|
April 22nd, 2004, 19:46
| #2 |
| Moderator  Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR
Posts: 8,354
|  Re: Italy... Sorry to hijack with the first reply, but I'd recommend *not* doing Venice if you're only doing one city in Italy. It's the Disney World of Italy in my opinion. If you're going to do a longer trip, then I'd say to do Venice for sure - it is unique, but very, very much geared to the touristy thing. I've never done southern Italy, at least no farther than a couple of trips to Rome, so my recommendations run to northern areas of the country. If you're going to do a short trip, go to either Florence, or even better, Siena. Wonderful old cities, great buildings, great people, great food, great art, and a true Italian experience. If you enjoyed Brugge, you'll love Siena for many of the same reasons. Venice is kind of a one-trick pony. The canals and layout of the city are unique, but you don't truly get to experience Italian life unless you sneak off to the really back-alley areas of the city where the locals live. Otherwise the restaurants, shops, and stores all cater to tourists and, in my opinion, are nowhere near as good as in other areas of the country. Actually, Bologna is a pretty neat city and it has good airline connections as well. Modena, home of Ferrari, isn't too far away, but it's almost impossible to get a factory tour (I have a good friend who heads up the publications department for Ferrari, and I still couldn't get in  . Did get to see Michael Schumaker do some hot laps at the test track, though  ).Still, Siena is at the top of my must-visit list. [/hijack] Sorry I can't help much with the airline thing. I've mostly done NWA/KLM 'cause of the frequent flyer upgrade thing. I'd try Alitalia, though. The few times I've been on them they've been O.K., and you might be able to get some direct flights from the U.S. <whisper: go to Siena> |
|
|
April 23rd, 2004, 13:56
| #4 |
| Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR
Posts: 8,354
| Re: Italy...  |
|
|
|
April 25th, 2004, 03:17
| #5 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1969
Posts: 883
| Re: Italy... Venice is a good starting point to visit Italy. It's an amazing city with an amazing history |
|
|
|
April 25th, 2004, 15:33
| #6 |
| Shadow Administrator  Join Date: Jul 1998 Location: Between KFCM and KMSP
Posts: 6,227
  | Re: Italy... When I flew there, it was on Lufthansa. It's not a very big airport, and it looked like either Lufthansa or Alitalia were the two major airlines. |
|
|
|
April 25th, 2004, 16:55
| #7 |
| Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: GRR
Posts: 8,354
| Re: Italy... [ot] love that avatar [/ot] |
|
|
|
April 25th, 2004, 17:34
| #8 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: SGU via SLC
Posts: 420
| Re: Italy... What a fortuitous thread. I am planning a trip to Italy/Europe in a few weeks. I've heard the same things about Venice. Florence is on the top of our list, along with Cinque Terra. Thanks for the insights thus far. Capisce l'italiano? |
|
|
|
April 25th, 2004, 18:41
| #9 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Danbury, CT
Posts: 487
| Re: Italy... I'm going to Italy this summer, ciao  |
|
|
|
April 26th, 2004, 00:57
| #10 |
| Big Chief's Woman  | Re: Italy... Yeah..I'd like to hit more than just venice.. but with 12 days on a cruise ship, that pretty much takes the cake on a 2 week vacation! it'll have to wait for another month.... how difficult is it to learn "lickity split" italian?? as easy as german/french?? Florence is definately on my list.. i'd like to hit Rome, but not too sure since i've heard there's a lot of crime (ladies dropping babies, you go to catch baby and off goes your bag type stuff?)???? Where else in italy is good to visit? is Sicily any good or should that be a spot to stay away from? |
|
|
|
April 26th, 2004, 07:41
| #11 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: CT, USA / Purdue University
Posts: 115
| Re: Italy... Delta services Venice from JFK. |
|
|
|
April 26th, 2004, 10:13
| #12 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: DFW
Posts: 7,079
| Re: Italy... I've been to Venice several times..... Venice, FL (VNC). Okay... I'll shut up now. |
|
|
|
April 26th, 2004, 11:42
| #14 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: DFW
Posts: 7,079
| Re: Italy... Athens, GA = B-52's, REM, Drivin' & Cryin'...... Great town!!! |
|
|
|
April 26th, 2004, 20:13
| #16 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Somewhere in the Northeast
Posts: 4,940
| Re: Italy... My best friend is studying abroad in Florence this semester, I visited him for spring break and had an awesome time. About getting a cheap ticket. WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T FLY ALITALIA! In order to save money to get to Florence I purchased two tickets to get there. Got a good deal on American from JFK into LHR then I priced out a ticket from LHR to FLR which was on Alitalia which was the cheapest (didn't want to subject myself to RyanAir into Pisa). Alitalia was horrible, avoid them. It looks like Ryanair flies into Venice so if I were you I would buy a cheap ticket into LGW and then take advantage of the competition and get a cheap Bristish Airways fare from LGW into Venice. Just make sure you leave enough time for any delays or cancellations. About Italy, my friend that I visited father is from Italy and my friend has been there numerous times to see family he still has there. He is fluent in the language and has traveled extensively throughout the country. Venice, Florence and Rome he loves and says are musts. He actually suggests any area north of Rome. When I was there he must have said a thousand times DO NOT go to an area in Italy south of Rome. He said the southern part of Italy is COMPLETELY