14 Rookie Mistakes People Make As they Travel To Italy
A trip to Italy is the dream of many travelers. It’s not hard to understand why it’s such a popular destination. The historical sights, Italian culture, the country’s beauty, and the food all draw in visitors worldwide. What’s not to love about visiting Italy?
Seasoned travelers have a grasp of the dos and don’ts when visiting Italy, but at one point, they were new and made easily avoidable mistakes. It’s part of the learning process. When you know better, you do better. Here are some rookie mistakes to avoid to save you the embarrassment of silly errors before embarking on your Italian journey.
1. Daylight Savings Time is Different
You may not have realized this, but daylight savings time isn’t observed on the same date in other countries. If you’revisiting Italy around the days the clock changes, you may find yourself missing a flight or arriving too early to catch one.
In Italy, the rest of the European Union (E.U.), and the United Kingdom, daylight savings time, or summer time, starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. In the USA, it starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday of November.
2. Trying to Do Too Much
Unless you’re on an extended vacation with plenty of time to take in the numerous sights, it’s impossible to see everything in seven, 10, or even 14 days. Don’t even attempt it unless you’re a glutton for punishment.
When planning your trip to Italy, map out which places and landmarks to add to your itinerary and stick to it when you’re in the country. You won’t be able to see everything, but that’s a perfect excuse to schedule another Italian vacation!
3. Tipping Culture
Italian restaurant servers are paid a living wage, so unlike servers in the U.S., they don’t rely on tips as their main source of income. Tipping isn’t required and is not expected, but Italians will gladly accept tips.
If you want to tip anyone for outstanding service, it’s customary to round up to the nearest five € (euros), so if a bill is 16€, you round it up to 20€. You should also tip hotel staff, tour guides, taxi drivers, bartenders, and baristas.
4. Consider the Seasons
Just like the U.S., Italy has regions with varying weather conditions. Some parts, like the Italian Alps, are cold, other regions have moderate temperatures, and some places are extremely hot in the summer.
Consider the weather conditions before you travel. Pack the appropriate clothes and shoes for the climate you’revisiting. There’s nothing worse than being caught off guard.
5. Sunday Closures
Once upon a time, most places in America were closed on Sundays. Today, virtually everything is open. The same can’tbe said for Italy, and it’s an important cultural difference to be aware of.
Italy is a very Christian country, and in honor of the Sabbath, many stores in smaller towns and some major attractions are closed on Sundays. You’ll want to confirm what’s open and closed on Sundays.
6. Only Visiting Rome
Rome, Italy, is the top tourist destination in the country, and for good reason. Most of the major landmarks and places you’ll want to visit are there, like the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the Sistine Chapel.
Limiting your vacation to Rome excludes all the other great places to sightsee and experience. Stand on the cliffs of the Cinque Terre and overlook the Ligurian Sea, or lounge on the beaches of Sardinia.
7. Not Observing the Dress Code
When you’re stateside, dress codes are typically observed for work and specific locations and events. Otherwise, you can pretty much wear what you want in most places.
Certain destinations in Italy, like houses of worship, some landmarks, and even certain towns, have strictly observed dress codes that mandate modest attire. That means no knees showing, spaghetti straps, sleeveless tops, etc.
8. The Metric System
Most countries worldwide, including Italy, use the metric system of weights and measurements. The U.S. is an outlier in that respect, which can make it challenging to buy items by weight or length and to know the temperature outside.
Fortunately, there are smartphone apps that automatically complete unit conversions to keep you in the know. So when the weather forecast says it’s 35 degrees Celsius outside, you’ll know it’s a blazing hot 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. No Doggy Bags
It’s customary in America to ask for a doggy bag when dining out. Why let delicious food go to waste when you can eat it later? It’s so common that it would look odd if you didn’t request one for the uneaten portions of your meal.
Many European countries don’t believe in doggy bags, and Italy is one of them. No matter how good the meal was, if you can’t finish it, then give your compliments to the chef and leave the rest on the plate.
10. Don’t Touch the Produce
Americans who are accustomed to shopping for produce will have difficulty with this one. When shopping at an Italian grocer, never, ever, ever touch the produce yourself, particularly at outdoor markets.
Tell them what you’re interested in if you’re buying fresh produce from a vendor, and they’ll retrieve it for you. If the grocery store has paper or plastic bags on display, that typically means you can select the produce yourself.
11. Avoid Tight Itineraries
The challenge of creating an itinerary of places to go is how much travel time is needed between destinations. It’s easy to underestimate how much time you’ll need, especially when you’re a new visitor.
Instead of packing your itinerary with back-to-back activities with little space between them, spread them out with ample time to account for traffic congestion and delays. You won’t feel as rushed and can relax and enjoy the sights.
12. Carry Some Cash
Credit and debit cards are safest to carry while traveling to Italy and are accepted in most stores in major cities. If you plan to travel off the beaten path to smaller towns and villages, having some euros is a good idea.
Vendors in smaller locations may not accept plastic and only accept cash. You don’t need to carry a large amount of cash with you; take just enough for shopping and tipping.
13. Not Buying Advance Tickets
To avoid waiting in long lines for tickets to popular attractions, check online to see if they’re available for sale before you go. Advance tickets save time and hassle, and some offer fringe benefits.
For example, the Colosseum sells Skip-the-Line and Priority Access tickets online. Skip-the-line tickets include a guided tour of the landmark, while Priority Access allows visitors to roam at their own pace.
14. Not Knowing How Eurail Works
Trains are one of the most common forms of transit in Italy. The rail system for Italy and the E.U. is called the Eurail. Getting familiar with it before you travel helps to minimize confusion about how it works.
You’ll need a One Country pass if you’re only traveling to Italy and plan to use the Eurail. A Global Pass allows you to take the train throughout the 33 member countries of the E.U.
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