Tips for Traveling in Italy

Staying in Rome: If you are planning to stay in Rome for a few days either before or after your workshop, click here for some of our suggestions for things to do and places to eat.

Personal Travel Insurance: is strongly recommended whenever you travel. It protects you against costly penalties in the event that you need to cancel your trip at the last minute. Two reputable companies are: Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599 [Note: for full coverage you must take out a policy soon after paying for your trip.]

Travel Tips For Making your Trip to Europe More Economical

A vacation to Europe can still be affordable, even if you don`t find bargain prices for leather jackets and designer clothes this year. An unfavorable exchange rate and threats of a recession shouldn`t keep you from enjoying Italy and all the treasures it has to offer. Making a few adjustments in how you travel can keep the cost of your vacation within your budget. One strategy is to travel with a package like Il Chiostro where the price includes accommodations and meals. That price will prove to be much cheaper than if you have to negotiate and pay for all of these items separately.
The second thing is to pay for as much of your trip in dollars before you leave for Europe. That way the shifting exchange rate will not affect you. You will know the real cost to you of everything upfront and you won`t get surprising credit card bills upon return that reflect not only the exchange rate but also the hidden fees that the credit card companies now impose on international purchases.

Here are more suggestions for saving money in some of the major areas where you will be spending money on your trip. We have asked our Travel Guru, Denise, for her ideas about some of these areas:

Transportation:

Airfare - you can usually find the lowest fares online (Expedia, etc.), but it requires some hunting and can be hit or miss depending on what the airlines are offering at that instant. But there are some things you can do to improve the available prices:

Try to vary your departure days to travel off peak and see how that affects the price.
Don`t insist on flying direct. Many national airlines like TAP of Portugal offer lower fares when you stop in their hub city first
When flying to Italy, look for fares to Pisa or Bologna. These are on good train lines and usually less crowded and cheaper routes.

"As for airfares, I use Expedia and Travelocity as a base to keep me posted on what`s going on, and then I normally book directly with the airlines. I have played games with them that most would not have patience for. I call it sport. I book every day and `hold` reservations, with secured fare, and check every day to see if it`s gone down. Because I`m frugal and have a good idea on what I `should` be paying, most of the time I won`t purchase until the fare drops. I simply re-book every day until the fare drops. It`s a bit obsessive but, hey - it works. Airlines guarantee the fares for 24 hours, so, as long as you check to see if the fare you are holding is still available, you can cancel and re-book your trip." - Denise

Trains - "If I am doing alot of train travel, I book ahead of time through www.raileurope.com You can check fares on point to point, as well as look into rail passes to see which can make sense, depending on how much train travel you do. It is also very nice and convenient as you do not have to wait in line for tickets - you just have to validate them. If it`s a longer trip (ie Milan to Venice, or Venice to Rome type thing) I always reserve a seat ahead of time. It is just easier for me to do this, as I`m usually traveling alone (without help with luggage) and I can just go to my assigned car and get on. I have traveled without reservations before and had no seats on the train and had to sit on the floor between cars! Not fun." - Denise

Car rentals - gas in Europe is very expensive. Ask for diesel - it is cheaper than regular gas and goes a longer way between fill ups.

Buses between cities are comfortable and often cheaper than trains. Trains can have hidden supplements for Inter City or seat reservations.

Accommodations: if you are staying in one city for at least 3 days, consider renting an apartment rather than spending the money on hotel rooms, especially if you will be sharing with a couple of people. There are a host of rental sites on the internet. Here are just a few:

Getting Cash:

ATM`s (Bancomat in Italy) - these are better than travelers checks or cash. They give the best exchange rate of the moment and you don`t need to wait in lines at the bank.
Credit Cards - although you can take advantage of the best up-to-the-minute exchange rates, beware of charging too much on your credit card because there are lots of hidden fees that your bank can charge that you won`t notice until you get home and see your bill.

Food:
You still get good value for your money when eating in Italy, but if you can save a few Euros on every meal it can really add up.

Breakfast - don`t insist on a big American breakfast, eat the way Italians do: go to a corner café and order a cappuccino and a sweet roll. Coffee is subsidized in Italy so this can cost less than $2. Remember that if you sit down at a café, they will charge you higher prices for waiter service. Notice how most Italians eat their breakfast at the bar standing up.
Lunch - if you make your big meal at lunch you can save a lot. Good pasta dishes with meat and vegetables can be a full meal.
Wine - order a carafe of the house wine instead of a commercial bottle. It`s always cheaper and will usually be of good quality.
Markets - buy food and wine in grocery stores or outdoor markets and make your own meals. Try a picnic in some of the beautiful outdoor and public spaces that Italy is famous for.

Seeing Art:
Churches - some of the best art in Italy was commissioned by its churches and that`s where is hangs today. Many of those are free or charge a nominal entrance fee or lighting donation. Michelangelo`s Pieta is on display for free at the Vatican, several Caravaggios are in minor chapels in Rome. Skip the long wait and ticket price at the Uffizzi or the Accademia and search out the less publicized treasures waiting inside just about any open church doors.