Buon Viaggio 2009 - The Official "Ciao/Good Riddance, Keystone Phil!" thread.

[Keystone Phil]

Phil, how much on average does it cost to go on a trip like that? Say a week abroad with hotel, car, etc. If you don't feel comfortable answering here you can do in PM. I'm interested in taking a vacation with my family and have thought about Europe. Do you think I could take my family abroad for under 15k?

Well, first of all, do not rent a car in Italy. Just don't. They're animals over there when it comes to driving.    

This trip was originally supposed to be just for me. I was going to stay in Naples and visit spots around the city. Then my Dad found out and wanted to go. He has never been to the Motherland before so now we're taking day trips to Rome. I wasn't originally planning on doing this but I'm glad he mentioned it because even if he ended up deciding against the trip, I realized how day trips to Rome were such a great idea (even if I've been there plenty of times before   ).

If you plan to travel the Boot or anywhere in Europe, do day trips by train. It's fast and cheap. Round trip from Naples to Rome is just about two hours for only about 20 Euro (about $30). You can't beat that. It's definitely better than driving.

Can you do a trip with a family of four for under $15,000 (car not included)? Yes but just barely. It's hard to pin down exactly how much is a good amount for food and entertainment money but I can say that my hotel - one of the nicest in Naples in the very nice area of town - is only $1,777 for eleven days/ten nights. I got it through Travelocity. That's an amazing deal. I would recommend using Travelocity to almost anyone but I'm assuming this is your first trip to Europe and it's with your family so you may want to pay a bit extra and good through a travel agent. If you're confident that you can do it on your own, go for it. You get great deals.

I can't decide whether or not he's serious.

Everytime he pulls out this Texaslefty nonsense, I can't decide whether I'm tired of it or whether I want to fall over in laughter.

Phil, how much on average does it cost to go on a trip like that? Say a week abroad with hotel, car, etc. If you don't feel comfortable answering here you can do in PM. I'm interested in taking a vacation with my family and have thought about Europe. Do you think I could take my family abroad for under 15k?

You didn't ask me, but I've got a big mouth: 15k should be way more than enough if you're as miserly as I am . You can get some really good deals online, and you really, really don't need a car in Europe. If I remember correctly, you've got small kids though. I'd either leave them at home with a sitter or wait until they're older.

Good point about leaving the kids. I didn't go until I was 12 (my Sister was 10) because my family didn't think I would truly appreciate it until I was older. We had to wait until my younger cousins turned 11 and 13, respectively, until we went again for the same reason.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Have fun, my young friend. 

Do the bellas know you're on your way?   

[Keystone Phil]

Do the bellas know you're on your way?   

Oh, I'm not commenting on this one... 

[Gustaf]

I believe Italy is known in Europe as the country of rape. But I guess they don't think of it as a crime down there.











Ok, not really. But a Swedish fashion blogger was raped in Italy last year and the Swedish embassy told her that it was to be expected, since it is Italy. Or something like that. Odd story.

[Keystone Phil]

Swedish embassy told her that it was to be expected, since it is Italy.

Joke Country

[Ban my account ffs!]

Bon Voyage

I mean... Iter Bonum.  Let's get old school.

[Keystone Phil]

Yep, it is official.

I landed in Milan just before sunrise. We arrived in Naples around 9 AM. I only had about a dozen brushes with death on the five minute drive from the airport to my hotel. Got to love this driving. I slept from 10 until now. Time to explore.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Be safe and have fun, and don't' forget your buddies in PA when it comes to souvenirs.  I'll take a 25 year old bella.   

[Хahar 🤔]

Look out for Tony.

[Badger]

How long will you be there?

Oh, and do avoid the beer. Going to Italy (or France) for the beer is like going to England for the food.

[Keystone Phil]

How long will you be there?

I return to The Ugly Place on July 31st.
 

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Oh, I know. Good thing I don't really like beer anyway.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Have you found your bride yet?

[Ban my account ffs!]

Watch out for the mob.  Apparently Europe is a hotbed for random scary people to abduct Americans and then take them to random places in Eastern Europe and mutilate them.

Watch out for the doctor that wants to cut off your knee caps and attach you to someone else mouth-to-anus.

Oh, and eat some Pistachio Gelato for me.  Thanks.

[Keystone Phil]

Have you found your bride yet?

I am not commenting on this. 

[Хahar 🤔]

How long will you be there?

I return to The Ugly Place on July 31st.

Hi, opebo!

[Landslide Lyndon]

Have you found your bride yet?

I am not commenting on this. 

Are you going to take the 5th?

[paul718]

Have you found your husband yet?











HA!!

[Keystone Phil]

How long will you be there?

I return to The Ugly Place on July 31st.

Hi, opebo!

Haha, I know, right?

Have you found your bride yet?

I am not commenting on this. 

Are you going to take the 5th?

Sì, sto prendendo il quinto.

[Meeker]

I just found out one of my roommates for next year is from a town in Italy called Avellino.

I wanted to post that somewhere but didn't really want to start a new thread, so yeah.

[Sensei]

I just found out one of my roommates for next year is from a town in Italy called Avellino.

I wanted to post that somewhere but didn't really want to start a new thread, so yeah.

Isn't that where the Sopranos are from in the old country?

[Keystone Phil]

I just found out one of my roommates for next year is from a town in Italy called Avellino.

I wanted to post that somewhere but didn't really want to start a new thread, so yeah.

Isn't that where the Sopranos are from in the old country?

That's where Tony's family is from. Paulie's family is from Ariano Irpino. The rest are Sicilians (if what Paulie said in that one episode was accurate). Speaking of which, I was walking around the other day and came across the tunnel that was in a scene in that episode. I took a picture, of course. I think I also passed by the hotel where they stayed.

Anyway, my Dad's side is from a town about a half hour outside of Avellino (about an hour from Naples).

[??????????]

Do the Italian folks know you from the Aqua Velva commercials?

[Meeker]

Do the Italian folks know you from the Aqua Velva commercials?

Mamma mia! Look at that'a clean'a shave'a on that'a ragazzo!