Any tips for Italy?

joeblack066

I am off on a trip to Italy, Lake Garda, Venice, Verona for one week near the end of August. Anyone got any advice, tips or help for a very novice traveller and 16yo daughter? TIA :-)

Voyager2002

Get a guide book...

Be aware that in bars and coffee shops there are two different sets of prices: you pay more if you sit down. And if you sit down at a cafe in Venice while live music is playing, be prepared for a massive bill.

Make sure that your daughter knows how to say a polite 'no' to charming and persistent young men, or you will be a grandparent sooner than yiou expected!

opinions4u

Take a phrase book unless you speak Italian well. On the whole the Italians are a friendly bunch, but you may encounter some begging and excessive selling techniques.

Garda is beautiful, more so on the North north East side. If you're driving head off in to the Alps and take a look! Allow time for jams around the lake.

The main A4 motorway is tolled, not cheap, and populated by madmen! Slip roads are often short.

Food can be cheap away from the tourist areas. Quite the opposite in them.

costingbunny_2

Bardolino on Garda is very pretty to visit (not sure where you are staying). They have a great market one day a week and you can walk to Garda (40 mins) and go for a swim on the way in the lake.

I would wander around the town with an ice cream, cute cobbled streets, call for a spritz (alcoholic) or a coffee.

If you have pre dinner drinks in a bar around 6-8 you may see nibbles on the bar - this is aperativo and you just help yourself!

Venice is expensive so check prices before sitting down for a coffee!

maman

joeblack066 wrote: »

I am off on a trip to Italy, Lake Garda, Venice, Verona for one week near the end of August. Anyone got any advice, tips or help for a very novice traveller and 16yo daughter? TIA :-)

It sounds like you already have some trips booked if you're planning those three places. I do envy you visiting Verona for the first time, it's a lovely place.

Buying a guide book is no problem but there are lots of sites with ideas, like this one.

http://goitaly.about.com/od/verona/tp/verona-top-attractions.htm

You can do boat trips on the lake.

When I visited, I was based in Verona and went to Garda and Venice and Vicenza (fantastic Palladian architecture) by public transport (trains and buses).

lovesgshp

As above, Venice can be very expensive, if you stick to the tourist trail. Go over to the old part of town, in the back lanes, for some great restaurants and bars, at good prices.
Avoid the gondolas as they are overpriced. Harry's Bar is very expensive as well, as are the 5 star hotel bars on the main canal.
Verona, beautiful place as well, as is Soave, close by, where they produce some lovely wines. As always stay off the tourist trail, as get lunch wrong for 2, could cost you close to 100 Euros, for something mediochre

ellalauren

You must read some good articles about Italy and destinations, hotels, prices etc before you fly to Italy

johnwilliam_2

Italy is one of the largest countries in Southern Europe and it is home for greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. It is one of the famous holiday destinations for most of the tourists because of its worldwide delicious cuisine, trendy fashions, diverse regional cultures, as well as for its beautiful coasts, alpine lakes and mountains. You just plan your trip accordingly by searching all the websites and see what all the best places to travel and what amount you are going to spend and carry your credit card in case it many be used.

andygb

When we stayed at Garda, the best things were.

Going to the opera - Aida - at the Roman arena/ampitheatre in Verona.

A trip up Monte Baldo in the cable car.

Exploring the lake road and surrounding countryside - we drove, but there must be trips.

The market and Garda in general

JulieM

Quote (Be aware that in bars and coffee shops there are two different sets of prices: you pay more if you sit down. And if you sit down at a cafe in Venice while live music is playing, be prepared for a massive bill).

Most restaurants add a service charge to the bill, it's shown as 'coperto' on the bill and is usually in the region of 1 euro per person.

lovesgshp

You have been lucky then JulieM @1 euro cover charge. Even in the area that I live, it has been up to 3.50. per person