holiday to italy!

[Squazo]

hi, iv never been to Italy but looking to go late september. i’d like a beach but also to see a bit of traditional Italy, been looking at the amalfi coast but in reality iv not a clue where to go!
any reccomadations welcome, cheers

[evensteadiereddie]

Hey, careful , some folks don't like holidays being mentioned on here.
Seriously, though, the Amalfi coast is incredible if a tad expensive and very busy.
You might find a cheapish flight/ hotel package to Sorrento, a lovely town and port ideally placed for ferries up the coat to Amalfi and Positano etc and even Capri.
You can get the train cheaply and easily to Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Get timed tickets in advance if you can.
You'll have a fabulous time.

[Bainsyclaret]

We went to Rome last month and all the Italians we met recommended Puglia for the best beaches.Lots of traditional towns and much cheaper than Amalfi coadt.It's next on our list.

[Row x]

Hey, careful , some folks don't like holidays being mentioned on here.
Seriously, though, the Amalfi coast is incredible if a tad expensive and very busy.
You might find a cheapish flight/ hotel package to Sorrento, a lovely town and port ideally placed for ferries up the coat to Amalfi and Positano etc and even Capri.
You can get the train cheaply and easily to Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Get timed tickets in advance if you can.
You'll have a fabulous time.

Love sorrento, and i agree with all the options you've given, but it is very expensive to eat and drink there.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Italians do tend to go for the East Coast.

[ChrisG]

We drove down to lake Garda last year, and did 2 weeks there. During that time we got the train to Milan and spent a couple of nights there, then a few day trips including Verona.

First time I've ever been to Italy but we were absolutely blown away with how nice it was.

As we had the car we were able to visit some vineyards, and picked up some very keenly priced Amarone and grappa.

[NottsClaret]

We were in Italy this summer, around Verona. It's every bit as mint as you'd expect it to be, and way less expensive than we feared. Miles better value than UK. Nice people everywhere we went too.

[Big Vinny K]

Lake Garda or Lake Coma much nicer than and cleaner than Sorrento in my view.
Verona beautiful city and lovely places like Simeoni and Como along the lakes.
Trains are excellent too - as they are in most of Italy (with the exception of Naples !!)

Other area we loved was Lucca in Tuscany - not on the coast but only 20 mins train to beautiful beaches. Only 20 mins from Pisa and around 50 mins from Florence.

Sicily great too if you are looking for beaches and more rustic / rural Italy.

Rome great - but that’s a real tourist trip with loads of walking and visiting some great famous sites

Just been to Milan and that was great too and easy to get to lake como or lake Garda on train

[Venkys4eva]

Lake Garda is beautiful.

[duncandisorderly]

I was surprised by how dirty Sorrento was when I went about 10 years ago, but I'm glad I went so as to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Any future italian holidays will be around Garda or Como, both of which are stunning.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

I’m in Italy at the moment. Amalfi coast is very expensive and to be honest I’ve been to cheaper places that are more enjoyable. Lake Garda is good, particularly south lake resorts of Bardolino, Garda and Lazise. Sicilly - Taormina and Siracusa. Puglia - Poligono a La mare.

The German speaking area north of Lake Garda is good such as Molveno.

[Caballo]

I'd go for Scilliy late September if your after a beach. Plenty on the northern coast and Palermo is only up the road for a bit of culture.

[evensteadiereddie]

Love sorrento, and i agree with all the options you've given, but it is very expensive to eat and drink there.

Like anywhere, it depends where you go and what you want .

[Squazo]

what do you call expensive? how much for a meal? a pint?
cheers

[CoolClaret]

Lake Garda is unreal and is close enough to various Italian Cities to trip to if you so wish.

[Slowwalker]

I love Italy and been to lots of places there. All with their own highlights. Be careful though in September as the weather can be changeable. Particularly in the north. Also, generally speaking, you won’t find big fancy hotels with a pool at a beachfront location like in other Mediterranean destinations. .

