Choose the places in Italy to visit. Ask friends or family members who have been to Italy what they recommend seeing. Check out a guidebook of Italy that lists popular places to visit and things to do in Italy. Make a list of all the places and attractions of interest.
Italy has many regions and attractions. For Italian countryside and wine, take a tour of Tuscany, located in northwestern Italy. Venice, in northeastern Italy, is home to several museums, sculptures, churches and other relics of the Italian Renaissance. Milan, in northern Italy, is a popular city to tour to experience Italy's high fashion scene. Visit Rome in central Italy to experience Italy's capital and Italian urban life.
Visit travelvantage.com to see a list and brief description of all 20 regions of Italy.
Research the places and attractions on your list. Start with the Internet; you can search for each place or attraction in popular search engines or find the direct website. Take note of the details for each place: hours of operation, cost, location, directions, closures due to maintenance and so on.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for on the Internet, consult your Italy guide book. If no information is listed there, contact a travel agent. Travel agents often have brochures and other information on popular Italian attractions and destinations. If you still cannot find the information you are looking for, call the concierge desk at the hotel you will be staying at.
Museums in Italy are popular, due to the abundance of famous art from the Italian Renaissance and other eras. Because of their popularity, museum lines can be long (sometimes several hours). Bypass those lines by buying tickets online at the museum's website or selectitaly.com. Some museums in Italy, such as Galleria Borghese and Vasari Corridor, require you to make reservations in advance, though most museums do not require a reservation.
Other activities, like wine tasting in Tuscany, often require reservations or tickets. It is always easier to make those arrangements online in advance of your trip. It will save you time when you are touring Italy.
Book your travel and hotel accommodations in Italy. You should plan your trip around the places you plan to visit; travel to Italy when the places are open (if they are seasonal), and stay in a hotel or hostel that is conveniently located to the places you plan to tour. Make rental car or train reservations if you plan to travel to multiple cities in Italy.
To view hotels and other accommodations in Italy, visit italyby.com, italialodging.com, italytraveller.com or use search engines or travel sites like expedia.com or hotels.com. Italy has a wide range of hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts. Prices vary for Italian hotels, based on season, location and star rating. But, expect to pay around $100 for a three-star hotel throughout most of Italy, as of 2010 (higher on weekends, during the summer or for hotels near popular attractions).
Make a schedule for your trip to Italy. Include dates of arrival in each city, name, address and phone number of the hotel you are staying at. Italy's country code is 39. To call a place in Italy from the U.S., dial 011-39-area code-phone number. You will not need to dial the country code when you are calling from Italy. List the places you plan to visit each day, along with addresses, phone numbers and reservation numbers (if applicable) for each place. This list will be an easy resource for you to carry at all times in case you get lost or want to plan ahead each day.
Know the Italian culture before you go. Typically, Italian dinners are at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. and involve a pasta course, followed by a fish or meat and vegetables course, followed by fruit or dessert. Breakfast in Italy is usually at 7:00 a.m., and consists of espresso, yogurt, or milk and cereal, and lunch is around 1:00 p.m. (usually a pasta).
It is rude to point at people in Italy. Also, many people (men and women) walk down the streets arm in arm. This is considered an honor to walk like this, and not a romantic gesture. Good friends with no romantic relationship (either gender) often walk in this manner. You waiter usually will not bring the check unless you ask for it; people do not rush you out of restaurants. It is a plus if you speak some Italian, but even if you do not, just be polite and smile, and most locals will be happy to help you with questions you have.
Travel to Italy and tour the places on your list. Bring your camera, Italy guide book, maps if you are driving and a journal for you to write down your experiences each day. The travel journal and photos will make a wonderful memento when you get home from your trip.
