Anonymous wrote:Go to linch at Cipriani on Torcello— lovely way to spend a day and you can get away from crowds

Yes. Amazing place. Loved it a few years ago.

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Anonymous wrote:There are 50 countries in Europe. Why would anyone go to Italy in the summer? I’m writing this from Lithuania.

Because a lot of people have less interest in Northern European countries. Many people find the museums and sites more interesting in southern Europe. Many people like to visit a beach during their vacation and you don’t travel to Germany or Sweden for that. Most people find the food in Spain, Italy and France preferable to say, the Netherlands.

Then there are school vacations and many workplaces are more supportive of long vacations during the summer.

PP here. Most people are stupid . Seriously, Northern Europe in high summer is glorious!

I know you think you’re more sophisticated.

Here’s the problem with Northern Europe. It’s not that much fun! Also the food blows. And it’s expensive.

Food is meh in Southern Europe too. Especially sit down restaurants that aren't Michelin star or similar. And it's expensive. It's hard to find locals only places because tourists are everywhere and drive most of the restaurant industry demand. Food is better IMO in small take out places or if you buy groceries.

I am surprised how many think restaurants are good. Unless you stay there for a while to have time to find good places you will be eating mediocre overpriced food with wine and foreign scenery making you feel better about overpaying for a ho hum pasta or protein you could cook better yourself. Reviews are not reliable, been there done that.

If food is meh in Southern Europe, where is it good?

Food in the USA is better IMO when it comes to restaurants. We have more of a restaurant culture here and it's far more international from all over the world with a lot of fusion elements and flavors. Quality of produce is about the same everywhere. I didn't think restaurants in Italy used high quality veggies and tomatoes even though you'd think it's available in the summer.

What??? I disagree that the US is more likely to have international restaurants (have you been to Australia? England?)

And I strongly disagree that restaurants in the US are more likely to use fresh, local, quality produce. What Italy did you visit????

Sounds.like they just ate at tourist traps.

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Anonymous wrote:There are 50 countries in Europe. Why would anyone go to Italy in the summer? I’m writing this from Lithuania.

Because a lot of people have less interest in Northern European countries. Many people find the museums and sites more interesting in southern Europe. Many people like to visit a beach during their vacation and you don’t travel to Germany or Sweden for that. Most people find the food in Spain, Italy and France preferable to say, the Netherlands.

Then there are school vacations and many workplaces are more supportive of long vacations during the summer.

PP here. Most people are stupid . Seriously, Northern Europe in high summer is glorious!

I know you think you’re more sophisticated.

Here’s the problem with Northern Europe. It’s not that much fun! Also the food blows. And it’s expensive.

Food is meh in Southern Europe too. Especially sit down restaurants that aren't Michelin star or similar. And it's expensive. It's hard to find locals only places because tourists are everywhere and drive most of the restaurant industry demand. Food is better IMO in small take out places or if you buy groceries.

I am surprised how many think restaurants are good. Unless you stay there for a while to have time to find good places you will be eating mediocre overpriced food with wine and foreign scenery making you feel better about overpaying for a ho hum pasta or protein you could cook better yourself. Reviews are not reliable, been there done that.

If food is meh in Southern Europe, where is it good?

Food in the USA is better IMO when it comes to restaurants. We have more of a restaurant culture here and it's far more international from all over the world with a lot of fusion elements and flavors. Quality of produce is about the same everywhere. I didn't think restaurants in Italy used high quality veggies and tomatoes even though you'd think it's available in the summer.

What??? I disagree that the US is more likely to have international restaurants (have you been to Australia? England?)

And I strongly disagree that restaurants in the US are more likely to use fresh, local, quality produce. What Italy did you visit????

Anonymous wrote:NP - any favorite private tours in Rome?

Our family's favorite tour was at the Catacombs -- but the tour is included in your ticket price, and is mandatory so you don't wander off and get lost there. Our tour guide was great! If you are bike riders, there was an organized tour that rides along the Appian Way to get to the catacombs -- that looked really cool, but we couldn't make the timing work.

We did skip the line tour at the Vatican and it was fine. I think this is basically how all the Italian art history majors are paying the bills, so they are likely all competent and decent tour guides who would greatly prefer to be doing something else.

We did not do any tours within the city, although I did use the Rick Steve's audio tours as sort of a spot tour for things like the Pantheon. In crowded cities like that, I sort of hate the tour groups -- they block the sidewalks and are generally disruptive. We took a walking history tour in York once and that was really wonderful, but that wasn't a crowd of people like Rome's central historic district. I think I would avoid an organized tour in that area and instead just meander. I found wikipedia really helpful actually -- if I saw a church or interesting monument, I woudl just google the name and wikipedia would give me all the history and mention the most famous artworks there. Then I would give my family the Cliff Notes version with the best parts. One thing that I might have liked a tour guide for was Palatine Hill -- there is a lot there and it's a little hard to know what you're looking at, especially if you have kids that don't want to spend a ton of time looking at every single building.