Lake Garda or Sorrento are great places to start with in Italy. A pool day followed by a sightseeing day. You can stay in any resort (riva a bit far out in my opinion) around lake Garda but you must travel (by boat) to the different towns around the lake. Verona is a fab day out too (I preferred it to Venice)

Sorrento means you can have a pool day then visit Herculaneum pompeii Positano amalfi Vesuvius all by the excellent cheap buses or trains. (Capri by boat). A stay in Italy also means you must sample the great food, wine and culture. It depends what you want but italy is not (imo) a beach sunbathing boozy holiday.

[jos]

I’m in Matera at the moment (location of 007’ No time to die’opening sequence) you need to be pretty fit to navigate all the town but it’s not expensive, but nowhere near the coast.
We have been travelling around Puglia (Apulia) which has some nice seaside towns and is not at all expensive. I can recommend Monopoli but as we aren’t beach people I can’t advise on that.

It’s pretty hot at 31degrees at the moment.

Rome or Venice are my fave Italian places, I found Lake Garda and Como to be a bit too touristy for my liking, and When I was in Sorrento it poured down all week. But the area was ok.

Learn some lingo, it helps.

[Bow]

The Amalfi Coast is ok but there’s not a huge amount to see there. I’ve been once and wouldn’t bother going again.

Rome is alright if you like the tourist stuff and massive groups of people everywhere. the west of the city is the best part for me.

Milan is great, and the lakes.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Amalfi Coast, Capri around 40 euros for a bottle of wine. 30 euros for a main course. Pizzas 15-20 euros. 7-10 euros for a beer (usually just a bottle). Elsewhere in Italy will be much cheaper such as Sicilly and Puglia. Sorrento is almost on the Amalfi coast so expect similar prices but could be wrong.

[Darnhill Claret]

30 years ago I went for a beach holiday to Lido Di Jessolo, which was reasonably close to Venice. No idea of other options, but it was a very enjoyable holiday.

[Tricky Trevor]

I’ve had many holidays in various areas of Italy and enjoyed every one. The people are grand, the trains are cheap and on time. Sicily has the best beaches.
On the downside.
If you are driving be very careful, in cities especially, of driving through a no cars sign. The fine can ruin your holiday.
If you see a menu with an asterisk after the meal it means “cooked from frozen”. We found far too many of these in Rome.
On Sicily we found car parking difficult as the times for restrictions were in Roman numerals. I understood the numbers but had no idea if they related to hours of the day, days of the week,etc., We also found a tendency for very high kerbs on Sicily, take care to open the door slowly.
Don’t let any of those minor faults put you off, it is wonderful.

[Dyched]

We did Milan (day trips Turin/Lake Como), Lake Garda, Bologna, Florence.

Milan is fantastic and a great base for day trips if that’s your thing. Lake Como was good, but we took the train so the area was busy. We’re planing on driving next time to go somewhere a little less touristy. Lake Garda was fantastic. Bologna we were blown away by tbh, great little restaurants/bars. Florence was good, especially over the bridge away from the duomo. Great food. We found a tiny square with several bars where people just sat on the street. Was a great way to spend an evening.

Money wise. We thought value for money was incredible. We’ll try other places. But for a main holiday, we’ll never go anywhere else again.

Also add, Turin we loved!! We’ll be staying a couple of nights the next time.

[ClaretPete001]

Italians enjoy a good sing song so if you are in a bar they appreciate the old spanish classic Volare but of course with the Italian equivalent Vaffanculo. A lusty rendition will win you some friends...!

[prettygreenclaret]

Been to Lake Garda twice in last couple of years. Stayed at the North of the lake at Riva del Garda. Love the northern end of Garda. Beautiful mountains all around and easy to get about to other towns such as Limone and Malcesine. Took the cable car in Malcesine up Monte Baldo. Absolutely amazing. Easy to go further inland into the Trento region too for great hiking and smaller lakes. Lovely place.

[Mondsley]

Sorrento, Rome, Venice, Como and Garda all great. But a shout for Lake Maggiore. Beautiful and an easy day trip to Zermatt in Switzerland.

[Row x]

Like anywhere, it depends where you go and what you want .

