Trip to Italy ======== 20th Anniversary?

Question

Planning to surprise the wife with a TWO WEEK trip to Italy. Question is where should we go?

Tuscany?

Rome?

Sicily?

Capri?

Please help. Looking to spend no more than $10,000

Also, what is the best way to learn the language. I have 12 months...

Answer 1

With 10000$ you'll have really great time.

If you are going in spring or early autumn I'd say:

Rome, 3 days (you'll arrive there or in Milan I suppose).

Then catch a plane to sicily (about 100eu per person), rent a car (or take taxis,your budget is high enough) and spend 4-5 visiting agrigento or siracusa and catania or palermo. From Catania take a low cost flight to Pisa(another 100eu), climb the tower, rent a car and enjoy driving the countryside for at least 3 days. Skip big cities if you had enough in Rome or in Sicily,otherwise spend a 1-2 in Florence.

Then go back to Rome just in case you are missing her and take a train to Naples and visit Capri for a couplesof days.

Beware:

Sicily in summer is very hot!

Capri in summer and easter is VERY crowded and prices are absurd.

Driving in Rome and Sicily requires some skills, cars usually are not with automatic gears.

If you want you can also spend a couple of days in Venice (but not in winter, would be very rainy and flooded), is not too far from pisa by train and from there you can go back to Rome by plane.

Plane vs Train. Italy is small, trains arrive in the city center and sometimes are more convenient tha the plane. I usually take a plane if the distance is more than 4-500 km, otherwise train is faster (easier to get to train station than airport, no check in, no waiting for boarding, check out and going back to city center at arrivals).

Have fun!

No need to learn any more than a very basic italian.

Answer 2

I would vote for Sicily....it's romantic and yet you can find lots of fun-filled activities.

Accommodation for 2 weeks for a 3 -4 stars hotel should be around USD1,5XX.

Answer 3

I would recommend Rome and Venice. Two weeks should give you plenty of time to visit at least two or three cities.

Rome's got a thousand things to do and see, and I'm sure your wife would be very, very happy if you took her for a gondola ride in Venice.

This is supposed to be one of the best language systems.

http://www.rosettastone.com/offer/google...

I wouldn't sweat it too much though. I don't speak a word of Italian and I didn't have much of a problem at all.

Answer 4

Start in Tuscany and work your way down to Rome. My boyfriend and I just got back from there. One week in Tuscany and one in Rome and then fly out of Rome. Each part of Italy is so wonderful and different. You should try Tuscany for the beauty and Rome for the incredible sights. (The Colosseum at sunset is amazing!) Use Priceline to get hotel rooms!!!!! Do the name your own price and start at like $90...The whole time we were there, we got the most amazing 4-star hotels in the best locations for cheap, cheap, cheap!

Answer 5

Sicily!

Answer 6

it depends most on what kind of trip you want to offer - anyway, if you are looking for a romantic place, I would reccomend Tuscany, Capri (beware: Capri is expensive, in Tuscany you can find more affordable prices; you could also go to Umbria instead, beautiful landscape, same romance, art and culture, cheaper prices and right next to Tuscany).

Rome is Rome, full of history, just try to avoid it in summertime; and Sicily is a beautiful place (the sea is just amazing there), perfect for the summer, but don't use train or coaches to go there

As for learning the languages, I know Italian is not easy, but if you don't want to attend classes, buy some Italian course book - when you'll learn the grammar and the pronunciation, start watching italian movies in Italian - you can also ask around if there is any Italian in your city that can help you with the practice (Italians that come from Italy, not born there from Italian parents, believe me it is better for your pronunce)

good luck and have a pleasant trip with your wife :)

Answer 7

Well that's good that you are planning to give such a good surprise to your wife by taking her to italy,world's most visited country. Since you are planning to go for two weeks. so thats  plenty of time . Since i am planning a trip to the following cities Rome,Naples(Capri),Venice . so i can guide you about them. Rome will give you a memorable historical tour. As there are plenty of places to roam about like colosseum,pantheon,roman form, spanish steps,trevi fountain and many more. And don't forget to visit the vatican city. It is simply superb.

                 Venice and Capri are the places that are full of romance. They create a different atmosphere. Your wife will simply love the fasinating gondola ride. The city of Naples also has historic places to see. There are few islands around it like Capri,Ischia,Sorrento,Amalfi Coast.  Capri is the most popular amongs them. It takes you in a different world. You will be surprised by it's beauty. Don't forget to see the blue grotto. You can also take a boat trip around the island.  It's a perfect place for a romantic holiday with your beloved wife.

               Usually it's good to know the language of the country you are visiting. That makes things much easier and lets you communicate easily. Since you have an year's time. You can learn the language very well by reading books  or you can take a language course full-part time.

Answer 8

I vote for Rome and or Sicily!!!  Luck you guys!!!  Maybe next year I will be going!!  Best of luck.

Answer 9

I'd suggest Capri. Beautiful scenery....actually GORGEOUS scenery! Not as touristy as Rome. I haven't been to Tuscany or Sicily so I can't compare Capri to those places. But from my trip to Italy, where I visited quite a few places, Capri definitely seems like a very romantic place to take your wife. You can get a hotel room with a view of the blue Mediterranean. There are so many places to see and things to do. Definitely go to Capri!

As for learning the language, it'll be easier to just pick up a travel book and learn the basics. It's not terribly hard to find people who speak English there. If you really want to learn the language (which would be awesome!), I've heard that Rosetta Stone learning cd's are great. It's used by big companies, the government, and many others. Hope this helps!