MaryAnn,

That's a terrible price to fly to Europe. I had a quick look at Zoom Airlines and you can fly JFK to Gatwick for $750 return. Gatwick to Rome usually runs less than $ 200 return. We did Calgary to Rome last fall for $800 each return.

Pescara isn't the nicest city in Italy but there are a lot of beautiful towns around it. Chieti sits on a hill with bus service into Pescara and has an amazing museum as well as more bars and restaurants than you can count.
Property is more expensive by the ocean but there is a greater variety as well.

Barry