Italy - Travel to Italy at Christmas

Planning my first trip to Italy and want to spend 10 days there. All I'm finding are flights for $1500...is this normal? Is there any way to make it cheaper?

Planning my first trip to Italy and want to spend 10 days there. All I'm finding are flights for $1500...is this normal? Is there any way to make it cheaper?

Welcome to Flyertalk. You didn't tell us where you are traveling from, where you want to go, and what dates you're looking at so it's difficult to give you very specific feedback. Most airlines open their booking 330 days in advance, when is your trip scheduled?

I figured that. Flying out of RDU into Rome or whatever is cheaper within Italy. 12/22 - 1/3 are the dates.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

If you are talking this Christmas, twelve days from now, those are not out of line fares. It will of course depend on your exact dates and where you are flying from and to/ If you are flexible and can go a couple days after Christmas, you may be able to save some money.

It can be done for $850 or so per person, but it totally depends on the details.

Be warned that Italy is dead between Christmas and New Years. Lots of shops close. Some smaller hotels close. You will not starve but you'll find some restaurants closed. Bon voyage!

go to london. biz class is 2200 bucks on ba

Be warned that Italy is dead between Christmas and New Years. Lots of shops close. Some smaller hotels close. You will not starve but you'll find some restaurants closed. Bon voyage!

What about all the museums and historical sites? I know they have winter hours but they're still open as far as I've seen.

MY wife has almost - almost - forgiven me for taking her to Rome and Florence at Christmastime a few years ago. (She has a tough time letting go of these things.)

You're within 9 days of your trip, you're lucky to find seats at all.

I have to say, in the days leading up to Christmas, Rome is a great place to visit. I would imagine it would be dead between Christmas and New Years.
Go somewhere where they don't celebrate Christmas, or celebrate it, but not as much, such as Prague or Istanbul.

You don't have to worry about it.

Will find all you need in Christmas days.

Italy shops and museums close as much as other european Countries.

Jan.1st, Dec. 25 and 26 are the obvious dates you wont find all businesses open.

And, as a pro, these days may enjoy a more peaceful feeling with the places you look forward.

What about all the museums and historical sites? I know they have winter hours but they're still open as far as I've seen.

that does not mean that they will be open. it's italy. even northern italy.

what is nice, the "historical" sights may be abandoned, and the gates left open.

that does not mean that they will be open. it's italy. even northern italy.

what is nice, the "historical" sights may be abandoned, and the gates left open.

Come on now... slightly unfair regarding Northern Italy particularly.

Anyway- operations should be "normal" with the exception of 24-26 December, 1 January, and 6 January. Strikes on the other hand may change this- unknown at the moment.

The ski resorts will be very busy (as long as they have snow that is) until 8 January- although I have had a few offers of deeply discounted (50%) rentals for the month of December for apartments in/around Cortina and Brunico.

I wouldn't be surprised that more things are open now. I was in Italy between Christmas and New Year's about 10 years ago.

mmmgood84, welcome to FlyerTalk. As your interest is in land arrangements and sightseeing as much as airfares, please follow as the thread moves to the Travel->Italy forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

It's still not possible to be of as much assistance as possible because you don't say where in Italy you are going. It's not a small country. Its like saying I'm going to New York. Its one thing in NYC, another New Paltz. If you are going to be in Rome or Milan expect the same amount of service and availability you would have in a major U.S. city. Pretty much the same goes for Florence and Venice. These are functioning, working cities, where people live. They don't turn off the lights.

If a few restaurants are closed, big deal. They are probably places that depend on the tourist dollar, and you don't want to eat there anyway. Better two days at that time of the year year than ten days in the summer. Do you want to stand in 90F heat on a line a quarter mile long to see the Sistine Chapel in August, or walk straight in with no wait, as you will be able to do? The biggest problem with visiting Italy is the volume of tourism. You are doing the right thing by going this time of year. Your airfare is a bit high. But also remember that prices can double in the summer, and drop a lot in December and January. Specific days like 12/24-26, New Years, and January 6.