We are also trying to line up some trips this summer. In August we want to rent out a house in Italy for a month. Does anyone know of a place off the beaten path? We want it to be not very touristy, extremely charming and near the beach (also not crazy expensive.) I've never been to Italy so not sure where to start since Google usually gives you the most popular (ie: touristy places.) Any suggestions?
I also write for Babble.com. Here are my links this week.
Did you hear? My favorite person is pregnant.
Crazy huge Kate Spade sale. That perfectly aligns with my trip to the states. It's FATE!
Bought these new dishes last month and they are so great.
Considering these super cute (and cheap) crib sheets for the nursery.
We bought a new stroller, (with stripes!)
We're buying this book of maps to use as prints for the boys' room. Very affordable art!
When I was living in Italy we spent a summer in Lido Di Camaiore, it's on the western coast, between Geneva and Rome. It's filled with locals, on the beach with cute trails that connect all the towns. We rented bikes and rode everywhere. It was a dream summer...I highly recommended that spot! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhy not consider a home swap? It will be free rent, and someone in Itally can enjoy your beautiful Paris apartment. I have found tons of things on Craigslist, I'm planning a swap to Barcelona for my San Francisco place this summer. I'm not sure where to begin looking in Europe, with the lack of Craigslist, but I will begin researching and send you over anything I find! Thank you for your constantly beautiful and inspiring work. You make my days brighter.
ReplyDeleteWe are already renting our place out for that month so a home swap wouldn't be possible. Though we are doing a bunch of mini swaps all over Europe this year.
ReplyDeleteLook here:
ReplyDeletehttp://domesticreflections.blogspot.com/search/label/travel
Scroll down and read their Italy travels... sounds divine!
I'd love to recommend Levanto. It's right outside of Cinque Terre. It has a lovely beach and public pool and a wonderful old fashioned charm. There's a great market and small shops and restaurants. It's a very welcoming place. It would be great for kids!
ReplyDeleteCinque Terre! It is absolutely beautiful and consists of five villages that you can hike between or take a ferry. I went there with my friends a few years ago (it wasn't touristy then but I'm not sure how it is now) and I have been dying to go back. It is on the West coast by Nice, France.
ReplyDeleteMy friends stay in Fermo in the Marche region of Italy - it's a little in land from the coast - about 4 miles so probably cheaper to rent accommodation there - but also you can get to the beach if you have a car or perhaps by bus. Marche is on the east coast and a beautiful region - the beach is at Porto san GIorgio. He's Italian, she's is American, married to an Italian with a 6 year old girl, a 4 year old girl and a 5 month old boy.
ReplyDeleteBut if you want somewhere in Marche or anywhere go a little inland and it might be cheaper.
No plans for the weekend - get ready for my trip to Paris and Lille next week!!
Levanto is the "sixth" cinque terre. It is beautiful and is the kind of place where people hang out of their shops and talk to people on the other side of the street. It has access to the train the runs through the 5 others towns and a beach. It is heavenly!
ReplyDeleteThe Cinque Terre! Absolutely beautiful piece of Earth, we spent 6 days there in October and couldn't get enough. Fresh pestos, wines, tomatoes, olives... hiking in between villages, peace and quiet. We stayed in Corniglia, the smallest of the 5, and rented an apartment. Certainly any of the towns is worth looking into staying in though.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Italy!
Have you tried Airbnb (www.airbnb.com)? They have the most charming and cute houses in fun places. Like castles, house trees and villas! Not expensive at all. Take a look in Italy! :)
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely check out Elba (I believe that's the name of the island...) it's where Napoleon was exiled to and from what I've heard it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting--Italy is so beautiful! Good luck with your search. If I could stay in Italy for a month, it would be here (a working farm!).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.parkervillas.com/italy/tuscany/musica-damore-house-casa-basso
How about Sardinia? I'm going there in a couple weeks and everyone keeps telling me how fantastic it is. I'll report back. So many exciting things to do and see :)
ReplyDeleteI found this place and am considering it for not summer. We have two small children and it seems nice and quiet not really near much but not far from anything either. Car rental would be necessary. I have stayed in cinque terre also and it is very charming. http://www.boutique-homes.com/vacation-rentals/europa/italy/tuscany-villa-montisi-italy/
ReplyDeleteHi Jordan,
ReplyDeleteMy old neighbors lived in various parts of Italy for 2 years and probably have some really good suggestions. They are artists (painter and photographer) and all around cool people. Contact them through their blogs: www.livecheapmakeartusa.blogspot.com and livecheapmakeart.blogspot.com if you are interested. Good luck!
