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"Italian" experience in October or November

I have a convoluted situation and hope you will bear with me. Our group will be 2 adults and 2 teenagers. I have travelled in Europe, but the others have not. We are visible minorities including AA (not me though) and I am somewhat concerned about this. The other adult wishes to travel in mid-November, but I will be pushing hard for early October dates. I believe the wish is to visit Italy because of the lore of a (mostly southern sounding) Italian vacation, including beaches (which is completely incompatible with mid-November!) If there are other alternatives, such as Italian parts of neighboring areas like Croatia, etc, I am willing to push for those if they are logistically or financially more viable. Priorities would be good food, including meats and seafood, relaxed atmosphere and nature. Open to a few art or historical sites that can be enjoyed casually. We are open to renting a car. 9 days/8 nights trip duration. Would need to eventually fly out from a major airport.

My questions are:
- Please suggest areas in (a) Italy, or (b) other countries with a heavy Italian flavor, or (c) other countries/areas that are beach-centric or at least warm (Southern Greece?)
- Should any areas be avoided due to being AA/visible minorities? I know every place has the potentially to be both good and troubling, but some places on average offer fewer troubles.

It is important that the others enjoy this trip because I want to turn them into future travel companions :o)

Posted by
2828 posts

Have you tried googling around to find out where in Italy your group's favorite AA celebrities and people in the news like to go to?

For instance, Bill Burr's family likes Sorrento and the surrounding towns.

Posted by
3812 posts

Even in early October, Sicily is the only place where you can realistically hope of Swimming in Italy. Many Locals in Puglia, Campania etc. Visit the seaside towns during the October week-ends, so they won't be deserted.

If you expect US-style sensibility and concern about minorities and their feelings, you'll have minor problems all around Italy.
I used "sensibility and concern" not to be banned, but be aware that many Italians you could meet during your trip would speak of a national obsession nobody else in the world cares much about. Not that I agree, of course, but the reality on the ground... It is what it is.

Posted by
568 posts

You don't say where you are coming from, but as Canadians, we swam in mid October in the Cinque Terre. Dario, we did notice no Italians seemed to be.
Unless you are able to fly directly to Sicily I think you would be doing too much travel to make that your main destination.

With only 8 nights and trying to get a beach in, I'd suggest Rome and Sorrento. Can daytrip to Pompeii and Capri from Sorrento.

Or make it more of a northern Italian trip, Venice, does have beaches at Lido, see Verona, maybe Bologna.