Of course.
I've been to most of the popular spots in Italy over the past 20yrs or so, and I love the country and willing to pay that bit extra, but its worth pointing out to someone planning their first visit that its one of the more expensive European countries for tourists.

[Squazo]

I'd go for Scilliy late September if your after a beach. Plenty on the northern coast and Palermo is only up the road for a bit of culture.

can you fly direct mate?

[Squazo]

I’ve had many holidays in various areas of Italy and enjoyed every one. The people are grand, the trains are cheap and on time. Sicily has the best beaches.
On the downside.
If you are driving be very careful, in cities especially, of driving through a no cars sign. The fine can ruin your holiday.
If you see a menu with an asterisk after the meal it means “cooked from frozen”. We found far too many of these in Rome.
On Sicily we found car parking difficult as the times for restrictions were in Roman numerals. I understood the numbers but had no idea if they related to hours of the day, days of the week,etc., We also found a tendency for very high kerbs on Sicily, take care to open the door slowly.
Don’t let any of those minor faults put you off, it is wonderful.

can you fly direct to Sicily?

[warksclaret]

I am of Italian parents and been to Italy numerous times.Next month we are going to Sorrento and going to explore the coast and many of the beautiful towns within range and Pompei.Some on here have mentioned Sicilily -we had a brilliant holiday there. One place I went to with our kids about 10 years ago was the east coast town of Giulianova near to Pescara .Great beach and nearby old town which we could walk to in 10 minutes where we had half or dozen brilliant meals.It involves a two hour car journey from Rome but you can fly there very cheaply but you drive through the beautiful region of Abbruzzo which I can only describe as the Wales of Italy. I would go back in a heart beat and not once did I bump into any British tourists as it is still not on people’s radar
People are claiming Italy is dear but in fairness we go to north Norfolk every year and the price of eating in restaurants coupled with a bottle of wine has ballooned in 12 months

[Tricky Trevor]

can you fly direct to Sicily?

I’m living in Ireland and we flew direct to Catania. I’d be surprised if you can’t get to Catania or Palermo direct from UK but couldn’t be sure about Manchester.
Edit: just checked you can fly to either from Manchester.

[Squazo]

I’m living in Ireland and we flew direct to Catania. I’d be surprised if you can’t get to Catania or Palermo direct from UK but couldn’t be sure about Manchester.
Edit: just checked you can fly to either from Manchester.

just looking at flights and it’s much cheaper to fly to Trapani, have you been to Trapani? is it worth a visit?

[Holtyclaret]

Can’t beat san remo, loads to see and do and a great 20/30min train to Monaco for a day trip. Only been once but loved it.

[ClaretTony]

I’m not well travelled in Italy, in fact I’ve been just twice and both to Lake Garda with one of this trips for pre season in 2006.

Stayed at the south end of the lake on the football occasion, at Desenzano, but at Riva in the north on the other occasion. Stunning place to visit.

[Row x]

I’m not well travelled in Italy, in fact I’ve been just twice and both to Lake Garda with one of this trips for pre season in 2006.

Stayed at the south end of the lake on the football occasion, at Desenzano, but at Riva in the north on the other occasion. Stunning place to visit.

I've done a fortnight in limone in the north and a fortnight in simione in the south. I think i preferred the north, just. Both stunning

[No Ney Never]

Buona giornata. For Capri, there's a number of options at the harbour, for the Amalfi coast, you don't need a organised tour, the public transport is best, you can get the bus from Sorrento along the Amalfi coast for 3 Euros, stunning views if you sit on the same side of the driver on the way there, opposite on the way back. For Pompeii from Sorrento, the train is best and reasonably priced.
Ciao.

[dougcollins]

. For Pompeii from Sorrento, the train is best and reasonably priced.
Ciao.

Circumvesuviana. Had some interesting trips on there. Last time I was there it was less than E10 return to Napoli from Sorrento, absolute bargain.

[Caballo]

can you fly direct mate?

Yes Jet2 from Manchester, Fridays and Tuesday to Palermo. Other airports on the eastern side may be more budget friendly though.

[Cardclaret]

In recent years we have been to Sorrento, Garda and Calabria. Loved all of them but the area of Calabria was very special.

