On top of giving miles/points related suggestions, I regularly dish out travel advice to our readers. I don’t claim to be an expert on any given destination, but I know what I like and what I don’t like. Obviously, this sort of advice is biased by nature. I once insisted to my father-in-law that he should go to Kauai instead of Maui. I was convinced he would love it, but he didn’t. He still talks about the road to Hana in Maui (which I hated!) and how he wishes he could go back.
I know that my taste is a bit out there. For example, I really enjoyed the movie Mortal Engines and thought it was fresh and innovative. The critics and most viewers hated it.
However, I do think that my travel tastes lean towards mainstream. That’s why when a reader reached out to me and asked if she should split her Italy stay as 4 nights Rome/3 nights Amalfi coast, I told her she should do 3 nights in Rome/2 nights in Amalfi coast/2 nights in Venice.
She never even mentioned Venice, but I felt strongly that it’s something she should consider doing. Full disclaimer: I enjoyed visiting Rome as well as Amalfi coast. But I simply can’t imagine going to Italy and skipping Venice. This is a travesty in my book.
Ok, maybe not quite, but here is the thing. You are already spending a good bit of money/points to get to Italy from US. You are so close to Venice! This is a unique destination unlike any other.
Amalfi coast (see my trip report) is beautiful, and visiting neighboring Pompeii is definitely the highlight. However, if you can’t make it to Pompeii, tour Ostia Antica ruins near Rome instead. Very similar and actually more manageable if you have small kids. Someone on TripAdvisor called it “Pompeii via Roman metro” and I totally agree.
Rome is unique, obviously, but ancient Roman ruins can be experienced elsewhere too. Barcelona (see my trip report) is just one example that comes to mind, and there are many other places scattered from France all the way to north of Africa. But there is only one Venice, and there is no other city like it. You simply must go if you are in the vicinity.
Here are a few other interactions I’ve had with readers recently.
Don’t miss Santorini while you are in Greece
One of my readers is heading to Greece this summer. I asked her if she is planning to visit Santorini. She mentioned that she heard it’s very crowded these days, so she decided to skip it. She then followed up and asked me for my thoughts on this destination. My response: I simply can’t imagine going to Greece and not including Santorini.
I’m sure it is very crowded, but there is a reason for that. It’s a beautiful island with a unique topography. Perhaps the most scenic island in all of Europe, at least in my opinion. That’s why droves of tourists come here. Obviously, popularity of a place isn’t a guarantee that going there will be worth it for you personally. There are many overrated destinations out there, including some UNESCO heritage sites.
But Santorini isn’t one of them. If you want to avoid insane crowds, I recommend going there at the beginning of June like I did. If your kids are in school, book your tickets to Europe as soon as they get out and make Santorini your first destination. If you have no choice and are stuck with traveling during July or August, I still think you should add it to your European itinerary.
Wake up early and wonder the streets of Oia village before tourists invade the place, or go for a walk during late evening. It’s a magical island.
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p style=”text-align: center;”>Not another soul in sight, except for a local cat
Don’t miss Bora Bora while you are in French Polynesia
Another reader asked me in the comments if Bora Bora is really worth all the expense associated with it. The answer is a resounding Yes! Sure, the flights from Papeete (international airport in Tahiti) are ridiculously expensive at $450 price tag for a roundtrip ticket. Our tour guide in Moorea told me that she can fly to San Francisco via new French Bee service for less than to the neighboring island of Bora Bora (40 minutes away).
This is what happens when there is a monopoly on a specific airline route. I suggest you don’t get too upset about it and decide to boycott Bora Bora as a result. You will only shortchange yourself. Why get worked up about something you can’t control? As far as I’m concerned, going to Bora Bora is a must if you are in French Polynesia. Got a lot of UR points? Use them here, you’ll thank me later.
Bottom line
Of course, I’m not here to tell people how they should spend their limited vacation time as well as hard-earned money. I’m very much a “if you are happy, I’m happy” kind of gal. But I think going to certain places is worth the effort despite associated crowds, expense or “cliche” status.
Readers, share your own “must visit” places!
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Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
Thanks Leana and Erik. I‘ve been following your advise everywhere I travel and really apprecite all the help. We’ll spend 4 night in Rome and 3 in Venice. On that one day of train travel between them, we might tempt to do Milan or Florence. Rome will be hectic try to fit Ostia and we’ll slow down in Venice. We’ll try to avoid car rental and going around too much in smoldering end of August heat. Thanks again guys.
