Post: #1

I want to go to Naples/Milan next April/May.

I just don't know how long I should stay, (3-4 days vs. 2 weeks), and how much that really costs.

Post: #2

I went to Italy for 9 days a couple years ago(can't believe it's already been that long ago, seems like yesterday). 3-4 days? You're joking right? I'm assuming you live in the US, so if you go overseas you should do it a minimum of 2 weeks. Minimum. I only did 9 days because I was working full time and that's all my job would let me get away for, but I saw a lot in those 9 days. A few days in Rome, a few in Florence, a few along the coast in Cinque Terre, and one day in Venice. Though my "day" in Venice meant I got there in the early evening, and flew back the next day. Which was fine, enough to wander around, get lost, see the grand canal and the main piazza, take photographs. I didn't get to marinate myself in Italy in my short stay, but I did what I could in my 9 days. Keep in mind that Italy has more UNESCO sites that any country in the world, so could spend a month there and probably not see half the interesting things. I love Italy.

Also, your choices of where to visit are odd? Why did you list only Naples and Milan? From what I hear, Milan is an industrial city, there's a great church and a lot of fashion if you want to buy clothes, but there's not a lot to see there outside that. That's what I've been told. Naples I've heard good about, but have head there's a lot of crime there too so watch your back. For a starter visit to Italy, fly into Rome spend 3 or 4 days, take the train to Florence spend 3 days, take the train to Venice, spend a2 days and then depart from Venice. If you have more time, see some small Tuscan towns like Siena or Lucca, at least one riviera town like Genova or a Cinque Terre villa. When I go back, I want to do the Amalfi Coast and Sicily, but you'd probably have to be there 3 weeks to do all this stuff.

Post: #3

I went on a similar trip like speakeasy's, but for 7 days. Seven days in one of the most sight-rich countries in the world was retarded. Two weeks would have been better.

Venice - gotta see it. feed some pigeons

Florence - good for art museums

Sienna - medium sized town in tuscany. people are nicer. has a cool tower to climb

Rome - huge city, lots to do. lots of nightlife

Bologna - awesome college town. Felt more "real" without the tourist hordes. Nightlife is the best i saw.

Naples - very very dirty. literally garbage on the streets... stray dogs. South america feel to it. But i highly recommend the pompeii ruins nearby. Much more interesting than machu picchu

Here is the blog post i wrote about italy after i went in 2005
http://www.dcbachelor.com/2005/italy

I agree with what speakeasy said.

Cost: With the euro as strong as it is, I'm making a wild guess of $200 a day which includes moving around trains, staying in very cheap lodgings, paying entrance fees, drinking, and eating basic meals

Get ready to pay $15 and more for a martini in a lounge.

Post: #4

Rome is beautiful, Florence is beautiful, Cinque Terre is beautiful, Venice is beautiful... but Milan is definitely not beautiful.

If i were you, and had a choice of two cities, I would hit up Rome for the majority of days, and maybe Venice or Florence for a day or two.

Post: #5

(08-14-2008 03:35 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  I went to Italy for 9 days a couple years ago(can't believe it's already been that long ago, seems like yesterday). 3-4 days? You're joking right? I'm assuming you live in the US, so if you go overseas you should do it a minimum of 2 weeks. Minimum. I only did 9 days because I was working full time and that's all my job would let me get away for, but I saw a lot in those 9 days. A few days in Rome, a few in Florence, a few along the coast in Cinque Terre, and one day in Venice. Though my "day" in Venice meant I got there in the early evening, and flew back the next day. Which was fine, enough to wander around, get lost, see the grand canal and the main piazza, take photographs. I didn't get to marinate myself in Italy in my short stay, but I did what I could in my 9 days. Keep in mind that Italy has more UNESCO sites that any country in the world, so could spend a month there and probably not see half the interesting things. I love Italy.

