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How can we travel Italy inexpensively?

My husband and I are going to try and start a family soon, and we really want to go on a cool vacation before we start that chapter of our life. We both decided that Italy is the place we want to go, but there HAS to be a less expensive way to travel without using hostels. Does anyone know of a good company? I'm all about having a great vacation, but I'm not sure I want to spend 6K or 7K on one week of my life. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Public Comments

1. It can be quite expensive here in Italy, especially in places like Venice. In addition to hostels, you could consider some of the budget hotel chains or try sites like: http://www.bed-and-breakfast.it/ or http://www.bbitalia.it/ . Look into an agroturismo - a farm with guest accomodations: http://www.agriturist.it/ or even a convent/monastery stay: http://www.monasterystays.com/ , http://www.santasusanna.org/ . Some of the convents aren't cheap, but others can be excellent bargains. My brother and his wife really liked the one they stayed in during a visit to Rome. You can also often save money on the fast trains for booking tickets in advance. Another option is to use the night train when available. for example, if you want to see both Rome and Venice, take the train that leaves Roma Tiburtina and 10:36 pm and arrives in Venice the next morning at 5:26. You can sleep through the night in a berth which not only allows you to use time when you'd be sleeping anyway to travel, but saves the additional cost of a hotel / hostel for the night. Buy at least a day in advance to get the discounted Amica Fare. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD
2. Mm... I suggest you rent a flat, or stay in what we call "residence" (maybe you call in in this way too): it's more or less like renting a flat (small), but you have all you need here, most of them have supermarket, gym, swimming-pools inside. It's cheaper than hotel, of course... and in this way you can cook or you can go the a restaurant outside. As for places... mm... Sardinia and Tuscany are quite expensive. I suggest you Emilia-Romagna, near Rimini, Riccione, Ravenna. Or Veneto, Calabria, Sicilia, Marche, Liguria, too. If you need more help, write me.