Recommendations to Italy and France
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In 2 months it would mark the end of one phase of my life and before I start on the next, I plan to backpack to Italy and France for about 2 months. My main focus is Italy covering practically everywhere and anywhere that is of interest. Besides the main tourist hotspots of Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan etc, I wanna cover Naples, Sicily and other less popular Southern Italian places.
Any sites that is a must see?
Something that is less common perhaps?
Is Sardinia worth visiting?
How about Malta & San Marino?
Anyone with experience with hiking Cinque Terre and/or Mt. Etna? Capri?
As for France.. it would be a smaller focus. Mainly making my way by rail from Italy into France. Probably covering Cote d'Azur, Provence and slowing making my way to Paris to fly back to SG. Any must-sees?
I'm trying to go as shoestring as possible. But if it is something really so unforgetable that I have to splurge, do let me know anyway.
Thanks peeps for any travel experience shared!!
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Sorry Gacky
Maybe the rest can help you but I have not been to any of those places myself so I can't comment
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Originally posted by elindra:
Sorry Gacky
Maybe the rest can help you but I have not been to any of those places myself so I can't comment
It is ok..i'm actually trying my luck to solicit advice. lol.. I have read Lonely Planets and online forums.. so I have done quite a bit of homework. I'm just hoping to get a Singaporean perspective.. something extra.
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It's always my dream to backpack europe like tat~~~ just that mine is on a larger scale...
Though I haven been there b4 >___>
So far I think LF went over there b4 eh...?
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Originally posted by ^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~:
It's always my dream to backpack europe like tat~~~ just that mine is on a larger scale...
Though I haven been there b4 >___>
So far I think LF went over there b4 eh...?
I also want large scale.. but as a student.. I don't have a lot of money. I'm fully financing myself. Took over a year to save up. No financial help from parents.
Time wise.. can't be too long or else jeopadize my employability.
I once met an Australian guy in Turkey. He got burnt out by his job and so he quit to travel the world for one entire year. At that time when I met him.. he was already 9mths into it. Amazing!! A pipedream for me.. lol.. but I'm not complaining about 2 mths though. lol..
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i went to rome-pisa-florence-venice niah.. went milan a couple years ago..
naple and the south is nice accordingly to the local there..
u can opt for bed&breakfast or hostel bed (which is cheap)..
food is expensive there..
remember, stand by the bar drink kopi is about euro1.20 and if u sit down on their chair u pay euro3.50 .. i learnt my lesson..! :(
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for france i went to paris and cannes only.. was at work at cannes, during the weekend, we drove to porto fino (ie south italy) and head to milan. the seafood was fresh and excellent.
in paris, i dun enjoy much, pple too hao lian..,just being there to look around do the "i have been to effel tower" thingy lor...
it was cold then during january..
too air france, bad bad service/atitude...(except one old lady i believe is their head air stewardess which is nice).
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btw, their euroRail is very very and unbelievable PUNCTUAL.. 5pm leaves mean it moves off at 5pm.. u run scream oso no use. it will not wait for u.. i saw many pple running after train...muahahaha...and oops, we did ALMOST ONCE FROM barcelona to madrid.. my friend was too slow running... it nearly cost us $250 each :(
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You didn't go to The Lourve when you're in France?
That is on my To Do list :x
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Thx Lotus.. very useful tips..
Definitely must visit the LOurve.. Must see that Mona Lisa..
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Originally posted by Gackt247:
Thx Lotus.. very useful tips..
Definitely must visit the LOurve.. Must see that Mona Lisa..
Don't get your hopes up too high though, it's actually a small painting no bigger than your torso. My friend was on exchange in Paris, so she can recommend places to eat.
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May2011, planning Europe backpack, no experience, any travel buddy welcome, open to any country, M/45/ch
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What about Monaco? And yes, see Naples before Vesuvius smothers it.
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Ooh, hope I'm not weighing in too late here.
Okay, DEFINITELY do not miss Capri. The scenery's fantastic, and next to the Grotto Azzuro is Ristorante Addo Ricco - when they say the Frutti Di Mare is their speciality, they're not kidding:
and this is the view from your table:
Bikini girls come as standard equipment.
In Rome, St Peter's Basilica is a no-brainer, but head straight for the Sistine Chapel first because it closes early. The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are nice, and the Spanish steps are good for hanging out. As for the Colosseum, ehh, take it or leave it.
Venice is great for just wandering around. If you're at Piazza San Marco, go up the bell tower - the view's pretty good:
Note two things, though:
1) You'll need to check you bag in before going up
2) The bell still works, and once every hour you'll find out how well it worksWhile you're in Venice, it's worth popping over to Murano on the water bus to check out their glass-blowing demonstrations.
Speaking of buses, if you're coming in from the airport, the last time I checked, a boat trip in will cost you 95 Euros, and a bus trip will cost you 10 Euros. Do the math.
OK, as for Paris, going down the Champs Elysees in the evening is a must-do, probably best heading towards the Arc de Triomphe from the La Defence direction. If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower, it's best to book lunch at 58 Tour Eiffel (Altitude 95 in old money) because you'll get to skip the queue and go right up.
If you want to go to Notre Dame, get there early - the queue to go up to the top fills up pretty damn quickly. It's not so bad for the Catacombs, although you shouldn't drag your feet there either. The Pompidou Centre looks cool, but you'll really have to try your luck to see what they happen to be displaying at the time. Not a big fan of the Lourve - skipped queueing up to see the Mona Lisa and I don't feel any poorer for it. Take a few hours to stop at a classic cafe (maybe near Sacre Coeur/Moulin Rogue), have a coffee or ten and just watch everyone go by.
Anyway, that's just a few random thoughts off the top of my head. Will post more if I think of anything.