Italy Hidden Gems

Welcome to the RS forums, zoeylola97.
My first thought? Whoa, Nelly! There's a cart before the horse here! :O)

Judging from your other post about Paris ("I am not familiar with areas of Europe") you've never been to Italy before, right? If not, there is a lot to consider here before even getting into "hidden gems" stuff.

Any advice on car rentals

Whether to rent a car or not will depend on where you want to go, and how comfortable you are driving in a foreign country. Managing a car in Italy will involve some homework, and you definitely do not need or want one in the cities or strictly for travel to/from them. Many of us prefer traveling as much as possible via public transit (Italian trains are great) and others use car rental largely for countryside exploration. Still, you're not allowed to just rock into many small villages in one; you park outside of them and walk to take a bus to the centers. How much driving have you done outside of the U.S?

travel agencies that include flights and housing?

To be honest, I don't know as a lot of posters here use flight/hotel packages. To be honest, what with air travel being rather a mess right now, I wouldn't want to book a flight through ANY third party: if something goes wrong, you want to have booked directly with the airline. Anyway, most of us book our flights and hotels separately, although I've seen some rare mentions by folks who are members using Costco packages, although I don't know if those include flights.

Love the tourist attractions but also want to see other sides of
Italy.

How much time will you have for this trip, and what time of the year are you planning to go? You've not yet seen any "tourist attractions" in Italy yet, correct? They may be ALL you have time for on this first adventure. Many of Italy's were not originally built for tourism, and are far, far older than anything you can see in the U.S. so I hesitate to even lump them into that category. In many cases, seeing "other sides" is a small matter of wandering into the side streets and keeping one's eyes open.

Important question: what are you interested in seeing beside beaches...and "everything" is not an answer! HA! It's a big country, and only you can choose the places which best fit your interests. As well, one person's "gem" might be another''s snooze. Suggestion? Go to your library and check out some guidebooks. Buy one or two at the bookstore. Spend some time with them and start making notes about the places that call to you. Then it'll be a matter of drilling down to what you can realistically do with the time/money you have to work with. Keep in mind that every accommodation/location move eats time.

The classic first-timer's trip is what I call the Holy Trinity: Rome, Florence and Venice. They are all different; all 3 offer a lot to do; public transit between them is easy and frequent; they're all very walkable; the hospitality industry is well used to English speakers; day trips to a number of smaller locations are easily done from all 3 cities. It's a good way to get an idea how things work.

Just starting a conversation here! What more can you tell us that might help with your planning?

Additionally, you'd posted this in the France forum in regards to a desire for an "inclusive travel package".

I am looking for one that includes travel and lodging. That is the
biggest stressor of trips for me!

You might consider a tour? Maybe a Rick Steve's tour? Those take care of your hotel reservations + transport from place-to-place + some sightseeing tickets and guides + walking tours + some meals. There are a host of different options for Italy, including "My Way" tours which handle place-to-place transport + hotels but not sightseeing tickets, human guides or any meals. In both cases, you book your flights separately, on your own. Take a look?

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy

Are you going by yourself or with a partner? What are your interests? Over 35 years, we’ve been to Italy 3 times with the last 2 since I retired and our next trip in October will be our first time to Rome. My wife doesn’t like a lot of crowds, no interest in shopping nor spending too much time in museums, churches or art galleries and we like hiking and eating local food & wine so that influences our trips.
Watch as many travel shows as you can, including Rick Steves on PBS, CNN’s Stanley Tucci, numerous cooking & travel shows on a TV channel from Ontario TLN that concentrates on an Italian audience. Read a few books and see some old films set in Italy which could be historical, crime, travel or romance. Read travel magazines such as Condé Nast traveller although I find it to be over our budget but can get an idea.
Hidden gems by definition implies off the general, first-time tourist circuits and takes time and effort to get there and how much time will you spend there?
Memorable excursions are often those that didn’t necessarily go as planned but ended up being good for various reason. Learn some basic Italian and there is a link on RS to a 60 minute YouTube that covers some basic Italian. Don’t expect nor look for American food nor served in the same order. Don’t look for the least cost food in a tourist area. Hidden gems are often found a couple of blocks away from the touristy areas when you let yourself get lost. It may be nice to sit at a table looking over the main piazza or tourist attraction but you will pay for the privilege. We used the price of an Aperol Spritzer which we enjoyed as an indicator in Naples, Capri and Amalfi coast on our last trip.
Don’t let this turn you off. Get out there and go with the flow.
ps On our trips, a number of our rooms have been up stairs. Once, in Florence, it was on the 4th floor with narrow stairs and no elevator. Unless you stay in a more upscale hotel, most places will not have an elevator and probably no AC.

