Hello!
My boyfriend and I are traveling from California to Italy for a wedding in late August. We are flying into Milan then going to the wedding in Stresa on Lake Maggiore. After a few days (Thurs-sat) there, we were planning to take the train to Salerno then ferry to Minori where we would spend the rest of our trip (Sunday-Thursday, flying out of Naples on Friday). My boyfriend has never been to Europe and has limited travel experience, so he really wants to see authentic Italian culture while also having an enjoyable, beautiful, and affordable trip.
After a lot of reading, I’m now wondering if Ischia might be a better place for us to go instead of Minori (so we would take the train from Milan to Naples then ferry to Ischia) as the beaches, restaurant and nightlife scene, and costs look a bit more our style. I’m looking at maybe €300/night max though less is great :)
For some context, we are both in our early 30s, physically fit to do lots of walking, love lounging on the beach (we really want to try beach clubs) and going to unique shops and spots. We also looove fun restaurants and bars, we love energy in places without them being too busy or crowded. No crowds is ideal! And anywhere with live music and dancing is our jam.
So, any thoughts on below would be great:
- Ischia or Minori as our home base for the trio of exploring the respective areas
- Any suggestions about accommodations, food, beaches and more in either area
- train tips
- Shopping suggestions for authentic buys
Thank you in advance for any tips on our travels. The only thing we have booked is Hotel La Palma in Stresa for the wedding and then have the flights reserved into Milan on a Wednesday and out of Naples the following Friday.
It’s been a really tough year on us and we want to make this trip as special as possible while traveling with purpose!