (medium)
“grande” (large)</p>

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<p>ebeeeee,
Don’t have your daughter carry cash to exchange. send her with a visa credit or debit card and have her take out Euros from the ATM upon arrival. And let your bank know ahead of time to prevent a fraud protection denial</p>

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<p>You can also drink fizzy water for less than a coke. I agree Roman ruins (Pompei, Ostia (near Rome) and the Forum are all well worth it, and unlike art museums, more different from things you can see in the US. Hadrian’s villa and the Domus Aureus are actually my favorite Roman ruins.</p>