Planning your first vacation in Italy? Well, then you'll first want to find a dream villa in Italy with us here at Easy Reserve. Secondly, you'll want to avoid the main traps for first-time visitors to Italy so that you can really make the most of your trip. Here are our top tips for planning a perfect first escape to Italy...
Choose Your Base Wisely
Italy is a diverse place with an infinite amount of things to see and do. While it is not the largest country in the world and it is actually relatively easy to travel from one place to another in the space of a few hours, you just cannot fit everything into one trip. And, in fact, you shouldn't try to fit everything in.
While you might choose to spend a few days or a week in one location and a similar amount of time in another, we highly recommend not trying to do to much.
We see lots of people talking about spending a couple of days in Rome and a couple in Florence and a couple in Venice or something similar. You can certainly do that but that's not really making the most of your time in Italy: it's trying to jam everything in as this Business Insider travel writer learned.
Instead of having to pack up every time you've gotten a taste for a place, do as the Italians do, slow down, relax, enjoy good food and wine, and have the energy and bandwidth to actually take in what you're seeing.
Similarly: Rome Wasn't Built in a Day...
...and it can't be all be seen in one day either.
While you might base yourself in the countryside in a villa in Tuscany, you can still plan a day-trip to Florence or Rome or any number of famous cities or pretty towns and get a little sample of a place. However, again, if you want to actually enjoy yourself and not spend the visit dashing around madly, we recommend carefully choosing just a few activities and attractions.
Prioritise what you most want to see or do, consider distances, planning meals and stops for coffee and/or gelato in between stops, and really spend time enjoying the things that you can fit in.
Consider The Time Of Year Carefully
The timing of your trip in Italy can really make or break your vacation so carefully consider when you are travelling.
Summer
Ideal for days by the pool and on the beach but if you want sun not soaring temperatures then you might think about avoiding July and August. Basing yourself in a mountain resort or by the sea will also mean that temperatures don't get as high. For serious sun-worshippers, of course, this is less of a concern. May, June, or even September trips can offer similar but cooler weather conditions depending on the location.
This is the busiest time of year to travel but it is also the buzziest. If you love summer excitement, this will suit you. If you don't care for crowds, you can still travel at this time of the year but may want to plan strategically by doing things such as seeking out less touristy areas or heading to the beach earlier or later in the day.
Spring
Many parts of Italy, especially further north will take time to warm up in early spring and showers are not uncommon. However, crowds will be thinner and prices will be lower than in summer. Later into the season, it may even get warm enough - especially in some southern areas - for seaside escapes and early summer sun holidays.
Spring is, however, an excellent time to see cities and to hike and explore. Plenty of ski resorts will also still be up-and-running early in the season. So, if you like to get active or you want to enjoy major attractions without dealing with high season queues, it is a good time to travel.
Winter
Other than around Christmas and other holidays, winter is probably the quietest time of year, with the smallest possible queues and crowds for many destinations so for those with bucket lists to tackle, it's a great time to visit. For those looking to enjoy festive cheer and pretty locations made even more charming by lights, decorations, and Christmas markets, meanwhile, it might be worth considering spending the Holidays themselves in Italy.
Skiing and other winter sports make plenty of mountain destinations extra-desirable at this time of the year but you can also book a holiday rental in Milan and other cities and still plan skiing day-trips to resorts.
Autumn
Early Autumn is considered the “shoulder season” and can sometimes be almost as busy in some destinations as summer. However, things do grow quieter and calmer as the season goes on. For those looking to get out and see the country, do activities, or thoroughly explore cities the milder weather is ideal but higher temperatures in early September mean that you can basically have all of the best parts of a summer trip at this time of the year.
For foodies, there is never really a bad time to visit but fall and harvest season means that there is a particular abundance of delicious things to devour at this time of the year...
Breathe, Relax, and Enjoy
Embrace the dolce far niente (sweetness of doing nothing) and take a cue from locals by slowing down. You won't be able to see and do everything, as we noted, but try and really enjoy what you are doing, what you are seeing, what you are eating and drinking – that's the joy of a vacation in Italy!