Hi singletraveler913
tell us a little bit about yourself, interests and what you want out of the trip.
How long are you intending to be away etc
Hello,
Thank you for responding. The two trips that I have a choice with will be cruises with extended land stays. The Italy cruise I will visit Barcelona, Spain, Naples/Capri (Sorrento), Florence/Pisa, Rome,
Nice France, Marseilla France. The Greece cruise will be Venice Italy, Split Croatia, Corfu Greece, Athens, Mykinos, Olympia. They both sound exciting and I am interested in both. But of course I can only chose one. I heard Greece was beautiful and the people are friendly. But then I heard the same for Italy. I am single and will be taking a single's cruise. I have no preference as far as my interests. I love to travel and experience different cultures. So I am really open to anything.
Thank you again
Sorry - but you'll have to do a little bit of your own research - this trip can be perfect for you - or it can be perfect for us - better it should be perfect for you.
Get a guide book for each country and read about the various areas you'll have an opportunity to visit. By the time you've done that, one area or the other will have come to the fore - and you'll know what to choose - or you'll have some specific questions that we can help you with to help you reach a conclusion.
Thanks, I will get some tour books. Just curious which one would you chose?
Singletraveller
That is a dilemma! both tours are equally appealing. What time of year are you planning on doing the trip?
I peronally prefer to visit the european cities (Rome, Barcelona etc) outside of peak season, avoiding the months from June to August as you not only have to contend with hoards of tourists, but also the heat, which in the cities, unlike the greek islands, there is not always a cooling breeze.
While, there will also be plenty of tourists in greece at this time, it does not have the same overcrowed feel of the bigger european cities.
The greek tour also starts in Venice, so will get to some of Italy in this trip also. Depending on time allowing, you can also do a day trip to Verona and Lake Garda / Como from Venice.
I love both greece and italy and have been to both many times and honestly whichever you choose you will not be sorry.
The guide book we always use when travelling is the Lonely Planed guide books.
Everything that has been said so far is spot on and I agree.
However, for me:
Barcellona-great city, diverse architecture, culture, food and history
Naples-forget it (but I suspect that is just a stepping off point for Sorento (great coast), Capri (Blue Grotto, good, town interesting but not brilliant for a day trip)and I hope Pompeii (amazing)
Florence/Pisa/Rome-brilliant cities for great history, religion, architecture museums but very touristy and hard to find that brilliant Italian meal that the locals would eat
Nice-oh so different again
Marseille-just a port
Venice-my favourite Italian city. I can't travel to Italy and not go there, so I'm lucky to have been there 4 times
Split-I'm not a great fan of Split itself, but he coastline from there down, Dubrovnik and the islands close by are beautiful. Dubrovnik has to be experienced to be believed. It's like stepping back in time
Now the Greece bit. I love Greece and I travel there every year,
Corfu-I'm not a great fan of it (compared to so many other places in Greece) very different to most Greek islands, still it's interesting
Athens-love it. Needs at least 2 full days to see it, and that's really only scratching the surface
Mykinos-a major change of pace. A party island, great architecture, bars, food and beaches but very touristy and expensive
Olympia-one of the main archaelogical sites in Greece. Interesting and a good museum
Which cruise would I go on. I can't answer that without knowing how long in each place and what tours are included, but I am slightly more inclined to the Italy/Croatia/Greece cruise. But that's just me, not you, and our experiences and interests are different
Wow, what a dilemma...
I have recently returned from Italy, which I absolutely loved, and have a Greek background, and have travelled there many times.. But as all the other posters have suggested, it depends on what time of the year you go, and your interests...
I would be inclined to visit the cities in the cooler and low season months, or the beautiful islands in the hotter months.
Do some research, and the advise of the other posters is great..
The destination you chose, Bella Italia, or magnificent Greece you will enjoy!!!
Happy planning, and buona vacanza!!
If I had to choose it would be Greece. I have had good holidays in Italy, but the ones in Greece have been perfection. I don't have any desire to go back to Italy, but can't wait for the next trip to Greece. It seems like the people in Greece are a lot nicer and I've never had any problem communicating with them. Either way I'm sure you will have a spectacular trip.
Thank you for all the great advise. The Italy tour embarks on May 24.2009. The Greece tour embarks September 19, 2009. I am not sure when the peak season is for both countries. Both are 10 day cruises but depending on which one I choose I plan on staying on my own after the cruise in either Barcelona for Italy cruise and for the Greece one I will stay in Venice. I am really excited. I have history for both countries. I am Italian and my Grandparents were from Italy (Parma). But my husband was Greek my last name is Thiras. So both are very interesting to me.
Thank you for everything