Luxury Italian Villas

Villas offer travelers the authentic opportunity of experiencing the local culture and scenic beauty of Italy. Because a villa is just like a large house, complete with bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, dining rooms, and many other amenities, they combine a relaxing home environment while still being extremely close to everything the Italian lakes has to offer. Renting villas are perfect during Italian Lakes Holidays, especially with a large group of friends or family members.

Because of the large amount of villas available for rent, choosing one can be an overwhelming decision. When searching for your dream villa, keep in mind a few important details. Be sure to check on the location of each villa you search, because each lake offers many different activities and scenery. It is also important to decide how close you would like direct access to the beach, and if you would like access to a swimming pool. Many of the villas offer luxurious accommodations, such as access to tennis courts, golf courses, balconies, and outside dining areas. Many of the villas are a short walking distance from shops, bars, restaurants, amenities and ferries, however make sure to double check exactly how far the distance and that it is able to be walked before booking. If you are willing to be a bit more flexible with the lake that your villa is located on during, you might be able to find a better deal.

Lake Garda, Lake Como, and Lake Maggiore are the three largest, and most popular lakes in the district, so they tend to be a bit more expensive. Before you can decide which lake you would prefer to book your villa on, you should be aware of the different personalities of each lake. Lake Garda, which is the largest lake in the district, offers easy access to Venice and Milan, which boasts charming towns and wonderful shopping. Lake Como, the most active of the lakes, allows for thriving nightlife, restaurants, and shopping. And those who prefer taking relaxing Italian lakes holidays should book on Lake Maggiore, which offers a slightly less touristy atmosphere. Keeping all of these lake traits in mind, as well as how much you are looking to spend, staying at Italian lakes villas during your trip can make for a perfect vacation.

For more information about Italian Lakes Holidays, please visit Italian Lakes Holidays. The website includes travel advice, information about the lakes, Luxury Italian villa rentals information, Italian culture information, and more!

Italian Travel Advice

MONEY

It is never a good idea to carry a lot of money while in Italy or Europe. While the Italian Lakes district is a very safe area, pick pocketing is a common problem in all areas of Europe. Don't carry lots of cash at a time, and make sure it is not easily accessible to pick pockets (the wallet in the back pocket is an easy target).

Traveler's checks are somewhat outdated these days, and a lot of places no longer accept them. Use a credit card; they are accepted in most places and have the best exchange rate. To pull out Euros you can go to Italian ATM machines, known as BANCOMATS. They accept all major debit cards.

Don't forget to alert your local bank that you are traveling to Italy so they don't freeze your account by mistake; that would certainly mess up you Holidays to Italian Lakes!

INTERNET AND PHONE SERVICES

Communication to countries outside of Italy is fairly easy these days. Internet cafes exist in all towns and are not very expensive; usually not more than 12 Euros per hour. A lot of them also have phones to make international calls, paying by the minute.

Another option is to sign up with Skype, where international calls are extremely cheap and you only need an Internet connection to use it.

STORE AND RESTAURANT HOURS

Italy is not as convenient as the US in terms of hours of operation for many establishments. Most places are closed in the early afternoon for two to three hours, and also tend to close earlier at night as well. This includes restaurants.

TIPPING

In Italy, it is not the norm to leave a tip. Usually people will leave the change and maybe an extra Euro. The same is true for taxis; don't leave a tip unless you really want to.

Just remember that the customs in Italy are different from those in America. This is just another reason Italian lakes holidays are so interesting and fun!

For even more information about Italian Lakes Holidays, please visit Italian Lakes Holidays. This site has information related to Travel Tips in Italy, the lakes, Italian culture, villa purchasing information, and more!

Italian Culture

Italian culture is celebrated multiple times throughout the calendar year. These celebrations include holidays, festivals, and feasts, many of which are observed in the rest of the world, however some of which are unique to just Italy. Many of these holidays celebrate saints, such as San Giovanni Battista, which takes place on June 24th and celebrates the patron saint of Firenze. San Rosalia (patron saint of Palermo, celebrated July 15th), and San Petronio (patron saint of Blogona, celebrated October 4th) are examples of some holidays unique only to Italy. However San Gennaro, which celebrates the patron saint of Napoli on September 19th is widely celebrated throughout the world. Italy also celebrates Palm Sunday (Domenica delle Palme), Good Friday (Venerdi Santo), Easter, also called Pasqua, as well as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (Martedi Grasso).

