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Original poster

Will the cost of holidaying in Italy frighten the Sh**t out of me?

16 replies

Coffeefacescrub · 12/01/2017 14:58

We are planning with another family to go to Italy for ten days this summer.
Flying into Rome, staying in air n b or camper on campsite along coast, then a bnb in Naples.

I am already scared by a) how busy everything seems b) how pricey!

Is this going to unfold as a horror story?

OP posts:
cheerup · 12/01/2017 17:38

Italy is not a cheap destination but doesn't have to be expensive either. Easy to eat well cheaply - panini and a beer or slice of pizza and for lunch, free beach, go for a stroll and aperitivo before self catering accommodation local ingredients based dinner rather than swishy beach club and dinner in a smart restaurant. Lots to spend on if you want to but equally possible to do it on a reasonable budget. I find we spend about the same as we would at home if we were doing similar things.

cluecu · 12/01/2017 20:21

I've visited quite a bit of italy in the last few years (amalfi coast, naples, rome, lake garda, venice, verona & milan) and was able to find reasonable drinks and meals everywhere tbh. Of course there were expensive options too but there was never not a cheaper option APART FROM CAPRI (but that was only a day trip and we had a portion of chips and small pasta between us).

Boats on garda are dear but trains and buses mega cheap and the gelato a couple of euros the wine similar...would go back in a heartbeat and i am a fairly frugal person in my normal life Smile

FannyUmbongo · 12/01/2017 20:23

Fill your case with mosquito repellent.

SJane45S · 12/01/2017 20:42

I've spent a lot of time in Italy & it's not Eastern European cheap but not more expensive than here and certainly a lot cheaper than Scandanavia. I assume you'll be self catering a lot & you'll be able to get really good bread, ham, cheese, pesto etc.
As Cluecu says, public transport is cheap. You can book trains online is advance and they are much much cheaper than the Uk!
Don't panic - just stick to the same kind of pattern as you would holidaying here and there's no rreason it should cost you the earth. And your itinerary sounds good (except Naples, I'm not keen!).

Original poster
Coffeefacescrub · 13/01/2017 08:45

Cluecu - where did you stay when you visited? What sort of places?

Are the mossies really that bad?

Thanks all!

OP posts:
MrsRolly · 13/01/2017 18:13

We stayed at a campsite called Camping Fabulous just outside Rome, bus stop right outside and brilliant facilities. If you can visit Ostio antica which are amazing ruins but nowhere near as busy again easy to get to on the bus.

Agree easy to find amazing food at reasonable prices just stay away from eating at any square near a tourist destination and follow the locals!

Have fun. We are going to go back in a few years.

Original poster
Coffeefacescrub · 13/01/2017 18:30

Mrs Rolly, what was the beach like at Camping Fabulous? and was there a pool? Thank you

OP posts:
Manijo · 13/01/2017 20:19

I second all that pp said and just want to add that if you take ID out with you to show you're a tourists when visiting attractions , the kids get in for free...well they did a few years ago...worth checking on

MrsRolly · 13/01/2017 21:56

Yes to free kids entry. Pool was amazing at camp fabulous beach is about 20 minutes away by bus we didn't go but our neighbours seemed to have a nice time! Take a waterbottle as well the water fountains)springs in Rome are incredible

sepsisandAKI · 14/01/2017 08:20

Wow MrsRolly that looks a great campsite! Can I ask did you hire a car? I see it's not too far from the airport. Just wondering if you'd need one. Many thanks

SeaweedSa1ad · 14/01/2017 08:24

When are you going over the summer? We went a couple of years ago end of July / beg of August and it was hot. We had an Airbnb place in Rome which thankfully had aircon. Rome was too hot and busy for sightseeing with kids IMHO.

Food was great though - supermarkets, restaurants and gelato of course.

Original poster
Coffeefacescrub · 14/01/2017 08:56

We are going third week in August...around 24...in Rome for two days just before school goes back

OP posts:
Manijo · 14/01/2017 18:51

We went in August too and it was pretty hot but we lived in ME so used to it. We still had a fab time

MrsRolly · 15/01/2017 10:07

No we didnt hire a car. we got a taxi to the camp site but they do run a shuttle service which we got back which was much cheaper! You can email them to find out more details.

sepsisandAKI · 18/01/2017 20:42

Thanks to your recommendation mrsr we're all booked up to go now!Flowers and thank you to coffee for starting the thread.

irregularegular · 19/01/2017 13:49

I've always found most of Italy to be a lot cheaper than the UK

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