$$$$$ - Money Matters in Italy

The introduction of the euro tremendously simplified the understanding of currency in Italy.  Prior to that, the lira was the official currency of Italy and it had so many zeros on the end, even an accountant would be hard pressed to keep it straight.

The euro also has made traveling from one European country to another virtually seamless.  The euro has 7 denominations in paper bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro.  Coins come in ‘cents’ of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50, and also 1 euro and 2 euro.

 It is always advisable to have about 100 euro in hand when arriving in Italy;  just enough to get you to your hotel from the airport and get something to eat. 

However, Italians have made it very easy for us to obtain cash while visiting their country.  Leave your travelers checks at home and plan to use your ATM card or credit card whenever possible to be assured of the most current exchange rate and your known bank fee.   ATM machines, displayed as BANCOMAT in Italy, are literally everywhere. 
 
Below are some helpful currency tips when traveling in Italy:

•  Make sure you have a 4 digit numerical pin number for your ATM card as there are no letters on BANCOMAT keypads.
•  Notify your bank or credit card company that you will be traveling out of the country so they do not see unusual activity for you and shut the account down.   Also take a phone number for the bank, and possibly the contact name of a person at the bank in the event that you need to call them from Italy.
•  Do not carry large amounts of cash on you.
•  Italy does have some issues with pickpockets, so protect your purse, backpack, or wallet, particularly when you are in a crowded area and the train stations.  Beware that those pickpockets can also be children, working under the direction of an adult.
•  The old 500-lire coins look very similar to the present 2 euro coin, so always check your change to keep the merchants honest.
•  In snack bars, the price at the counter is less than if you sit at a table and are waited on.  Eat lunch standing up at the counter bar and blend in with the locals to save a few euro.
•  In some family owned B&B’s or shops, they might give a discount for cash, sometimes 5-10%.  It never hurts to ask.
•  Most small restaurants do not accept credit or debit cards, so check first.

What is the best time to travel to Italy? This is a frequently asked question.   

There used to be a very simple answer.  High season was June, July and August.  Shoulder season was April, May, September and October.  And off season was November through March.  In the last few years, as Italy has become a top European travel destination, the borders of high season, shoulder season and off season have become a little blurred.

 As Italy became so popular, many tourists that use to go in June, July and August moved their travel plans to April, May, September and October to avoid the crowds of summer.  It did not take long for hotel and merchants in Italy to catch on to this shift in supply and demand.  Thus, many hotels and resorts now reflect only two seasons, high season and low season.  Airfares usually drop November 1st and are lower through March.
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 As you prepare to make your decision when you should plan your vacation to Italy, there are many things to take into consideration:

• What is the most important feature of your vacation?  Weather, price, crowds, etc.  If weather is the most important, then the months of May, June, September and October offer you the best the climate has to offer.  Moderate temperatures, minimal rain days, and longer evenings (Italy mirrors the United States in adjusting their clocks during daylight savings time to maximize their hours of daylight).
• If getting the most for your euro is top on your list, then consider off season.  You can have that suite on the Grand Canal in Venice at a 4-5 star hotel for more than half the price during the off season.  Or consider how much time you are going to be in your room and downgrade your hotel options in high season.
• The crowds and heat of the summer months, particularly in the cities, can be exhausting when you are doing a lot of walking and waiting.
• Harvest of grapes is a big event at the end of September and particularly important if Tuscany is on your agenda.
• If you are traveling to the Lakes, the Riviera/Cinque Terre, keep in mind that many of these areas suspend their boat services after certain dates in September or October.  And many hotels close from November until March.
• In August, Europeans take their vacations and you will be competing with them for reservations at water locations, such as the Lakes region, Riviera/Cinque Terre and Amalfi coast.
• If traveling in the off season, these cities are your best option:  Rome, Florence, Venice or Milan.  All events are open year round and it is opera season as well.
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In summary consider your priorities and options in making your decision as to which season is best for you.  Of course, if you ask me when the best time to travel to Italy is,  I will respond with. . . . . . .ANYTIME!  

The train is the most efficient and cost effective mode of transportation in Italy.

While planning your trip, go to the Trenitalia website, www.tenitalia.it.  Simply type in your starting and ending destination and the date, and it will give you the train time schedule for that day and the length of time that it will take.

This is great information to print out and take with you on your trip for a reference and also useful as a tool to purchase a ticket should you be in a situation with a language barrier.

First class travel is approximately one-third more in cost than second class.  First class is best to use on a longer rides and also on the Eurostar, one of the fastest trains in the Italian train system.

This is also a great way to soak in the local culture since Italians are the most frequent users of the transit system.
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NOTE:  If you purchase an open ticket on a regional train (no seating assignment) you HAVE to validate the ticket in order to avoid a LARGE FINE!!!  Validate the ticket in something that looks like this!!

Here are your Do's . . . 

• Learn some basic Italian phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, where is . . ?, etc.
• Locate a restaurant where it appears you are the only tourist and use a menu decoder to help you order.
• Be gracious.  Remember you are a visitor in their country.
• Find time to sit in a cafe and people-watch--soak in their culture.
• Count your change after a purchase to keep the merchants honest.  Get a receipt and hold onto the receipt until you are away from the establishment.  Note:  In Italy it is the law that merchants give you a receipt and that you retain the receipt until you are clear of the establishment.
• Reserve museum admission times  at www.italy-museum.com. to avoid long queues.       

                        NOTE:  Reservations for The Last Supper in Milan need to be made months in advance.

• Validate your train tickets prior to boarding as you can be fined heavily if you don’t.
• Expect an odd expression from the waiter if you order cappuccino after 11AM—in Italy this is almost unheard of. They will make it for you, but don’t ask them to enjoy serving it to you.
  
  

. . .  and your DON'Ts!

• Don't expect everything to be the same as "home"—if it was the same, it would be no fun!
• Don't order food/drink from the counter and take it and sit at the table.  Table service is just that, its service at the table.  Or, if you prefer, you can stand and eat at the counter and order the same food for less money.
• Don't speak and laugh loudly in restaurants.  This is considered very disrespectful.
• Don't be demanding--it may actually get you less--not more.
• Don't raise your hand or snap your fingers at the waiters.  Fast service is considered poor service in Italy.  Wait to make eye contact with your waiter if you need his attention.
• Don’t expect the first floor of the hotel to actually be the first floor.  In Italy, their first floor is actually our second floor and their second floor is actually our third floor.  You get the idea!
• Don’t expect eggs for breakfast.  Italian breakfasts consist of yogurt, bread, cereal, fruit and sometimes local cheeses.
• Don’t believe that Americana coffee tastes like our coffee, as it is usually watered down espresso.  Rather try acappuccino or drink tea if you don’t like espresso.