Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Honeymoon Travel Tips: Italy

New ImageToday's post comes from one of the most sophisticated world travelers I know- my friend Phara!  Who, with her fiance Jeff, are planning to honeymoon in Italy!  Here are some of her favorite tips for planning a memorable and romantic Italian getaway!

1.  With any honeymoon, make sure you have a large enough memory card in your camera to cover this special vacation.  However, when traveling in Italy, be aware that most museums will not allow picture taking.  Even in the rare location that the museum you are visiting does allow cameras, flash photography is definitely frowned upon. 

2.  Many museums are closed one day a week, often on Monday.  Plan your itinerary accordingly. 

3.  Most churches are open from early morning until noon, when they close for three to four hours, before reopening again, and close at 6 p.m.  A few major churches, such as St. Peter's in Rome, are open all day.

4.  If you're traveling in the Amalfi Coast or Capri, make sure you adjust your itinerary based on the weather.  If you are planning on traveling to Positano or to visit the Blue Grotto, make sure to go on the first sunny day you have.  Ferries and boats will not run in the rain, and may not even run the day after rain. 

5.  It is best to travel with your own medication.  Aspirin is generally easy to find, but specifics like Motrin, Tylenol and Advil are not.  Pharmacies are generally open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., plus a few hours on Saturdays. 

6.  Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are common in any large city.  Be alert and exercise caution, especially when traveling on the trains.  Try to avoid carrying passports, credit cards, travel tickets and cash together in handbags or pockets.  Only carry with you what you need for the day.  Your hotel will have a safety deposit facility that you can use (but do not leave valuables in your hotel room).  You may also want to make use of a money pouch that can hang around your neck, and tucked inside your shirt.  Watch your luggage, as well. 

7.  Make a copies of your passport before you leave.  Leave one at home with a family member or friend, and keep the other copy with you.  This way, in case your passport is stolen, you have the information you need.

8.  It's best to drink bottled water or mineral, as Italian tap water is sometimes heavily chlorinated.  The "table wines" in Italy are fantastic.  They are often served in jugs or pitchers, and will be just as good, if not better, than most bottles. 

9.  Try to book a hotel that includes breakfast, especially when traveling to the Italian countryside.  In the cities, it will not be difficult to find a quick breakfast, though it may take you out of the way of your sight-seeing.  Smaller hotels in the countryside will charge an exorbitant rate for breakfast, sometimes upwards of 35 Euros per person.  It's best to know that your breakfast is taken care of, even if that means paying a little bit more per night. 

10.  Don't wait for the check at an Italian restaurant; you must ask for it. 

11.  Tipping is usually done with cash, even if you're paying your bill with a credit card.  However, be sure to check if "servizio" or "mancia" is included on your bill.  A service charge is usually included.   

12.  Both lunch and dinner are usually several courses.  A restaurant may think it is strange if you do not order at least two courses (not including dessert).  Pasta usually takes the place of an appetizer, not an entree.   

13.  Do not be surprised if your entrees are not served together.  Many restaurants will serve each dish as it comes out of the kitchen. 

14.  Rent a car for travel in the countryside (i.e., Tuscany), but definitely not in the cities.  Be extremely careful if renting a car in the Amalfi coast.  The roads are notoriously difficult to drive, especially if you're not accustomed to such twisty, narrow roads.  You will also be surrounded by Italians driving very fast and honking at you.  You're better off taking a taxi than risking it yourself.  (Plus, Italian traffic police can charge on-the-spot fees for infractions - meaning you need cash on hand.)

15.  August is the worst month to travel to Italy because most of the country is on vacation.  It will be very difficult to shop and truly enjoy Italy this time of year.

16.  Train travel is a great way to get around Italy.  If possible, buy your train tickets online or in advance.  In the cities, you can also buy your tickets from a ticket agent.  However, be careful with ticket machines.  In Italy, as with many other countries in Europe, credit cards have a chip that American credit cards do not have.  It may not be possible for you to purchase your train tickets from a ticket machine, unless you have cash.  After you purchase your ticket, be sure to "validate" it before you board the train.  There should be a yellow box posted on the wall near train boarding.  Simply insert your ticket into this machine to validate your ticket before boarding.  After boarding, it is customary to greet your fellow passengers with a simply "buon giorno" when you sit down. 

17.  Taxis in Italy are metered (except for flat rates to and from airports).  It's still a good idea to ask the cab driver for a fare estimate before you go, so you can have cash ready and to try to protect you from roundabout trips.

18.  Be sure your hotel is at least a 3 star.  You may be disappointed, as the European hotel rating system is different from the U.S.  Two-star hotels can be very questionable.  Try to request a room that does not face the street.  Lesser expensive hotels may not have air conditioning, so facing the street can be a noisy venture. 

19.  Every restaurant is required to give you a receipt.  (As a general note, you should keep all of your receipts from hotels, restaurants and stores.)  Be sure to carry your restaurant receipt with you when you leave the restaurant as an "Inland Revenue Official" can ask to see it to make sure you paid your bill.  This usually happens within a few meters of the restaurant, but you can be fined if you cannot produce your receipt. 

20.  Italians celebrate many holidays.  In addition to Christmas, New Year's, and Easter, Italy celebrates Epiphany (January 6), Liberation Day (April 25), May Day (May 1), Festival of the Republic (June 2), Farragosto (November 1), All Saints Day (November 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8), and Feast of St. Stephen (December 26).  Feast days for saints are also common in local cities and towns.  If your honeymoon falls over one of these holidays, plan on relaxing that day as small cities and towns may come to an almost standstill. 

21.  Let your hotel know in advance that it's your honeymoon.  Italy is a very romantic culture.  They may be more likely to upgrade you, or just to scatter rose petals or chocolate in your room before you arrive.

No comments:

Post a Comment