Money, shopping and practical tips
Budgets, scams, phones, visas, packing and outlet shopping.
Travel Safety in Italy
Anytime we're outside our familiar surroundings, it's a good idea to take safety precautions you might not think about at home - even when you're traveling in a country like Italy.
Travel Safety in Italy: Travel Gear
Traveling in Italy doesn't really require lots of travel gear purchases (unless you're planning to do some specialty activity like rock climbing or skiing, that is), but there are some general pieces…
Travel Safety in Italy: Tourist Scams
Tourist scams are probably about as old as tourism, and it seems there are new ones popping up every day.
Travel Safety in Italy: Money Safety & Anti-Pickpocketing Tips
Although your risks of getting into a situation in Italy that's dangerous to your person are fairly remote, pickpocketing is a very real concern - especially in some cities that are big tourist…
Travel Safety in Italy: Your Passport
Intrepid travelers are fond of saying that as long as you've got your passport, you can get whatever else you need along the way.
Italy Roundtable: 8 of My Favorite Italy Gifts
This marks the 7th month for the Italy Blogging Roundtable , and the topic we chose for the month is GIFTS.
Italy Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Italophile
Updated Italy Gift Guide for 2011, including new additions! As we begin to think about gift lists for the upcoming holidays, I thought it made sense to put together an Italy gift guide - you can…
8 Practical Tips for Family Travel in Italy
In my many years of traveling in Italy, I've often noticed how kid-friendly and family-centric the country is - but without kids of my own, it's usually best for me to leave things like writing…
3 Week Italy Itinerary: Options & Planning Tips
If taking a two-week trip to Italy is great, then spending three weeks in Italy is better.
1 Week Italy Itinerary: Options & Planning Tips
While a two-week vacation is a popular amount of time to spend on a holiday, not everyone has two weeks to spare - and even if you've got plenty of vacation time, you may not want to use it all up in…
Italy Packing List
Sometimes trying to figure out what to pack for an Italy trip can seem like a daunting task, and if you're a procrastinator (like me) it becomes more of a hassle when you're trying to find out what…
Italy on a Budget
After recently putting together an in-depth guide to planning an Italy travel budget , I wanted to follow up with some ideas for ways to make your visit to Italy cost less than the average.
What’s Open When in Italy
There are so many potential complications to planning an Italy trip, and one of the big ones is something many people don't even realize they need to think about - the "what's open when" question.
Naples at a Discount: Campania Artecard
Naples has long been a less expensive destination to visit than the more popular cities in Italy, even during its busiest season - but what budget traveler would turn down an opportunity to save even…
How to Budget for an Italy Trip
After more than four years of work on WhyGo Italy, and as the number of comments and emails increases each month, there are themes that have developed in terms of what people ask me.
Outlet Shopping in Italy: Finding the Designer Factory Stores
Italy is, for many people, synonymous with fashion. It's only logical, therefore, to incorporate a bit of shopping into any trip to Italy.
Roma Pass: What it Covers & Whether it's Worth the Cost
Pretty much every big city in the world that plays host to tourists sells some kind of "city pass." These tend to include some combination of that city's museums and attractions as well as use of…
Why You Might Want to Consider an Italy Travel Package
Once you've decided on a trip to Italy, you've got some choices to make. For starters, you can make all the arrangements yourself, or you can opt for one of the many Italy travel packages out there.
How to Get a VAT Refund in Italy
If you've ever looked closely at a shopping receipt in Italy, you've probably seen the acronym "IVA" at the bottom and thought that Iva person really had her fingers in with lots of companies...
Duty Free Exemptions for Traveling in Italy: What You Can Bring Home Without Paying an Import Tax
I don't know about you, but I like to bring an empty duffle bag with me when I go to Italy.
A Passionate Naples Tour Guide: Marina de Martino
Full Disclosure & Whatnot: Just so y'know, Marina gave me this mini-tour free of charge. My opinions are my own.
What to Wear in Italy
One of the questions I often get when people are asking me about their upcoming Italy trips is, " What should I wear in Italy?
The Bank Machine in Milan Ate My Debit Card
This was written on the train from Milan to Rome on May 30, 2009. Just to prove that travel disasters (or things that seem like disasters) can happen to anyone, no matter how experienced or…
How to Visit Rome with Kids: Travel Tips
I'm not a parent, so although I know Italy is a very kid-friendly travel destination I don't know the ins and outs of visiting Rome with children. That's where Nancy Solomon of Ciao Bambino comes in!
5 Essential Venice Survival Tips
For whatever reason, I'm getting a lot of questions lately about Venice . I'm pleased by this, because I hold the city very close to my heart and am always eager to spread the Venice gospel to anyone…
Pompeii & Herculaneum: History & Visitor Tips
Pompeii and Herculaneum, Your Gateway to the Past Sand-swept Egyptian pyramids, gondolas slicing through a Venetian canal, a geisha's enticing perfume as she toddles by in a small district in Kyoto.
Rome Survival Tips for the First-Time Visitor
I'll admit it - I don't love Rome . I want to, believe me. I want to fall head over heels for its chaotic blend of modern and ancient, its larger-than-life attitude, and its hidden gems.
Italy Q&A: Daily Budget for Italy
I got this great question by email, and thought I'd answer it quickly and add it to my list of Italy Q&A posts. It's from Jen, who says: We are planning our first Italy vacation for about 10 days.
Using Debit Cards in Italy
One of the biggest headaches about foreign travel used to be figuring out the whole money thing.
Canada Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the Canadian Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it's good to know they're there if you do!
Leather Shopping in Florence: Jessica's Guide
You know that devilish trick that Cinnabon has in American malls of pumping its sickly sweet scent into the corridor outside the shop, so that anyone within a 100-foot radius is compelled to follow…
Visiting Torcello Island in the Venice Lagoon
When even your aimless wandering in Venice hasn't gotten you away from the crowds and you're looking for a little escape, you can head to the other islands in the Venetian lagoon.
Italy Q&A: Seeing Italy on a Budget
Here's another of my Italy Q&A posts. Melanie asks: My hubby and I would love to spend some time in Italy.
January Sales Begin in Italy
January might not be the hottest month in Italy weather-wise, but it's one of the hottest months in terms of shopping.
South Africa Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the South Africa Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it's good to know they're there if you do!
Ireland Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the Irish Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it's good to know they're there if you do!
New Zealand Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the New Zealand Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it's good to know they're there if you do!
Australia Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the Australian Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it's good to know they're there if you do!
Tipping in Italy (or To Tip or Not to Tip: That is the Question)
Seasoned travelers know that when dining out in a foreign restaurant, one of the biggest cultural conundrums is simply this: To tip or not to tip - what is the answer?
British Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the British Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it’s good to know they’re there if you do!
U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy
Here is the contact information for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy . While you hope to never need their services while you are traveling, it's good to know they're there if you do!
Struggling With Italian Clothing Sizes
I knew I wasn't the only person who struggled to find Italian trousers that fit on my last trip to il Bel Paese , but sometimes knowing you're not alone doesn't alleviate the frustration or…
Shopping in Italy - What Size Am I?
The first time the husband and I visited Italy, I found myself turning up my nose at the latest footwear fashions, so even though I'd been all excited about buying some Italian shoes, I came home…
Visiting Venice on the Cheap
I'm not a newspaper reader, but the husband pointed out an article about Venice in the local paper this weekend, so of course I grabbed it.
Insurance Against a Negative Italian Experience
When I first set foot in Rome in 2001, I'd already read countless reports of the pickpocketing gypsies around the Colosseum.