Looking to go to Italy in July

macgyver

Hi dear friends,
Me n my wife are planning to visit Italy this summer in early/mid July... (i know it wud be sweltring hot). Planning to cover Venice, Rome n Florence in 7 days.. (??Too ambitious!!!)
Would like to know
whether its a good idea to go at this time of the year.. (Ican manage holidays at this time only)
any good hotels in these places
Any suggestions on what to do n see
Flights- thinking abt Ryanair from London stansted or Easyjet from gatwick
Airport transfer from venice and rome airports
Cheap parking at gatwick/stansted airport.

Thanks for looking in

K9cuddles

I went to Florence in Oct 04 and returned in 05 with vengence! Managed to do Rome, Siena, Florence and Venice in 10 days.

We flew with Easyjet the first time from Gatwick but landed in Milan and had to get the Train to Florence and ended up in Pisa!!! After a £150 cab trip we could only afford to see Pisa (not that there's much there either but a field but still worth a vist!!) and Florence (as were staying in the Tuscan hills) our only method of transport was the local bus and trains!! The weather was glorious.. sunny but not too warm!

But in 05 is was a hole different holiday!!! We flew with Fly Be from Bournemouth to Pisa staying in Bournemouth the night before. Unfortunately I was ill with a really bad cold for the first 5 days!! Anyways.. it rainned non stop but we had a hire car (with my tomtom 5 sat nav that saved us MANY times!!). Anyways due to the weather the only thing to do was sightseeing as no sun to bask in!!

We went back to Florence (that I really don't like! it's so dingy cause all the bulidings are so tall and crooked!) anyways.. we hit Rome, but the drive was LONG in a 1.2 micra and they drive like mad men (and my bf's a good driver but they are scarey!). Anyways.. Rome was worth it, Siena is better then Florence and so much more beautiful and Venice was our biggest trip! 4 hours each way with loads of tolls (we spent so much on tolls!!!!) but Vencie was worth it.. park in the car parks just over the bridge and get a river boat to the main canal.. it didn't stink as it was overcast day which was a bonus!!

It was a Sun Holiday thing and stayed in a Upgraded Mobile home, there fab... but it was nippy at night and we had to sleep in the front room with the gas fire!! So can't really recommend any hotels, food is good anywhere to behonest.. just sometimes you don't get your monies worth (more tourist areas!!).

Oh.. and we had a head on crash too.. another english couple on the wrong side of the wrong heading towards us! I love the people, always friendly and all were willing to help us in our hour of need (the first nightmare train trip!) considering neither of use spoke any good italian! Saying that.. I wont be returning in the forsee-able future! I'm all Italianed out!!!

If I can help any more let me know!

SallyD

Last July visited Naples,Ischia and Rome.HOT,HOT,HOT, especially in Rome.I have never perspired so much in my life, it made walking around sight-seeing very uncomfortable. I frequently visit Italy and I personaly find the very best time is April,May and September is always glorious.

teddie2003

Might be a bit ambitious to do all three in 7 days inc. travel.

Had four days in Venice last year and three days in Rome the year before, not enough for either place really even though we saw a lot of each. Going to Florence this year in June for 5 nights.

Best tip is to get good location either in the centre or close to transport links.

Nothing is very far away if you are in Venice and you don't mind walking and using the waterbus system, we stayed at WWW.hotelsaleri.com in Venice. Clean and basic B & B type hotel with ensuite shower, two bridges walk about 5 mins from Piazzale Roma where the bus from the airport arrives 4 euros fare each way, got discount on room for paying cash when we left which was a surprise. We did 3 nights stay for two for 215 euros in March 05 plus £82.00 on air fares for Easyjet from Gatwick.

Good location, easy to find and in a quiet area, but only 5 mins walk from main waterbus station at the top of the grand canal, 24 hour waterbus pass was 10.50 euros and you can go on all the boats, even out to Murano & Burano really good value as one single trip on the waterbus down the grand canal is 5 euros. They also do a three day pass.

In Rome we stayed at the Hotel Genio near Piazza Navonne in the city centre, dear but great location, Vatican square 15 minutes walk, Pantheon about 10 minutes, Colloseum about 25 minutes. Next time we go to Rome we will try a B & B e.g Francesca B & B not far from Vatican, but a lot better price than a central hotel.

For Florence we are trying the Hotel Andrea, as that has good reviews on Expedia and is pretty central with good links to Pisa & Sienna.

Lonely Planet Italy book has good maps and listings of hotels for each area that are easy to follow when you are there, but DK eyewitness guides have better pictures.
Best bet is to take both and read up before you get there, so you have some idea of where you want to go.

If you get to Rome, get to the queue for the Vatican, Basillica or the lift to the top of the viewing gallery early i.e by about 9.30, then you should only have to wait for about an hour to get in, you won't do both in one day. Same applies for St Marks in Venice, get there early before all the coach parties arrive at about 10.30 onwards.

Good luck with your trip,