TRAVEL NOTES and links

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers, “take only what you need” to Italy and from the following packing suggestions!

  • Pre-trip check off:
    Made 2 copies of passport: one to carry daily as ID and one for travel buddy.
    Made a copy of all medications and dosages — generic names, not brand names
    Reduced to 1 sheet the addresses of “must send postcards” and phone numbers
    Xeroxed copies of pertaining town info from different guidebooks
    Called the bank to assure there was no foreign security lock on my ATM transactions
    Authorized the overseas use of my credit cards only for the specific dates of my trip
    Checked homeowner’s insurance policy for luggage/camera coverage
    Gave someone at home my complete itinerary, contact and hotel phone numbers
    Confirmed them as collect-call point of contact if partners and I get lost for too long.
    Put hotel/destination address, as well as home address, inside and outside all my bags
    Reduced my packing – several times.

For Dolce Vita Travelers Don't forget you’ll receive a detailed itinerary with all hotel and villa addresses/phone numbers before you depart. Make copies to leave behind with your friends and/or family and carry a copy with you throughout your trip. You will also receive your tour director's Italian cell phone number that can be reached by anyone in the US or by you while in Italy.

ACCOMMODATIONS

When traveling on your own to Italy, your first concern should always be accommodations in relation to logistics. It’s quite impossible to stay at a magnificent villa surrounded by lush countryside, yet also be within “walking distance” of a town. The same is true for accommodations with an ocean view. Certainly you can view the ocean from your balcony, but are you o.k. with the 367 steps back up to the hotel after a day at the beach? Many hotels on the Amalfi Coast require a minimum 40-minute walk from room to sand. Find specific answers to distances. What is the “real time” walking distance (beware of “a stone’s throw from the beaches “ unless you plan on jumping off your balcony) Are the streets lit at night? Is it a highway? Will you need a car? What is the bus frequency and taxi availability? Additional considerations and questions for smaller hotels, villas and B and Bs…  Is the AC in the summer, heat in the winter, IVA (tax), week’s end cleaning and laundry facility included? Is final payment cash only?

For Dolce Vita Travelers, we have meticulously selected all the hotels and villas for our trips. The criteria is simple: location and comfort. Location refers to cappuccino aromas, splendid views and sounds of church bells (in Cortona  -roosters, in Florence the market, in Positano - waves) right outside your window. You won’t be staying at hotel airports or isolated "burbs" with other gigantic tour groups. Comfort refers to cleanliness, AC and heat. Keep in mind most Italians prefer an open window and ocean breeze to centralized air. In addition, some of the older hotels (in the center of town where we like to stay) can occasionally have the aches expected for a 200-year-old building. With age comes character… Also, since our adorable villas and hotels are usually family-run, you may be responsible for carrying your own bag to the fourth floor (another reason to pack light.)

Home is where you choose it to be  —Anonymous

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MEALS

When traveling on your own to Italy, if there’s any way to pre-search the regional specialty, do so. Try to order in accordance with the season and the area; for example, the best mozzarella lies in the Rome and Naples area, order fish in Venice, truffles in Umbria, pesto in the Cinque Terre. You can’t go wrong anywhere with the “specialità della casa” accompanied with the ”vino di casa”. Remember that Italians take their breakfast quite lightly, “un cornetto e un cappuccino perfavore”, their lunch seriously and usually at home, and their dinner leisurelly and much later then most of the tourists. For dinner it is usually expected that you order 2 courses from the basic 4 of antipasto (appetizer), primo (pasta/rice/soup), secondo (meat/fish) with contorno (side), and dolce (dessert ) or frutta. , I suggest skipping dolce and heading for a gelato and an after dinner passeggiata. For the most part waiters believe it rude to bring your bill, they aren’t necessarily ignoring you so much as they are allowing you to be languid, not rushing the dinner experience. There’s no such thing as “lets grab a bite to before the show”, for Italians -dinner and the atmosphere is the show. IVA (tax) and coperto (cover charge per person) is always included in your bill. Usually servizio (service) is too, but its customary to leave a bit more if service and meal were as expected. Try to eat where you see Italian people, not Italian guidebooks. 

For Dolce Vita Travelers, we always celebrate the local cucina and share a group meal in each of the different towns we visit. We will prepare you in regards to the local specialties and we hope you'll be as adventuresome as possible. This is truly the "never a complaint" department! With prior notice, we will accommodate all special dietary requirements. Breakfast is always included, as well as any Lunch or Dinners, indicated with a B, L or D on the itinerary. We’ll also have endless opportunities to visit the alimentari (local deli) and produce stores for figs, blood oranges and panini con mozzarella! Buon Appetito!

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TRANSPORTATION

When traveling on your own to Italy or for Dolce Vita Travelers as a group, one still can't beat the individual fares found on travel sites such as www.orbitz.com, www.travelocity.com, and www.expedia.com. We encourage you to take advantage of their low prices and convenience or your own accumulated mileage points. We are more than happy to advise along the way. Also, travelers are still finding satisfaction on sites such as www.insuremytrip.com for “temporary travel” insurance. From lost baggage or flights to more serious medical needs can be covered with one-time fees starting from $80.

