posted
Would love any advice, experiences, must see destinations, etc. on the below topic. The big trick is going to be making sure everyone gets input into the decision making process when no one lives within an hour of each other and we see each other once every couple of months. Thanks for the help.
Objective: Plan a vacation to Italy in late May / early June of '08, that satisfies the desires of three couples (maybe a fourth with a 10 yr. old).
Details... 1) Attend cousins wedding north of Milan (near Como) on June 8th. 2) Departure Memorial Day weekend (flexible from Friday-Tuesday). 3) Return from Italy to Atlanta (or directly to Orlando) on 6/9 to attend AAU Volleyball Nationals in Orlando. 4) Couples include Parents (60 yrs old)and two daughters w/ son-in-laws (30s). Might include third daughter / son-in-law / and 10 yr. old son. 5) Two couples leaving from Atlanta. Parents in Houston. Third daughter's family in Dallas.
Tentative Plan: Couple fly separately and spend first week on own itinerary. Spend second week in villa near Como. Go to hotel on Saturday / Sunday for wedding. Fly home on Monday.
Finances: We aren't rich (I'm a teacher), but we never do this kind of thing and have enough money saved to do it right. We would rather spend an extra $500 a person over the 2 weeks and make it memorable.
Want to visit: Rome / Venice / Swiss Alps / Take a train ride
Don’t want to visit: Paris / England
Posts: 317 | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
There is really nothing to see south of Rome. Stay in the north and there is so much to see and experience.
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:There is really nothing to see south of Rome.
<wince> Just the terrifying and fascinating urban playground of Naples. And Pompeii and Herculaneum. And the stunning Amalfi Coast. And the Apulian trulli. And that's not even counting Sicily, which could be a fascinating two-week trip of its own...
But it is true, dem, that you are pretty limited by your location and time frame. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are so many things to do and see in Italy that it can be a little overwhelming; it has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country, so having some natural constraints like yours could actually help.
It sounds like you have two basic blocks of time: a week based in Como and a week where you can range a little more. For me personally, the northwest of Italy is one of less interesting regions, but there's still plenty to do, especially if you're more of a hiking/boating/nature kind of person (I'm more of a culture/museum/food kind of person). Lago Maggiore, Italy's largest lake, is nearby. You will obviously want to spend at least one day visiting Milan--if you have a week in Como, I'd suggest two, maybe three days there. Switzerland is right there, if you want to jump over and have a look.
If you want to see Rome and Venice, your best bet might be to do an "open-jaw" flight: fly into Rome, see it, take a train to Venice (you could either do an over-nighter to save time or, I would suggest, stop off in Tuscany for a day or two). From Venice you can catch another straight-shot train to Milan, and from there to Como. Then fly home from Milan.
Rome, Florence, and Venice are some of the most amazing places in the world, and are consequently very touristy. I recommend at least one day getting away from the tourist crush. The Cinque Terre are indeed beautiful, but it would be a very long day-trip from Como, and I've found that they've gotten disappointingly over-touristed in the last ten years or so (the "Rick Steves" effect). Pavia, Bergamo, and Novara are all attractive mid-size cities near Milan that could be fun day-trips.
I'd say that the first two things you'll want to do is make a list of the sort of activities you'd enjoy the most and then start looking into some of the practicalities: how long does it take to get from Venice to Milan? Would it be better to fly into and out of the same city or not? etc.
Posts: 100 | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote: 1) Attend cousins wedding north of Milan (near Como) on June 8th. ... 3) Return from Italy to Atlanta (or directly to Orlando) on 6/9 to attend AAU Volleyball Nationals in Orlando.
I'm not sure how you're going to manage this.
EDIT - nevermind. I see that the nationals aren't actually on the 9th. Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I already have a couple of thinks that I had not thought about, that I will look into. Do most agree the villa thing is a could idea. We like to hang together and have vacationed in cabins in West Virginia before. We want some family time, with a day trip or two during the week.
Juxtapose...I need to get back on 6/9 or 6/10 to coach one practice with my team before we head to Orlando. One of the big things to arrange is a guest coach (coaches) for my team while I am gone. Luckily, memorial day weekend usually signals a family vacation for many and I will only miss 2-3 practices.
Posts: 317 | Registered: Sep 2001
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