[Tribesmen]

Hard to say what to do really .
But to say generally the further south you go the cheaper it gets and the weather is so much better if you like the sun .

[Big Vinny K]

just looking at flights and it’s much cheaper to fly to Trapani, have you been to Trapani? is it worth a visit?

Don’t know anyone that’s been other than to fly there.
If you are going to Sicily the nicest place is Taormina - stunning town.it’s also next to Etna if you want to visit a volcano that is still live !!
Agriigento is also very nice and there are plenty of lovely beaches. There are some cool Roman ruins quite near there well worth a visit.
If you do go to Sicily just bear in mind it’s not the same as the rest of Italy. Far less populated and more rural and not as accessible as other places.
Also think about which month you visit as it can be brutally hot. Last few years in particular they have regularly had temps in the 40s during the height of summer

[Tricky Trevor]

just looking at flights and it’s much cheaper to fly to Trapani, have you been to Trapani? is it worth a visit?

No, sorry. We couldn’t have been further away. East coast and SE corner for us. Taormina, Catania, Syracuse, Noto, Ragusa and Scicli. The last 3 were an Inspector Montalbano locations trip.

[Holmechapel]

Stayed in like Garda a few times ,beware though that some of the hotels nearly shut down at the end of September ,Hotel Nazionale is very nice in Desenzano del Garda.

[chadders]

Tuscany is great. Fantastic quiet beaches at Marina di Alberese Grosseto region. National Parc. Stunning.

[Squazo]

Wow, so many recommadations! thank you!
think iv decided on a night in Naples then head down the coast to Pompei. then to visit Sorrento and Capri… any further advice is welcome
so many nice places to see so little time!

[Holmechapel]

You’ve got to have a trip on the Amalfi Coast unless your a bit uneasy about how near the edge the coach will be from going into the sea,and you need to visit Davide’s ice cream parlour in Sorrento .

[warksclaret]

Tuscany is great. Fantastic quiet beaches at Marina di Alberese Grosseto region. National Parc. Stunning.

Went several times in my youth-wonderful area. Beaches around Castiglioni della Pescai were fabulous

[Big Vinny K]

Wow, so many recommadations! thank you!
think iv decided on a night in Naples then head down the coast to Pompei. then to visit Sorrento and Capri… any further advice is welcome
so many nice places to see so little time!

If that’s where you are going then I’d definitely recommend a visit to Positano on one of the boat trips. Think it was around 40 minutes from memory.
You can spend the day there - loads of nice restaurants nd amazing walks / views. Plus there’s a nice little beach there with bars etc

Pompei was good but crazy busy so be prepared for a long day.

Sorrento itself is also really busy but loads of great restaurants.

Naples itself you just need to make sure you don’t wander off the main streets as there are some very rough parts.

As said above I found the trains to be not as good as rest of Italy. They are run by a different company in Naples and it was all more chaotic and the trains were packed

One last tip don’t get a taxi from the airport to sorrento if you can help it - it costs a fortune. Train is much cheaper.

[Tricky Trevor]

No idea what you are into but about 15 miles N. of Naples is the Royal Palace of Caserta, Italys version of Versailles. If you search that in google maps there are plenty of photos and videos.

My number one tip for anywhere is youtube. Just search the place name and you can’t go wrong.

[dougcollins]

As said above I found the trains to be not as good as rest of Italy. They are run by a different company in Naples and it was all more chaotic and the trains were packed

One last tip don’t get a taxi from the airport to sorrento if you can help it - it costs a fortune. Train is much cheaper.

I think you may be referring to the local train service, the Circumvesuviana, which basically runs from central Naples to Sorrento. It certainly can be busy, and chaotic, but a great service- and cheap.

The mainline service (eg Naples to Rome) is as good as anywhere in Italy.

[ClaretTony]

You’ve got to have a trip on the Amalfi Coast unless your a bit uneasy about how near the edge the coach will be from going into the sea,and you need to visit Davide’s ice cream parlour in Sorrento .

And someone quite rightly mentions the wonderful Italian ice cream.