Comments on: Travel Tip Tuesday: First Five Things To Do When Planning a Trip to Italy http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/ Living and Traveling in Calabria, Italy Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:32:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jacob http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-11795 Jacob Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:25:06 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3273#comment-11795 Everyone has said it already, but #4 is crucial. In fact, if you're going to be in Italy for less than a month I suggest you rent an apartment somewhere, and just absorb the local sites. You'll make a lot of friends who will inevitably take you on day trips to places that few tourists would ever see, and in the end you'll have a much more memorable time. Who wants to spend half their vacation driving or riding trains anyway? <strong><em>Thanks, Jacob! Your post (thanks, communt luv) sounds great. I'm going to check it out!</em></strong> .-= Jacob´s last blog ..<a href="http://bicyclefreedom.com/?p=285" rel="nofollow">Biking in and around Itri for the price of a capuccino</a> =-. Everyone has said it already, but #4 is crucial. In fact, if you’re going to be in Italy for less than a month I suggest you rent an apartment somewhere, and just absorb the local sites. You’ll make a lot of friends who will inevitably take you on day trips to places that few tourists would ever see, and in the end you’ll have a much more memorable time. Who wants to spend half their vacation driving or riding trains anyway?

Thanks, Jacob! Your post (thanks, communt luv) sounds great. I’m going to check it out!

Jacob´s last blog ..Biking in and around Itri for the price of a capuccino My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: AmyEmilia http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-11742 AmyEmilia Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:22:53 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3273#comment-11742 Narrow it down to ROME! No need for a car, plenty of budget options, a lifetime of things to see. And direct flights in and out of the city. Of course, Calabria is cool (or so I hear, need to get there one of these days!). Ciao! <strong><em>What? Noooo, don't JUST go to Rome, you'll miss out on everything else-including my Calabria. ;-)</em></strong> .-= AmyEmilia´s last blog ..<a href="http://anormallife-amyemilia.blogspot.com/2009/12/will-it-snow.html" rel="nofollow">Will it snow?</a> =-. Narrow it down to ROME! No need for a car, plenty of budget options, a lifetime of things to see. And direct flights in and out of the city.

Of course, Calabria is cool (or so I hear, need to get there one of these days!).

Ciao!

What? Noooo, don’t JUST go to Rome, you’ll miss out on everything else-including my Calabria. ;-)
AmyEmilia´s last blog ..Will it snow? My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: food lover kathy http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-11741 food lover kathy Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:20:06 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3273#comment-11741 #1--I want to go to Italy because firstly, I detest organization and timeliness, late buses and trains are great! I love being cut in front of or pushed aside while waiting in line, hate having personal space, love taking my life in my hands each time I step into the crosswalk, and adore being elbowed and ran over by little old nonne(grandmas)at the street market & grocery store. #2--check #3--Always public (trains, planes & bus), since the time I asked for automatic transmission and was laughed at #4--If you take 5 months off (like I did) this isn't a problem, well ya, it still was just a lesser problem. #5--oh ya, there is that money thing. Actually, this list is right on, especially #1 and #4, with #4 being so hard for 1st time travelers. I always tell people who ask for advice fewer cities is better, but it's hard to narrow. I would also add that one should expect the culture to be different and has to be ok with what we would call disorganizaiton, late public transportation and all the things I listed above for #1 because they do happen. I LOVE Italians and find all this humorous and endearing (arguments on the bus are the best to watch). Most complaints I hear have to do with the culture being different than in the US, so travelers should realize and accept this before going. <strong><em>Ha, funny list. And very, very true re: the culture. It is one of those things that is very difficult for "us" to properly explain to people who haven't been here.</em></strong> #1–I want to go to Italy because firstly, I detest organization and timeliness, late buses and trains are great! I love being cut in front of or pushed aside while waiting in line, hate having personal space, love taking my life in my hands each time I step into the crosswalk, and adore being elbowed and ran over by little old nonne(grandmas)at the street market & grocery store.
#2–check
#3–Always public (trains, planes & bus), since the time I asked for automatic transmission and was laughed at
#4–If you take 5 months off (like I did) this isn’t a problem, well ya, it still was just a lesser problem.
#5–oh ya, there is that money thing.
Actually, this list is right on, especially #1 and #4, with #4 being so hard for 1st time travelers. I always tell people who ask for advice fewer cities is better, but it’s hard to narrow. I would also add that one should expect the culture to be different and has to be ok with what we would call disorganizaiton, late public transportation and all the things I listed above for #1 because they do happen. I LOVE Italians and find all this humorous and endearing (arguments on the bus are the best to watch). Most complaints I hear have to do with the culture being different than in the US, so travelers should realize and accept this before going.