cinque terre it is paradise, I can't believe we almost didn't go...5 days was so not long enough, i dream of going back...heaven on earth!
ReplyDeletecouldn't agree with you more about the freelancing-and-taxes thing. luckily i married a guy with a head for numbers who agreed to take over that part of my freelancing life! now if only i could get him to do my invoicing as well...
ReplyDeletewe're planning homemade pizza and a trip to the zoo this weekend. not glamorous, but fun.
Like so many others, I highly recommend Cinque Terre- one of the most beautiful, charming places in Italy. You can stay in any of the tiny little towns, and hike between them. The beaches are great, the food is delicious, and it's just this really unique place. Enjoy your trip to SF!
ReplyDeleteSardinia, and island off the boot below Corsica. The most amazing beaches! You will not be disappointed!
ReplyDeleteI'm putting in a vote for Cinque Terre! It's so beautiful. Lots of great hikes and beautiful places to swim.
ReplyDeleteHome Exchange ALL THE WAY. We spent 10 weeks in Europe last summer doing home exchanges for all but 2 weeks. We actually exchanged in Venice for 10 days, and stayed in a huge apartment with a view of the Grand Canal. I know there are many sites for this, but we use www.homeexchange.com, and have met some wonderful familes along the way. We rented a villa in Italy in a TINY town called Torre Alfina, a couple of hours north of Rome. The villa was at the base of an abandoned castle, a bit on the traditional side, but came with chickens in the back, a plentiful vegetable garden and (you can't beat this) a wine cellar full of wine that was all included with the villa. It was beyond amazing. Here's the link to the villa http://www.villatorrealfina.com/. There are tons of photos, and lots of posts about our experience with home exchanging on my blog www.colorfulscheme.com. Our friends thought we were crazy to open our home like that, but it was so much better than renting a place, it was so much more authentic.
ReplyDeleteEither way, have a wonderful time on your trips!
Lake Como is not near the beach (since it's a lake!) but it is absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend it. Cinque Terre (which someone else suggested) is really awesome, but a major spot for backpackers so it's kinda touristy-but not as bad as the obvious tourist spots.
ReplyDeleteAbout 10 or 12 years ago, my family and I stayed in a tiny town, Volterra. We rented a house from a single American that lived there- it was beautiful and rustic and charming. Happy to dig up the info if needed. x
ReplyDeleteIf you were interested in the Amalfi Coast area, we loved Praiano. A bit less touristy and a lot less expensive than Positano or Amalfi, but the absolute most amazing views. Our hotel (Le Sirene - a simple place w/ the best hosts) overlooked the sea, Capri, and Positano.
ReplyDeletePozzallo, Sicily...very beachy & relaxing...a secret place where italians holiday....plus it's only a 90 min boat ride to malta
ReplyDeleteif you haven't looked at airbnb.com, I would look immediately! The best find on the internet by far :)
ReplyDeleteItaly in August can be so hot and all italians are on holiday... I would go in September!
ReplyDeleteSince you are in France, please tell me - you are also going to check out the west coast - Atlantic! Such a beautiful coastline: long and wide beaches in the Bordeaux Area, rocky in the Basque Country (south). The Basque has some very cute towns, e.g. Guethary!
Also, you can very easily hop over the spanish boarder and have a very different lifestyle. Go to San Sebastian (a place hemingway hung out)!!! And so good Tapas (Pinxos) and drinks!
Italy is romantic, but often expensive - sometimes you even have to pay to go to a beach or rent a sun chair...
Well, that's being said - by a half-italian... (maybe that why I find it more relaxing in france and spain)
Anyway, enjoy europe!
