Italy Travel Tours

Archive for the ‘Italy Vacations’ Category

With vacations to Italy reasonably priced due to the fall of the euro, now might just be the right time to go. Unlike neighboring Greece, Italy is still open for visitors with just as much history and better wine.

The current exchange rate of 1 Euro to 1.2824 US dollar is most favorable. This dropping of the exchange rate started 5 months ago and should continue throughout the summer.

With this favorable exchange rate, places like the ancient Roman coliseum are less expensive to experience. The waterways of Venice can now be further explored with a private gondola, and the country side where twilight evenings in Tuscany are more enjoyable.

When in the Tuscany region, remember not only was the area controlled by the Romans 2000 years ago, but before them were the Etruscans. You can step back 3000 years when you visit the ancient town of Volterra, which was an Etruscan stronghold.

In the town of Volterra are the small cobblestone alleyways that the ancient people walked while living their lives. You can see and purchase their ancient funeral urns along with works of art from the master carvers of Alabaster.

If a medieval castle is more to your liking, then a visit to Chianti should be on your list of places to visit. This is in the Florence region of Tuscany. While there, you can visit the two wineries that made this area famous.

One of the best things about Italy is all the history a tourist can see while staying in 3 or 4 star hotels that have all the comforts of home each night. Vacations to Italy are like stepping back in time but with an internet connection, so you will never be out of touch with reality.

Give Federica Merli, at TuscanyWithMe.it, a call or send her an email for a preferred custom Italian vacation plan.

With off-the-beaten-path Italian vacations, they can take you to places most not only have not gone to but never heard of. These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that few people get to enjoy. These experiences are not like off the beaten paths in America where most would be thinking of exploring some rarely-gone-to wilderness area.

These types of vacations do not mean you have to avoid the star attractions like Rome, Venice, and Milan, but spending too much time there will take away for more unique experiences that is your aim.

But there are places in the tourist areas that are not well known or seen, like the La Donna Partigiana. This is the hidden statue of Venice. This statue is at the Riva Dei Sette Martiri at the water’s edge of the Castello area. During high tide, the statue is literally hidden under water. Low tide is the only time this statue, dedicated to the women that served and died in WWII, can be seen.

Just north of Rieto and south of Terni is the picturesque village of Piediluco. This island is set beside a lake by the same name. The trees in autumn are a site that will not be soon forgotten. The church at one end of town has high quality art work inside, and the village has numerous B&Bs for tourists to stay in while enjoying this peaceful little village.

On the upper west side of Italy is the Marche region. This is a place that has fantastic beaches that most tourists have never seen or heard of before. By staying off the beaten path, Italian vacations that are spent there are of authentic Italy that is not experienced by most visitors to this historic land.

Prices for Italian vacations were down in 2009 compared to 2008, and 2010 promises to be about the same.  Airfare, meals and museums have all reduced their prices to combat the global recession.  Keep in mind the euro is holding a firm command over the U.S. dollar so expect to pay about 55 cents more for every single euro.

There are many sample itineraries to try when visiting Italy.  Many people go directly to Rome before exploring other cities and the rolling countryside.  Will you join an organized tour or go it alone?  All options are available right from the internet.  If you do hire a tour guide make sure he or she speaks English.  There is nothing worse than needing information from someone you cannot understand.

Whether or not you are Roman Catholic, a tour of the Vatican is a great stop.  The Vatican Museums house some of the world’s finest art, including Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.  You can then walk to St. Peter’s Basilica which is Christianity’s largest sanctuary before walking outdoors to the mammoth St. Peter’s Square which has regular audiences with the Pope.

No trip to Italy should be complete without a tour of Tuscany and there are villages, bridges and wineries between Rome and Florence to entice you to make Italian vacations a tradition you will want to repeat.

The host of this Blog is Federica Merli of TuscanyWithMe.it, a native Tusanite, where you will be greeted in flawless English and she will assist you in planning the ultimate holiday in Tuscany.  Each and every client receives close personal attention and if you know where you want to go and what you want to see it will be arranged immediately

If you are unsure of just what your best choices should be Federica will make marvelous suggestions.  All of her tour clients receive a custom tour to exactly what you want.  Italian vacations do not get any better than this.

