Advice: Italy in 7 days

[CharleyH]

We are going to Northern Italy in late September, early October... hitting Bergamo, Sirmione, Verona, Venice and Milan. We've looked up many places to stay, but anyone with ideas about where to stay in those destinations for under €70.00 per couple? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You cant see shit in 7 days. I was in Northern Italy 3 months and barely scratched the surface. Pick one place and roost there.

 

[CharleyH]

You cant see shit in 7 days. I was in Northern Italy 3 months and barely scratched the surface. Pick one place and roost there.

Okay, you were there 3 months ... give up the places you roosted.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I never got farther north than Rome. Personally, I'd recommend a newer hotel chain like Holiday Inn or something. "Quaint and authentic" = primitive and uncomfortable, IMO.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Okay, you were there 3 months ... give up the places you roosted.

Venice and Pordenone.

 

[CharleyH]

I never got farther north than Rome. Personally, I'd recommend a newer hotel chain like Holiday Inn or something. "Quaint and authentic" = primitive and uncomfortable, IMO.

Been looking, just hoped for more ideas. We aren't going to bother with Florence, Pisa, Rome or south of there for now. We are close enough for a few different trips. Just wanted to mainly see Lago del Garda and Venice, with a trip through Verona and to Milan to pick up some Asiago Cheese and pepperoni (if I can find it, as a North American). Just hoped to hear experiences and advice posting here on Lit. TX

 

[ishtat]

Venice for as long as you like, then head north into Friuli, Udine, Cividale and the small towns and villages in the mountains. Unique part of Italy where the dialect is really a unique language... but they all speak Italian as well. Interesting things but even more interesting people.

 

[CharleyH]

Venice for as long as you like, then head north into Friuli, Udine, Cividale and the small towns and villages in the mountains. Unique part of Italy where the dialect is really a unique language... but they all speak Italian as well. Interesting things but even more interesting people.

Will look the places up - thanks for some out-of the-way haunts. Perfect. Do you have some hotel suggestions?

 

[oggbashan]

Have you considered the International Youth Hostels Association?

They can provide basic twin rooms for about 20 Euro a night.

I'm a bit too old for Youth Hostels now, but they have improved a lot since I used them in the 1950s and 60s.

Og

 

[geronimo_appleby]

You cant see shit in 7 days. I was in Northern Italy 3 months and barely scratched the surface. Pick one place and roost there.

it's changed since 1924.

cunt.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

oops. doppel post.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

look up hostelbookers.com

you can get some good deals. i found a coupla good places in florence and pisa on that site.

enjoy.

 

[colddiesel]

Will look the places up - thanks for some out-of the-way haunts. Perfect. Do you have some hotel suggestions?

Late September/October you'll be well out of the main tourist season. Pick a basic chain hotel in Venice. Position and proximity to what you want to see and do are more important than the class of hotel.

Once out of the city, don't worry about booking just ask at the local tourist office and take for preference the family home type stays . They can be a bit mixed but they are always more interesting if you want to meet the locals.

I lived on the border there (with Slovenia) in the 60's for two years... loved it.

 

[Verdad]

Sorry I can’t help with hotels, but I want to say you’re going to have a great time! I love that part of Italy. I wonder, is Trieste on your itinerary? It could be, I guess, if you began by flying to Monfalcone, visited Trieste first, then made your way toward Venice. Trieste, like the rest of its region, is not ‘typical’ Italy, if there is such thing (Austro-Hungarian past), but it is a lovely Central European city with a spirit I like. As a bonus, there's a pretty Habsburg castle poised above the sea. But if you’re just going to roam through Friuli and Veneto, that’s perfect too. Have an awesome vacation.

 

[fuckwaffle]

stay away from that den of inequity and immoral denizens, the vatican. especially if you have children with you.

 

[CharleyH]

Have you considered the International Youth Hostels Association?

They can provide basic twin rooms for about 20 Euro a night.

