What to expect when Traveling to Italy?

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conley39

If you're coming in an organized group, transportation, lodging, and many of the meals will be arranged for you. You'll have a great time here. Italy is a beautiful country with a lot to see and do.

Things like food prices depend on where you are and what you order. If you eat in the immediate vicinity of the tourist areas, then prices will generally be higher. Most restaurants have menus with prices posted outside and you can check choices and costs easily. Prices in Venice are particularly high.

A coke may cost you 2 to 2.50 euro. A pizza is 8 to 10 euro, but may be more in the tourist areas. If you order a pepperoni pizza here, don't expect meat. Pepperoni is bell pepper. Order salame piccante instead. You can buy panini, bruschetta, or pizza by the slice and eat standing up relatively cheaply. In many places, food and drinks cost more if you sit at a table because you're paying a cover charge (coperto) and service. You'll be able to buy food in a market much more cheaply. If you're lucky, you'll be able to get to a local festival - usually they serve the local specialties at very low costs at the gastronomic stands.

If you're in Venice, the caffes in Piazza San Marco can be very expensive. You pay a cover charge for sitting, an inflated price for whatever you order, and, if the musical combo is playing, there's an additional charge for that. An espresso that costs about a euro most other places could go as high as 8 euro.

If you're in one of the outdoor markets, don't handle the produce yourself. Ask one of the people working there for what you want.

One thing about the trains - the ICE trains are in Germany, not here in Italy. There are intercity, eurocity, and Intercity Plus trains, but the higher speed trains here are the Eurostar and Alta Velocita trains.

Adam J

Italy was fairly expensive (ie a meal will cost you what it costs in the US if not a bit more) when I went in March (more so in the north than the south) though the exchange rate has improved since then.

In general Italy is easy to get around in, transportation is fairly efficient, and you can generally find people who speak English.

Ellie

Italy is beautiful food and gifts do not cost to much and the food is beautiful there are a lot of great things to see like the leaning tower of peas-er the tr-vie fountain and more. there are a lot of hot guys and girls in Italy. Italy is a beautiful place to go i believe that you will love it.

Charles L

I guess I have a question for YOU: how much experience do your group leaders have in preparing for Italy and operating in the country? This will spell the difference. It is a beautiful country and the people are wonderful. There is a fair amount of petty crime there, though, and things can be a bit disorganized. The US Dollar has soared recently so if you went today you'd be doing well but that may not be the case in March. Watch out for groups of children, and women dressed in brightly colored patchwork clothes, at major tourist sites. And here's my favorite tip about trains: the "Rapido" is not rapid; the "Espresso" is not express, and the "Diretto" is not direct. The fast train is called the ICE (Inter City Express). The farther you are going, the more critical it is for you to take the ICE train rather than the others, which will stop many, MANY times. And here is the best safety tip I can give you: You are a foreigner and you cannot help people. You don't understand emergency procedures, Italian law, or anything like that. Do not respond to questions, requests for assistance, people acting lost, etc. It seems cruel but in Italy most of these things are scams that will harm you. Just leave and do not let people touch you or even get near you. Have a GREAT time, Italy is rad.

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