Holiday in Italy, How?

Question

We are family with children want to go for holidays in Italy specially Rome, florence, venice and Milan. As we can speak English, not Italian, I don't know how I will go from city to city and sightseeing. Is it possible to do it without travel agency ? If not then suggest a few good ones, not too expensive.

Answer 1

I would avoid Milan in summer is a suicide...too hot

in Venice i dont think you would find any problem with english as is a high rate touristic area and neither in Florence .

I advise you to choose the coast if you go in summer or the hot can be unbeareable if you are not used to

Answer 2

well  in the cities you mentioned most people speak English.

Hotels' personell speaks it too.

Regarding the connections between cities you might want to check www.trenitalia.it to find time tables and city connections for trains.

And you might want to plan the areas to visit ahead by checking some websites.

Just in case i would take a little dictionary to translate signs or something.

Answer 3

You should be able to travel by yourself as Italy is a developped country! :) english is not a problem, just buy a Lonely Planet guide! Have a good trip!

Answer 4

We took a trip in March from NYC.  We went through Gate 1 travel agency.  There were two adults travelling.  For about $2200.  For this we recieved:

1.  Round trip airfare from NYC.  We flew into Venice and out of Rome.  Unfortunately we flew Alitalia.  It was one of the most uncomfortable flights I have ever been on, but it was worth it for the money.

2.  Transfer via watertaxi to our hotel.  Not necessary the public transportation is wonderful, but this is a lot easier.

3.  Two nights hotel in Venice.

4.  Train ride to Florence.

5.  Three days hotel in Florence.

6.  Four nights hotel in Rome.

7.  Taxi ride from the hotel to the airport in Rome.  Again, not necessary, but it's a lot easier, especially with children.

We didn't get a transfer from Florence to Rome, because we added a land only package in Rome.  We took the train on our own, and I have to say it was really easy.  The termini is generally easy to find and all of the busses go there..  They are generally on time and easy to negotiate.  We bought our tickets at a automated machine and paid with a credit card.  It was 66Euro for two tickets on the Eurostar.  We chose this because it was a lot quicker.

As for not speaking Italian, the cities you are speaking of are all very touristy.  Most of the people you will encounter will at least speak rudimentary English.  Enough for you to get around.  

In Venice you don't need a sightseeing tour at all.  The city is very tiny, you can travel around the whole island on the waterbus in less than an hour.  The best part of Venice is walking down all the little alleys, and exploring the stores in the piazzas.  In Florence, we took the red open air bus hop on hop off in front of the Termini.  There are brochures for it everywhere throughout the city.  We did this because we found we were getting a little bit lost with the walking maps.  The ticket was 20Euro and it stopped at or close to all the major sites in Florence.  Children are free and it's a two day ticket.  The ticket will also take you up to the small village of Feosole.  There was an audioguide in English so you know where you are, what you are seeing and where you where you want to get off.  After having such a good experience with this we did the same thing in Rome on the 110 Trambus.  This was 13Euro.  This is also located right outside of termini as well.

Answer 5

People on holyday resorts do speak English far more than elsewhere of Italy, especially in hotels, railway stations, museums, etc., for obvious reasons (in restaurants, ask if they have a menu in English, if theone you find on your seat in in Italian only). If you follow usual "touristic routes", you're not going to have big problems. If you need to a taxi, I suggest you to write the address down on a piece of paper, anyway.

Although Milan is "less touristic" is the capital of business in Italy, so English is quite commonly spoken.

Bring with you a little dictionary, including sentences useful for travellers.

Answer 6

The absolute best way to go is to go on a tour. i recommend Traffalgar. the tour guide knows how to speak english, and it is tons of fun. they already have everything planned for you. it is the best way to the travel. i loved it.