TRAVEL TIPS

• Confirm passport is current/renew passport

• Make copies of all your documents

• Flag for your credit/debit card companies you’ll be traveling

• Make a plan re: cell phone coverage

• Buy & pack power adapters/converters! Also consider bringing a mobile charger

• Download google translate & train ticket apps

• Download WhatsApp if you will be communicating this way with family and friends

• Book trains & other forms of transit

• Book tours and tickets to all major sites

• Book wine tours/vineyard visits

• Reserve any really nice (ie Michelin starred) restaurants you want to go to

We hate to admit it, but they’re worth it. Though he may not get all the facts right, we’re a big fan of Rick Steeves. We try to eat and drink off the beaten path, so where Rick really shines for us is in his City Walks and his tours of important sites/museums. Rick also has FREE audio guides/podcasts that are really, really great. You can arrive at a site, throw on your headphones, and hit play on a downloaded audio guide that will take you through most everything you need to know. While we like to consider ourselves experts, I sadly cannot fit the entire contents of Rick’s guidebooks into this website, so we recommend you go for the real thing instead.

From the Vatican and Colosseum in Rome to the Uffizzi & statue of David in Florence, Italy is (obviously!) known for its amazing art & history. But to see these sites one thing is key: planning! I’m not going to go through how to book your tickets for each on here (it’s too much for even me to do), but this information is readily available in all the guidebooks. Just know: you’ve got to plan in advance. Prior to leaving. Hear me on that.

If you’re interested in booking private/small group tours, check out my cousin’s tour company, Clam Tours and hit us up for family & friend rates. They do all kinds of tours throughout Tuscany, Florence, and Rome. From those of all the major art museums, to the Vatican, to food and wine tours!

Their website is available here: https://www.clamtoursitaly.com/

And their trip advisor page (note 5-star rating w/ 150+ reviews) is here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d1752562-Reviews-Clam_Tours_Italy-Rome_Lazio.html

In Italy, you can’t just hail a taxi. It’s a hassle and one I could fill pages on. To get a taxi you either have to go a taxi stand (located throughout cities at high-traffic areas) or you have to call ahead. Taxi Apps do exist but are rapidly changing. We’ll keep you updated (and we’ll keep our fingers crossed) that by our wedding there will be a reliable one for Siena/Tuscany.

Like in the US, taxis are now required by law to accept credit card, but that isn’t always the case, so you should double-check.

Also don’t forget to check that the meter is running, and keep in mind it is normal for the meter to not always start at 0 – for example if you’re coming from an airport or have bags. In Rome, for example, a taxi fare within the city starts at a flat rate ABOVE 0 and varies based on the time! And if you’re leaving from Termini, there’s a surcharge, plus there’s a charge per piece of luggage that has to go in the trunk.

We’ve found renting a car and driving in Italy to be relatively painless, but we get that it’s a bit intimidating. My main recommendation would be to avoid driving in cities if it all possible. Outside of that, at least in Tuscany, you’re on some very easily navigable roads and there are lots of highways to be used.

We’ve discussed throughout the website the ins and outs of renting a car, but here’s everything in one place:

Car rental locations are available in all major cities, near airports, often near train stations, and sometimes around the city centers

Car rental locations close for the pausa. BE VERY AWARE OF THIS.

We’ve used Europcar and it’s worked well. Hertz and other US-based companies are also available but cost more.

The standard rates/cars are manual. You will need to pay extra for automatic.

Do not let yourself be upcharged for tire chains unless you are actually driving somewhere you need them (high altitude, usually between Nov-April, not on highways)

European cars are SMALL. Great for parking, not so great for fitting luggage. Something to keep in mind.

If you’re renting a car, you are technically required to have an international driver's license. I’m not a lawyer, and I’m not going to advise you what to do here, but you will typically not be required to show this to rent a car – it’s only if you get pulled over/in an accident/etc. These can be obtained through AAA.

And a reminder: Italian city centers are usually OFF LIMITS to all but local drivers. These off-limits zones (called ZTLs) ensure that traffic is minimal in the city centers and give Italy the pedestrian charm we know and love. BUT for practical purposes, it means that you MUST park outside the city limits if you want to avoid large and excessive fines. Siena has a number of very accessible parking lots that are easy walking distance from the city center. Read more on our Siena and Nearby page.