You skimped on the travel shows, also watch Rudy Maxa and Samantha Brown and Burt Wolf and Alex Polizzi.

You will find plenty of suggestions on this forum, but they may not turn up if you search on "hidden gems."

For example, here's a few past topics I could find quickly by searching on different terms for the same thing.

Unusual ideas for Rome:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/unusual-ideas-for-rome

8 Days in Rome --- Off the Beaten Path Recommendations:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/8-days-in-rome-off-the-beaten-path-recommendations

lesser-known things in Florence:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/lesser-known-things-in-florence

Looking for off the beaten path ideas for Venice:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/looking-for-off-the-beaten-path-ideas-for-venice

What special unique place do most tourists overlook in Venice?
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/what-special-unique-place-do-most-tourists-overlook-in-venice

Wow! Thanks everyone for the numerous tips and advice! I am a very much go with the flow type of traveler but also want to have some type of “plan” with knowing what to visit. I have never been to any part of Europe and underestimated the amount of work that goes into traveling to another country haha. I appreciate all of the advice everyone has given! I wasn’t aware that the train is the main part of transportation so I will definitely be using that instead of renting a car. I love to eat, I am most excited about experiencing the food and wine! I have heard that Tuscany is known for that. I love to hike, shop, sight see, experience the culture(cooking class maybe?), I am pretty much open to anything! I have seen the tour packages but want to lean towards spontaneous activities and not being tied down to a schedule. But it is definitely helpful to see the “heart of Italy”!

So this is your first "big" trip outside the US? My best advice is to start at the beginning. Get a copy of Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door. This is an easy to read, easy to follow, guide to going abroad. What to expect, how to plan, and lots of do' and don'ts that are invaluable for travelers, both first-timers and not-so-first-timers.

I am a very much go with the flow type of traveler but also want to
have some type of “plan” with knowing what to visit.

If traveling during high season, I'd strongly advise advance accommodation reservations. As well, some of the notable attractions require advance (sometimes WELL in advance) timed-entry reservations for crowd control. For trips using the "fast" trains (train travel is its own topic) booking tickets ahead of time can often provide some nice cost savings. Lots to read up on but all worth the effort!

Zoey we took our very first European trip to Italy with RS Tour in 2014 and now after six tours we have to recommend you consider them. Our experience is, the only thing you need organize yourself is your flights to and from and how many days early you go. I have friends who try to duplicate our trips on their own and ended up spending 50%+ more. I believe his trips give you a great experience in the normal “have to experience” places and some of the hidden gems. Full time guides can’t be beat. Plus RS group can help you sort out those flights and any other issues.
Heading out to Sicily in October for trip 7.

I agree that an RS tour would be a good option if you're unfamiliar with how to deal with European logistics. For your first time, there would be a lot to learn that would reduce the time you have to enjoy things. RS makes it very efficient and there is plenty of free time in their itineraries for you to explore on your own. They are not hand-holding tours, so they encourage you to learn skills for traveling independently. Hidden gems are hard to find (its on the name) if you dont know the basics of getting around,

Reacting to the writer who indicated that friends trying to duplicate her Rick Steves tour spent 50% more than the cost of her tour, I don't believe that is typical. After decades of independent travel throughout Europe, I am certain that in many cases travelers paying for a group tour could have seen the same sites, stayed at comparable accommodations, etc., for less money if they planned and organized their own trip. I'm not saying group tours are a bad value. There is value in the ease, convenience, and confidence that comes from having someone else research, plan, and organize a trip. It's just not necessarily less expensive. And it is a different experience.

