Choose a campsite with the amenities necessary for a comfortable stay. Make sure the site allows easy access to other locations you intend to visit during the stay. Contact the campsite or tour provider and confirm availability for the dates you wish to travel. Decide whether to bring your own camping supplies or rent a tent from a local travel company. Bringing your own tent involves extra luggage expenses if you intend to travel by plane. If arriving by train or car, consider the practicality of carrying your own tent in addition to a backpack containing your other supplies.
Many Italian- or European-operated companies have tents ready for rental at campsites in Tuscany and company websites detail availability.
Book flights, train tickets, rental cars and anything else necessary to transport you from home to your campsite. If you fly to Rome, decide how whether to travel by train, bus or car to your campsite and if you plan to drive make sure you familiarize yourself with Italian driving laws. Establish how you intend to travel once you have arrived at the campsite and do not assume public transport will be readily available at every location.
Learn a few basic phrases of Italian before you go and remember to bring a phrasebook. Italians outside the major cities are less likely to speak fluent English so be prepared before you go.
Prepare an itinerary of the activities. Check opening times of museums in Florence, Sienna and other cities and research which local festivals and events will be underway during your trip. Prioritize top tourist sites like the Uffizi Museum and Piazza Michelangelo, and use other activities as time fillers.
Make a list of items you will need during your journey and your camping trip. Pack as many of the items as you can since it can be expensive and time consuming to shop for essentials like insect repellent or batteries, during a vacation. Mosquitoes are common in the summer and due to the heat, a small fan and sun block are necessary comfort items. Ensure you have a valid passport and check currency exchange rates online to establish whether the exchange rates are more favorable at home or in Italy. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, but keep some cash separate for emergencies.
