I’ve been out of the country twice, with 25 years between trips. Much has changed because my last trip with before 9/11. My recent trip to Italy was with a seasoned traveler, so I was more prepared than I might have been, however, I learned a few things that I would do differently next time.

1. Remove five items of clothing from your suitcase. And then five more. I did the first five, but not the second because I like to have choices. Choose a color scheme (I chose black and white) and pack mix and match clothing. Pack fewer underwear and socks because they can easily be washed out or laundered.

2. Do a little research about what to wear in season in that country as a guide for what to pack. It was so hot in Milan and Florence in July and the black skort and top I brought, while comfy and airy, were not the thing to wear on a hot day. Many people wore white cotton or linen dresses. Fortunately, that’s exactly what shops were selling so I picked up two very inexpensively.

As part of the trip, we did a three-day Andrea Bocelli tour where everyone dressed for dinner and I didn’t feel like I had the right clothes. I would bring something fashionable, upscale or sophisticated to wear next time.

3. Don’t count on duty-free shops for the best prices. I wanted to buy olive oil and olives and wine from a wonderful five-story mall in Milano, but it was recommended that I wait both because they would be heavy to carry around on trains and buses and because they were sold duty-free in the airport. Unfortunately, the selection wasn’t the same and the prices were much higher for many of the items.

4. If you’re traveling to several places taking trains and buses, the advice from my fellow traveler was to take a suitcase that you can lift and carry. I was limited to what would fit into a 22″ carry-on, which made me take a hard look at what to pack put those stairs!

5. Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs. But….if you do overpack, you can buy a small rolling suitcase at one of the many tents or shops for 20 Euros (approximately $20)!

6. If you go to the Duomo’s (cathedrals), cover yourself to your knees and cover bare shoulders or be prepared to purchase a covering that looks like a paper hospital gown. Scarves work well to toss over your shoulders.

7. If you travel abroad often, get the Global Entry. It’s about $100 and good for five years. To streamline entry at Customs into the US, download Mobile Passport Control (MPC). The customs line was so long we couldn’t even see the desk, however, with MPC, I breezed right through.

8. Purchase your tickets for galleries and museums ahead of time so they’re not sold out the day you want them.

9. You may have to pay for the toilette (WC, Bagno) as few public restrooms are available. In the cafes, you can order a Cappuccino and use the bathroom for free.

10. Water isn’t free, even at restaurants. For a small bottle, we paid anywhere from 1 euro to 2.50 euros (about $1-$2.50.) And you have a choice of frizzante (fizzy) or naturale (natural.)

11. Bring a hat, sunglasses and a fan in summer! These saved me. I had both a paper fan and picked up a little battery operated one for 5 euros.

Helpful things to know:

Italy time is different. Most evenings we ate at 8:00 or later. The streets were vibrant with activity, music and lights.

A coperto (cover charge) is a per-person fee charged in restaurants to cover the cost of table linens, tableware, bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This does not cover tip.

One of the most relaxing things we found is that restaurants don’t rush you out, like here in the states. If you’re at a table, it’s yours. Relax, enjoy the wine. After ordering and serving the food, the waitstaff might not even come back until you ask for the check.

I found the prices to be far less expensive in the shops in Italy than the US, at least in the places I visited (Milan, Pisa, Volterra and Florence.) A cotton/linen dress was only 20-30 Euros (@$20-30.)

Yes, you can have wine shipped. We had quotes from 60 euros for three bottles to 100 euros for twelve bottles. So it depends on how badly you want that wine shipped.

I’d love to hear your travel tips. Please share!

Angela DiCicco

theitaliangrandmama.com

theitaliangrandmama@gmail.com

Author of Better Than Before: One Couple’s Journey After a Tragic Accident

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