Hello- Heading there soon and starting to figure out what to pack! What do women typically wear at night in these areas for dinner, drinks, etc. Short dresses? Long dresses? Sun dresses? Skirts? Pants?
Also, shoe-wise at night. Would sandals be okay? (weather, walking and style-wise?)
Thanks!!
Venice and Cinque Terre are very different places. I'm just a guy so what do I know--but I would think the difference between the two places would make some difference in what is worn.
Cinque Terre is definitely more casual and you can do with any kind of sun dress or tank and pants, sandals for sure, there are million hills and stairs and heels would not be ideal!
Venice you can dress up a bit more but again, something more on the flat side for foot wear as the cobbles can be treacherous, you have to born and raised in italy apparently to be able to navigate the streets in heels!
Both places are mainly touristy so the dresscode can be anything, it's more in Rome, Florence and Milan you will feel the need to be chic. Wear what you like and take a pair of ballet flats and a sandal and you should be fine!
Nights were chilly in the late spring when we were in the CT, and it depends on what sort of restaurant you go to. We'd spent the days on the trails so we went to dinner at casual places in jeans and clean, tidy shirts and didn't feel out of place at all. There were a lot of other hikers around as dressed-down, or more, as we were. The fancier the place, the more you might want to adjust the wardrobe but it's a different animal than Venice.
Honestly, I didn't notice a 'dress code' much of anywhere we've been in Italy, and that includes Milan. Sure, a 5-star restaurant is going to demand a different sort of attire than a pizzeria, and a sightseer is going to have different demands on their feet and clothing than someone going to the office. It's all about what's normal and comfortable for you, and the locals really do not care. If you don't wear dresses at home (that would be me), don't wear them abroad. If you often do, then pack them.
Venice doesn't have the rounded ankle-twister cobbles; they are flatter paving stones:
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/venice-lamp-post-1635367.jpg
Sandals should be fine in May but you will also want shoes you can wear in the rain, just in case.
For going out in the evening, you will be fine in nice pants and top (with scarf if you like), but if you would rather wear a skirt that is nice too. Or a simple travel dress (short) with cardigan. Clothes are more tailored there so I wouldn't take a maxi-dress.
We spent a month there last October and the only time I wore a dress was to the opera. We went out for dinner a few times but to casual places so I wore long pants. For a nice restaurant I would wear a dress or skirt.
Theresa, I would be more partial to 5-inch spike heels, short skirts and lots of sequins. Don't worry about rain, since if there's water, the man you're with will cover your path with his cape. If he won't, then just turn him in for another more cooperative fellow.
Larry,
You are such a guy.
Pam
We spend such long days sight seeing that by evening we usually just freshen up put on a scarf and find a nice family type restaurant for dinner. By the time you get adjusted to the time change and the walking! you just want a glass of wine and a nice dinner that is casual! And I can't stress enough like the others the walking is hard in Italy!
I go for stylish, but cute, ankle high gore-tex lined hiking boots.
Judy, a scarf can work wonders, can't it? :O)
Very useful things, those.
Dress like you would normally, but take consideration the weather and shoes... as in, don't wear heels on cobble stone streets, etc. People tend to over think there appearance when traveling, IMO... you'll see people dressed in all different ways, even shorts and showing socks... in actuality, no one cares.
Yes scarf's are great! When you get to Rome you can by one on the first corner you hit! I told my friend that we are traveling with in a couple weeks, "don't pack a scarf" we will have one in five minutes! I also take a couple costume jewelry sets and that is all you need.
As you have posted questions for each place you are going, I think you need to look at your trip as a whole unless you are going to a very special event. Anywhere you go in Europe (short of the beach for swimming) you can really wear the same clothing. Just don't overpack, but bring items that can transition to almost any situation. There are some great packing lists out there, but I think if you wear what you feel the most comfortable in you should do fine... and by 'comfortable' I mean feeling good in your clothes as well as looking good. I definitely do not want to look like a frump when I am in Europe. Maybe no one else cares what I look like, but I do. I wear dresses or skirts most of the time. Plain colors, cute accessories and comfortable shoes (even if they are not too cute!)
I guess my point is that the CT is not Venice: there are a fair amount of tourists whose main purpose for being there is to hike the trails. We were among that group, and attired very much as we would be if hiking National Parks in the U.S. only without the cargo shorts which more than a few of our trail mates were wearing to dinner. Not dinner at very fancy places, for sure, but at the less upscale cafes.
The advice to make your wardrobe work for your entire trip is a good one, and what you pack can depend on your personal style and the sort of restaurants you intend to frequent during your trip. I wouldn't wear jeans to upscale restaurants at home but we tend to prefer more laid-back places so we pack for what's normal for us, and end up eating pasta in cafes where we fit right in.
We're hoping to do carry-on only, though I heard that they've made the maximum carry-on dimensions even smaller - tough to even find a suitcase that small!
Our problem is that we're going to a couple different climates - From Cinque Terre to Venice (similar, I would think), but then up to the Dolomites where it could still be cold with snow......
Thanks!
Theresa, I know that the light packing can be done. Last September and October, we went from Venice to the Dolomites to Lake Garda to Sicily to Tuscany to Rome for a little over a month and still had small carryons. We had a car in the Dolomites, Sicily and Tuscany and trains the rest. We had rain jackets and layers. 2 pairs of shoes each but I would have brought sandals (my Chacos) in retrospect. We don't get really dressed up a lot but planning is necessary so that all your clothes go together. The friends that we met in Sicily had just hiked the Camino and they had smaller backpacks each as well. We didn't get stinky or bored with each other's wardrobes. Too busy seeing the country.
I think if you stick to carry on that is the size of what Rick Steve's sells you will be fine. I only mention his luggage because his company has made sure they will work. International flights seem not to make a big deal out of the carry on. We have carried the same Eagle Creek carry on dimensions for years and a personal item. I have been offered to check for free domestically when the airline thinks the bins would get too full. It seem hard to do but you will be surprised how much you can fit in. I usually use a space bag from Zip lock for some thicker items and then put that on the bottom of my bag and then roll everything on top of that. Do a practice session to get all the bugs out. I only bring pants that I can get multiple tops to wear with.
I think what Kathy means is CT is very casual, lots of hikers and beach goers. I will primarily wear jeans, and casual but nice T's and Athletic shoes in the CT. Lots of hills to climb. And casual restaurants.
The Osprey Porter 46 is awesome... you can do it.
I think what Kathy means is CT is very casual, lots of hikers and beach goers. I will primarily wear jeans, and casual but nice T's and Athletic shoes in the CT. Lots of hills to climb. And casual restaurants.
Exactly what I meant, Judy! There are some upscale places but we didn't go to those as they're just not our style. Theresa, I would go with pants, and layers on top which can be added/removed as temperatures demand. That should work for the duration of your trip.