To receive a price quote click here: Italian Vacations

An easy Italy vacation tour is the best way to go if you want maximum exposure to this lovely European country with little of the fuss.  Experienced tour guides leave all the planning and effort to them so you can put up your feet, slurp from a gelato or a glass of Chianti and take photographs to review for the rest of your life.

If you are traveling with a small group, you might want to consider a customized tour.  These are flexible and more spontaneous than the large, well established situations.  Your tour guide can combine stops at wineries with a bike trip if that is your interest.  Customized tours with manageable groups allow for unique opportunities and still provide the hassle-free accommodations of a guided tour whether you’re interested in food and wine or art and architecture.

Of course if you have a large group, or you and your partner may want to join a larger group to meet new friends, there are abundant vacation tour options.  Our sponsor of this website is TuscanyWithMe.it and you may contact them through this website or the main one to start planning your vacation now.

The internet has made everyone a travel agent right from their own home however this option has its risks.  If one element of the tour falls through, the entire trip can be flattened like a house of cards.  Unless you have experience booking foreign travel, you might want to stick with a company that deals with ordinary setbacks every day.  You don’t want your vacation ruined.

There are tours for every interest level and geographical region in Italy.  Do your research and talk to your friends, and then begin your search for a guide for your Italy vacation tour; you’ll find the trip begins as soon as you start planning it.

Click Here: to receive a quote from Tuscany With Me.

Thanks to the internet, Italian vacations are easy to plan right from your own home.  In fact, many travelers believe the fun begins with the click of a mouse as soon as they begin their research.  Here are some tips to make your trip go smoothly.

First, know how to pay for things.  Italy is part of the European Union and it uses the Euro as currency.  There are several online sources available right from your cell phone to convert U.S. dollars to Euros.

You will see Euros listed quite differently than prices in America.  The commas and periods are reversed.  What is $2.25 in the U.S. is 2,25 in Euros.  Conversely, $1,900.00 will appear as 1.900.  You will find sales associates very patient with you as long as you present a friendly demeanor for your transaction.

That leads to another important consideration for travel throughout Europe.  Most Europeans speak English better than Americans speak other languages, but it is important to try some conversational Italian.  As long as you attempt to converse in the language of your hosts, you will find them more than happy to take it from there.

ATM machines in Italy are called Bancomats and they appear different from their American counterparts, especially those in smaller cities and towns.  In Italy the ATMs are located outside the bank in a glass enclosure.  This allows the machines to be accessed 24 hours per day.  Oftentimes you’ll need to use your ATM card to gain access to the enclosure which is excellent security to have you in there exclusively.

Be aware of your surroundings when accessing cash in the ATM.  Some of these locations are hot spots for thieves looking to rob tourists.   With a little vigilance and attention, vacations to Italy will have a happy ending with a lifetime of good memories.

Flexibility is key with Italy family vacations.   Your children will remember their trip to Europe for a lifetime, even though some sites like churches and museums might not be interesting to children at first.

If you want a peaceful and successful vacation, keep the interests and needs of your children in mind.

The first thing to remember is jet lag.  You and your spouse may gear up for fatigue from a six hour time difference, but your children won’t understand why they are so tired.  They’ll simply know the clock does not seem right.

Encourage your children to bank as much sleep as they can on the flight overseas.  Forgo the meal and the movie for some healthy snacks brought from home and a quick imaginative bedtime story.  When the plane touches down at 2 am, you’ll be ready for a night of sleep but the clock and the daylight will suggest it is 8 am and an exciting new day awaits.

Luckily you are in the land of the food kids love: pasta and pizza.  Keep them well hydrated and satiated and they’ll keep going for you long after tourist locations stopped being interesting.  Pack a picnic lunch from the pizzeria al taglio stands where slices of pizza are sold by the weight.

You might select a family restaurant called a Trattoria where hosts are accustomed to serving children.  They may reward your children with some Gelato for dessert if they finish their dinner.  Italy is famous for loving children.  It’s important for your children to see how much you are enjoying the new food so they establish a palette for it themselves.

When you are out and about, take frequent breaks so they have endurance for non-stop sight-seeing.  With patience and understanding, Italy family vacations can be hugely successful.