Many of these holidays are celebrated with elaborate vacations. The Italian lakes are considered a popular destination for these celebrations because of their unique beauty and the amount of entertainment offered. While some Americans are not familiar with the Italian lakes, many celebrities consider it a popular destination for their holidays and vacations. The popularity of the Italian lakes has grown immensely ever since celebrities have been spotted vacationing in the lakes district regularly.

An Italian Lakes Holiday is one of the most relaxing and culture filled. With tons to do, including shopping, hiking, sightseeing, as well as eating and drinking lots of delicious food and wine, who wouldn't want to celebrate holidays with the Italian lakes as the main destination?

Most of the holidays in the Italian Lakes region revolve around food. Anytime you are in Italy, the food is going to be delicious, authentic, and there will be plenty of it. However if you are there during a holiday celebration, there will be feasts upon feasts of amazing dishes, many of which that are prepared specifically for that celebration. Religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter have special cuisines and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Another great part of about celebrating holidays in Italy is all the amazing parades and parties held during the celebration. Liberation Day and the Italian National Day are just a few of the holidays in which Italians celebrate their patriotism. Often times there will be parades on boats, such as in Venice, where these parades and celebrations add to the unique culture and variety of Italy. Italian lakes holidays are some of the best kinds of holidays, regardless of whether you are there celebrating a specific holiday or just on a relaxing vacation.

For more free information related to Italian Lakes Holidays, please visit Italian Lakes Holidays. The website includes travel tips, information about each lake, Italian culture information, Italian life, villa rental information, and more!

Hotels in Rivoli Italy

Rivoli Hotel

Blu Hotel

Hotel Des Alpes

Holiday Inn Turin Corso Francia

Starhotels Majestic

Le Meridien Lingotto

Hotel Guala

Golden Palace

Atahotel Concord

Hotel Urbani

Best Western Hotel City

Holiday Inn Turin City Centre

Hotel Due Mondi

Best Western Hotel Piemontese

Hotel Alpi Resort

Hotel Master

NH Jolly Ambasciatori

Pacific Hotel Fortino

Grand Hotel Sitea

Express by Holiday Inn Turin

Lake Maggiore, Como, and Garda

Lombardy, the lakes district located in the Northern region of Italy, is one of the beautiful places in the world. This gorgeous area attracts tourists from around the world every year, and is located between the Alps and Milan. If you are planning Holidays in Italian Lakes, it would be wise to know a little about each lake, since each one is a little bit different.

For the first-time traveler to this region, the most important lakes to visit are Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore. They are certainly the most famous, and also the most visited. If you have the time, other important lakes to visit are Lake Iseo, Lake Lugano, and Lake Idro. The first three lakes all offer lots to do in terms of water sports. There you will be able to do sailing, boating, water skiing, windsurfing, and kite surfing.

Lake Garda is the largest lake of all of them, and is also the most touristy in general. The most vacation tours and packages take place at this lake. The most famous town to visit is Sirmione, which is on a peninsula at the South of the lake. The Scaliger castle is the most famous attraction of the town, but there are also the Virgilio & Catullo Spa complexes as well. As is true with most of the touristy towns in the region, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, as well as lots of shopping.

Lake Como is the second most popular tourist lake. This lake is characterized by mountainous terrain surrounding it on all sides. This is the location of the most famous town of the Italian lakes: Bellagio. This lake is also famous for having very extravagant villas all around the lake.

Lake Maggiore is the least touristy of the touristy lakes. It is a lake that is much more for people who enjoy the outdoors and are looking for a more natural experience. The one contradiction to that is the town Stresa and its surrounding areas, which are of the most extravagant areas of all the lakes district. This is because in older times, Lake Maggiore was a top vacation spot for European nobles and royalty. Lake Maggiore is also famous for hosting numerous movies and music festivals throughout the year.

Italian lakes holidays are some of the greatest vacations of a person's life. Be sure to visit all three of those lakes on your first visit, and then from there, you still have a lot left to discover!

For more information about the Italian Lakes, please check out Holidays in Italian Lakes. This website includes travel tips, information about each lake, Italian culture information, villa rental information, and more!

The Italian Lakes

The Italian lakes district is found at the Northern region of Italy, right below Switzerland. These lakes have been a popular holiday destination since Roman times. Because of the destinations attractions and beautiful scenery, the area still attracts numerous visitors every year for Italian Lakes Holidays. Beginning in Milan, Italy, the lakes boast many attractions for tourists as well as native Italians. Many celebrities are spotted there every year as well!

Lake Como and Lake Garda are definitely the touristiest lakes, with Lake Maggiore coming in at a close third (and Lake Lugano at fourth). Regardless of this fact, if you are a first time visitor, they are all lakes that have to be seen. Some of the other smaller Italian lakes worth checking out are Lake Iseo, Lake Orta, Lake Trasimeno, Lake Bracciano, Lake Bolsena, and Lake Vico.

