Three single and fun girls want to take a trip to Italy and the Greek Islands but have no clue where to start! Would like to take the 2-3 week trip in June of 2012. We are thinking of renting homes rather than stay at hotels. Any and all advice would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you so much for your time!!
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Tagi, start by wandering down to a book store that has a large travel section. (If you Google "book store' you will understand what I am referencing. There are a few of these remaining.) Pick out a few travel books (We love Rick Steves and Lonely Planet), sit down and thumb thru them. Buy the ones that you like (or download them to your Kindle, etc.) Then go to web sites like Trip Advisor, etc, to see what lodging, etc. people are reccomending. If you stay in any one place for 4 days or more, look at renting an apt. We use VRBO.com and Homelidays.com to pick our EU apt rentals. (pick ones with good references!) We also go to the city website of each city where we will be staying and look for their rental options. Have fun!
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles, CA
8 posts
Thank you very much Steve!! I needed someone to point me in the right direction because I was feeling a little overwhelmed! Luckily I've got a Kindle and I used it to sample some travel books/guides like you suggested. I've also downloaded some Samantha Brown traveling shows to Italy and the Greek Islands on iTunes to get a better feel for where exactly we should go. I think I'm off to a great start! Truly appreciate your suggestions, thank you! Tagi
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23562 posts
Use you local library to check out travel DVDs, guide books, etc. There is some distance between Italy and Greece so you are looking at two very different trips. You should look at open jaw tickets into Rome and home from Athens or the reverse.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles, CA
8 posts
Thanks Frank, I'm finding that distance thing out right now...any suggestions? I'm not familiar with open jaw tickets..
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
"Open Jaw"= fly into one city...fly out of another. Sometimes these are a lot cheaper than in and out of Rome...or Athens...or... When you use a search engiine like Kayak or Obitz go to the "multicity" option to check these out. But, there are lots of lo-cost airlines in Europe( read; $15 Frankfurt to Farro, Portugal on Ryan Air, etc.) You have to be careful with these because sometimes they fly in and out of obscure airports, and they have very restrictive weight and size limits. Search for these on Whichbudget.com" BTW "shoulder season", early June and sept. can be the best times to see Europe.