Help us a settle an arguement.. - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

JCH/KCA · 08-21-2010, 10:07 PM

Me and my girlfriend are planning a trip to Italy next September 2011 for one month. She wants to spend one month in only Italy. I want to branch out and see a few other countries while we're over. What do you guys think? Get all we can out of Italy or maybe branch out a little.

**ajb3000** · 08-22-2010, 04:54 AM

Why not compromise and focus your trip on Italy, but spend a few days in a neighbouring country as a taster?

**expatben** · 08-22-2010, 06:57 AM

If you're there for a month I think you can branch out a little bit to a neighbouring country.

**Dig** · 08-22-2010, 08:32 AM

Northern Italy feels like a different country already. I personnally would enjoy hopping into another country. I know Austria is easy to access via train and not too long of a trip either. Not sure about the French side or the Slovenian side.

JCH/KCA · 08-22-2010, 08:56 AM

I was thinking maybe Slovenia and Croatia? Tacking these on while we were in Northern Italy. Anybody visited these? Is it worth it? Austria sounds awesome too! I know she would be more inclined for Southern France. So many places, but so little time!

I just wanted to give a big thank you for all that posted! From what I've read y'all are some fo the most helpful guys out there.

**freespiritz** · 08-22-2010, 10:18 AM

I spent 3 months in Italy and couldn't get enough of it - I'd go back and spend another 3 months there any time! I'd say you wouldn't be disappointed if you spent a whole month in Italy (I'm usually a fan of the take things slow and have time to absorb and enjoy), but I also understand wanting to get out and see another country. If so, it's easy to hop a budget flight...I popped over to Spain for less than 20 Euros each way.

**marc873** · 08-22-2010, 11:21 AM

I as well could spend month after month in Italy... Maybe let the trip just happen... One cool option would be to take a ferry from Bari to Croatia for a few days and then back.... Do an overnight ferry, to save a day...
You cant go wrong in the south of France either... Just fucking beautiful!!
The way I am, I would probably make myself hit another country or two, just because, and you get to see just how diffrent countries are....
Keep us posted!!!

JCH/KCA · 08-22-2010, 03:24 PM

Thanks Marc! I'll look into the ferry! I'm defitinley a go with the flow type person on these trips, but she's the planner. So it's going to be fun to see how we bring everything together.

Another quick question. Is it ever to early to buy pane tickets? We're looking at next September. Will we save a ton if we go ahead and buy tickets when they're available or can that money be saved and buy tickets early 2011?

**simply_angelic** · 08-22-2010, 06:42 PM

Well you can only buy tickets a max 10 months in advance. So at the earliest, you're looking at buying the tickets in december. Generally tickets are cheapest when they first go on sale, however there can be some pretty phenomenal seat sales that come out getting you a sweet deal. It's always a gamble...generally you'd have to wait until about mid sept for the deals to start really popping out though, since sept is still really at the end of the high season. I'd probably take the gamble and wait, but that's just me. I think generally there can be some pretty phenomenal seat sales that come up, and when you find one that seems good jump on it.

As for the month, at this point in my life I would be content with just sticking to Italy for a month (just because italy is wonderful and I'm starting to slow down in my travel style) but if you haven't traveled much I'd definitely want to see more...I say 3 weeks in italy, 1 week touring around other places....

nhicolas · 11-19-2010, 04:51 AM

I think there are many places to visit in the surrounding countries. If you are on vacation for a month then I'll suggest you to visit neighboring countries also. Why to miss them???