Traveling to the lakes district for your vacation is not difficult due to the availability of easy transportation from nearby airports. The most convenient airports to land in to get to the Italian Lakes are the Milan Malpanesa, Milan Linate, and Orio al Serio Airport. You can also fly into Swiss airport at Zurich, Switzerland, and head south from there.

When traveling in the lakes district, there is plenty of food to enjoy, wine to drink, sights to see, and items to purchase. The cuisine in the lakes district is delicious, along with the wide assortment of available wine, just like throughout the rest of Italy. The shopping, which ranges from discount bargain shopping to high fashion boutiques, is one of a kind. Try to find your way to a weekly street markets that pop up throughout the district. Perfect for browsing and finding souvenirs for friends and family back home, the street markets are a favorite for travelers on a budget. You will also get a chance to practice your haggling skills. Remember: don't ever pay more than half of what their initial sale price is!

If you are more interested in outdoor activities, many tourists come to swim and hike the exciting trails for their Italian lakes holidays. In fact, hiking is one of the most popular activities to be done around the Italian lakes because of ability to view the magnificent glacial lakes (with Lake Como offering some of the best hiking areas on Earth!). There are also numerous water activities at the lakes including boating, swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, kite surfing, and more! The district also boasts museums, art and architecture, design centers and prehistoric relics, which should all be seen on your trip.

For free information related to Italian Lakes Holidays, please visit Italian Lakes Holidays. This website has information about the Italian Lakes, Italian culture, villa purchasing information, and more!

Turin - the Undiscovered Jewel in Italy's Crown

While Turin is regarded as the industrial powerhouse of Italy, I absolutely defy anyone to fail to be delighted by the historic city centre.

One of the surprising things about Turin is that it has been so underdeveloped as a tourist destination to date, and until the advent of the 2006 Winter Olympics most people associated the city with the Shroud, perhaps Juventus football club, but little else.

That all may be about to change, as although the Olympics is well and truly over and no more than a distant memory to most inhabitants, the legacy of the games is one that could set Turin up to be one of Europe’s hot destinations.

The improvement in infrastructure, such as a completely refurbished airport designed to cater for the thousands of visitors arriving for the games means that Turin can easily deal with a large increase in tourists. Many hotels have been refurbished to a much higher standard as a direct result of the games and the opening of a number of quality hotels has added 3,000 rooms to the city since 2000.

Turin’s reputation for industry is based on the fact that Fiat was founded there towards the end of the 19th century and was to a large extent responsible for the rebuilding of Italy’s economy after the Second World War. What is often missed, though, is Turin’s remarkably rich history, including being Italy’s first capital when it was first unified under the House of Savoy.

Known as “Capital of the Alps”, Turin is also capital of Piedmont and the home of some culinary traditions that we usually accept as being typically Italian. Take the humble breadstick for example – legend has it that they were originally baked to cure a sickly child prince. Breadsticks, or grissini as they’re known in Italy, are made in a variety of shapes and sizes in Turin and they seem to have done their job as the prince grew up to be the first Savoy king.

If you’ve ever seen the original 1969 version of The Italian Job staring Michael Caine then you’ll have taken a tour of Turin. This popular British film is about a heist on a shipment of gold bullion using three Mini Coopers as getaway cars.

The cars zoom around the streets and arcades of Turin and even make an appearance on the old test track of Fiat, on the roof of the giant factory! Although seen at high speed, you do get an impression of the beauty of the city and some of the fantastic architecture on offer.

Both EasyJet and Ryanair have daily flights from London, or you can fly via Rome or Milan.

Cheap Hotels in Italy - Turin

Turin, though not a very popular tourist destination of Italy, does have some tourist spots. It is in the Piedmont region of Italy which is in the far north-west of the country. It is a city famous for enjoyment, chocolate, football and the Turin Shroud. As it is located close to the Alps, it is based for skiing holiday in Italy.

Turin has a few tourist attractions like the Mole Antonelliana, Piazza Castello, and Palazzo Reale. There is a slow growth of Turin as a tourist destination and the hotel industry in Turin has not developed much, but there is a wide range of Turin hotels to suit your requirements. Whatever your reason for travelling, the place you stay plays an important part in making your stay more pleasurable. So plan carefully while making selection for the cheap hotels in Italy as a restful and comfortable night's sleep will make your memories more memorable.

