General Italy travel tips

Traveling to Italy is such a wonderful treat that I have grown to appreciate more over the years and time of my going there. From all the unique places to explore, things to see, food to eat, and culture to experience, Italy is a wonderful travel destination that can definitely be achieved on a budget.

My previous blogs talked about my experiences traveling to Italy, my favorite places I’ve been to, best ways of transportation and accommodation, food in Italy including delicious pizza, pasta and gelato, as well as many places to go and things to see all over the country. This last post will wrap up my blog with more travel tips, and ways to save while on vacation.

Although the wine in Italy is higher quality than the wine here and is usually enjoyed with both lunch and dinner, it is quite expensive. Instead of having wine every meal, try and choose to have a glass either once every day or every other day. Choosing water with your meal will save you a lot. Also, ask for tap water (which is free), because otherwise restaurants give you bottled water which costs extra.

Try choosing more off the grid restaurants to eat at versus large, fancy restaurants that have set menus and more expensive. These places are either restaurants or they sell cheap things like paninis or pizza by the slice which will save you a lot compared to eating out. The food is amazing either way. In addition, it is important to know that restaurants already put the tip on your bill by the amount of people eating, so there is no need to add up and throw in extra because it is already included.

Places to stay in the large cities of Venice, Florence, Rome, etc. are quite pricey. Unless you are traveling with others and find a good deal on an Airbnb, staying right outside the city in a suburb will definitely save you lots because of the cheaper prices. There are many railroad links to the cities so transportation to the cities shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Try not to book your vacation in August if you would like to fully engage in the Italian culture. Not only is this one of the hottest and stormiest months of the year, but this is the month that Italians choose to vacation. Make sure to cover your shoulders every time you enter a church/chapel or else the security outside will make you wear an ugly paper poncho. Also, Italians dress nice in general, complete with nice shoes and sunglasses so be aware of that if you want to blend in.

I recommend buying your tickets to the famous museums online or even getting a tour because otherwise you will have to stand in long lines to get inside. Keep in mind when you are booking tours, most companies will give generous discounts for if you book more than 1 tour with the same company.

In the major cities, it is very easy to get around speaking only English. A majority of the people there know at minimum enough english to hold a conversation because english is the universal language. In the small towns, you will still find people who know a bit of english but it isn’t as common.

I hope these tips will help you consider a vacation in Italy and save a lot as well! By traveling to Italy, you will sure make memories that will last a lifetime.