Hiking boots in wide sizes

We are optimistically planning a trip to Austria and Italy for December. Our current itinerary has us in Val Gardena for five nights and then we'll head to Cortina d' Ampezzo for five nights the week before Christmas.

One of us skis, but doesn't plan to. We're more interested in winter hiking, and we've found plenty of options in Val Gardena.

What we're not sure about is Cortina d'Ampezzo - because it's ski season and so close to Christmas, we're finding accommodation is quite expensive (and limited - we're looking for a moderately priced apartment) and we've been unable to determine if this area offers ample winter hiking opportunities, or if we'd be better off basing elsewhere and perhaps making a day trip to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

We're experienced winter hikers - not mountain climbers. We've spent many Decembers in Europe hiking (we prefer hiking over snowshoeing) and usually find plenty of trails, but these areas are completely new to us so we're not sure what to expect.

Would appreciate any insight or suggestions.

Hello!

I will be in Rome on Sunday when Italy plays against England. Is there any place where locals meet and watch the game on a wide screen TV? I was in Florence and watched Italy - Belgium and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!

Best regards

Hello, my husband and I (both fully vaccinated) will be in Switzerland for one month (Sept. 21-October 21). We are thinking of extending our trip for 1-2 weeks and visiting Italy because we end up in Lugano, and would be able to take the train to Italy. (We will need to return to Zurich for our flight home, so as to avoid change fees.)

We have been to Italy several times, but have never done anything other than the main cities and tourist areas. We did visit Cinque Terre from Florence on one trip, and did the hike from village to village, and we have visited Lake Como twice, but only on day trips. We also did a vacation in Italy one time that included the Dolomites, Verona and Sienna. We love nature, hiking, quaint villages, pretty beaches, biking. We have never done the countryside in Italy (Tuscany area), seen Portofino or Genoa. Based on when we'd be there (late October), and the fact that we will need to get back to Zurich for our flight home, we don't want to travel as far south as the Amalfi Coast, so we'd appreciate any suggestions for places to visit for 1-2 weeks that are more north. We prefer being able to use public transportation, but are open to car rental, if need be. Really appreciator any advice/suggestions!

My wife and I are visiting Italy for 9 days at the end of August/beginning of September (we're an active, foodie couple in our 40s). We'll spend the first few nights in Rome and then are looking at what to do for the last 6 nights of our trip. She's been to the North of Italy before, so tops on my list are going to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. A couple questions:

Should we expect lots of tourists along the coast from Aug Aug 30 - Sept 5? Or will summer crowds have receded by then?

And if it will be crowded, might it be better to base ourselves in Salerno instead of one of the smaller/more touristy spots? *I'm actually considering staying in Salerno regardless of crowd sizes, so we can experience a more 'real' Italy but still have access to the picturesque towns.

Any other suggestions appreciated! Thanks~

Thanks!

Optimistically planning a month long visit to Austria and Italy in December.

Our initial plan was to spend five nights in Val Gardena (have booked an apartment in St Cristina) and five nights in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

We're now considering spending five nights in Dobbiaco/Toblach or San Candido instead of Cortina, as I've been told the landscape is entirely different than Val Gardena and it will provide a nice contrast. It also looks like its easier to get to (we're traveling by train and bus).

I'm having trouble finding apartments in Cortina that won't break the bank, and I get the distinct impression that Cortina is sort of the St Mortiz of Italy. Correct assumption?

We prefer quiet, laid back areas. We will not be skiing, but rather winter hiking, and it looks like both areas offer plenty of winter hiking options.

Thoughts on differences between the two and which would provide a more low key holiday would be greatly appreciated (we'll be there from December 17-22 if that makes a difference).

Should we choose to forgo Cortina, is there any reason to choose Dobbiaco/Toblach over San Candido, such as easier access to cable cars that lead to groomed hiking trails, etc?

I will be arriving into Nice in the middle of September. I have a month and will spend 10-12 days in Northern Italy and the rest in France.

My plans are to go to Verona first and then the Dolomites as I think the weather should be better at the end of Sept. Thinking 1/2 nights in Verona, then 4 nights in the Dolomite area-suggestions welcome. Maybe an airbnb and do day hikes? We will have a car.

Then make our way back to Nice stopping in the Piedmont area-again suggestions of a location not in a busy town to make day trips? Maybe also a couple of days in Turin?

Our interests are hiking, history, food and wine.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Hello!

Last I tried planning this trip pre-Covid, I was trying to stuff too much into too small an amount of time. I'm hoping to find out now if I've got a good amount of time in each place or if I should shuffle things around in the plan.

Right now it looks like this:

Florence: 3.5 days (not including arrival day)

Rome: 4.5 days (including a day out to Pompeii)

1 day in transit

Lake Como + Milan: 3 days (not including departure day)

Is that a good amount of time in each place or should one place have more or less? I've a total of 12 days total (not including departure and arrival) that I can use. Pompeii is the only thing that I am not willing to cut if need be.

Thanks for the help!

We will be based probably in Sorrento for 3 days. I have read something about some hiking near Amalfi. We are in reasonably good shape but not really hikers. Are there trails that we can negotiate and approximately how long are they? What is the best way to get there - we are 4 people.

I’m posting this for information as we had mixed messages before leaving for Italy.

2 of my children only have (just under) 5 months left on their passports. Before booking Ryanair flights to Italy I checked the gov.uk website and Ryanair website that both stated 3 months left on passports was needed. When we came to check in online with Ryanair, there is tick box to confirm you have 6 months left on your passport. Also stated in several places that you must have 6 months remaining. Various further web searches gave both answers. Calling Ryanair I was told, yes it had to be 6 months and we would not be able to travel. Having already booked airport hotel, parking and Covid tests we decided to try to fly.

(We had our Covid tests with collinsons at Stanstead which were excellent and efficient- they take swabs, email results sent in 30 minutes)

The result is - we are in Italy. No one cared/ mentioned the less than 6 months remaining on the passports.

Incidentally no one asked to see our Covid results (they asked if we’d had them before checking in but no evidence asked for)

Hope this helps someone. We had a very stressful preceding 48hours!

From what I have read on the embassy sites, a vaccinated US citizen can travel to Italy, I see "Last updated: 05/25/2021 Travelers departing on COVID-tested international flights between the United States and Italy are not currently subject to quarantine upon arrival in Italy. I see the same thing for Greece. But once I've traveled from the USA to Italy and then from Italy to Greece, will Greece have an issue with me because I am not flying direct to Greece? I look forward to any comments/feedback, thanks