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Italy in March or May?
Posted on 7/17/18 at 10:43 am
Posted on 7/17/18 at 10:43 am
Going to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) for 2 weeks in 2019 for honeymoon after getting married in early March.
Trying to decide...go in early March directly after wedding? Or wait until May (next time we are available)?
Seems like the weather in March may actually be a benefit as there are fewer crowds and either way we're not planning on lying on the beach or hiking a Cinque Terre trail.
What does the Travel board say?
Trying to decide...go in early March directly after wedding? Or wait until May (next time we are available)?
Seems like the weather in March may actually be a benefit as there are fewer crowds and either way we're not planning on lying on the beach or hiking a Cinque Terre trail.
What does the Travel board say?
This post was edited on 7/17/18 at 10:44 am
Posted on 7/17/18 at 10:47 am to Big_Sur
March...before the tourist season starts and the hot weather sets in...remember it might be cold or cool but there will be hardly any toursit
Posted on 7/17/18 at 10:53 am to Big_Sur
Just a note, Europe's great cities are very rarely ever devoid of tourists/crowds. The Vatican, Louvre, St. Mark's, etc... pretty much whenever you go there will be lines and tourists. It's sort of like Disney, there is busy season and then really, really busy season.
However, was in Venice in late May and although a little warm, found the weather delightful. Plus, at that time of year you have daylight until almost 9 pm. Something to consider is it will be darker earlier in March.
However, was in Venice in late May and although a little warm, found the weather delightful. Plus, at that time of year you have daylight until almost 9 pm. Something to consider is it will be darker earlier in March.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 10:56 am to Big_Sur
We went in April last year. You had to start the days with a light jacket, but it was very pleasant by noon.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 11:02 am to Big_Sur
We went end of April/First week of May, the weather was beautiful. Was warm then, but not dying hot. I wouldn't go much later than first of may. Something to consider, May 1st is a national holiday in Italy, Primo Maggio. Most of the museums will be closed, but there are free concerts/festivals that you can attend on that day.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 11:04 am to Big_Sur
I was there this past May and the weather was fantastic. Slightly warm but not hot at all. Crowd wasn't so bad either.
My personal magic number for the perfect weather is 75 degrees, and that's what I got in mid-may.
My personal magic number for the perfect weather is 75 degrees, and that's what I got in mid-may.
This post was edited on 7/17/18 at 11:10 am
Posted on 7/17/18 at 11:17 am to Big_Sur
Let's see, Easter 2019 is 4/21, so by going in March you'll miss the holiday crowds in Rome (which are crazy big). I'd go in March, personally...the weather will be on the cooler side, which is my preference for long days of touring. Spring foods will be available by then (new peas, fava beans, spring greens).
I've visited Italy 4-5 times in the late winter or very early spring (Mardi Gras holidays) over the past 12 or so years and always had a great time. Fewer tourists, smaller crowds, lower prices for lodgings.
I've visited Italy 4-5 times in the late winter or very early spring (Mardi Gras holidays) over the past 12 or so years and always had a great time. Fewer tourists, smaller crowds, lower prices for lodgings.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 11:36 am to Big_Sur
quote:
Going to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice) for 2 weeks
Nice. Congrats on the upcoming nuptials
quote:
either way we're not planning on lying on the beach or hiking a Cinque Terre trail.
I honestly hate to interject myself into other people's plans, but may I ask why? Seriously, not trying to be a snob, but if you're going to spend two weeks in Italy, I'd highly recommend not spending all of it in the big cities. Rome and Florence are great (I'm not as big a fan of Venice), but IMO there is so much more to experience outside of the metropolitan areas.
Are ya'll big museum/art types? That's the only way I could encourage spending two weeks in just those three cities.
Of course, I'm saying all of this assuming that this is ya'lls first time to Italy. If not, I'll just shut up.
I vote May, BTW. Especially if ya'll can go early-to-mid May.
This post was edited on 7/17/18 at 11:38 am
Posted on 7/17/18 at 11:52 am to UGATiger26
Well to be fair, it’s not like Cinque Terre is devoid of tourists. They’re having major problems with the influx of tourists to the area.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 11:57 am to AbitaFan08
quote:
Well to be fair, it’s not like Cinque Terre is devoid of tourists. They’re having major problems with the influx of tourists to the area.
Absolutely. Cinque Terre isn't necessarily what I had in mind though.
I was thinking more along the lines of spending some time in the Umbrian and/or Tuscan countryside as well as the Amalfi Coast (since it's their honeymoon).
This post was edited on 7/17/18 at 11:58 am
Posted on 7/17/18 at 12:15 pm to Big_Sur
What time in May? I'd go early may over March but I'd go March over late May.
