Travel to Italy- Late January to March- Any cautions/ suggestions?

Question

We are spending 6 weeks in Italy- late January to early March, 2008. I know it's off season, but our works schedules restrict us to this time. Any cautionary notes we should know? We plan to get to Rome to Calabria to Sicily, Naples, Florence, Venice and Lakes region. Should we use car rental/ scooters in some areas rather than trains? Any suggestions for small hotels? Thanks, Cookie.

Answer 1

Train service between cities is excellent in Italy.  If you want to see the countryside in a particular area, like Sicily, renting a car for a while is a good idea (scooters might be fine also, but keep the weather in mind).

Your program is pretty ambitious, but if you have more than a month available it's doable.  The lakes region may still be too cold for fun in early March, but check on that part once you get close.

I use Venere.com to find small and reasonable hotels/inns in Italy.  I have not been disappointed.  For Venice, staying across the bay in Jesolo and taking the ferry may save you money.

One cautionary note:  Be very careful about leaving anything in a car from Rome on south.  I speak from personal bad experience.  Keep your valuables on your person, and firmly attached to you.  (Thieves may ride up next to you on a scooter and grab a shoulder bag.)  The good news is that if you are careful, you will be fine, because there will be many easier targets.

Have a great time!

Answer 2

Yes, a few suggestions.  Your trip I'm afraid is far to expansive.  Break the country into thirds, and pick one. South, Sicily/Naples. Central, Rome/Florence. And North, Venice/Lakes Region.

Once you decide which third, then you can pack.  But if you're like a typical American, you'll pack too darn much and will spend more time lugging your suitcase around than enjoying the sights.

The south can be rough, keep your valuables close.  Rome and Florence can be crowded, even in the winter.  Venice and the Lakes are beautiful, but very cold in the winter.

Pack light, pack warm (much warmer than you may think) and narrow your choices down.   After you "settle" into your area, plan on renting a car for at least a week.  My family and I find an apartment about 20min away from the "big" areas and tend to pay about 20-50% less than in the city.