By: Vince Todaro, Travel Consultant
For my first time visiting Italy, we decided to go on the Italy Bellissimo with Trafalgar tour. My wife and I took our oldest son as a memorable graduation gift, and we are so glad that we did!
For my first time visiting Italy, we decided to go on the Italy Bellissimo with Trafalgar tour. My wife and I took our oldest son as a memorable graduation gift, and we are so glad that we did!
Italians have certainly mastered the art of living- family values, spectacular food and a good dose of summer sun. When vacationing in Italy, travelers expect to be surrounded by historical cities, picturesque mountains and endless attractions and Italy does not disappoint. There are 20 different regions in Italy, and each specializes in something different to see and experience. If you’ve never been to Italy or you’re planning on exploring a new region, here are a few things you can expect on an Italy vacation.
My journey began as I met my daughter in London and flew into Milan for 2 nights before the tour started. We flew into the small airport in Milan, Linate, and took a short, relatively inexpensive taxi ride to our hotel, the Chateau Monfort – 5 star hotel, centrally located in Milan and within easy walking distance from the Duomo, Milan’s grand Cathedral.
A European vacation is generally one rich in cultural highlights, as many of the famous cities and landmarks in Europe have existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. A sightseeing tour of a city can take you to some of the world’s most famous landmarks– and it’s often not far to travel to another city with equally famous and historical significance. That’s not to mention the rich local culture and traditions that have often been observed and passed down for hundreds of years, and which you can experience firsthand.
Growing up, I always saw myself exploring Europe with a big backpack, ripped up sneakers, and multiple large paper maps. I had dreamed of the backpacking life that most 20-something-year-olds fantasize about. I had it all planned out, my limited budget would allow me to fly into one airport, walk, hitch hike, or find a cheap standing only train ticket to move onto my next city. For accommodations, I would find any hostel that seemed relatively safe and clutch my belongings tightly in my sleep so no one can steal anything if I happened to be able to fall asleep among the noise of however many other people were in that same room bunking with me. Plan b would have been to find the warmest, cleanest corner or steps to get a few hours of sleep in before I explored the city with all my belongings on my back.Continue reading