Do not go in August. We had a fabulous time, but wow, the heat.

The heat...even in September Rome was very very hot. Plus not being able to check into most hotels until 3/4pm, while arriving at 7am was brutal. That's always an issue with direct flights to Europe from DC, but when we brought our 3 kids it was particularly hard.

Surrounded by other Americans. Ugh.

I went to Greece last summer (end of June/beginning of July), and it was great. Yes...it was definitely hot. Athens isn't a pristine city, especially for a capital, but they had cute neighborhoods and a lot of places to be leisurely. I was mainly there for a cruise, so I didn't really visit any of the islands for a significant amount of time.

Summer esp July/Aug sucks. As early as possible in June works for Italy/Greece to avoid mobs of crowds and unbearable heat.

In terms of advice for first timers - soak up ambience. In other words you do not need 3 days in Venice. There is no touring you need there - just being. Approach visiting Europe and esp Greece and Italy from a European perspective. Sit and eat, just be. You do not need to go to 101 tourist attractions Def go to the bigger ones, I'm not saying don't see anything, but don't feel like you must check off the list of 25 places or whatever you must see or you've wasted the trip. There's so many nooks and crannies so to speak. A day trip from Rome to Ponza or Orvieto for example. Passing Pompeii to see Herculaneum. Sitting at St. Marks and listening to the live band and enjoying the ambiance and desserts. That's "seeing" Venice.

Watch pickpockets and thieves on trains.

Anonymous wrote:the heat and rudeness towards tourist

I found most to be warm and welcoming.

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.

Pompeii is also very hot in the middle of the dao. And once you are inside there are no refreshments, so bring water.

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.

That scene is actually a shot by shot remake of a scene from the 1960 Italian movie L’avventura.

Anonymous wrote:the heat and rudeness towards tourist

We have this in the US

the heat and rudeness towards tourist

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.

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.

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 am curious having never been to either, to hear about what you will avoid next time, what went wrong on your trip, and any other considerations for first timers to have to these countries.