Italy Travel: Information Tips Advice

Italy has a tourist tradition dating back 2000 years.  The saying "all roads lead to Rome" was, at one time a truism because Rome was the centre of Europe's road network.  The huge artistic and cultural appeal of Italy still holds the modern-day traveler in awe. For those of you missed out on Art History and appreciation read Rick Steve's Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler before leaving home, to avoid the "oh no just another gorgeous old church" syndrome when confronted with St Peters!

In fact Italy is a lot more than piles of Roman ruins and Renaissance art and antiquities. There is of course the food and wine: real pizza, nothing like Pizza Hut's, gelato, coffee and cakes to die for, and don't mention the pasta.  After all the food you will probably need to check out the beautiful walking tracks in the hills of Tuscany and Umbria. 

Pre Departure Travel Tips for Italy 

• Avoid the peak tourist season June through September; either side will give you still great weather and a better chance of seeing the attractions without the queues and crowds.
• Check your passport is up to date and valid for several months after your return home date.  If you have an American, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport you will get 3 months entry on arrival so long as you are a genuine tourist.  Those on a British passport can of course travel and live in Italy courtesy of the EU rules.
• Bring as little as possible.  One small bag that you can easy carry yourself on and off planes, trains and up and down stairs will give you a lot more freedom.  Don't expect every hotel to have an elevator - they don't.

Best Air Fares to Italy

• Most long-haul flights arrive in Rome or Milan and these gateways will give you the best selection of discount flights.  You may get a better over-all cost looking for a cheap flight into London or Amsterdam and then connecting on to Italy using a local European budget airline such as EasyJet or Ryan Air.
• If you do use a low cost airline check how far out of town the airport they are using is and how much it will cost you to get back into town.  Few of the cheaper airports will be as convenient as Rome's Fumcino airport where you can catch the Leonardo Express train to Rome's Termini Station for Euro11
  

Travel For Tips for When in Italy

• Don't worry about not speaking Italian - if you speak French or Spanish you won't have a lot of problem.  Even if you don't patience, acting, sign language and a sense of humor will get you a long way.
• For cheaper eating out look for "menù del giorno" - menu of the day - which is a set or restricted options multi-course meal usually at offered at lunch time.  The menu will often include the price of a drink: wine or water or a coke - but most adult Italians would have a glass of wine with lunch.
• If you don't normally use the metric system for weights and measures study up on it before leaving home.  Also work out the rough currency conversion for your own currency to Italy's euro. beware that 1.000 in Italy means one thousand and 1,25 means one and a one quarter.
  

Traveling within Italy: Travel Tips

• Train Travel.  If you are going to use the Eurail pass for discounted train travel within Europe you need to purchase your pass before leaving home.  Do you figures carefully though, many of the passes are not good value unless you are traveling from one end of Europe to the other.  Also if you are over 26 you will have to travel first class on an Eurail pass while second class is comfortable and available for tickets bought in Italy. 
• Buses are often cheaper and more frequent than trains, and go to small hill towns that the trains don't reach.  They are not as comfortable for long distance travel as trains though.
• Ferries connect Italy with many countries including Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta and France. Italian ferries also connect the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia with the mainland.
• Italy has a fairly low rate of crime.  Be careful of pickpockets in major cities but there is probably less violent crime than in your home town.  Be aware of your surroundings in large train stations and popular tourist sites.  The Romans never carry a bag slung over a shoulder but hung diagonally across the body - and you should too.

Whether Italy is your first or hundredth overseas trip you will almost certainly discover why everyone loves the country.  Venice is sublime with its waterways and plazas, Rome hectic and extraordinary.  The historic site of Pompeii leaves a huge impression of a city just struck down one morning.  Have a great Italian journey.

Elisabeth Sowerbutts has been traveling since she was seven, and has to date visited over 55 countries.  She firmly believes that traveling is to good to be left to the young and you are never too old to start travelling.