Also, your choices of where to visit are odd? Why did you list only Naples and Milan? From what I hear, Milan is an industrial city, there's a great church and a lot of fashion if you want to buy clothes, but there's not a lot to see there outside that.

I'm a suit, and I wanted to some very specific tailors. (Anna Matuozzo in Naples, and there's a few guys in Milan)

I'll have to do more research

Post: #6

I spent 3-4 months working all over Italy last fall... and I have to agree with everything written above. I tell ya, if you're taking a chic on your travels, the Cinque Terre is magic. If I ever cave and settle down, the lucky gal will join me on a return visit....(notice the big "if"). I loved the coast, the hiking and the fact that it was a bit more mellow than Italy as a whole. You should deffinately go for two weeks, but be prepared as it will cost you. Take a good chunk of patience, it will be needed at times.

Venice is an incredible city... but think about this option... If you're not going to pony up the big $$$ for a hotel room in the city, stay in Padova and take the train into Venice on a day trip. I set up my office in Padova and had the time of my life. It is a university city (tons and tons and tons of smoking hot girls) and that town can party. Wednesday's are the student nights in the downtown squares, and you will find yourself surrounded by girls drinking wine from the bottle and live music... I tell ya, Italian girls have the best asses I have seen anywhere. And billboards of girls in lingerie are always in eyesight.

God bless knee-high, black leather hooker boots.

Post: #7

Quote:I set up my office in Padova and had the time of my life. It is a university city (tons and tons and tons of smoking hot girls)

I'd be curious to hear if you had any luck with the italian girls and how they were like. With one week in italy not only did i not get lucky but i only talked to a handful of them.

Post: #8

(08-17-2008 10:00 PM)KG Wrote:  I spent 3-4 months working all over Italy last fall... and I have to agree with everything written above. I tell ya, if you're taking a chic on your travels, the Cinque Terre is magic. If I ever cave and settle down, the lucky gal will join me on a return visit....(notice the big "if"). I loved the coast, the hiking and the fact that it was a bit more mellow than Italy as a whole. You should deffinately go for two weeks, but be prepared as it will cost you. Take a good chunk of patience, it will be needed at times.

Dude that was all I could think of when I was in the Cinque Terre. If I get married, that is where I'm having my honeymoon. No question. I was by myself. I stayed at hostels the whole time. I did meet a couple of backpacker chics. I could have hooked up with them if I had my shit together but my game sucked so bad I wasn't able to get anywhere, at least at the time. Very romantic place, in fact depressingly romantic if you aren't hooking up with anyone.



I heard that 10 years ago it was really amazing before it became "discovered" and now it's really, really touristed.

Quote:Venice is an incredible city... but think about this option... If you're not going to pony up the big $$$ for a hotel room in the city, stay in Padova and take the train into Venice on a day trip. I set up my office in Padova and had the time of my life. It is a university city (tons and tons and tons of smoking hot girls) and that town can party. Wednesday's are the student nights in the downtown squares, and you will find yourself surrounded by girls drinking wine from the bottle and live music... I tell ya, Italian girls have the best asses I have seen anywhere. And billboards of girls in lingerie are always in eyesight.

Honestly, I wasn't blown away by the girls in Italy. I saw some cuties, but I see many more out in about in places like NYC, LA and Miami. Maybe I just didn't go to the right spots in Italia. As for Venice, I was able to find a cheap pension/hostel for under $25 a night right on the island a couple minutes walk from the train station.

Post: #9

(08-18-2008 12:53 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

Quote:I set up my office in Padova and had the time of my life. It is a university city (tons and tons and tons of smoking hot girls)

I'd be curious to hear if you had any luck with the italian girls and how they were like. With one week in italy not only did i not get lucky but i only talked to a handful of them.

I know that very few of them speak English compared to women in other European countries.