I'm a bit too old for Youth Hostels now, but they have improved a lot since I used them in the 1950s and 60s.

Og

We have. We have even considered camping, but I think we have found a perfect compromise ... a quaint B&B in Vicenza, with day trips to Verona and Venice - we are youngish and can walk to all we want and even with a boat trip at sunset down the canals in 14 hours. Venice doesn't seem that much bigger in size than the Barri Gotic in Barcelona. We want to see the big guys for historical and architectural reasons, but damn, I just want to find a summer vacation spot with a lake where we can water-ski or sail. I heard England and Scotland have some?

 

[CharleyH]

Sorry I can’t help with hotels, but I want to say you’re going to have a great time! I love that part of Italy. I wonder, is Trieste on your itinerary? It could be, I guess, if you began by flying to Monfalcone, visited Trieste first, then made your way toward Venice. Trieste, like the rest of its region, is not ‘typical’ Italy, if there is such thing (Austro-Hungarian past), but it is a lovely Central European city with a spirit I like. As a bonus, there's a pretty Habsburg castle poised above the sea. But if you’re just going to roam through Friuli and Veneto, that’s perfect too. Have an awesome vacation.

We're flying into Bergamo, so for this trip we are thinking about sticking to the Milan-Garda-Venice line. We don't want to stretch ourselves too thin, and Trieste would be a little further away that what we would like in the time we have available, but thank you. Maybe on a future visit. xo

 

[CharleyH]

Venice and Pordenone.

I actually meant hotels or B&B's.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I actually meant hotels or B&B's.

Venice is larger than Bari Gotic, but it can be walked. I doubt you'd find a place to stay on the island for 70 euros, but there are some good deals around the area, with inexpensive transportation in. (You'll want to take a vaporetto ride anyway). Don't overlook the European chains; the rooms are small, but often reasonably priced. And you don't plan on spending much time in your room anyway.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

look up hostelbookers.com

you can get some good deals. i found a coupla good places in florence and pisa on that site.

enjoy.

Late September/October you'll be well out of the main tourist season. Pick a basic chain hotel in Venice. Position and proximity to what you want to see and do are more important than the class of hotel.

Once out of the city, don't worry about booking just ask at the local tourist office and take for preference the family home type stays . They can be a bit mixed but they are always more interesting if you want to meet the locals.

I lived on the border there (with Slovenia) in the 60's for two years... loved it.

Thanks for the tips, GA and CD. That (hostelbookers.com) is one of the sites we've been looking at for the last few days. We're actually rather surprised with the affordability of hotels in the Venice area (or the mainland, anyway; the island itself is just crazy) compared to the lakes district, so we're considering going straight to Venice and come back to Lake Garda only after the end of the month, when prices take a small dip. We're all for small dips in the lake.

 

[CharleyH]

Venice is larger than Bari Gotic, but it can be walked. I doubt you'd find a place to stay on the island for 70 euros, but there are some good deals around the area, with inexpensive transportation in. (You'll want to take a vaporetto ride anyway). Don't overlook the European chains; the rooms are small, but often reasonably priced. And you don't plan on spending much time in your room anyway.

We know. The whole island seems like a big B&B without any sights. I'm sure the walk is larger than Bari Gotica, but hell, we have walking legs and will see it all! Back to places to stay. We have decided to stay in a quaint B&B half way between Venice and Verona. Not only can we see the touristy things from there, but we can explore the unknown.

Thank you all for your insight.

 

[CharleyH]

Thanks for the tips, GA and CD. That (hostelbookers.com) is one of the sites we've been looking at for the last few days. We're actually rather surprised with the affordability of hotels in the Venice area (or the mainland, anyway; the island itself is just crazy) compared to the lakes district, so we're considering going straight to Venice and come back to Lake Garda only after the end of the month, when prices take a small dip. We're all for small dips in the lake.

Have I told you I love you, today? Amo-te.