Italy – an unbelievably beautiful country. Planning a vacation without breaking the bank needs some serious homework. Read ahead and plan a budget vacation to Italy, the house of pizzas and boots!
Planning a cheap vacation to Italy, the land of fashion and lifestyle, isn’t child’s play. Reason: currency switch from Lira to Euro (almost double an American dollar). Tourists, sometimes, refuse to locate Italy on their travel map because of an over budget holiday that it can turn into.
They cannot be blamed, there’s so much to experience in this country. The freshly baked Pizzas, wines and vineyards, shoes, The Vatican, the Tango, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You could go on enlisting things Italy is famous for. The more you want to see, the more expensive it gets.
And if you’re a first timer? Well, before you pack your bags and book tickets to Italy, there’s one thing you need to do – loads and loads of research. And since there are some travel tips on planning a budget vacation to Italy, here’s the first bit.
Do whatever, but don’t miss out on the Italian famous four – the art, the wine, the food, and the shopping.
Shortlisting the Destinations: This to See or That to See?
What should be a vacation like depends on how you want the vacation to be. It must fit your budget, and must definitely include the major, if not all, highlights of the country, along with a few more unseen territories.
Italy, is an incredible country with a lot to see. You have Rome, Venice, Milan, and Florence to start with. Furthermore, regions such as Tuscany, Campania, Lugaria, and Sicily are definitely not worth a miss. In order to begin your planning, shortlist all major destinations in Italy, whether or not they’re famous.
Internet is a repository of information, and, you could read about all famous cities and towns in Italy to decide which ones interest you, and which don’t. You could avoid hiring a travel guide, and do all research yourself, so that not only you save money, but you plan your vacation according to your fancies.
This involves research, exploration, and inquiry. But you’ll save big in the end. Destinations will have famous monuments which, if interest you, can be enlisted. To make your vacation affordable, you have to score out some destinations, to keep your bank balance from perturbing later on.
When to Visit: An On-Season and Off-Season Relationship
For a vacation to be suiting the budget you’ve set, visiting a country in off-season is the most lucrative bet. From November through February, air-fares are low, visitors are lesser, and hotels are cheaper than during peak season.
But, December marks the Christmas season in Italy, which means that for a bargain hunter like you, steering clear of the holiday season is the best bet. Moreover, off-season clearly means that you might as well be prepared for a not-so-ideal weather, and opportunity dwindles.
Even though people visit Italy year-round, there are times in a year when you can experience the country without a chaos – October to February. In order to save, you could check out best deals beforehand – be it your stay in a hotel, your flight and train tickets, the food, and places to visit.
Book your hotel and flight together, it will save a lot of money. For places such as museums, monuments (The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower, etc.), check out if on any weekday, they offer free passes, or entry at discount. The local Tourist Information Office will help you save enough.
Some Tips to a Successful Holiday in Italy
… and when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Not a tip. There’s much more to mull over while planning a decent vacation to Italy. To make your job easy, here are tips to bear in mind, to have the best experience at ‘farely’ low rates.
- Don’t feel bad if you can’t afford to buy something. Don’t force yourself into liking something just because you paid enough Euros. It’s a vacation, and you’ve moved out of your country to enjoy every moment. Italy has an advantage – there’s lots of free sightseeing across the country to make you go ‘Wow’. Look around more, and less at your bank balance.
- Don’t just hang on to the usual hamburger and coffee, just because they’re a cheaper option. After all, Italy is known for its eats, and you’re impossible if you miss out on the delicious Italian delicacies.
However, a hot-spot on a busy night does call for some money squander, but once you check out some reasonable pizza and pasta outlets, you can experience the true Italian taste. For an American stomach, just the Italian appetizers make a filling meal!
Don’t underestimate a local designer in Italy. He might be a local but not in your country. Gods of fashion live here. Even a minor league designer may beat a biggie in your country. You need not enter showrooms. Check out the street-sellers and local markets that have best deals.
Remember, it may be common in Italy, but back home, it’s something bought from the land of fashion houses! Other than clothing, browse through Internet and ask the residents about cheap markets which have ‘Italian’ lettered all over it. Don’t forget it’s a lifetime opportunity for you; grab as much Italian stuff as you can at unbelievably cheaper prices.
You’re set to book flights and pack bags. You’ve hunted down the best travel bargains now and there’s nothing like experiencing the fluttery feelings when you arrive to a new destination. And the Italians… they’re lovely people, and nothing underlines this fact better than their song-like way of speech.
The music, the art, the food, and the wine tours. Share stories about your cultures, learn a new language, learn the knack of making Italian pasta, and make connections with the locals. Now that’s affordable, isn’t it? So, Meglio di viaggio! or rather have a happy journey.