It is so much fun! But I’m starting to become tired and need a break....but I can’t stop myself. I have 7.5 months to go! LOL! I have all the major items booked; air, hotels, all tours.
I find myself making a list of everything I need to purchase, take, do. Thankfully I remember quite a bit from last time, but still.
When do you all step back and just live life without thinking of Italy? Right now I’m researching restaurants.
Now it the perfect time to bone up on your language skills, enjoy!
I start planning next year while on the plane this year. Me too, I have every reservation except one plane ticket and 3 train tickets I'll need once the June/July schedule comes out. My packing list hasn't changed in the past 17 years - it goes with me, gets thrown out, and new stuff comes home. My favorite linen shirt store in Sorrento greets me by name. Hotels send me messages letting me know that my favorite room has been set aside for me. And I check in on this site pretty much every day to either answer questions, add my input or refresh my own dreams. My motto: I deserve this!
Robert, pls what is the name of your favorite shirt store- and any other favorite shops. We will be there late April.
Thanks!
"I deserve this!"
Robert, words to live by!
"When do you all step back and just live life without thinking of -->travel<--- (instead of Italy, lol)?"
And, the answer is hardly ever. I'm not able to plan a trip this year as we are moving and still looking for a house/getting this one ready to sell, etc BUT that is not stopping one part of my brain from formulating a back up plan for late Fall/early Winter. I am NOT allowing myself to book anything. Really, I'm not. No. Step back from the keyboard Pam!! Gaaaahhhhh!!!!
Pam - give into temptation! Come on, Pam. You know you're drooling every time you hear the word "Italy." Italy. Italy. Italy. Sometimes I think we should all gather someplace in Italy and share a good laugh!
For me, I "just live life" while thinking of Italy (as well as other destinations). For a specific trip I plan in earnest once we've purchased tickets for the international flight. The rest of the year I regularly read this Forum, check out books of interest from the library, and pencil out future itineraries. I also devote tme to relationships with family and friends, volunteering, and numerous hobbies. (Retirememt certainly provides time that was at a premium when I worked!) I guess one might say that travel planning is just a part of my "normal" life!
Pat - Try Vanity Savarese E Celentano. It's on Via S. Cesareo #74, which is the main shopping street in the old town. Decent place across the street for lunch or a drink. The owner also has another shop down the same street on the right. Not cheap, but worth every euro!
My biggest problem with them - now I have nothing to wear during the winter! 99% of my closet is linen shirts (at 2 or 3 a year for the past well over a dozen years - you do the math, just don't tell me the number!) BUT, I deserve this! And so do you.
The planning stages--maybe 9 months out till day of departure--are thrilling. Once you've bought the air, then you can say 'I'm going!'. That's huge. I can dream every day, and it keeps a smile on my face.
I've honed my planning organizational skills over 3 trips with the help of Excel. Tabs for logistics, tabs for attractions, tabs for restaurants, tabs for packing, all with each day as a structure. What it does is keeps one in check from planning too much, but oddly I fire in on absolute reservations somewhat infrequently. I love having possibilities to do each day, but not be committed to it.
Certainly, for places like St. Peter's or the Uffizi, you make a res. I only travel off or shoulder season, so I have the luxury of day-planning wise, flying kinda by the seat of my pants. Oh, I do buy my Trenitalia tickets way in advance to get as much as a 65% discount on fares. That's worth the risk to me.
I'm with Pam --- basically never stop thinking about Italy.
Robert... how do I pick your brains about our trip to the Amalfi coast?? My husband & I are tacking on a little side trip to Italy before going to Barcelona to meet up with friends. We've booked our flights... into Rome on Sept 9th and need to fly (probably from Naples to Barcelona on Sept 15th). Thought about travelling from Rome to Sorrento on Sept 10th for 2 nights (second day do day trip to Capri) and then make our way to Amalfi for two nights (visiting Positano on the way & Ravello next day). Back to Naples on Sept 14 hike Vesuvius & see Herculaneum. Early morning flight to Barcelona. We have no experience... just what we are picking up on this site. Wondering if the experts here have any feedback!!
I just read this after I posted questions for planning my trip in 3 years. So you know I am with you. So much can happen in that time but you got to have a dream.
akjjjpoter - sent you 2 private messages. love having my brain picked!