different than the northern section and are places to stay away from. He told me a story about what happened when he was on the train in Southern Italy. This is a family forum so I will not go into details but what happened to him and his tour group was disgusting. About crime, Rome is filled mostly with pickpocketers. The gypsies supposedly DO throw their babies at tourists and then other members of the group take your belongings as your arms are up in the air. These groups of gypsies are VERY organized and practiced. Usually you can tell what they look like right away. The BIGGEST area in Rome for pickpockets are the traditional tourist areas especically but not limited to the train station, busses, and the sights like colisueum. If you look like you have been there before and look like you know where you are going they will most likely not bother you. When you are walking around the city just be aware of your surroundings. Hope this was some help. If I were you I would try to see of much of the northern part of Italy as possible. Well worth it! Any questions don't hesitate to ask. If I don't have an answer I will ask my friend. PS- My avatar is a picture of The Duomo a church in Florence. You can climb to the top an awesome experience  |
|
|
April 26th, 2004, 21:19
| #17 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,952
| Re: Italy... I flew on Alitalia after having been at sea for 3 straight months. They have some very very nicle looking flight attendants. I don't remember much else of my flight. I was too busy wiping up drool. |
|
|
|
April 27th, 2004, 00:49
| #18 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Prescott - Hell on Earth
Posts: 88
| Re: Italy... [ QUOTE ] I actually flew over Bagdad... Arizona. [/ QUOTE ] Speaking of that desolate hole in the wall....err ground more appropriately. I fly over it all the time >_< The airport there is ubar ghetto lol. I'm sure you're flying at a slightly higher altitude though.  |
|
|
|
April 27th, 2004, 05:16
| #19 |
| Shadow Administrator Join Date: Jul 1998 Location: Between KFCM and KMSP
Posts: 6,227
| Re: Italy... [ QUOTE ] how difficult is it to learn "lickity split" italian?? as easy as german/french?? [/ QUOTE ] If you speak Spanish, it's pretty easy to pick up. And with Venice being in Northern Italy, there's quite a few people who know German also. I toured around Venice, Vicenza, Verona, and Bolzano and everything was bilingual - German and Italian. Since I don't speak either language, though, I found that I had an easier time speaking Spanish to the Italians than English. Well, maybe I didn't have an easier time, but the Italians seemed to find it easier to understand my Spanish instead of my English!  Venice is actually a pretty cool city. Make sure you have some lira with you before we go; we couldn't find an ATM that would accept our card to save our lives. Then again, I was last there 10 years ago, so things might have changed. |
|
|
|
April 27th, 2004, 08:08
| #20 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: DFW
Posts: 7,079
| Re: Italy... [ QUOTE ] I flew on Alitalia after having been at sea for 3 straight months. They have some very very nicle looking flight attendants. [/ QUOTE ] Dude - Medussa would have looked hot to you after 3 straight months at sea.  |
|
|
|
April 27th, 2004, 10:33
| #21 |
| Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,952
| Re: Italy... Yes my ex-wife did look pretty good... |
|
|
|
April 27th, 2004, 18:01
| #22 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Somewhere in the Northeast
Posts: 4,940
| Re: Italy... [ QUOTE ] I flew on Alitalia after having been at sea for 3 straight months. They have some very very nicle looking flight attendants. I don't remember much else of my flight. I was too busy wiping up drool. [/ QUOTE ] True they did have some hotties. |
|
|
|
May 5th, 2004, 05:27
| #23 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 225
| Re: Italy... [ QUOTE ] I flew on Alitalia after having been at sea for 3 straight months. They have some very very nicle looking flight attendants. I don't remember much else of my flight. I was too busy wiping up drool. [/ QUOTE ] I'll always remember my first flight on Alitalia when I was 11 or 12 years old. It was a nice Fokker 50 with two very good looking flight attendants. Shortly after the takeoff, the captain ordered one of the two FA's in the cockpit. Everybody was wondering what she's doing so long in the cockpit, because she didn't came out for the rest of the flight and the other FA had to do all the work alone. Then, 5 minutes before landing, the cockpit door slammed open and the FA came out. You should have seen her! Her blouse was half-open, her hair was mixed up and she was adjusting her skirt while she was stumbling out of the cockpit. Everybody knew immediately what was going on and she noticed it very quickly and went right to to lav. After this flight I told my parents that I want to become a pilot one day.... And I'm on the way right now! |
|
|
|
May 5th, 2004, 05:36
| #24 |
| Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 225
| Re: Italy... BTW: Alitalia is in big troubles right now! They said yesterday, that if Italy doesn't pay $650,000,000 they have to stop operating by September, because they have a huge financial problem. Their operating costs are exploding and they are losing a lot of passengers to the LCC.(A bunch of them operates in Italy!) So at the moment I wouldn't buy an Alitalia ticket for September or later...we will see, how the situation changes in the next days. The European Union has already prohibited, that the country Italy gives money to Alitalia, because they think that it is against the rules of free competition in Europe.... |
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
| |
Linear Mode
