Before traveling to Italy be sure to have a valid passport that is good for six months upon arrival. Italian is the main language so pack an Italian/English dictionary or phrase book to use in smaller regions where English may not be a common language. Prior to take off purchase Euros (the main currency) at your bank to avoid long lines at currency bureaus or in case of an emergency.
Depending the length of your stay and budget, there are a multitude of accommodations across Italy perfect for any traveler. Hotels are most common and use a rating system just like in America (one to five stars). Italy also has hostels for student or young adult travelers that are booked by the room or bed. For longer trips or larger groups there are apartments, Chaulets and Residences for rental.
Public transportation is more common in Europe than the United States. Nearly every town is reachable by train in Italy as well as bus. SITA is the main bus service throughout Italy and TrenItaliana is the train line that runs throughout the country. Larger cities have a number of airports to fly into with transportation to different hotels and other accommodations.
There are a variety of ways to travel throughout Italy. As an independent traveler one common way to enjoy all of Italy is to backpack from city to city. This means carrying all your belongings in one backpack so it is easy to visit a city, pick up your bag and leave. Often backpackers utilize public transportation (such as train travel). Others enjoy Italy by choosing what cities they wish to visit and booking hotels and transportation in each and between each city like a traditional vacation.
Make a plan of exactly what you want to do in Italy before leaving. Consider what attractions you wish to see and where or what you want to eat. Plan to visit cities in a logical sense that requires less travel time between cities so you have more time to peruse the ruins in Rome or take a boat ride in Venice. Traveling independently means you are in charge of the itinerary instead of a guide. Purchase a guide book to accompany you on your trip so you can truly appreciate what is before you, and take advantage of audio tours at the major attractions.