Anonymous wrote:NP - any favorite private tours in Rome?

Definitely take a food walking tour in Trastevere. It's a good break from the extreme crowds.

Unfortunately my experience is tour groups are better for the big tourist attractions, like the Vatican so you don't have to wait in the long lines.

NP - any favorite private tours in Rome?

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Anonymous wrote:There are 50 countries in Europe. Why would anyone go to Italy in the summer? I’m writing this from Lithuania.

Because a lot of people have less interest in Northern European countries. Many people find the museums and sites more interesting in southern Europe. Many people like to visit a beach during their vacation and you don’t travel to Germany or Sweden for that. Most people find the food in Spain, Italy and France preferable to say, the Netherlands.

Then there are school vacations and many workplaces are more supportive of long vacations during the summer.

PP here. Most people are stupid . Seriously, Northern Europe in high summer is glorious!

I know you think you’re more sophisticated.

Here’s the problem with Northern Europe. It’s not that much fun! Also the food blows. And it’s expensive.

Food is meh in Southern Europe too. Especially sit down restaurants that aren't Michelin star or similar. And it's expensive. It's hard to find locals only places because tourists are everywhere and drive most of the restaurant industry demand. Food is better IMO in small take out places or if you buy groceries.

I am surprised how many think restaurants are good. Unless you stay there for a while to have time to find good places you will be eating mediocre overpriced food with wine and foreign scenery making you feel better about overpaying for a ho hum pasta or protein you could cook better yourself. Reviews are not reliable, been there done that.

Sounds like it’s best to stay home.

what a silly take Food isn't all there is to travel and travel time is short, if you live there long enough, you'd probably cook.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 50 countries in Europe. Why would anyone go to Italy in the summer? I’m writing this from Lithuania.

Because a lot of people have less interest in Northern European countries. Many people find the museums and sites more interesting in southern Europe. Many people like to visit a beach during their vacation and you don’t travel to Germany or Sweden for that. Most people find the food in Spain, Italy and France preferable to say, the Netherlands.

Then there are school vacations and many workplaces are more supportive of long vacations during the summer.

PP here. Most people are stupid . Seriously, Northern Europe in high summer is glorious!

I know you think you’re more sophisticated.

Here’s the problem with Northern Europe. It’s not that much fun! Also the food blows. And it’s expensive.

Food is meh in Southern Europe too. Especially sit down restaurants that aren't Michelin star or similar. And it's expensive. It's hard to find locals only places because tourists are everywhere and drive most of the restaurant industry demand. Food is better IMO in small take out places or if you buy groceries.

I am surprised how many think restaurants are good. Unless you stay there for a while to have time to find good places you will be eating mediocre overpriced food with wine and foreign scenery making you feel better about overpaying for a ho hum pasta or protein you could cook better yourself. Reviews are not reliable, been there done that.

If food is meh in Southern Europe, where is it good?

Food in the USA is better IMO when it comes to restaurants. We have more of a restaurant culture here and it's far more international from all over the world with a lot of fusion elements and flavors. Quality of produce is about the same everywhere. I didn't think restaurants in Italy used high quality veggies and tomatoes even though you'd think it's available in the summer.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 50 countries in Europe. Why would anyone go to Italy in the summer? I’m writing this from Lithuania.

Because a lot of people have less interest in Northern European countries. Many people find the museums and sites more interesting in southern Europe. Many people like to visit a beach during their vacation and you don’t travel to Germany or Sweden for that. Most people find the food in Spain, Italy and France preferable to say, the Netherlands.

Then there are school vacations and many workplaces are more supportive of long vacations during the summer.

PP here. Most people are stupid . Seriously, Northern Europe in high summer is glorious!

I know you think you’re more sophisticated.

Here’s the problem with Northern Europe. It’s not that much fun! Also the food blows. And it’s expensive.

Food is meh in Southern Europe too. Especially sit down restaurants that aren't Michelin star or similar. And it's expensive. It's hard to find locals only places because tourists are everywhere and drive most of the restaurant industry demand. Food is better IMO in small take out places or if you buy groceries.

I am surprised how many think restaurants are good. Unless you stay there for a while to have time to find good places you will be eating mediocre overpriced food with wine and foreign scenery making you feel better about overpaying for a ho hum pasta or protein you could cook better yourself. Reviews are not reliable, been there done that.

If food is meh in Southern Europe, where is it good?

Northern Europe, especially England and the Netherlands.

I doubt it. The best food we had in England was Indian food. Personal tastes, I guess. Northern European food is rather bland.