Whenever you travel internationally, always make copies of everything you have in your wallet, especially a colored copy of your passport – if you lose it, it’s that much easier if you have your number and a copy on you. All hotels ask you to show your passports as you check in, and in some cases they may request to hold onto your passport untll you check out.
A few things to know about hotels in Italy:
Just like any city, you can get ripped off it you do not know the difference between a gypsy cab and a legitimate one. The legitimate ones have meters and are usually white. Their fee will start at different rates depending on how far they came to get you. Often they charge per person so make sure you clarify when asking about rates. The gypsy drivers will have taxi licenses and even act insulted if you question if they are cab drivers.
It is not common to tip in Italy. but whenever you do it is appreciated. If you booked a personal tour guide and they did an exceptional job you may want to tip them. Otherwise these fees are usually included in your costs. There are some places that will list on the menu that they charge a cover charge (usually a few euros per person). This is just a fee, not for music or anything else, just for sitting down and eating.
Whether you want to visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican museums, the Uffizi or any other famous Italian attraction, make sure you know any rules or regulations. Always check ahead before arriving, there may be a parking fee involved and also entry fees.
These are the local trains in the major cities. They are much cheaper than taxis and the system is easy to use.
These are everywhere when you least expect it, especially in big cities, Like, Rome, Napoli, Milano and more. Carry a knapsack and make sure the opening is towards you. They take advantage of crowded tourist sites and often bump into you or ask you questions to distract you from what they are doing. Along those same lines, be careful who you choose to ask to take a picture for you.
Plan on using your ATM card while you are in Italy to draw euros from your American bank account. Check with your bank to find out your maximum daily allowance and the exchange rate your bank charges. You can also choose to obtain some euros ahead of time at your bank, but Italy usually has a better exchange rate. You can get them when you land at the airport also.
Before you travel, call your cell phone provider and ask them for their best deal on phone calls, text messaging, and internet service while you visit Italy. Usually a daily fee is an option for international service, but you do have to activate it with your carrier and provide the dates you will be traveling.
We suggest to use a combination of Skyscanner, CheapoAir and Google flights to source the best flight deals for Italy.
To find the best deals, set up alerts on Skyscanner for the month you wish to travel and wait for price drops.
Citizens of the United States can enter Italy and stay up to 90 days without a visa within a 180 day period. You must have 6 months validity on your passport.
More information, follow links below:
Renew or apply for your American Passport:
Expedited passport renewal:
Rome, Florence and Venice are some of the busiest cities for tourists in the world thanks to their famous attractions – the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery and Doge’s Palace.
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