Safety First:

• There shouldn't be any major safety concerns, but with any international travel and hanging in large cities, safety is the #1 priority.

• Try and stay in groups and use the buddy system as much as possible, especially at night.

• Be aware of pick-pocketers! Keep your items close to you and in closed bags. 

• Watch out for scam artists! Common tourist scams include "monks" who try and give you bracelets, people with clipboards who try and get you to sign up for things, "artists" who lay out their paintings where people walk over, people holding bouquets of flowers and try to make you buy some, etc. 

• We will be setting up a group chat for all attending guests. 

• Share your location with close friends for the duration of the trip. 

• Look into your cell phone plans for temporary international plans. These will allow you to send/receive texts off the Wi-Fi and access LTE service. 

• Even if you plan on using Euros, make sure at least one credit card has been notified of international travel. This way it won't be blocked if you need to use it in an emergency.

• Bringing a photo copy of your license and passport is a good idea at the off-chance you lose yours. 

• PLEASE text us if you need anything - you will not inconvenience us! It is a small group to coordinate with and we want to stay connected with everyone. Erin: 434-227-2860 Jake: 516-857-7326. Save our numbers before you go!

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Pack Light and Dress for Comfort

• Pack a carry-on vs. a checked bag, if possible, to avoid international travel lost baggage incidents (we know firsthand how horrible that is)

• HIGHLY recommend getting an air tag and putting it on the inside of your suitcase for checked bags (possibly carry-ons too).

• We used suitcase locks on our carry-ons for extra security in airports and in case of lost luggage. 

• Pack comfortable walking shoes/sneakers as you will be walking A LOT in Italy.

• Pack light and breathable clothing (recommend a lot of linen or dry fit) as we will be there in the height of summer.

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Prepare for Some Culture Shock

• Only feel the need to tip meals if service was great.

• Euro taxi drivers may not be the friendliest (pretend they are NYC taxi drivers).

• No tap water or iced water at restaurants - you will need to buy bottled water everywhere you go.

• If you are not staying at our recommended hotels, check to make sure your lodging has AC and Wi-Fi. AC did not seem to be as strong as American AC in general.  

• Read reviews and make sure you research lodging, excursions, etc. to guarantee they are reputable.

• Some attractions (especially churches or religious-based sites) require a dress code where shoulders and knees have to be covered. Make sure you read into if a specific attraction requires a dress code or not.  ​

Print Everything

• Even though you will have digital receipts of everything you purchase and reserve, we highly recommend bringing a folder of printed versions for these items as well, in case of poor phone service or need for additional proof. We brought a folder with all our printed receipts paperclipped together by each day:

  • Hotel reservations​

  • Excursion and museum tickets

  • Photocopy of your passport as a backup 

  • Transportation reservations

  • Train ticket(s)

• Show up early to all reservations! You never know if you might run into a travel snafoo. We had a tour that was overbooked and the couple who showed up 5 minutes after us, but still early, couldn't go due to space. 

• Come organized! We recommend typing out your schedule and important times. See HERE for Erin and Jake's 2021 itinerary to Italy for reference. 

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Do Your Own Research

•  It is very important you do your own research to make sure you are fully prepared for your travel. We can give recommendations, but at the end of the day, you will need to make selections that are within your budget and needs based on your own research. We are intentionally leaving time for individual activities and exploration throughout, so it is important you do your research to make the most of your trip.

• High Season - visiting Italy in the summer is considered HIGH season. If there are excursions or restaurants that you want to visit make sure to book those reservations as soon as they are available for summer 2025. 

• Off Season - many places close in the off season (especially on the Amalfi Coast). Keep in mind it might be hard to get in contact with someone between the months of November-March for reservations/summer schedule details. For some places these wont be released until early spring. 

• Thinking of doing a tour? Read reviews! Some tours focus more on getting you to a location and letting you explore independently and others are more guided and informative. Decide what your vibe is and read into the experience before booking. Make sure you know the meeting location ahead of time. 

• Look into the best options for currency exchange. Make sure you're aware of fees and how long it will take to make the transaction (ours took 2 days) and shop around. Keep an eye on the exchange rate for the best time to make your exchange. Also- rates change daily, so keep any eye out for the best day to make your exchange. 

 

Purchase Handy and Needed Travel Products​

• Phone Charger Adapter (different outlets in Italy)​. This goes for any electronic device that uses an American power adapter. If you plan on hitting different countries while traveling - look into the kind of adapter you will need. 

• First Aid Kit items (common to get blisters from all the walking)

• Advil and other medications. 

• Travel Safe - if you will be traveling with euros a small travel safe might be a good idea for keeping in the hotel room. 

• Luggage Locks

• Air Tags (put inside luggage and on other important items)

• Travel Laundry Detergent (you will be sweating a lot, you can pack small detergent kits to hand wash clothing in hotel sinks)

• Euros - we would recommend getting your Euros prior to heading abroad. There are several places that offer this service, including some banks.  You will want to watch the exchange rate and look into fees. We used AAA last time and got a decent deal. HERE is a euro exchange rate website. 

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Prepare for the Heat

• We will be going to Italy in the height of summer and it is not uncommon for the days to reach 100 degrees! Luckily we will be on the coast and it should be a bit cooler, but dress light and don't forget to hydrate throughout the days! Click HERE to see July 2024 weather.

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Learn Some Italian

• Despite being in Italy, 95% of people there will be able to speak basic English. No need to worry too much about the language barrier.

• However, it will definitely be helpful to learn and memorize basic Italian phrases, introductions, greetings, etc. to make for some friendlier interactions.

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Helpful Links

• Italian Wall Adapter

• Travel Safe

• Travel Detergent 

• Travel Locks

• Rick Steves Amalfi Coast Book - His Florence book is great too!

• Exchange Rate Website

• Erin and Jake's 2021 Itinerary

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