For Dolce Vita Travelers, transport and logistics are the most important variable of any adventure. DVA will provide all transportation in regards to scheduled activities. We will use planes, buses, trains, ferries, fishing boats, chairlifts and even horses to get us deep into Italy. However, there are forces beyond our control (winds caution a boat ride, a strike changes the train schedule, traffic delays arrival...). In those cases, rely on your tour director to have a back-up plan. Obviously, punctuality and flexibility on everyone's part will be required to move a group of 18 independent minds in the same direction. With your cooperation, DVA will make sure you get where you need to be as efficiently and as safely as possible. We’ll be happy to assist you throughout your trip with any additional personal requests (i.e. trip extensions, car rentals, taxi calls, etc.)

Please contact us directly for individualized itineraries and transportation services apart from our scheduled adventures Sybil@dolcevitaadventures.com

Happiness is not only a place to travel to; it's a way of getting there. —Anonymous

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TELEPHONES

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers wanting to phone home… your provider’s long distance calling cards rarely work, there's often difficulty finding a phone (or one that works) and then even dialing the initial access number from an Italian public phone can be a challenge. It’s a better and much cheaper idea to simply purchase an Italian phone card from the Tabacchi (newsstand kiosks/ Italian tobacco shop equivalent to our 7-11 in purpose and popularity, but much smaller.)
  • To call the US from Italy:
    dial 001 + area code + number
  • To call Italy from the US:
    dial 011 + 39 (Italy) + area code + number
    or 011 + 39 + cell number

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PACKING

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers, if your bag is tight on the way there, it absolutely will not close on the way back!
  • Pack lightly, and wash something nightly
  • If you must check-on your 1 piece of luggage, take what you’ll need to get you through Day 1 and 2 in your carry-on, in case of a bag delay
  • Whatever you forget, you can buy it there. Yes,they do haverazors, sun-block, shoelaces and “granola bars” in Italy… don’t miss the opportunity to buy it there, it could be one of your best memories
  • Italians are fairly elegant in the city, and in case you’re really trying to blend in…they tend to wear darker clothes, no shorts in the evening, and bright white tennis shoes/sweat suits are usually worn only in the gym or by children. Pack comfortable, tasteful clothes that can be layered. Fall travelers should always include a hat and scarf. Spring/Summer travelers should always have a bathing suit and cover (sarong) handy.
  • All travel accessories should be dual with a built-in converter. Look on the back for voltage switch marked 120 (U.S.) and 240 (Europe), otherwise you’ll need both an adapter and transformer. It’s preferable to have a 2-in-1 converter/adapter.
  • Think in terms of what you can live without for a few days instead of what would be fun to have.
  • Wear all long/heavy items, jacket and thickest shoes on plane
  • Pack an extra empty bag for souvenirs/purchases for your return.
  • Pack your best attitude, leave your worries behind.

PACKING LIST:

In 1 piece of luggage

  • Half the clothes you first thought of bringing.
  • Walking shoes and dressier shoes, both rubber soled
  • Shower shoes for the tiled villa or hotel rooms
  • Pjs that double as lounge wear
  • Toiletries bag w/ hanging hook
  • All products in plastic travel sizes to be thrown away as used up.
  • Small Brookstones’ hair dryer (though 3, 4 or 5 star hotel will have one)
  • Extra memory card for camera.
  • Zip lock bags of different sizes (for wet clothes, cheese, film…).

In daily bag or backpack:

  • Coin purse for Euros- they add up!
    (w/Euro denominations and current exchange rate, 4 coins can equal $10,
    that’s 2 lunches!)
  • Small zip wallet (Visa, Amex, ATM card, cash for the day, I.D. or passport copy and hotel business card)
  • Pen and small notepad (Trip itinerary, Xerox copy from the guidebooks of the day’s sites, list of addresses)
  • Sunglasses/hat
  • Throwaway or small digital camera
  • Cell phone
  • Small pack of Kleenex (as important as your passport)

Some international airlines allow only 1 carry- on, including your personal bag. Others allow 2. For updated carry-on measurements

More from pack-light believers

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WEATHER

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers,
  • Italy’s climate is usually a little milder than Virginia’s. The difference is in their use of AC and heat. They mostly don’t use it. Maybe they simply prefer using Armani and wool scarves.
  • Siena is a perfect example of Italy’s conflicting climates: a warm sunny piazza surrounded by medieval tight cobblestone streets where temperatures drop 15°
  • Wherever you are, Venice or Capri, vendors with cheap umbrella will appear before the first raindrop hits the ground.
  • Spring is warm in the daytime, but chilly evenings and rain showers are normal. Summers are very hot, and usually stay so through October (many still swim in southern Italy and Sicily). Jackets are advisable for evening.
  • Update weather info before you go, but remember meteorologists play the same dice game both here and there.

