SOME TIPS FOR YOUR STAY….
If it’s your first time in Italy or been a minute since your last visit we thought we’d offer some tips for getting around and enjoying your stay. Italy is easy to navigate but a few things may trip you up at times.
DRIVING
Driving in Italy is pretty easy as it’s the same basic rules as the states but their road signs are different so check some of the links below. They can help familiarize yourself with the road signs as well as other tips like “no rights on red” and the infamous ZTL zones in a lot of the larger cities.
- Make sure to request an automatic transmission car when renting. Standard car rental in Europe is a manual transmission so if you’re not comfortable driving one, make sure you request automatic.
- For the most part Italy is an offensive driving environment. If you hesitate to go 10 cars will cut in front of you. Some intersections are pure chaos. Be prepared to have to be a bit bullish and don’t be surprised if someone yells at you.
- ZTL Zones as mentioned above are in all the major cities and some smaller ones. They limit traffic to outsiders unless you have a pass. We’ve been awarded tickets a few times in Rome and the car company bills you and mails you explanations. They’re not terribly expensive but if you don’t pay attention they ad up and the car rental places charge service fees for handling them. Best advice for the larger cities is to find parking lots outside of the centers and walk in and around the areas you’d like to see. Rome is extremely difficult and avoid driving near the center.
- A lot of regular passengers cars in Italy and Europe in general are diesels so check to make sure what your car takes before filling it up.
WEATHER AND DRESSING FOR THE OUTDOORS
The weather in Tuscany in the fall is not to dislike New England in Autumn. That said, the days can at times be warmer than usual in October with cool evenings. The villas have heat but are old stone structures so they can feel a bit chilly at times. Be prepared for both warm weather and chilly air. All of our group meals will be outside where a sweatshirt or jacket may be needed.
Probably best to avoid heels as we’ll be on grass for the ceremony and reception.
DINING OUT
- Italians eat dinner much later than Americans and restaurants often don’t even open till 7 or 7:30 pm. Average time for dinners in Tuscany area are 8-9 pm so if you’re not eating with us and eating out, plan your day around knowing that dinner time is much later than the states.
- Tipping is not as standard as in the states. Most people tip only a few Euros for a meal. For a stop at a cafe for a coffee people may leave .20-.50. Just some change. Tip as you feel but know it's not expected to be as large as in the states.
- If you plan on eating out for dinner and even some time lunch you should make a reservation if you can. Most places if you call in tourists areas will speak enough English to make a reservation. We’re not aware of any reservation apps like Resy or Open Table in the states.
- Most restaurants in tourists areas also offer English menus. They’ll most likely assume you’re American by how you look, its normal, but if you pass the eye test because you’re dripping head to toe in Ferrari gear but don’t speak Italian, ask for an English menu.
RESERVATIONS… NOT JUST FOR EATING OUT.
If you plan on exploring Rome, Florence, or other areas of Italy that have large tourist attractions we strongly advise booking tickets in advance. Or if it requires a reservation, make one. Especially if you want to do a tour, do not wait to the last minute and get stuck with a junk tour service or guide. We can’t stress this enough tho, Italy is one of the biggest tourist destinations and things book out well in advance.
GROCERY STORES
Smaller than the American standard Whole Foods or Krogers but still function the same for the most part Grocery stores in Italy have a few different tricks.
- You bag your produce and then weigh them before going to the register. Next to each price tag in the produce section is a number, that number corresponds to the produce listing at the scale. You put your produce on the scale, find the number for the produce you picked and it spits out the ticket. We saw a few tourists at the cash registers flustered because they didn't weigh their produce first. So just a heads up on that.
- At most meat counters, bakeries, and some pizza shops even they use ticket numbers. Not so abnormal but they also don’t make it obvious so before you wait for ever to get helped take a look around to see if there is a ticket machine giving out numbers.