Trains in Italy are pretty great. They’re a comfortable, reliable, and quick way to get around. As described in our travel section {LINK], there are two main train companies, both of which provide service throughout the country. In addition to the notes we included on that page, there are two other important things to flag on trains:

1. If you’re on a regional/smaller train (including airport express trains) and your ticket is NOT virtual you may be required to validate your train ticket. This is essential to ensure folks get on where they say they got on (and paid to get on) and to ensure tickets are not used more than once. A conductor will come around and check for validation. Validation machines look like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=train+ticket+validation+italy&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS904US904&sxsrf=ALiCzsa-qkcdfkv_kePDHNOMNgeS4fJlxQ:1671477848139&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjak42btIb8AhUHEGIAHTUqAkwQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25

2. Trains in Italy have assigned seats. Unless you are on a smaller/regional train you have an assigned seat that you are required to sit in and you will get moved if you’re in the wrong place!

Additional notes on trains that were included in our travel section (but are also v important):

1. Train strikes happen. They’re most common in high travel season (so less likely in October), but they do happen. They’re always notified in advance on the train websites, so keep an eye out. They will normally not affect every single train on a given route, but trains will sell out as folks shift to those that are not affected

2. Trains are not always on time – this should go without saying, but give yourself some time to transfer, etc as they do sometimes run late! Trenitalia (being state owned) has preference over Italo Rail, so in some cases is less likely to be delayed, but it’s also much more likely to have strikes.

3. Trains sell out – and get more expensive over time! Much like flights here, trains have a number of different options (economy, base, premium, etc.) and are priced accordingly. As a train journey gets closer, the prices often go up. Make sure you take note of which level ticket you buy and also what the restrictions are around changing your itinerary!

4. Italy is generally very safe, but train travel is often a hub for petty crime. Be careful of pickpockets and hold your things close – especially as folks embark/disembark at stops.

Some train words:

Platform = Binario

Ticket(s) = Biglietto(i)

Train = Treno

Station = Stazione

Wifi is very readily available in Italy. Most restaurants have it and will offer it to you in addition to the usual suspects (the Villa for the wedding of course, hotels, and other accommodations). Trains also usually have wifi (though we’ve experienced differing degrees of success in connecting).

In terms of navigating, both Google Maps and Apple maps have offline map options that you download while on wifi and then use without having to waste data.

All this being said, having cellular data in a foreign country is certainly hugely beneficial. If nothing else, it’s a nice security blanket. Your options are to buy international service through your current provider (safest bet, but expensive) or (in the latest tech!) to buy an eSim card either at an Italian telephone store or online via an app like Airalo. Truth be told, I have not used this option before, so I rec doing your own research here, but from what I’ve read it seems like a really solid option and is beneficial in that it can be used across Europe and be bought prior to traveling. You also are able to keep your own phone number (as opposed to buying a physical Sim card), so you can continue to message friends, etc. without any hassle.

Even over the last 10 years (since Ben and I started dating!) the rate of acceptance of credit cards in Italy has changed dramatically. Nowadays almost everywhere in the cities will take card, making travel in Italy much less of a hassle. That being said, some things to keep in mind:

• You’ll want to make sure you’re using a card with no international fees or you’ll get hit with quite the bill when you get home

• Lots of places still do not take American Express, as their fee is a lot higher

• Many businesses are also hooked up for apple pay, so in many instances, you don’t even need to use your card – you can just get out your phone!

• It’s always good to have some cash on you. Ben and I usually just head to the first ATM we see in Italy (outside of the airport), but if you’re really prudent you’ll exchange some $$ at a bank at home prior to leaving. We’ve found we can generally scrape by for a few hours with our cards though.

• It’s also always good to have change on you. Many places that only take cash will be very miffed if you try to pay in large bills (at times this creates a bit of a frustrating cycle, because you will only get large bills out of atms!). Coins are also typically used to provide a tip (more on that below) and a Euro is sometimes required to use a “public” restroom (for example at train stations).

• At restaurants, the card machine will almost always be brought to you – Italians think it’s kind of crazy that we Americans just let people walk away with our credit cards. If the card machine is NOT brought to you, oftentimes that means you are meant to go to them (ie you bring the check and your card up to the counter/hostess stand to pay). Typically you will not be brought the check in an Italian restaurant unless you explicitly ask for it – even if it’s clear you’ve finished. Just say, “Il conto per favore?”

• Tipping: is not mandatory. Most folks will just leave a euro or two of change on the table after a meal. But please note there oftentimes is a “cover charge” aka “coperto” that is added to the check – this usually covers bread and sometimes water, though many times water is NOT included and is NOT free.

A lot of this is covered above, but eating out can be a bit intimidating in a foreign country! Even for someone who speaks the language, a lot of menu items in Italy are regional specifics instead of your basis words like chicken, beef, pasta, etc. While some folks think that an English menu is a sign of a bad restaurant, I’d note they’re fairly common in Italy these days and they’re nothing to be ashamed of. If you do find yourself in a restaurant without one, it’s always worth asking for a translation (or if you have cell service google translate can be a lifesaver)! As a reminder, prendatazione, or reservations are a must have in Italy!

