It is undoubtedly that you need a travel guide to Italy in addition to some important tips when you plan to visit the fascinating country. Here below you'll find an interesting travel guide to Italy in addition to the most important tips that will help you during your visit.While wandering in Rome and Venice, in the traditional lifestyle combined with the modern renaissance art, your image of the beauty and amazing architectural buildings will change. That's not surprising since Italy is the dream destination of those who seek pleasure and culture, as well as history lovers who have drawn their pages with beautiful lines of this country, which is unforgotten to the eyes and hearts. So, if once you are lucky to visit Italy, you would surely need those pieces of advice and travel tips that would help you to enjoy your trip. Follow our travel guide to Italy below.

1. Budget

Planning a trip to Italy requires to focus on several aspects. The most important is your personal budget so that you will be able to know your limits of spending and not exceed it in order not to face any problem. Especially as this beautiful country is known for its high living expenses, so be careful not to spend a lot of money at the beginning of your trip to enjoy your vacation till its end.

2. Best time to visit Italy

The top of tourist season in Italy in June and September. To avoid those crowded periods, you can book tickets for your Italy travel either in April or May as well as November, these months are the best to escape from any problems, and you will ensure a reduction in hotels and general living costs. On the other hand, don't plan to visit Italy in the two last weeks of August, because the whole country will be on its holiday, which leads to crowded sights and attractions places in the cities.

3. Stay in Italy

Your stay in Italy depends on the validity of your passport. A tourist is allowed to spend only three months in Italy, except if they are visiting Italy for other reasons, such as work or studies.

4. Luggage

Don't take too much luggage with you while traveling to Italy. Because you will not find who will carry it for you in rail stations. Furthermore, too much luggage will disturb you while coming back from your trip, especially as you will have more baggage and gifts that you have bought.

5. Food

Rome is considered to be a beautiful place to visit. You will find many economical hotels and restaurants offering delicious food. However, those restaurants may be so expensive and providing food with forbidden products, especially for Muslims, so it would be better to eat from commercial shops.Related: What are the 14 tips to travel to Italy like an Italian?

6. Currency

You must know that the taxis outside the airports and the ones circulating in the city accept only Italian or American currency. So, make sure to take euros or dollars with you; otherwise, you'll find change shops inside the airports and stations.

7. Telecommunication

The public phones are barely used in Italy, so you’ll need a mobile phone. You can use it to call a taxi or to make a reservation at a restaurant, moreover, you'll need the mobile phone in case of any problem facing you, and you need to call the emergency. Thus, you can buy a local Italian card “sheda” from the telecommunications’ shops in stations and airports.

8. Language

If you don’t speak Italian, it's not a problem; you'll find many locals speaking different languages. English, French, and German, almost all the hotel's staff speak English. And if you are in a place where they speak only Italian, such as in the countryside, try to talk with signs language and don't hesitate to learn how to speak Italian, thus Italian people will be proud.

9. Hotels

Accommodations' fees in different Italian hotels are higher compared to various countries around the world. It's from 100 euro per night. It may increase depending on the region and the hotel, and the costs decrease as you head south. (Rome Hotels).

10. Transportation

The best way to travel in Italy is the train; you can buy tourist tickets to save money. And can use ferries and buses on your journey in the city.

11. Dress code

If you are invited to business and social meetings, you have to wear a formal suit, as relations and social invitations resonate among the Italian people who are simple and polite in their style.

12. Table manners

If someone invites you to eat, you don't have to leave the table before the others. It's not suitable to take your hand off the table even if you have already finished eating; you also have to put your knife and fork on the right side of your seat. You don't get bored if they keep asking you whether you like some more food or no.

13. Tip or gratuity

Usually, the tip is included in the restaurant bill. However, the employee or servant wait for a small gift, so don't hesitate to give a tip if you have enjoyed the service, tips are also applied to hotels employee and taxi drivers.

14. Gifts

Italian society likes to give gifts such as; flowers and chocolate. But don’t wrap it with black and don’t offer the Chrysanthemum flowers because they are used in funerals. Offering a gift while visiting someone is something cute.

15. Handling etiquette

In Italy, names are only used if you were invited to use the first names. So, people are used to calling men by "Senior" and women by "Seniora" followed by the name, except if they have a specific name as "Doctor."Refusing an invitation for dinner is something inappropriate only if you have something that prevents you from going, especially that following the essential Italian etiquette will leave a good impression with whom you are handling during your trip to Italy.

16. Security

Robbery and baggage hijacking are something familiar in the Italian cities. Whether during the day or at night, so you always have to be careful not to lose your passport, credit card, and travel tickets as well as your money. To avoid such a problem, you can use safe cases in hotels.Those were the most essential and useful tips and advices provided by our travel guide to Italy. We still have more to tell you about Italy and other beautiful countries that are worth to visit, come back to Live positively.

Originally published on Live Positively.