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HEALTH

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers…

Italy lives outdoors (aside from the occasional museum or cathedrals) so to really enjoy Italy you have to move, push open the old bronze doors, walk through the Roman Forum, hike up to the vineyards and olive groves and dive deep into the turquoise waters of Capri. PLEASE START A SERIOUS WALKING REGIMENT BEFORE YOUR TRIP BEGINS

  • If you take prescription medicine, take it in its original container; know the generic name, not just the brand name, in case it needs to be replaced. It would be wise to have a copy of all prescribed medications you are taking, and their purpose, in your luggage.
  • In each town there is always at least one pharmacy open at night, indicated by a green neon cross.
  • There are currently no vaccines/shots needed for travel in Italy.
  • Emergency phone #s in Italy:
    • 118 = medical emergency
    • 112 = police
    • 113 = general emergency
  • For a list of English-speaking doctors in Italy, contact the Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (716) 754-4883 or www.iamat.org (free membership and doctor’s lists).

For the Dolce Vita Travelers

  • Dolce Vita Adventures will need the “Medical Emergency Contact Information” segment of the tour registration sheet filled out before departure.
  • In case of emergency, your tour leader will do everything possible to provide you with prompt and professional medical attention.

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PASSPORTS

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers
  • Visas are not needed for travel in Italy, only a valid passport.
  • Customs prefer passports to be valid for up to 6 months after return to the US.
  • It is wise to make a copy of your passport for yourself and one for your travel partner (or to keep in your luggage).
  • If you do not have a passport please begin the process ASAP, as it may take 6 weeks or more. www.passportsandvisas.com or www.usembassy.it

For the Dolce Vita Travelers

  • Dolce Vita Adventures must have a color Xerox copy of the photo page of your passport before departure.

"If you look like your passport photo, you're not well enough to travel."—E. Bombeck


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MONEY

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers,

  • Banking hours in Italy are lethargic at best. It's advisable to change a little money ($100) to "Euro" before arrival. Exchange rate is always better in Italy.
  • ATMs are everywhere, easy and convenient (with English directions) and usually give a better exchange rate than the kiosks. Your ATM card is valid in Italy if it has a Cirrus or Plus symbol on the back and you have your 4 digit access code. The ATM withdraws only from your checking account (not savings, and it will not handle transfers.) Make sure your bank "unlocks/opens" your card for overseas cash withdrawal as some may be "locked" for fraud prevention. Notify your bank and your credit card that you will be using them overseas.
  • Visa, then American Express, is the most commonly accepted credit card. However, cash is best for "negotiating" prices. Traveler's checks should be avoided.
  • The purpose of a money belt or neck pouch is security. If you choose to wear one, please tuck it inside your clothes, they certainly shouldn’t be hanging visibly and grab-ably in front of you.
  • Don't forget about the VAT tax refund - spend a certain amount of Euro (100-150) at the same store, get a tax form from them and then hopefully a refund at the airport customs counter. Sometimes you have to wait; sometimes you’ll be credited. This procedure can be the hardest or easiest thing you do in Italy, it depends on the stars alignment and whether the counter help is on coffee break the hour before your plane leaves…. Item must be "unused" so put the ie. necklace back in the box for those few minutes.
  • Learn and use your EURO coins whenever possible. In some places, a single 2 Euro coin can buy a un cappuccino e una graffa (coffee and a sugar coated do-nut), and it certainly can buy un gelato grande, perfavore.
  • Money conversion: www.xe.com/ucc

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ITALIAN LANGUAGE

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers

  • Dolce Vita Adventures offers short and/or intensive Italian language classes in Hampton Roads throughout the year.
  • Of course it's not imperative for you to learn the language because everyone can speak “Smile”, but it would greatly enrich your experience to just memorize the following Italian courtesy words.

COURTESY WORDS

BUONGIONO

good morning

BUONASERA

good evening

ARRIVEDERCI

goodbye

CIAO

hi/bye (informal)

COME STA?

How are you?

MOLTO BENE GRAZIE.

Very well, thank you.

PIACERE.

Pleased to meet you.

SI/NO

yes/no

VA BENE.

That's fine.

PERFAVORE

please

GRAZIE

thank you

MI DISPIACE

I'm sorry

MI SCUSI

excuse me

*DOV’È IL BAGNO?

Where is the bathroom?

PARLA INGLESE?

Do you speak English?

NON CAPISCO.

I don't understand.

PIANO PERFAVORE.

Please, speak slowly.

APERTO

open

CHIUSO

closed

A SINISTRA

to the left

A DESTRA

to the right

VICINO

near

LONTANO

far

PRESTO

early

TARDI

late

AVETE...?

Do you have...?

VORREI...

I would like...

QUANTO COSTA?

How much is it?

È CARO.

It's expensive.

MENO CARO?

Less expensive?

ACCETTA...(VISA/AMEX)?

Do you take...(Visa/Amex)?

GRAZIE PER LA BELLISSIMA SERATA.

Thank you for a wonderful evening.

È OTTIMO!

It is delicious!

BELLISSIMO!

Beautiful!

GRAZIE DI TUTTO.

Thanks for everything.

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ATTITUDE

When traveling on your own to Italy or for the Dolce Vita Travelers
  • …just pack your good one.
"The most important trip you take in life is meeting people half way."—H. Boyle