Post: #10

Yeah, the Italian girls were a tough nut to crack. My italian sucks as it is, so there was very little chit-chat. In fact, the most success I had with the italian ladies was a handful of nights ending in kissy-kissy on a park bench (surrounded by a bunch of other couples doing the exact same thing... which is cool in my book). I usually ended up preying on the foreign students that couldn't find their italian ringer for the evening. I owe most of my notches to the perfect wingman, a younger bar owner who spoke great english, and as he talked up his crowd, he would introduce me to the gals that spoke halfway decent english. Can't remember this guy's name, but the bar is on the Via Roma (could give coordinates off google earth), and this guy is/was the ultimate team player. It was pure magic to watch his skills.... chat up a few ladies, then say something like "you should meet my friend" and not two minutes later an italian guy rolls up on his moped and you could almost hear the panties dropping. He did the same for his italian girlfriends that spoke english. Italian girls do love american men, especially the air force guys from the nearby US base. (I am anything but military material) Regardless, every night I popped in, it wasn't long before he was introducing me to whomever from wherever. Needless to say I dropped a few euros in his place. As for my solo accomplishments, aside from the kissy-kiss, well, there was very little to speak of. The bars in Italy are very much a male-dominated place, another reason I posted up in a college town...

The young italian girls are great eye-candy, but something happens in their late 20's and they immediately turn into old italian women overnight... their shelf life is pretty short, for sure.

Post: #11

(08-18-2008 02:13 PM)KG Wrote:  The young italian girls are great eye-candy, but something happens in their late 20's and they immediately turn into old italian women overnight... their shelf life is pretty short, for sure.

Sounds like russian women

Post: #12

BEWARE - Not all piano bars are created equal...

Post: #13

(08-14-2008 03:24 PM)broken Wrote:  I want to go to Naples/Milan next April/May.

I just don't know how long I should stay, (3-4 days vs. 2 weeks), and how much that really costs.

I lived in europe for 15 years. Go to florence and venice those would be the best of the best. milan is just a big city. Naples is where all the mafia came from. But your pocket book will burn that is for sure. Enjoy. Eidoos77.

Post: #14

I have been to italy about 20 times and practically almost exclusively specialised in picking up italian girls when i lived in london

what do you want to know?

Post: #15

I spent some time in Rome with trips up to Tuscany.

I would have to say the women in Rome, when compared to Eastern Europe (or even France), were the UGLIEST WOMEN I HAVE LAID EYES UPON IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE.

Also, Rome (and Tuscany) was cock-heavy everywhere one looked. I'm used to women far outnumbering the men. In Italy, it was the opposite.

I am definitely not a fan, despite the beautiful medieval cities.

Post: #16

Yeah i not recommend italy as a place to hookup

you stand a far better chance hooking up with italian chicks in london than you do in italy

Post: #17

I have been to Italy more times than I remember, and this is my definitive list of places to go:

Tuscany: Florence, Siena and Lucca

Of course check out Rome! Awesome city.

Napoli is a must as well. When you are there anyways you NEED to check out the city of Amalfi. Google it. It is an awesome place.

Verona (the city of Romeo and Juliette) is nice as well.

Like others have mentioned, Bologna doesn't see too many tourists and is more of a student town.

To me Venice is just too much kitsch, pigeons and urin smell.

Milano isn't that terribly interesting.

DISCLAIMER: During summer most people leave the towns and go to the coast. I am not kidding: a city like Bologna wil be completely dead during july/august - restaurants will be closed, nightlife dead etc.

Instead opt for a place like Rimini, where the young people go for partying and beach.
You will have insane nightlife options. If you run smooth game, you can mack some girls in the beach clubs.

Italy is not the most expensive place in the world, but not the cheapest either. Compared to northern Europe it is slightly cheaper. 100 dollars a day should be good and you can still eat plenty of good food. A nice unique pasta dish at a little trattoria can be had at around 5-7 euros and pizzas are in the same range. You can find nice youth hostels or cheap and cosy private lodging a lot places as well.