MLCKAA 545 Posted October 9, 2024 Next May we’ll be going for 10 days. Trying to decide where to go. Really considering the Lake Garda area. Has anyone been? If so, where and how was your experience? Travel “experts” say that 10 days is only enough for 2 destinations if you want to really enjoy it. In the right place, we’d definitely be fine with a single destination. We don’t plan to do the tourist mega-spots like Rome or Venice. My wife went to Europe after college and saw both of those plus Florence. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thegeneral 2,912 Posted October 9, 2024 Try the pasta! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bier Meister 1,658 Posted October 9, 2024 I really enjoy the northern lakes and would retire near there if I can. Car or train? How much moving do you want to do? I love Venice, but understand wanting to avoid crowds. cinque terra? Naples/sorrento? sienna was a favorite as well.. can do trips to Florence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MLCKAA 545 Posted October 9, 2024 5 minutes ago, Bier Meister said: I really enjoy the northern lakes and would retire near there if I can. Car or train? How much moving do you want to do? I love Venice, but understand wanting to avoid crowds. cinque terra? Naples/sorrento? sienna was a favorite as well.. can do trips to Florence. I think to make everyone happy we’ll go north. I’ve got my eye on Garda because the kids (not young) will want mountains, but my wife will want water. So that would give us both. Plenty of Old World there, also. From there we could get adventurous and do a day and a half in Milan. Wouldn’t mind getting my Gucci on. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bier Meister 1,658 Posted October 9, 2024 yeah.... a half day in milan was enough for us. that is the draw for me/us. I love the mountains, but a long winter is hard on mrs. garda/maggiore are pretty central, on water, and has a milder range of climate. switzerland and austria are not far for you as well gada-> innsbruck= 3 hrs drive garda-> Salzburg= 5:30 hrs drive garda-> Munich= 5:30 hrs drive garda-> lucerne= 4 hrs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RLLD 4,143 Posted October 9, 2024 Venice is OK, sorta tourist-laden though. Maybe just visit St Marks sq, then move on. Verona is a short trip down the railway and is a nice laid back place. I prefer Umbria but Tuscany is nice. Florence is ok, the Ufizi is worth a visit. I much prefer the hill towns in Tuscany and Umbria to the urban settings Depending on when you are there, Sienna will hold the Palio, its a crazy event you should try Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Honcho 5,097 Posted October 9, 2024 do you want to know why Northern Italians have blonde hair and blue eyes and Southern Italians black hair and dark skin? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bier Meister 1,658 Posted October 9, 2024 4 minutes ago, Mike Honcho said: do you want to know why Northern Italians have blonde hair and blue eyes and Southern Italians black hair and dark skin? the card says moops! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
League Champion 1,896 Posted October 9, 2024 Visiting Italy: input welcomed Don't! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herbivore 1,115 Posted October 10, 2024 8 hours ago, League Champion said: Visiting Italy: input welcomed Don't! ha. Cinque Terre is about 3.30 hrs from Garda by car, not sure about a train. Unique place. Nice beach in Montorosa al Mare. Vernazza is beautiful. Nice walking path between each town and an easy train ride between as well. You could stop in Milan on the way in or out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The PosterFormerlyKnownAs 78 Posted October 10, 2024 Cause it’s not discussed as much … Turin is an interesting visit. The old fiat plat has been converted into a hotel/convention/shopping mall area .. cool, especially if you watched the original Italian Job. Shroud of Turin if you’re into that, and opera, arts and palatial estates of course. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scott4507 4 Posted October 10, 2024 Went there last year in with the Mrs. (36C) in September for our 10th anniversary. Flew into Venice, back out of Milan. Venice, Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona, Lake Como, Milan Great trip. We were there 16 days + 2 for flights. Best: Driving and hiking Italian Dolomites at Cortina d'Ampezzo and Castelruth. Amazing and thrilling! Lake Como. Not to be missed! We stayed in Menaggio for several days. Took ferries to Bellagio and Varenna. Amazing views everyday, lots to see. Laid back, no hassle and very enjoyable and will go again if I can. OK: Lake Garda,. Views nice, but overrated, foggy on lake. Venice is historic, Venice is iconic. Venice is hot as hell in late September. Venice is very crowded most of the day. If you go, get up super early to take your iconic touristy spot pics. Make sure you have passes to everything months advance. By lunchtime, forgettaboutit....... Venice is $$$$....$$$$....$$$$. Best part of Venice was a cooking class we took, our host and the other guests were good company. Worst: Train ride from Lake Como to Milan. Short ride, but the scrum for available seating (no reserved seating, seriously overbooked) was a look into other people's character I'd rather not see again. College age &^% taking up 2 seats making others stand (some elderly) while calmly looking at phone and tuning out. People pushing and shoving. There were bright spots - watching a really big dude calmly take one of the college girls' bag out of seat and toss it into aisle and then sit down there. Another was that after I gave up my ledge (not a real seat to my wife), some kind people 4 rows away offered me a seat which I gave to her instead. Watching all tourists crowd into a courtyard at the fake photo op site of "Juliet's balcony" in Verona. People will shell out for anything.... We watched for a couple of minutes, then walked away laughing. Milan: too many homeless people. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeMatt 46 Posted October 10, 2024 My son is there now. I’ll get his input when he gets back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 6,567 Posted October 10, 2024 Went last year for our 30th anniversary for two weeks; I'm sure I posted about it here, but... Half the trip was a hiking excursion with a company called Backroads, which I highly recommend if that is your thing (they also do cycling and combo events, all of varying difficulties). Spent a day in Pisa before the trip, it was OK, one day is enough there though. Cinque Terre was beautiful and worth visiting for a day or two. The cities are built on the side of mountains, so any walking there is a bit of a workout. Italian Riviera (Santa Margarita Ligure, Portofino) was also nice; more of a chill, beachy thing without a ton to do, though. Tuscany was great if you like Chianti, winery tours, and quaint little villages with shopping and restaurants. We stayed at a castle that was beautiful. Second half of our trip were Florence and Venice, which you said you aren't interested in. 17 years ago on a separate trip we went to Rome for three days. Did all the touristy things, it was fun. Don't even think about driving in the city, tho. I'd like to hike the Dolomites. Also the wife has ancestry in Naples, and I hear that's a fun town. But having been to Italy twice, I doubt we'll go back. Next big trip will probably be South America which we've never been. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheNewGirl 1,348 Posted October 10, 2024 Italian hot chocolate. That is all. I've been to Venice, Pisa, and Lugano. All really gorgeous places. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
