Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 22:20     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
So love both countries! Been to Greece once mid June. Been all over Italy multiple times - love it all. I also have never gone in July or August so maybe that helped
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 20:19     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


This is why I always book the hotel for the night before and call to let them know we will be arriving early morning. A few hours nap, showers, and we are good to go. Also helps with jet lag.


+1 same. Those people who say to power through when you land and not sleep until night are crazy to me. I need immediate check in and a nap.


x 100 consider it an investment in your vacation. It's with every single penny.

I had a great time in Italy and Greece but I can see where if you don't account for the heat, it's miserable. People think it's like DC or Florida. It's on a whole other level that will give you headaches and make you sick. For example, you only go to the Acropolis early morning or evening. You plan for Pompeii and have lots of water (there is a restaurant in the middle and some fountains, but the line is long). Siestas exist for a reason. Use the hot afternoon hours to relax and you'll be fine
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 18:42     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
From my Venice trip as a child. The private water taxi boat driver tried to overcharge my grandpa vs. the initially quoted rate after transporting us from the train station to our hotel. He threw a fit and kept our suitcases hostage until my grandpa paid extra.

I went back to Venice in 2019 and only took the airport shuttle boat and the public vaporettos.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 18:22     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
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.


Friends who hated Greece said it was because of harassment from men.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 18:03     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
We liked Greece a lot even though we went in the summer. But Athens I could have done without. It was a real let down.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 17:52     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
There’s a trick in Athens. There’s a five place pass. If you go to one of the lesser and get your pass there, you can then go to Acropolis first thing in the morning and just go through the I already have a pass line. It’s still hot and crowded but at least you get there at the earliest possible moments and you’re out by the time everybody’s roasting and in a bad mood.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 17:49     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:the heat and rudeness towards tourist


We have this in the US

We have this inDC
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 17:47     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
I loved my trips to both countries but driving in Greece is not for the faint of heart.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 16:41     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote:Surrounded by other Americans. Ugh.


If you'd ever been to Italy you'd know two things:

1. Americans are among the nicest and best behaved tourists.

2. Most tourists in Italy are not American. It's a mecca destination for mass tourism from all over the world.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 14:36     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote: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.


All of the above is fine, but there is a reason that people have been going on vacation to Italy and Greece for centuries, and some of it involves seeing manmade architectural wonders and learning about art and history. Please don't skip these.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 11:53     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


This is why I always book the hotel for the night before and call to let them know we will be arriving early morning. A few hours nap, showers, and we are good to go. Also helps with jet lag.


same. worth the $.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 11:30     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


This is why I always book the hotel for the night before and call to let them know we will be arriving early morning. A few hours nap, showers, and we are good to go. Also helps with jet lag.


+1 same. Those people who say to power through when you land and not sleep until night are crazy to me. I need immediate check in and a nap.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 11:24     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
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.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 11:22     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
Anonymous wrote: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.


This is why I always book the hotel for the night before and call to let them know we will be arriving early morning. A few hours nap, showers, and we are good to go. Also helps with jet lag.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2025 11:16     Subject: People who had a terrible time in Italy or Greece, what went wrong?
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