Italian meals normally break down like this:

• Breakfast: Italians don’t focus much on breakfast. It’s generally a coffee and a pastry. There’s really no such thing as a savory breakfast in Italy, so you’ll have to go out of your way to find that if it’s what you’re looking for. Many people who are much smarter than I have written on the tradition of Italian coffee, so I’ll outsource that info, but suffice it to say: A caffe (coffee) is going to be an espresso. You can also order a cappuccino but you’re going to get weird looks if it’s after 11 am. “Latte” means milk, so unless you literally want a glass of milk, steer clear. Creamer and iced coffees don’t really exist. Generally, you order your coffee from the counter, receive a ticket/receipt, provide said receipt to the barista, then drink your coffee quickly standing up at the bar.

• Lunch: Lunch is a big meal for Italians and many stores, etc. close up while their employees go out to eat. It’s typically served between 12:00-2:30 pm.

• Aperitivo: Happy hour! Good for grabbing drinks that are usually served with free small bites. 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

• Dinner: Another big meal for the Italians. Served from 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm.

• Tipping (above but worth repeating): is not mandatory. Most folks will just leave a euro or two of change on the table after a meal. But please note there oftentimes is a “cover charge” aka “coperto” that is added to the check – this usually covers bread and sometimes water, though many times water is NOT included and is NOT free.

Both Lunch and Dinner menus look similar in Italy and are comprised of:

• Antipasti - starters, usually to be shared – often in Tuscany this is a meat/cheese selection or crostini

• Primi - first courses, these are usually pasta dishes

• Second - second courses, these are usually meat dishes

• Contorni - sides, it’s really common in Italy to get a couple sides (usually vegetables) for the table to share

• Dolci - desserts!

• Digestivi/Caffe - after dinner drinks and coffee are very common.

You will not find these dishes at any self-respecting restaurant:

• Spaghetti and meatballs

• Chicken Parmesan

• Fettucine Alfredo

• Chicken Alfredo

• Chicken + any sort of pasta

Other dishes or Italian specialties are only found in certain regions and may not be available everywhere (for ex., cannoli are a Southern dish and sometimes hard to come by in central/Northern Italy).

A note on water: water is not free in Italy. Usually it is bottled and you order it by the bottle. You will almost always be offered an option of still/naturale or sparkling/frizzante/con gas.

• Crostini or bruschetta: a typical antipasto/starter comprised of bread and a spread (often pate)

• Cinghiale: wild boar, very common to find pasta w/ a Cinghiale ragu (sometimes w/ tomatoes, sometimes white-wine based)

• Cinta Senese: a special type of Pork from Siena, also common in a ragu

• Pici: a pasta typical of Tuscany – hand-made long strands, similar to Spaghetti but more rustic/thicker

• Bistecca alla fiorentina: Florentine steak – normally served rare. Steak in Italy is normally very lean and isn’t all that seasoned because the meat is supposed to speak for itself. Oftentimes folks will eat it with olive oil provided to the table.

• Pappa al pomodoro - delicious tomato and bread soup

• Tartufo: readily available in Siena are truffles! You’ll find them on lots of dishes!

• Vin Santo: a sweet Tuscan wine enjoyed after dinner. Often served with…

• Cantucci: very similar to what we know as biscotti – italian hard cookies

• Panforte: a Siena specialty, dried fruit and spices in a chewy bar (not our fave)

• Pane: bread – note Tuscan bread is not salted, due to a high salt tax (and regional rivalries) in the Middle Ages. It’s a tragedy and something the Bride and Groom will never come to terms with.

• Trippa/Lampredotto: Tripe/a sandwich made of tripe. Not for the faint of heart/squeamish

• Panzanella - a Mediterranean bread/tomato/onion/olive salad.

• Ribollita - a bean stew

As mentioned above, Italians like lunch. Oftentimes stores, CAR RENTAL companies, and other businesses will take a “pause” from the day to enjoy lunch and you can expect these places to be closed between 1 pm - 3 pm.

• This one is tricky (especially because it depends on how long you’re staying!), but here are a few essentials in addition to the obvious clothing:

• Wedding attire (black tie)

• Welcome dinner attire (country chic)

• Wedges or block heels for women (you do you if you want to wear stilettos, but the wedding will be mostly outside and Italy’s cobblestone streets are not easy to walk on!)

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Light jacket for evenings (and for women a coverup for entering churches)

• Toiletries including OTC medications (tylenol, etc. can be hard to find in Italy)

• Chargers + Converters/Adaptors for Europe/Italy (make sure you have the right kind!)

• Passport & copies of your passport

• Your handy-dandy guidebook

• Headphones

• Extra space! (Who goes to Italy and doesn’t do some shopping…)