ITALY
Italy always finds itself in the top 5 of most visited countries in the world. But why? What puts Italy at the top of everyone’s list? Could it be the cuisine, featuring pizza, pasta, gelato, and wine? Or is it the history, encompassing the Vatican, Colosseum, and Duomo? How about the natural wonders, inclusive of Cinque Terre, the Alps, and the Mediterranean? Or perhaps is it the uncommonly beautiful sound of their native tongue? I am not sure I will ever be able to put my finger on the main reason, but if you have yet to travel to Italy, start packing your bags and book your flight!
Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:
Currency:
The official currency of Italy is the Euro (EUR) (€)
$1 USD = €0.95
Pricing for Leisure Travelers:
Average Hotel Expenses = €109-€122/Night ($130-$145 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = €29-€42/Day ($35-$50 USD/Day)
Pricing for Backpackers:
Average Hostel Expenses = €17-€25/Night ($20-$30 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = €17-€25/Day ($20-$30 USD/Day)
Communication:
The official language of Italy is, of course, Italian. In addition to English, tourists will find most natives speak French and Spanish fairly well, too!
Transportation:
Train: This mode of transportation is my recommendation for domestic travel throughout Italy, particularly via Italy’s national railway company, Trenitalia. International travelers can book train tickets through Rail Europe.
Bus: Another great option for travel throughout Italy and the rest of Europe is via bus. Tickets are less expensive than trains, but commute times are longer. Domestic and international tickets can be booked through Bookaway.
Airplane: Air travel between Italian cities is uncommon and expensive. For domestic travel, I recommend sticking to buses or trains. When traveling internationally though, flying makes more sense - especially through Italy’s flag carrier, Alitalia. They service 30 countries worldwide and are reasonably priced. Budget airlines, such as Norwegian Air, easyJet, and Ryanair, are always an option as well if you are pinching pennies!
Taxi/Uber: Most Italian cities have loads of taxis and Ubers. Best practice is to ensure cabbies run their meter as opposed to agreeing upon a price beforehand. The meter will almost always wind up being less than the agreed upon price.
Ferry: The best and most efficient way to access the Italian islands is via ferry. Ferryhopper has a strong grip on the market; I used them exclusively during my travels and they’re absolutely fantastic!
Miscellaneous:
Considering Italy is a very popular travel destination, you will almost always be surrounded by other tourists. Be mindful of this, but do not let it bother you. Besides, this is not a bad thing seeing as though you are a tourist as well! Embrace the crowds and soak in the many wonders of this country!
Italy has 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites, tying them with China for the most in the world!
