I'm planning on traveling to Italy and central Europe in June. I'm traveling alone. I'd like to rent a room in someone's home. Should I rent for a month and do side trips, rent for several weeks, where should my base be??? This will be my 3rd trip to Italy - never been to CT before. Any tips for single female traveler would be appreciated.
P.S. I have a niece stationed with the Army in Bamberg, Germany so that's a must see also.
Thanks,
Sharon
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
30 days is quite a visit. You have an excellent opportunity to see quite a few sights in Southern and Northern Italy. Not sure if you intend to do extended day trips out of one rented location or to take 2-3 day or longer extended trips and then return to a home base. I would suggest that Italy is very difficult to cover from one location. The Amalfi Coast to Venice is about 900 miles.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
26 posts
Larry, Kent,
Thanks so much for replying to my message. I'm thinking that I will spend a couple of weeks in Germany - travel with my niece on weekends to Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic. She's afraid to travel out by herself so my goal is to get her comfortable with traveling and to entice her to see more of Europe.
I'm a teacher so that's why I can afford the time, but as a teacher, that's about all I can afford!! I really want to do this as economical as possible. If I go all of June and part of July, do you feel it is best to have my accomodations already reserved or could I possibly fly by the seat of my pants????
Thanks for the advise.
Sharon
Posted by
Henson, Florida, USA
466 posts
Just remember that 1 month in Italy is going to be rather expensive. The Euro is higher than it was a year ago and things tend to be more expensive. Be prepared to spends lots of money. Have fun!!!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Taking a big leap here, I'll make some suggestions. First, prepare an Excel spreadsheet that shows where you will be staying each night. I wouldn't assume that you could just drop in during June or July. This is especially true for the Cinque Terre where RS recommends just showing up. We saw lots of people lined up in the room agent offices there looking for a room. Strangley, many had these blue travel books with yellow lettering. The CT is booked and mobbed. I also suggest that your travels should not be haphazard. You can certainly plan to spend 3 days in a location and leave what you will do open but at least lock in the 3 days. You should do this throughout your plan. It also makes it easier to plan your train travel by locking in dates and times. If you need an example, I can send you our spreadsheet.
Next has to be suggestions on inexpensive places to stay.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
How old is your niece and how interested are you both in art and museums. Or, is it just travel, see the general sites and then move on. Your answer could influence comments on this thread. There are numerous posters who can really offer great thoughts on where to stay inexpensively.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
26 posts
Thanks y'all! Good advice. I think my niece, who is 21, would enjoy mostly sights with a little art thrown in. Most assuredly, I would appreciate any tips on finding inexpensive places to stay. I can't do a hostel, but a room in someone's home would be good.
Thanks again,
Sharon
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
Sharon,
I would not stay in one place. You will lose time coming back to your base. You can book a budget hotel, and it will nor be much expensive for 2.
Also you can try hostels, if you don't have anything against them. I stayd in a very clean hostel in Rome, for $26 (real breakfast included) in high season. Hostels in Europe are much cleaner and nicer then the ones here in the US.