People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?

[Anonymous]

Never understand why people go to Greece or Italy in July or August. The Italians and Greeks go to the beaches or the mountains in those months for a good reason.

My last trip to Italy was two years ago and went to Naples and then down to Sicily. Middle two weeks of June. Weather was perfect if on the warmer side, the sea was wonderful for swimming, but we were lucky according to the locals as in Sicily it is normally already heating up. And a week after we got back I checked the Sicilian weather forecast and the temp had gone up 15 degrees to 100+.

I did once go to Rome in the first week of July many years ago and it was so hot and humid that men were walking around with their shirts off and pouring water over themselves. We were in our 20s and it was still fun but I would never do it now.

A coworker commented the other day that her kid's school is planning a trip to Rome in August 2026 and I pulled her aside and said WTF. Don't do it. But not sure if she got the message. And so every year many people go to Italy in July and August and suffer the consequences!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US just elevated risk level

Italy us full of pick pockets and criminals

Flooding is horrible

Americans are not welcome now and it’s getting worse by the day.

Is the coast pretty sure

Worth the trip right now no

Such an ignorant post. You spend a day in Rome 15 years ago and think you're an expert.

Ssshhhhhhh!

PP you will love it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy_Pavilion_at_Epcot. I recommend the spaghetti and meatballs!

[Anonymous]

It's kinda like that old saying, never fight a land war in Asia LOL

NEVER holiday in Italy/Greece over July and Aug!

I'm not lying. You will walk away and hate it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's kinda like that old saying, never fight a land war in Asia LOL

NEVER holiday in Italy/Greece over July and Aug!

I'm not lying. You will walk away and hate it there.

Not if you go to beaches/islands/coastal areas, or the mountains/lakes in Italy. But yes if you go to the cities or anywhere not the coast south of Venice/Milan, it will be unpleasant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are young and reasonably attractive, traveling without a family, the men in Italy are incredibly obnoxious. It gets worse the further south you go. Couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

I went to a few places in Italy with a girlfriend when we were in our early 20s. It was the worst part of our Euro backpacking trip. The street harassment was like nothing I've ever experienced anywhere else. There was a scene in White Lotus season 2 where the men seems to be circling the women, it was like that.

But 20 years later, I am giving it another chance going with my family this Spring, so I expect a different experience.

There's a racial component to it. If you're white this may happen.

[Anonymous]

I liked Greece but Italy not so much. There was no air conditioning anywhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US just elevated risk level

Italy us full of pick pockets and criminals

Flooding is horrible

Americans are not welcome now and it’s getting worse by the day.

Is the coast pretty sure

Worth the trip right now no

lol meanwhile the US is just disappearing Green Card holders, but sure, be weary of pickpockets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people don't like it because they go at the hottest and busiest times of the year, and do no planning or mitigation for it. So they complain it is too hot and too crowded - but what did you expect going to Athens or Rome in July or August?

Don't over program yourself. Plot out your restaurants ahead of time (and even make reservations!) so you aren't wandering around aimlessly looking for someplace at dinner time.

Don't go to the Acropolis or Colosseum in the middle of the day.

Italy and Greece are amazing countries not to be missed.

My best meal to this day (53 years of life) is in Rome. It was pouring. Was on a bus. My now husband (then boyfriend) said we should get off since he was hungry. Have no idea where we were but we found a restaurant with the best pasta I’ve ever had. And I can’t remember a place asta meal in Italy I did not like (I’ve never made reservations!!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are young and reasonably attractive, traveling without a family, the men in Italy are incredibly obnoxious. It gets worse the further south you go. Couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

I went to a few places in Italy with a girlfriend when we were in our early 20s. It was the worst part of our Euro backpacking trip. The street harassment was like nothing I've ever experienced anywhere else. There was a scene in White Lotus season 2 where the men seems to be circling the women, it was like that.

But 20 years later, I am giving it another chance going with my family this Spring, so I expect a different experience.

There's a racial component to it. If you're white this may happen.

Can happen to any woman. I’m black and my friend is black, and this happened to us too. The men in Italy and Greece are very aggressive and bold about proclaiming how they feel about you. They will yell and follow you. They definitely have no qualms about overstepping personal boundaries that may make you feel uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had great experiences and meh experiences.

One overarching issue in the not great experiences was heat— so being there anytime June-August. You spend a lot of time outside seeing the sights whereas similar weather would make you stay indoors if you were in dc, for instance. The other factor? Insane crowds. That’s also more typical June-August. So basically, don’t go in the summer unless you can be pretty flexible/easygoing.

[Anonymous]

Many museums in Greece don’t have air conditioning.

My friends husband will not return to Italy as he thought the hotel rooms were small and they would not turn on air conditioning.

Avoid Rick Steve’s books. You will be surrounded by Americans at every place he suggests.

[Anonymous]

Italy was great, but couldn’t find any restaurants that had endless soup, salad and breadsticks!

[Anonymous]

Some people are only able to take long family vacations in July or August. It's probably not their first choice.

I loved both countries, but we were robbed on a sleeper car in Italy (while we were asleep). I'm sure it happens everywhere but just sharing our experience. I'm guessing you all won't be on overnight trains.

[Anonymous]

It was hot as hell. We hit a heat wave to a point that there were fires in Greece. It was 105F+ everyday while we were there.

Then we had to deal with a worker's strike in Italy that stranded us at the airport, and the airline couldn't locate our luggage for 4 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people are only able to take long family vacations in July or August. It's probably not their first choice.

I loved both countries, but we were robbed on a sleeper car in Italy (while we were asleep). I'm sure it happens everywhere but just sharing our experience. I'm guessing you all won't be on overnight trains.

Was this a while ago? With the high speed infrastructure being much improved in the last 15 years or so, probably not many trips now that you need to do overnight. Milan-Naples, for instance, is down to 4:30.