ladysprite (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladysprite) wrote2012-04-01 09:38 am
ladysprite) wrote2012-04-01 09:38 am
Seeking Advice
So I promised myself someday I would go to Italy. Except that, when I put things in abstract terms like that, I never actually get around to doing them - I come up with excuses to postpone, and not to waste money on frivolities, and reasons it's not practical, until it's too late. So I promised myself last year that in 2012 I would go to Italy, because when I set concrete dates like that, it's harder to back out.
And now, with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
umbran anticipating gainful employment, it looks like this is actually going to be feasible. Which is both awesome and scary.
Here's the deal - I've never traveled outside the country before, with the exception of one (awesome) week in England when I was 22. I've never been somewhere that I don't speak the language, I've never had to navigate foreign cities, and I have precious little idea of what to expect.
So I'm taking this opportunity to pick the brains of my friends - any advice for traveling the world, and Italy in particular? We're looking at going sometime in October, both for our anniversary and because I've been told that's a decent time of year to head there, and I'd like to go to Venice, if only because that's where a huge chunk of my SCA efforts have been focused. Rome would be awesome too, if it's feasible to hit both. A coworker has recommended this tour company, which *seems* pretty cool, but I'm not sure whether that would fall into the category of 'making things incredibly easier' versus 'spending a lot of money to make the experience pre-processed and cheesy.'
Any hints, advice, or experiences in general would be welcome!
And now, with
umbran anticipating gainful employment, it looks like this is actually going to be feasible. Which is both awesome and scary.Here's the deal - I've never traveled outside the country before, with the exception of one (awesome) week in England when I was 22. I've never been somewhere that I don't speak the language, I've never had to navigate foreign cities, and I have precious little idea of what to expect.
So I'm taking this opportunity to pick the brains of my friends - any advice for traveling the world, and Italy in particular? We're looking at going sometime in October, both for our anniversary and because I've been told that's a decent time of year to head there, and I'd like to go to Venice, if only because that's where a huge chunk of my SCA efforts have been focused. Rome would be awesome too, if it's feasible to hit both. A coworker has recommended this tour company, which *seems* pretty cool, but I'm not sure whether that would fall into the category of 'making things incredibly easier' versus 'spending a lot of money to make the experience pre-processed and cheesy.'
Any hints, advice, or experiences in general would be welcome!
no subject
1. My first piece of advice would have been to go in late March/early April. Tourist season is about to start, so they're opening up the pools but aren't charging full rates. My college group went for $2000 and stayed in 4-star hotels for a week. Meals and airfare included.
2. Don't worry about cash. If your debit card has a 4-digit pin and your bank isn't a jerk about international transactions, your credit card is the way to go, and your debit card can get you all the cash you need.
3. Eat in restaurants, but don't forget sandwich vendors and street carts. Amazing food and cheap, too.
4. Gelato. OMG, Gelato.