Couple of things to also consider, March should be considerably cheaper. Good chance of getting better flights and hotels may be 40% off from late May prices. Could easily save $2000 in 2 weeks, maybe $3000 just there. But I've gotten sub $500 flights in May/ June to Europe too.
Also, NOW is not too late to book hotels or Airbnb in either. I rent 4 vacation rentals and have over 30 weeks reserved for 2019 already. The best reasonably priced places fill up fast.
What I'm talking about is getting that prime Apt with a huge balcony overlooking the water somewhere. Not a lot of those.
Couple of things to also consider, March should be considerably cheaper. Good chance of getting better flights and hotels may be 40% off from late May prices. Could easily save $2000 in 2 weeks, maybe $3000 just there. But I've gotten sub $500 flights in May/ June to Europe too.
Also, NOW is not too late to book hotels or Airbnb in either. I rent 4 vacation rentals and have over 30 weeks reserved for 2019 already. The best reasonably priced places fill up fast.
What I'm talking about is getting that prime Apt with a huge balcony overlooking the water somewhere. Not a lot of those.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:17 pm to Big_Sur
Carnival (Mardi Gras) in Venice is March 5th, FYI
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:17 pm to UGATiger26
Amalfi gets WAY too much attention on this board. It's lovely, but the Italian boot has a ridiculous amount of lovely coastline. The Sorrentine peninsula is just one bit, dunno why everyone's so fixated on it.
Go to Puglia....loads of coastline, interesting landscape, etc. Bari is a cool place, and you can take a ferry to Dubrovnik, or to Greece.
Or Basilicata, which is still mostly outside the realm of mass tourism. Maratea is lovely, with mountains meeting the sea & a Christ the Redeemer statue like Rio's on a mountaintop. Also, the inland city of Matera is a fascinating place, a UNESCO world heritage site & the 2019 "euro city of culture".....one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, built atop a network of caves occupied since the Paleolithic (old stone age). Loads of crazy good hiking with spectacular views, yet few US tourists.
Go to Puglia....loads of coastline, interesting landscape, etc. Bari is a cool place, and you can take a ferry to Dubrovnik, or to Greece.
Or Basilicata, which is still mostly outside the realm of mass tourism. Maratea is lovely, with mountains meeting the sea & a Christ the Redeemer statue like Rio's on a mountaintop. Also, the inland city of Matera is a fascinating place, a UNESCO world heritage site & the 2019 "euro city of culture".....one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, built atop a network of caves occupied since the Paleolithic (old stone age). Loads of crazy good hiking with spectacular views, yet few US tourists.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:18 pm to Big_Sur
I went during Easter. Venice and cinque terre was very nice. Very chill and quiet. Florence and Rome was a zoo. I’m not sure if it’s bc it’s always a zoo or bc it’s Easter time.
Weather was fantastic. It got very hot in Rome though.
Weather was fantastic. It got very hot in Rome though.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 1:58 pm to Big_Sur
I'm a May guy. Weather is spectacular and most things are blooming.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 2:08 pm to 337tigergirl
quote:
I went during Easter. Venice and cinque terre was very nice. Very chill and quiet. Florence and Rome was a zoo. I’m not sure if it’s bc it’s always a zoo or bc it’s Easter time.
Easter is generally considered the single worst weekend to be in Rome. Packed to the gills
Posted on 7/17/18 at 3:01 pm to Big_Sur
If you like air conditioning while you sleep don't go in May. Most hotels don't turn on A/C until June 1st. And even when it is on it's barely cool.
My daughter and I were in Italy from May 28th to June 8th. She is accustomed to sleeping with her a/c set to 72. Let's just say she suffered on this trip!
My daughter and I were in Italy from May 28th to June 8th. She is accustomed to sleeping with her a/c set to 72. Let's just say she suffered on this trip!
Posted on 7/17/18 at 5:05 pm to ProudLSUMom
quote:
If you like air conditioning while you sleep don't go in May. Most hotels don't turn on A/C until June 1st. And even when it is on it's barely cool. My daughter and I were in Italy from May 28th to June 8th. She is accustomed to sleeping with her a/c set to 72. Let's just say she suffered on this trip!
I was in Rome and Florence this June, both places didn't have A/C and I was very comfortable at night. In Rome, we simply had a fan in the window. In Florence, its still cool up in those mountains in early June.
And I am hot natured.
Posted on 7/17/18 at 5:42 pm to Big_Sur
We were in Italy this year for the last week in March and the first week in April and it was beautiful. We only saw rain for one day out of 14. It was a little cool at times but the weather was near perfect. Florence on Easter weekend was pretty crowded but otherwise we avoided the summer tourist crowds.
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