Why Plan?
Planning for a trip to Italy can be fun but it can also seem like a lot. If you use resources that are out there then it can really save a lot of time and stress. That way when you get there you can spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying your trip! Perhaps this photo from Ischia is some inspiration.Resources
Here are a few resources that you will hopefully find helpful:
- https://www.italia.it/en
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips
- Guide books from Rick Steves, Lonely Planet and others can help work out details for your trip or just get a list of ideas at least
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/ can be helpful in a pinch if you're looking for activities or restaurants and such
- Passport - please give yourself plenty of time to get or renew a passport - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html (USA link as an example)
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
When to go?
When would you like to go is also a question. Depending on what type of activities, weather, and how many other tourists you'd like to be around you might want to choose summer, spring, or fall. It's great to take a look at typical temperatures for where you'd like to go. Here's photo of Sorrento in summer!
Who is going?
Who is going might help inform your planning as well. Folks might have different considerations based on fitness, health, dietary restrictions, mobility, etc...
Where exactly would you like to go?
Deciding where to go can almost seem like an all you can eat buffet is in front of you and you're just trying to choose enough for your plate. What would you like to do there? Beach time? Museum time? Some of both? Seeing several places in a short amount of time or fewer places with more time? Here's Positano from the water!
My own lessons learned from my recent, and first, trip to Italy
Here are some lessons learned from my own trip to Italy in June / July of 2022.
- Book directly with a reputable airline
- Don't use Lufthansa (their customer service is awful and you might not get your money or lost luggage back). I'm still waiting for a refund from them.
- If you book directly hopefully it'll be less back and forth between you and the airline if an issue arises
- If you go to less traveled areas then knowing a little Italian can really be helpful. I took an Italian for travelers class from an Italian woman in Seattle. There are great online resources too such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYe7U2sNIc0 and others. Knowing a little Italian was very useful in Ischia and even with some folks in Naples too. Plus if you know some it's easier to connect with locals.
- If you take a shuttle to the airport be sure you'll have enough time to make your flight. The flight with my group leaving Seatac was a bit close just because the shuttle made several stops.
- Watch out for scammer taxi drivers (Naples seems to have a few at least). They might try to tell you that there's a bus strike or normal taxi drivers are on strike or who know what other reason to get you to take their expensive taxi.
- Watch yourself as a pedestrian (lots of mopeds, etc...)
- Be aware of your surroundings. Someone in our group almost got pickpocketed in Naples.
Have fun!
Throw on some music and plan out your trip! If you enjoyed this please support my work - https://bmc.link/havecarryonwilltravel . Thank you.
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