[Idyllchat] Italy '08

[Bruno Cesarone]

Having spent two weeks in Italy (Rome and tuscany) this past May, I am, as I write this, planning to spend a month in Italy next May.
Eight of us shared a beautiful Villa just outside of Montecatini and I found that prices this time around (I go to Italy at least once a year) were  extremely reasonable.  We did find two wonderful Trattoria's nearby and had incredible  fresh, regional food in addition to eating at various other restaurants on our daily trips throughout the area.
The surprise on this trip was that we had multi-course meals with wine throughout (for eight people) and the bill was never higher than 150 EURO!  Even in Rome our meals were incredible and not expensive.  
Having been to Italy many times, I am always surprised to find that "off the beaten track" there are still many wonderful places to eat and to taste the local color in addition to the fine food.
Having spent so much time in Italy, and having spent as much as $400.00 on dinner for two at some of the well known and advertised "must do" restaurants,  I still reccomend the little known, out of the way family owned restaurants and trattoria's (just ask a local).  Here you will experience great food and wonderful people. What a great way to extend your stay with the money saved, and to get to experience the "real Italy". 
Bruno Cesarone  
  
 
 
Yes, the dollar is really bad.  But I've been to Venice eight times now, and started collecting those watches with different colored bands and fancy milliflori flowers around the face on my first visit. Back then I had set my limit at 12 to 15 euros each.  This past summer I  found the watches were still mostly 12 to 15 euros.  

I've also noticed that the bars and veggie stands haven't raised their prices.  Still can get a Spritz for 2.50 euros, cappuchini for 2.50 euros, and a trametzini (little sandwich) for 1.60 euros.  The street markets each week still have the same prices as 4-7 years ago.  The little neighborhood tratoria still have the same prices as before.

You said:  "...the working Italians are reaping no benefits from the pricy Euro."  It's not a pricy Euro, it's the bad American dollar.  The Euro is still good!!

Once you get to Italy with your Euros (that you've already converted from dollars in the states), you'll not need to worry about the bad dollar.  Go and enjoy, and chalk it up to another great vacation experience :-))

If you haven't yet been to Venice, I urge you to go next year.  There are many options for an economical stay there.  Just don't go to the upscale restaurants (try neighborhood places), or stay at expensive hotels (if not with Untours) and expensive tourist shopping districts.

Lynanne
Visit my Blog at www.lynanneg.blogspot.com
  _____  

From: MICHAEL CONCORDIA
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 9:23 PM
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Subject: [Idyllchat] Italy '08


Does anyone have any ideas how to get around the inflated Euro, or the 
deflated dollar, however you prefer to look at it.
I don't think I'm doing Italy next year ,or in the near future ,because of 
the basically 30%+ "tax".
Our family has been going for the past 8 years but this last trip ,in '07, 
was an eye opener.
I guess we are heading back to the pre 1950's when only the wealthy traveled 
overseas.
What a shame. The sad thing is that the working Italians are reaping no 
benefits from the pricy Euro.
Mike C. 

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