Italy Travel Guide

[mama squeak!]

^Thanks sis! So pwede na pala half-day ang Murano if glass museum, factory and a bit of walking around. I'm allotting one whole day for these islands weather permitting. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[emceenglot]

Hello! need help. my cousin (10 yo) as visa to travel to Italy  (parents nya nasa Italy). I have tourist visa. Can i be the one accompanying her? Thanks!

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ I think so. But for immigration purposes, the parents would need to secure a DSWD permit specifying na ikaw ang kasama ng anak nila to travel to Italy. And you need to bring that pag-alis nyo from PH, hahanapin yan ng IO at minsan kahit sa check-in counter pa lang..

And i believe you should be able to prove na talagang tourism (or paghatid lang sa cousin) ang pakay mo dun and you won't overstay, both in PH and IT immigration.

Other sisses, feel free to correct me or to add info din.

[emceenglot]

Salamat sis bagaholic_chewy!

Another question, anyone familiar sa nulla osta sa italy? Ang tinutingnan ba is validity ng nulla osta or ng schengen visa? Thanks!

[mama squeak!]

Hubby and I fell in love with Venice! We spent 3 nights there and bitin-bitin talaga. We're planning to go back there again and stay a little longer. We'd also like to spend a night or two in Burano or Murano para ma-explore namin ng husto yung iba pang islands.

We did Murano and Burano as a day trip. Murano in the morning then Burano for late lunch and stayed there until around 4pm. We took the vaporetto all the time. Everything was DIY. Ganda ng Venice plus the weather cooperated with us pa.

Oh! And what's surprising pa walang unpleasant smell usually associated with mga canals kaming naamoy. Can't wait to update my blog when we get home.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ true mama_squeak, Venice is lovely talaga. Sarap maglakad-lakad lang. We also spent 3 nights there and sobrang we enjoyed our stay. We were supposed to take a day trip to Verona or Padova pa nga sana from Venice, but we loved Venice so much na di na kami nag-day trip out. Chillax-chillax na lang kami dun.  dagdag din siguro na we rented an apartment for our stay and it was in an area na maraming locals na nakatira and near a university kaya ok ang vibe.

[mama squeak!]

^yup better talaga to rent an apartment para feel mo yung place. In our case kasi yung two nights hotel stay included sa Orient Express then yung extra night nag hotel na lang kami near the Doge Palace.

Bitin-bitin talaga. We also wanted to go to Verona pero sa Venezia and the other islands kulang talaga time. We hope to stay longer on our next visit.

Dagdag ko pala when we arrived in Milano Centrale while waiting for our train to take us to Venice, hubby and I had breakfast at McDonald's (cheap breakfast at €4 only). Pero hindi kami pinabayad since meron pala silang promo na FREE breakfast until 1030H. Dunno lang until when yung promo nila.

[caterpillar-girl]

Wheee leaving for our Europe honeymoon next week na. It will be my husband's first time in Italy and second for me.

First stop, Italy! Rome-Florence-Venice. I fixed all our hotels and train tickets na. Just a couple more stuff to do and we're good to go. Just some questions, ladies, in case you've experienced this already.

1) Do you know any reliable Vespa rental services? My husband has this thing for Vespas, and we'd like to go around Rome at least for half a day on their scooters. Dream ko rin naman mag mala Roman Holiday hehe. Any reliable vespa rental shops, hopefully with a tour guide na rin?

2) Anyone experienced flying on Transavia? We're not doing the overnight train from Venice to Paris anymore, sayang. My husband would have loved to have done it (I did a Thello overnight train before and it was a rather um, interesting experience). We're flying via one of the regional airlines nalang. Cheaper than the Thello overnighter!