There are many Turin hotels for you to choose from. There is hotel to suit every budget. If you are travelling on a low budget then you have a wide selection of cheap hotels for your choice. There are many luxurious hotels having exceptional service to entice you. The hotel where you stay will determine the memories of your visit to this city.

However, there are a few good cheap hotels in Italy in this city. The Turin Palace Hotel has been a favourite for tourists. The rooms are equipped with Venetian lamps and dark wood furniture. Furthermore, as it is situated near the train station, this will facilitate you to commute to other places.

Another hotel located nearby is the Hotel Piemontese. However, compared to the Turin Palace Hotel its rates are lower. It is a comfortable hotel but not luxurious however, it does provide all you need for your stay in a hotel. Another of the comfortable cheap hotels in Italy Turin is the Victoria Hotel. It has a picturesque location with a view of the Po River and has a garden.

If you have not made any arrangements before hand for your stay, then the last minute hotels that are available are in the Corso Vittorio Emanuele location where you will find a wide range of cheap hotels in Turin. The Dogana Vecchio Hotel is located in the old city. It has tried to reproduce the 17th century baroque style of building and is a comfortable and reasonably priced hotel.

There are many cheap hotels in Italy Turin like the two star hotel Jolly, Hotel Ambasciatori, Turin, Best Western Hotel Genova, Turin, Ac Torino, Turin, Jolly Hotel Ligure, Turin, Pacific Hotel Fortino, Hotel Guala Residence, Hotel Ai Savoia, Hotel Residence Miramonti, Best Western Hotel Crimea, Hotel Fortino and Best Western Hotel Piemontese. All these hotels will suit those who are travelling on a budget. Moreover, these hotels are clean, comfortable and well maintained.

There are many three star hotels in Turin which are priced at mid-range but offer a few extra amenities. These hotels are Hotel Turin Palace, Exporesidence, Hotel Alexandra, President, Comfort Torino Vii, Continental, Plaza, Atahotel Concord, Hotel Best Western Genova, Conte Biancamano and Hotel Villa Savoia. Have a pleasant stay and enjoy the attractions near these hotels in Turin.

Turin – Why It Should Be on Your List of Italian Cities to Visit

Witchcraft; Fiat motors; The Italian Job; the Winter Olympics; Italian breadsticks; Juventus; the holy shroud; and the House of Savoy. What binds all these together is Turin, the capital of Piedmont and the first capital of a united Italy.

Located in the north of the country, Turin has been underdeveloped as a tourist destination until relatively recently and it was only the advent of the 2006 Winter Olympics that Turin began to exploit its tourist appeal.

One of the prime reasons for Turin’s industrial reputation is simply the fact that it was where Fiat was founded towards the end of the 19th century and after the terrible devastation of the Second World War the city contributed massively to the reconstruction of the Italian economy. What it has failed to capitalise upon until now is a remarkably rich history, including the fact of being Italy’s first capital when it was first unified under the House of Savoy.

While Turin is regarded as the industrial powerhouse of post-war Italy, its historic city centre cannot fail to charm. And while the Olympics are well and truly over the improvement in infrastructure means that the city is far easier to get to than ever before. For instance, the airport was completely refurbished to cater for the thousands of visitors arriving for the games means and that improvement alone means that Turin can easily deal with a large increase in visitor numbers.

Another area that has been improved is accommodation; many hotels were refurbished to high standard as a direct result of the games as well as a number of new quality hotels being opened, resulting in an increase of 3,000 rooms in the city since 2000.

Often known as “Capital of the Alps”, Turin is the capital of Piedmont and the origin of some culinary of the traditions we normally accept as being typically Italian. The breadstick for example originates in Turin with a popular legend that they were originally baked to cure a sick child prince. “Grissini”, as they are known in Italy, are made in many shapes and sizes in Turin and seeing as the prince grew up to be the first Savoy king they seem to have done their job.

Turin is also features as the location for the original 1969 version of The Italian Job staring Michael Caine. This popular British film – “you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” - is about a heist on a shipment of gold bullion using three Mini Coopers as getaway cars which give the viewer a speedy a tour of Turin.

Zooming around the streets and arcades of Turin, the minis even make an appearance on the old rooftop test track of Fiat, now a hotel. Although it all passes in a blur, you do get an impression of Turin’s beauty and some of the fantastic architecture on offer.

While the Shroud of Turin is only made available for viewing every 25 years, you can of course go and see Juventus, one of Italy’s best-known clubs. Although plagued by a match rigging scandal in 2006 which saw it relegated to the second division, it looks certain that the team will make it back into the top division in time for next season.

Both EasyJet and Ryanair have daily flights from London. You can also fly via Rome or Milan.