Cheap weekend away - Italy - suggestions?

EagerLearner · 21 February 2007 at 4:24PM

Hi all,

Would love to treat Mr EL to a nice weekend away in April. However as I got made redundant In December and I am working self-employed it will have to be cheap...

We have been to Florence twice, Pisa for a few hours and Rome for a few hours.

Happy to revisit Rome.

Ryanair have cheap flight to Milan that work out £35 each return. but their chosen airport is around 1hour from Milan. Hotels seem around £80 for 2 nights or £120ish for 3 nights.

However as it's a short break we would prefer not to waste too much time on travel to and from airport.

We would leave on the evening of 27th April and return afternoon 30th april to make a 3 night stay, or leave early 28th April and return afternoon of 30th April for a 2 night stay.

Any suggestions much appreciated! :T

crystaltipps · 21 February 2007 at 4:29PM

i want to do this too - so i will be keeping an eye on this thread...when i tried pricing up after xmas i couldn't do it for under £400 so didn't bother - a fortnight fully inclusive in majorca last oct inc flights for 2ad and 2kids was just under £1100 so it really didn't seem worth it in comparison!

saxy1 · 21 February 2007 at 4:35PM

From past experience 'Italy' and 'Cheap' dont go together, have always found Italy quite expensive, Im sure someone will be along soon to prove me wrong though!!:p

GlennTheBaker · 21 February 2007 at 4:46PM

EasyJet Hotels have Bed and Breakfast at the 4* Hotel Dei Cavalieri in Milan available for a massively overpriced £551 for 27-30 April. DIY Travel have the same hotel, board basis and room type for £236. Book and pay for the hotel with EasyJet Hotels, then immediately put in a claim for their Double The Difference Back guarantee. See the thread entitled Free Barcelona Hotel Loopyhole for details, as well as THIS excellent guide by fellow MSE'er budgetflyer.

You would be having a seriously cheap weekend in Milan!

specialangel · 21 February 2007 at 8:43PM

If you are prepared to shop around you can get some fabulous deals. I can highly recommend Alistair Sawdays Special Places to Stay guides, the web address is https://www.specialplacestostay.com. There are some expensive ones in there, but there are a few bargain gems (Castles/Country Houses/ B&B's) Public transport is cheap and efficient there eg. you can fly budget to Naples and take a short train journey to Sorrento where there are an abundance of hotels/campsites/apartments with beautiful views. Food and wine is also dirt cheap if you shop around, Pizza can be picked up for a couple of Euros in some places and the house wines are lovely and again just a few Euros. Lonely Planet guides are also very good for their recommendations for accommodation, eating, drinking and days out. There are plenty of free options in Italy, you may have to pay for the main attractions, but some of the smaller churches etc are stunning and free!
As with everywhere, eat and drink off the main drag and you'll find quality, quantity and atmosphere.
Venice is cheaper if you stay a few miles outside and travel in by train, Easyjet also go there. Take packed lunches, or buy sandwiches from the bakeries/pizzeries rather than the expensive resturants, the views are better and you can find sanctuary away from the crowds.
I have spent many happy and inexpensive holidays here, its far more upmarket than Spain, the people are lovely and it is beautiful. Happy Bargain Holiday Hunting!

Nenen · 21 February 2007 at 10:48PM

If you want to go to Venice (which I think is the most romantic city I have ever been to) I can recommend a little B&B called alcampaniel. We have stayed there twice. It is fairly basic and you have to climb the stairs as there's no lift but it's clean and comfortable and an excellent central location right in the centre of Venice and great for catching all the vaporettos (waterbuses). Venice is beautiful just to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. Tourist spots are very expensive but within about 20 metres there are numerous lovely little places. A 3 day pass on the vaporettos costs around £20 and then you can jump on and off them as many times as you like (including using them to visit some of the small islands like Murano where you can visit glass blowing factories for free although there will be salespeople trying to get you to buy)!

A double room with B&B is between 58-72 Euros (around £40-50 for two).
http://www.alcampaniel.com/

EagerLearner · 22 February 2007 at 12:43PM

Hi everyone, thanks for your ideas and recommendations - I have looked into Easijet as they fly from Gatwick and seems that Milan is our best bet as is cheapest flight - works out £91.96 for both of us return ic taxes to Milan (Malpensa), which is around 45k from Milan I believe. This would be leaving 20:00 Friday 27th April an dreturning Monday 30th at 18:30.

Hotels seem to be in the region of £45 per night which is fine. There is one at £123 for 3 nights. I could even get a discount on this hotel booking if I had an Easyjet Hotels code - so I have posted a message on the vouchers board just in case someone has one.

If I focus mainly on Milan maybe it will get easier to book something - your suggestions are most welcome in terms of hotels and B&Bs now that the flight is zoned in on...

Plus of course ideas on what to see in Milan! :T

GlasgowGal · 22 February 2007 at 2:11PM

Hi EL I was in Milan a couple of years back for a long weekend and it was not as expensive as I thought it would be. We took cheapo flight to Bergamo and return bus ticket from Airport to town centre was about 10 Euros. The trams were not too expensive for travelling, we walked quite a bit. For things to do we took a guide book and found quite a few cheap/free things. Eating out was OK around 35 euros for 2 starters, 2 mains and some wine. Have a fab time.

Neil_Taylor · 22 February 2007 at 3:11PM

Milan is good.

If you want to see the Last Supper, you need to book in advance: see:http://www.milan-museum.com/

If you're into Galleries, then see the Pinacoteca.

For a great view, go on to the Duomo (cathedral) roof.

If you're into opera, see La Scala museum, and peep into the auditorium.

Nightlife is in the Brera district, south of the city centre.

Alternatively, Ryanscare fly sanstead to Forli (Bologna) with a 40min bus transfer.

Bologna is a wonderful pedestrian friendly, gourmet city.

Not as much Art and Music, but great for pretending to be Italian.
They have a lot of trade fairs, but outside these dates, accommodation is not to expensive.

We've stayed at the Best Western City Hotel which can be 300euros per day, but outside fair times has cost 60euros.
Its about a 15min walk from the centre in a quiet residential area.

HTH

Neil

Neil_Taylor · 22 February 2007 at 3:16PM

For BW City see:
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?iata=&promoCode=&corpID=&propertyCode=98124#null.

go to

Check Rates & Availability

and put in your dates.

Nice surprise for weekend rate! and Bologna for leisure.

Neil

EagerLearner · 22 February 2007 at 4:09PM

Thanks all - I do need the hotel to be close-ish to the Malpensa airport, will try and re-look at it in my next break...

Cheap weekend away - Italy - suggestions?

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