[marose17]

Hi ladies!  I'll be in Italy around this time next year.  Milan will be my base for 5-6 days as I will be attending a conference there.  My husband is planning to go with me and we wish to explore for a week after my work is done.  I know that Rome and Venice are must-see places but Florence, Como and Tuscany are more appealing to me.  I am a bit overwhelmed reading up on where to go and what to do.  I've read this thread from page 1 and the blogs too (kudos to those who really take time to share their travel experiences).  I am the type who really wants to spend time in a place rather than rush to all the must-see places and just visit for the sake of saying I've been there.

Which places should I prioritize?  My husband loves shopping (he's more excited than I am about going to the outlets) while I love art.  Both of us love to eat and drink wine and coffee. 

From Milan, it seems Florence will be a logical next base.  Am I on the right track?  Any recommendation will be much appreciated.

[mama squeak!]

^Florence would be the perfect base for you! Art and shopping! Rent an apartment for longer stays so you save a lot. That's still in my bucket list together with a Tuscany road trip! Happy planning!

[bagaholic_chewy]

^^ sis, you may go to Como from Milan on a day trip. Ganun ginawa namin before. We also took the funicular from Como to Brunate, ganda ng view sa taas. Shopping is also good in Milan.

Then Florence could be your next base, lovely city with chillax vibe. From there you can explore Tuscany na. And outlet shopping sa The Mall.

Have fun planning your trip!

[marose17]

Thanks mama squeak and bagaholic chewy!  Once we decide on an itinerary, I'll ask again for tips on apartments (airbnb, I suppose?) and going around. 

[caterpillar-girl]

Hi marose, I agree that if you love art, Florence is the next logical base. Just a reminder though, Florence is IN Tuscany, it's the capital of the Tuscan region, so you can either base yourself in Florence and just take day trips to the Tuscan countryside, or you can rent a car and explore and stay in other areas. Siena, Chianti, San Gimignano, Val d'Orcia are popular areas if you want the authentic countryside experience (those rolling hills, cypress trees, etc).

I've been to Florence twice, and I was pretty happy with three nights there. We were able to visit the Uffizi, Academia, Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, some other churches, plus a side trip to the countryside in three nights. We had a very leisurely pace, enough time to take in everything and sit down for a gelato or two. (For the best gelato in Florence, head to Grom, very near the Duomo ) Truthfully, we didn't need to spend as much time at the Uffizi and Academia as much as we thought we would. An hour or so per place, max. But that's us. I'd like to do a road trip to the countryside as well, but I think I can be happy with just one or two nights for that.

Lastly, don't knock off Rome. I agree it can be a huuuge tourist trap, but some of the most magnificent sculptures are there, like Bernini's works at the Piazza Navona and Piazza Barberini, and of course Michelangelo's Pieta.

Have fun planning!

[marose17]

^ Thanks for the tips.   We're going to Rome and from there, might fly to Barcelona.   Art overload!   Plus, as a football fan, I want to see the San Siro in Milan and Camp Nou in Barcelona.  June is off-season though for club football so we will not be able to watch games.

[marchbaby]

Hi sisses. I'm going to Italy - Florence, Rome and Livorno end of September. Would you have any idea of the weather around that time? Is it cold? What type of clothing should I bring?

[mama squeak!]

^that's fall season na so palamig na but no need for thick coats yet. Do layering (shirt, sweater, jacket or coat) para you can peel off clothes in case mainitan ka or cover up pag lumamig naman.

[marchbaby]

^thank you, sis. Excited na. It's our first time there. Kaya wondering na what to wear.

[vain_kixie]

When i went to Florence and Rome last November the weather was craaay. Rome was hot some days. As in naka sleeveless pa ako in the morning to late afternoon. Sometimes it would rain hard so I'd wear my thermal stockings then light jacket. Florence naman i just wore a dress and a cardigan and i was fine. So feeling ko pag September no need for boots and thick wool jackets pa.

[marchbaby]

^Thanks for the input sis. Will bring cardigans na lang din siguro.

[vanity fair]

^  I would also suggest that you bring a foldable umbrella.  Umuulan ulan na din kasi during that time.  Para di na kayo bumili dun ng payong