I have a 36 foot Winnebago and we have traveled all over the US and in to Mexico. Mexico=favorite place is Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point).
To do something different, we were thinking of taking a trip to Italy next year (2013).
Sooooooo what I was wondering was, if any of you have been there? We were thinking about taking a land tour, there is a tour that is 15 days and it is from Naples, North to Venice and all the towns in between.
One of the problems I'm having is I don't know how many miles it is from A to M. After the tour, if we stay in Amalfi for 3 or 4 days would it be too far to take a day trip(for the day) to Naples.
Or Livorno to Florence, ETC
Perhaps you can recomend places to see, eat and stay.
Any info you can give would be highly appreciated.
I have been to Italy a number of times and I've never taken a tour. I have however rented a car and think this is the best advice I can give you. First of all see Rome, stay in Rome for a few days, it is the Eternal City and the history and sights are spectacular. I would then drive to Florence and spend a few days in Tuscany, even if you are not a wino this is the way Italy was and will be. Visit the mountain town of San Giaminano, great food and spectacular scenery & history. Venice is OK, a lot of dirty water and expensive. The Amalfi Coast is wonderful. The Italians love life and you will be welcomed. Take a small digital English/Italian translator with you. Unlike the French, the Italians appreciated your trying to speak their language. You can take the great train from Rome to Florence and then rent a car if you do not want to drive from Rome to Florence, very inexpensive. I never get enough of Italy!! Enjoy!!
Lake area in Northern Italy is very nice. There are three or four major lakes. We stayed around Stressa Italy the last time we went. If it were me I would take the train and forget renting a car. Italy has very agresive drivers. We did drive from Switzerland to Italy. Drivers started to pass blindly around 15 cars and such. Don't even think of driving in Rome unless you currently drive in Manhattan. I have not been to Amalfi coast so cannot comment on it. I have been the the Cince Terra area in N Italy and can recommend that.
gswcgi wrote: I have been to Italy a number of times and I've never taken a tour. I have however rented a car and think this is the best advice I can give you. First of all see Rome, stay in Rome for a few days, it is the Eternal City and the history and sights are spectacular. I would then drive to Florence and spend a few days in Tuscany, even if you are not a wino this is the way Italy was and will be. Visit the mountain town of San Giaminano, great food and spectacular scenery & history. Venice is OK, a lot of dirty water and expensive. The Amalfi Coast is wonderful. The Italians love life and you will be welcomed. Take a small digital English/Italian translator with you. Unlike the French, the Italians appreciated your trying to speak their language. You can take the great train from Rome to Florence and then rent a car if you do not want to drive from Rome to Florence, very inexpensive. I never get enough of Italy!! Enjoy!!
Every thing he says is true, EXCEPT Venice is a jewel IMO.
The other comments about the lake area being very nice is also true.
Do yourself a favor and rent a car and go at your own pace. You may not see as much, but you may enjoy what you see more and as far as missing things go that is your excuse for going back.
We use that excuse for foreign trips and visiting the NPs here as well.
Here's the problem. I lived in Italy for 3 years near Venice. I traveled. Alot. I have been back to Italy 3 times. I still have not seen most of the country. Rome, Venice Florence, Sicily, Naples, I would pick a place, say Rome. Stay a week or two. Pick another place, spend a week or two. Trying to see too much in a short time, prbly not a good idea. Take a cruise. It will give you a flavor of the country.
If you want to enjoy the pleasures of Italian living, go to Lugano, Switzerland. A beautiful town, in the Italian section of Switz. but not as chaotic and messed up as Italy is. If you have some specific desire to see a certain site, tower of Pisa, Rome, etc. then that is different.
bumpy
Italy is about the size of California so stick to one or two regions. I graduated from high school in Naples in 1961 and there is enough to do in that area to keep you busy for years.
Amalfi, Capri, Pompeii, Salerno, Ischia, downtown Naples, a zillion museums. At least a day in each of the listed places above.
Just watch for purse snatchers and pick pockets.
A Eurorail pass and do your traveling at night on the train is one way to save time and nerves. I drove a motor scooter all over southern Italy and am still amazed I survived. If you've never driven there it is awful!!!!
Naples could be a very long day trip. Do it by train.
If you get to Rome an absolute must is the Vatican City. I probably went to Rome 30-40 times and hit the Vatican every trip. Absolutely amazing place.
Florence, Rome, Milan forget it. Several hundred miles.
We did a Globus tour of northern Italy, the farthest south we got was Sorrento, Northern Italy was beautiful....Venice amazing, Florence wonderful. We spent 5 extra days in Rome, LOVED IT. I would recommend a tour because you get to see a little bit of so many places, then if any pique your interest, you can return later for a longer visit.
This is timely for us since we're spending a week in Rome this August then have a week to see Italy before we meet some friends in Monaco.
Haven't planned that free week yet.
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