Have you tried vrbo.com (Vacation Rental By Owner)? It's a good site!
ReplyDeleteI learned the hard way last year that taxes for freelancers are so much more complicated!
ReplyDeleteGood luck
Cannobio on Lake Como. It's gorgeous! A small town that with an open market, beautiful Alp views and not too touristy. It's definitely worth checking out!
ReplyDeleteoh that kate spade sale is just the greatest!!!!
ReplyDeletethough im really just feeling happy already looking at the colourful website!!
In Italy, one of my favorite places ever was Sestri Levante (which, from my memory, wasn't at all touristy). It's on the northern coast, right on the Mediterranean and in between Portofino and Cinque Terre (which has awesome hiking and gorgeous views, but gets really tourist-packed in the summer -- better for day trips, in my opinion). So jealous!
ReplyDeleteI served my mission in Italy and am going back this summer to do my ethnography work. I definitely recommend going to Sardegna (Castelsardo) and Cinque Terre!
ReplyDeleteOne of the nicest bloggers ever is Michelle of Bleeding Espresso. She's one of the founders of World Nutella Day and is an American expat living in Calabria. She can probably give you a ton of suggestions.
ReplyDeletehttp://bleedingespresso.com/
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ReplyDeleteyou don't have to pay for a sun chair, you can always go to the public area thats free.
ReplyDeletesanta margharita near portofino is beautiful and close enough to cinque terre. I would almost rather stay more north towards san remo bc then you can easily hop over to Nice, Monaco etc. Those were my favorites when I lived in that area for 4 months.
You could check out homeaway.com. You can narrow your searches and maybe find a place you never knew existed in the first place. Sienna is a great area, Tuscany is just amazing. Eat as much gelato as possible. I've heard Rimini is a place where the Italians like to go, but I've never been myself. I also spent some time in Diano Marina and that was beautiful, but there were a lot of (German especially) tourists.
ReplyDeleteIn August, ALL of Italy goes on vacation. Maybe September or July would yield better availability?
ReplyDeleteI would highly recommend Albisola in Liguria. I spent a summer there (on the recommendation of Italian friends from the region) a few years ago, and it's just wonderful. It's a small town with a sweet little boardwalk and plenty of families. I'd stay away from touristy places like Cinque Terre.
ReplyDeletePuglia is definitely not touristic plus it's very inexpensive and there's sea almost everywhere. Very charming villages. It's the place Italians go to to spend their vacation. I was there with my husband two years ago and we enjoyed it a lot. Most of the tourists we met were Italians and some Germans with Italian origin. It's said to be undiscovered Tuscany which I don't know of since I haven't been there. As it's rather inexpensive, some places can be of less good quality so check before you book. We rented a car from Bari and drove to Lecce and surrounding villages by the sea (loved the ones on the east side) but also to Trulli village in Alberoville and a car zoo safari. Driving there is easy (but fast).
ReplyDeleteOh, but you're going for a whole month. I wouldn't maybe go to Puglia only, Amalfi coast and Capri and Istria (mainly Italian tourists) are so beautiful that beibg among the tourists might not hurt that bad. Also, Capri is really enjoyable in the evening and morning when the day trippers are gone. There are some hotels in Anacapri that aren't that expensive and restaurants that serve good food for reasonable prices so don't let the image of ab expensive island scare you. If you've never been there, I think you should give it a chance for a couple or more days.
ReplyDeleteI spent three weeks in Italy with my husband (he was working) and my 2 year old daughter. We stayed in Orbetello. It was a nice location because there are no American tourists but very charming and a good central location. It about 1.5 hours from Rome and 2 hours from Florence. I spent many days driving around and discovering villages in Tuscany. There are beaches all around too!
ReplyDeleteI love the book of maps idea and I hope you won't mind me stealing it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I was wondering if you were just going to take them out of the book (i.e. rip). Or if there was another method.
Thanks!
You should check out a rental in Croatia. It's much cheaper and much nicer than Italy!