Ha, funny list. And very, very true re: the culture. It is one of those things that is very difficult for “us” to properly explain to people who haven’t been here.

]]> By: Imani http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-11734 Imani Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:49:33 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3273#comment-11734 @Liz....If you can't get to Calabria, I STRONGLY recommend Verona! I love Italy but Verona stole my heart. I've been there twice and will return this spring. But maybe it is just me, still....a trip to Verona will not disappoint. If you get there, Osteria Giuletta e Romeo Corso S Anastasia, 27 is a great place to eat at a reasonable price. No relation to me at all, just a place we enjoyed and will return to. Sounds touristy but it isn't. Mostly locals and college students there. I guess we were the only tourists and we traveled there from Brescia, just 50 minutes away by train. Viva Verona! (after Calabria, of course ;-) ) Happy traveling! <strong><em>Of course ...</em></strong> @Liz….If you can’t get to Calabria, I STRONGLY recommend Verona! I love Italy but Verona stole my heart. I’ve been there twice and will return this spring. But maybe it is just me, still….a trip to Verona will not disappoint.

If you get there, Osteria Giuletta e Romeo Corso S Anastasia, 27 is a great place to eat at a reasonable price. No relation to me at all, just a place we enjoyed and will return to. Sounds touristy but it isn’t. Mostly locals and college students there. I guess we were the only tourists and we traveled there from Brescia, just 50 minutes away by train.

Viva Verona! (after Calabria, of course ;-) )

Happy traveling!

Of course …

]]> By: Liz http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-11731 Liz Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:04:26 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3273#comment-11731 #4 is great advice, but sooooo hard to do. Since we avoid renting a car in Europe, I do a lot of my planning using train schedules. Finding someplace central like Bologna allows us to stay in one spot if we want, or take a 30-60 minute train ride out to another city if we're restless. I was surprised how centralized Verona is to a number of other towns we're interested in, so we may opt to stay there instead. <strong><em>#4 is definitely tough to do, especially for Americans who think Italy is "small," which it is when compared to the US, but it is PACKED with things to do/see.</em></strong> #4 is great advice, but sooooo hard to do. Since we avoid renting a car in Europe, I do a lot of my planning using train schedules. Finding someplace central like Bologna allows us to stay in one spot if we want, or take a 30-60 minute train ride out to another city if we’re restless. I was surprised how centralized Verona is to a number of other towns we’re interested in, so we may opt to stay there instead.

#4 is definitely tough to do, especially for Americans who think Italy is “small,” which it is when compared to the US, but it is PACKED with things to do/see.

]]> By: Martha http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/15/first-five-things-to-do-when-planning-a-southern-italy-travel-vacation/comment-page-1/#comment-11727 Martha Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:58:22 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3273#comment-11727 Can not over stress # 4, NARROW your choices and leave time to enjoy it. Many folks get to us, see our views and sunsets and then begin to think maybe they don't need to go to... Think that before you make the non-refundable reservation. <strong><em>Very true! We have had that happen in Calabria, as well. People never plan enough time to be here.</em></strong> .-= Martha´s last blog ..<a href="http://friendsandfamilyinitaly.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/thanksgiving/" rel="nofollow">Thanksgiving</a> =-. Can not over stress # 4, NARROW your choices and leave time to enjoy it. Many folks get to us, see our views and sunsets and then begin to think maybe they don’t need to go to… Think that before you make the non-refundable reservation.

Very true! We have had that happen in Calabria, as well. People never plan enough time to be here.

Martha´s last blog ..Thanksgiving My ComLuv Profile

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