@Agnes Ok, now I’m a little bit nervous! I really hope that you won’t regret following my advice. 😉
We have spent 2 nights in Florence. It was alright, but I wouldn’t go back. To me, it’s definitely skippable and I actually enjoy art. It just didn’t wow me for some reason. I’ve heard good things about Cinque Terre, though haven’t been there personally. It’s a bit of a detour if you are heading from Rome to Venice, but not terribly so. Check it out! I highly recommend Ostia Antica, but if you don’t have time, it’s OK. It is a nice substitute for Pompeii IMO.
I think that I’d disagree with your advice, just because of the distance and the short time your reader is spending in Italy. One of the best things about Italy is the whole concept of “Le Dolce Vita” – being able to chill out at a cafe drinking a nice adult beverage with a view of the sea, landmark, whatever and just taking it all in. Wandering down an interesting looking street or park. Walking into a random church, historic-looking place or an enoteca that isn’t listed in a guide book and interacting with the locals. Lingering at a restaurant for a 2 hour meal for an overall sensory experience.
Putting aside jet lag as a factor, I think trying to do Rome, Amalfi Coast, and Venice in a single week sounds really hectic and exhausting (and yes, I’ve been to all 3). You’ll lose a lot of time traveling between locations which will crunch sightseeing, forcing you to rush and/or make compromises on the top sights and cutting into “le dolce vita”. Then there is the added cost of getting to Venice, staying 2 nights, and associated expenses while you’re there (it is not cheap!). Yes, I know you can reduce that a bit using miles/points, but you’re not getting great value and there is still the travel time factor.
Personally, I would save Venice for a separate trip that sticks to northern Italy. Ideally 10-14 days or more exploring north of an imaginary line drawn at Siena. Besides Siena, check out places like Florence, Pisa, Lucca, hill towns of Tuscany, Venice, Lake Como, Cinque Terra, and Milan. Easily done by car or train.
Europe is pretty accessible now, whether using miles or simply taking advantage of the numerous sub-$500 airfare deals. Why not have a good excuse to go back?
@Erik I hear what you are saying, and completely understand why you feel this way. I guess it just depends on your definition of “hectic”. To me, staying two nights in one location is taking it easy! 🙂
Venice, in my opinion, is a great place to get over jet lag. The airport is relatively close, and the absence of cars is relaxing. While I love Rome, it’s a hectic, polluted city. It’s overwhelming for first-time visitor. While I enjoyed my time in Rome, I was honestly looking forward to getting the heck out of there. We spent three nights, and it was plenty IMO. Amalfi Coast is a different story, though it depends on your base. I didn’t care for Sorrento and I’m so glad we stayed in a little village of St. Agata instead. Though once again, not easy to get to, and traffic around the area is insane.
I think it just comes down to what one is comfortable with. This particular reader mentioned that this might be her only trip to Europe. Hopefully, that’s not the case, but life is unpredictable. That’s why I felt compelled to recommend Venice. I know I would rather cut off a day from Amalfi Coast as well as Rome in order to visit it. But I understand that it’s “different strokes for different folks” kind of thing.
Haha…I guess I’m a contrarian. Maybe for just the sake of being a contrarian, but also for cost/crowd reasons.
When my wife and I planned our extended Europe trip in 2016, I ended up scratching Venice, sticking with Florence (5 nights), Rome (7 nights) and San Marino (2 nights). My reasoning was that we’d make it there someday, and I didn’t want to spend less time somewhere else.
I’ve also looked at Bora Bora, and while I know anything in Tahiti won’t happen soon, I’ve already “settled” for Moorea in my mind, hearing great things about it and knowing it is much cheaper.
@Ian I think if you are fairly certain that you will be back, then it’s a different story. However, life tends to throw curveballs you don’t expect. Obviously, you can’t visit every single famous place there is. It’s important to be reasonable because there can be too much of a good thing. I do, however, recommend Venice for your next trip to Europe. I can’t gurantee that you guys will love it, but it’s a unique place.
As far as Bora Bora goes, I also recommend you reconsider. That said, Moorea is a stunning island in its own right.
I totally agree with you about visiting Venice! It’s a lovely place. Of course, I’m not following everyone’s advice on our trip to New Zealand by skipping the South Island. I’m excited about our itinerary, though, and we can always go again.
@Nancy New Zealand is a tough one. I really wanted to visit South Island too, but it just didn’t work out. But I’m OK with it because the North island has some things that I wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else.