ReplyDeleteThe visit was useful. Content was really very informative. From www.expressflowersindia.com/mothers_day_gifts.asp
ReplyDeleteBe advised that all Italians are vacationing in August. We loved, loved southern Italy, but most Italians will be vacationing there. I'd also recommend northern Italy on the coast, a little town named Bordighera. It was quaint, but the beaches aren't as nice as the south. Have you thought of Sicily? We were told by the locals that it was a must visit.
ReplyDeleteThe Cinque Terre! I have traveled extensively and this place remains my favorite. I haven't been in over a decade, but last time I went, we rented out a level of an apartment. It was very laid back, not too touristy with beaches interspersed.
ReplyDeleteItaly is miserably hot in August, re-think your travel time if possible. I don't vote for Cinque Terre with children along. It's a charming, rustic old place but mad with tourists. The trails wouldn't really be safe for kids. And you are pretty trapped from getting to nearby places to visit (Pisa, Tuscany, etc.). VRBO comes highly recommended as a resource for renting good places.
ReplyDeleteHa! So funny. Everyone in Paris goes on vacation in August too. The whole point of the timing of our trip is to go to a beach town where we can be near the water instead of the hot city.
ReplyDeleteThe visit was useful. Content was very informative. From www.rightflorist.com
ReplyDeleteI'm living in Florence now, and a lot of people here go to Viareggio when they want to go to the beach. We also loved Cinque Terre (La Spezia). If you'll have a car, you can look for country homes outside either of those two places and thus avoid most of the tourists in CT. In addition to hiking between the Cinque Terre, there's a train that runs very often (at most every 30 minutes, I think) in a continuous loop in both directions.
ReplyDeleteReading through the comments, I see many people have mentioned Cinque Terre. It really is that pretty! Elba (the island) is supposed to be gorgeous; if you end up there I can ask a friend who's from there for more info. Volterra (like Montereggioni and San Gimignano) is inland, but very pretty! (We were in all three this past weekend.) But be careful the "Twilight" fans running around Volterra, (it was set there, though it was actually filmed in Montepulciano).
As you've heard over & over by now, most of Italy vacations in August (a lot of businesses close completely). Everyone heads out of the hot, tourist-filled cities and goes to the beach. Many have (or rent) second homes, and the others go to their parents'/grandparents' villages and stay with family.
Our household of two freelancers will be taking advantage of our clients being closed in August & moving to San Francisco!
Wherever you end up in Italy, especially in the north, keep an eye out for Brunello di Montalcino (2005 if possible) wine. We found a bottle for €25 in Montalcino and enjoyed it... but if I had known it was going to be so good (and prized), I would have bought some more to bring home! However, as I'm sure you've found in France, the house wines at most restaurants are good.
Catch me on twitter (@kahlia) if you want more information, though I haven't been to many beach/coastal places.
Hi, I live in the north of Italy.
ReplyDeleteAs other people told you August in Italy beach towns is really really busy.
But, if you would like to find a quiet place, not far form the beach I would suggets you a "masseria" in Puglia. It's a sort of farmhouse, it's in the country, among olive trees, and it's very secluded and quie.h There you can relax and you can choose what to do during the day between going to the beach or visiting some nice cities (Ostuni, Alberobello, Trani, Otranto, Lecce, Gallipoli..).
But you have to book asap, otherwise you won't find availability anymore.
I just booked a b&b for a week in August in Gallipoli:
http://conigliogiallo.blogspot.com/2011/04/salento-arriviamo.html
If you will stay a whole month in Italy why not spending a couple of weeks in a place and the other two weeks in another place? ;-)
Anyway if you are interested in some links (masserie etc) let me know because I've done a lot of searching about that in the last period ;-)
Ciao!
Cristina
most businesses will be closed in the less touristy areas for most of august. so make sure to choose your location wisely. i highly recommend visiting the piemonte area which is just 1.5 hrs north of liguria (where vernazzo is) to see the green hills and all the vineyards. if you go, check out Villa Sampaguita near Asti (http://www.villasampaguita.com/Live/home.cfm). they've got two small children as well and a running farm/vineyard.
ReplyDelete