I'll disagree as well that going it independently would cost 50% more. I know we can do 9 days or 13 days or whatever in Italy less expensively than an RS tour but we also choose to do things a bit differently, such as foregoing a lot of guide services in favor of our own research. There are also group activities on some of the tours which don't appeal, and those can occur en-route to the next destination so it's not possible to stay behind to sightsee on our own. LOL, late group dinners wouldn't do it for us either (we skip lunch).

That said, a RS My Way tour, as long as the itinerary appeals, may offer the sort of extra flexibility to sightsee when/what/how you prefer but have your hotels and place-to-place transit covered. Just understand that going it independently involves quite a bit of research: if unwilling to put in the time/effort, then I think a tour is your best choice.

Reinforcing Anita’s comment, tours will generally cost more, partly because the accommodation must consistently meet a certain level and accommodate numerous repeat groups. Once you’ve made the decision to take the tour and paid your money you should expect to have a trouble free trip or the tour leader will sort out any problems. They let you relax and not stress about where to sleep or eat.
I’ve gone from travelling around Europe in 1972 by 2nd hand VW bug camping with my fiancée in a pup tent for 5 months on budget of about $10 per day and if we travelled far, the gas cost would eat most for that budget. This October, we’re going for 3 weeks in Northern Italy and for the first time, signed up for a 1 week what is effectively a seniors walking trip in Umbria (typically 8 to 10 km per day) before doing our own 2 weeks in the lakes area. The trip accommodation is to a higher standard than we would and have booked for the rest of our trip. My accommodation costs have increased as we aged as I no longer want to carry one or 2 bags approx 35 pounds each, up 4 to 5 flights which I did in the old part of Florence in 2012 and so I check for an elevator and we must have an ensuite bathroom. I’ve booked our upcoming accommodation and it averages $Can150/ night, most include an Italian breakfast. Note that on a guided tour, you also have to cover the cost of the tour leader, salary, room and food. There are lots of tours at all levels and for all types of experiences.
So you must look at cost v. benefits. You make your decision, pay your money and take your chances.
We enjoy travelling and I hope that you will too.

I like the feel of the itinerary of the RS My Way 13 Day Tour, especially since this is your first trip to Italy and indeed Europe. Your days are truly your own so it would be possible to book a cooking class or a special tour. I agree with others that taking the stress of accommodations and travel arrangements out of the planning for this first trip is an excellent choice. This particular tour hits a good mix of what Italy can offer, between the big three, Lake Como and 5 Terre. Seems a lovely way to initiate yourself.
I no longer do organized tours of this type, but when I first started international travel, they are what I did exclusively- Ireland, New Zealand, Yugoslavia (at the time), England. Educational in more ways than one.
Let the stays dictate your research as to what you might be most interested in doing. Granted, you aren’t free to stay a bit longer or a bit less, but the overview will be very satisfying.
You can always go a few days earlier-get over jet lag on your own- and stay a few days after.
Whatever your decision-enjoy!

I think the My Way tour would simplify your life and you could focus on the sights in those places, but be aware that Rick's organization does not make airline reservations and you have to get to and from the airport on your own(other tours would refer to that as "airport transfers")

Thinking back to my first European adventure in 2014, I didn't have to search for anything hidden because everything was a gem. France or Italy, just wandering down the street will be full of marvels because it will be different than anything you've ever seen or experienced. Florence was one of our first stops and we didn't even bother with the museums because wandering the streets was enough.

Like others, for newbies I highly recommend the Rick Steves' 'Europe Through the Back Door.' https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/europe-through-the-back-door.

Also available on amazon.com in Kindle format. For some reason, RS doesn't sell the Kindle format.

If you have 2-3 weeks I recommend the My Way tour of Italy if the itinery suits you - large cities and small towns - since the centrally located hotels (including breakfasts) and in-country transport is provided. There is a tour Manager but no Guide so you choose (and reserve entrance time) for those activities that interest you. We loved this tour in 2016 and then chose a My Way tour of Spain in 2019 and planning for My Way France in 2023 since there is just enough structure around it, yet our choice for daily sites. Add on a few days at the start and a few at the end to further personalize. You have plenty of time to do the advance research that will make your trip just what you want it to be - start with the biggies and fill in with the hidden gems. Enjoy!