Oh I am SO excited for this one! My husband and I booked a trip to Italy recently and we are thrilled. But along with all the excitement, there was a small, yet persistent amount of anxiety that began growing the moment we clicked “confirm”.
What will we need in order to travel to another country? What should we pack? What are the top sites we need to visit? How can we travel safely? How will we get around in Italy?
All these questions began running through my mind, and if you are planning for international travel in the next year, they may be running through yours as well. I plan on deep diving into the details of planning a trip to Italy, but for now I will provide a rundown of the basics for European travel.
Decide How You Plan to Book
Some people prefer to hand over the planning to another person while others want to plan out every detail of their trip themselves. Decide which option will suit your needs best, and then begin researching. Travel agents are a great option for those who get overwhelmed by the planning process. Look up travel agencies near you, and schedule an appointment to begin planning your dream trip with an expert.
For our situation, we decided it would be best to book ourselves. There are so many travel websites that are amazing for planning a trip abroad. Here are a few of my favorites. I have not personally booked full, international travel through all of these websites so please research fully before deciding which will be best for you.
Expedia: I have booked multiple trips through Expedia and I love how simple their website is to navigate. This is the site we are using for our trip to Italy. You can see how easy it is to customize what you want by selecting stay, flight, or packages to see what options are available during the time frame you plan on vacationing.
Once you have made these selections, you can further customize your stay by using the filters on the sidebar. You can search by rating, hotel name, popular locations, and refundable stays.
After you have made a selection for a hotel you can select your departing and returning flights. Depending on what options you select and when you book, the cost can fluctuate up or down. Once you have everything the way you would like it there is an option to add on additional tours or activities for an added cost. Feel free to browse and find the ones that fit your vacation goals. We chose a Tuscany day trip that includes lunch and wine tasting! Please keep in mind tours may change and there may be some tours that are no longer available at the time you are booking.
Booking.com: While I have not personally booked a trip using booking.com, it is another popular option that allows you to customize your flight and stay. This might be a good opportunity to compare pricing and find the best fit for your vacation needs.
AirBnb: This site is perfect for those looking for a specific place to stay. You can see how I was able to plug in Tuscany and the dates for check in/check out and a completely customizable menu pops up. There is a map so you can see exactly what locations are available in your area and you can add filters for what is most important to you. Are you wanting a pool? A stay near a vineyard? Maybe you are set on a bed & breakfast or a tiny home.
You can get exactly what you want using this site. You will need to book your flights elsewhere, but this service is excellent for booking stays. I recommend looking for places marked “Super Host” as these people have extra requirements they have to meet and tend to go above and beyond for their guests.
Passports, Passports, Passports
THIS. You are going nowhere without your passport. I know most people are aware they need a passport, but it really should be at the top of your list when booking a vacation. Make sure it is up to date and not about to expire as some countries require you have at least 6 months left on your passport at the time of your trip. You may also need a new passport if your name has changed. I was married a couple years ago so even though I still had 5 years left on a passport I had in my possession, I needed to renew and essentially start the whole process over.
Make sure you look up what the requirements are for the country you are traveling to, and get started as soon as possible if you need your passport updated. It can take months for the process to be completed and you do not want the stress of waiting on a passport approval in the weeks leading up to what is supposed to be a fun and relaxing trip.
Transportation
Begin researching how you will get around in the place you are staying. Are you staying in a big city like Rome? It is generally not recommended to rent a car as a tourist unless you enjoy having daily heart attacks or you are experienced with driving in large cities in Italy. Some other considerations to keep in mind if you choose to rent a car would be finding and possibly having to pay for parking, as well as trying to work with a rental company if anything happens to the car (break-ins, theft, etc). Research the best way to get around, and have a backup plan in case one mode of travel falls through. Buses and trains are a popular option in Italy as well as taxi services in the cities. Make sure you know where the nearest stations and bus stops are.
Consider booking a hotel near the attractions you want to visit. In Rome, everything is relatively close together, so look at hotels/stays in the Centro Storico (Historic City Center) which you can see is near some of the most popular sites like the Colosseum, The Vatican and Trevi Fountain. This will allow you to save on transportation (both money and headaches) by simply walking wherever you need to go. Keep in mind that Rome's streets are mostly cobblestone so if you have any mobility issues, you may need to adjust your plans for getting around the city.
Purchase Tickets in Advance
If you are visiting a smaller city in Italy this may not be necessary but if you plan to visit Rome you will need to purchase entry tickets in advance. These are some of the most popular sites in the world, and there is a huge demand for entry. The Colosseum and the Vatican Museum are often booked out months in advance so look into skip the line tickets for the dates you will be visiting. Some booking sites offer skip the line tickets so take some time to see what options are available to you.
Some locations are free to the public but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will be able to get in. The crowds in Italy can be overwhelming so if you don’t mind losing a little sleep, consider waking up early and making your way to the historic center in the morning before the crowds begin to form. Get yourself a cornetto and a cafe (croissant and a coffee) and wander the streets of Rome in the morning. This is a bonus because it also gets hot in Rome in the summer.
Do as much of your sightseeing in the morning as possible, and then head back to your hotel during the afternoon hours when the heat and the crowds are at their peak. Later, you can venture back out in the evening for dinner and some more adventuring.
Learn the Local Language
This is of course optional, but I highly recommend learning at least some of the local language. A little Italian can go a long way in showing courtesy and giving you a more rich experience of the people and culture you are surrounding yourself with. There are so many options available now for teaching yourself a language (and many are free)! Simply look up “Common Italian words and phrases” on YouTube and there will be a wealth of information for you to learn from.
Also, consider downloading an app for daily practice. I use Duolingo and it is a simple, fun way for me to begin teaching myself Italian. There are lots of other options so try out a few and see which one fits your learning style. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in the beautiful, Italian language and culture.
Packing for International Travel
Alright here comes the crazy part of this post. I want you to consider packing in just a carry on bag. I know what you are thinking. "The carry on is what I typically put all my random extra stuff in! There's no way I can live out of one small bag for a couple weeks (or even more)." But hear me out. Every experienced traveler will tell you the less you take with you the freer you are. Half the time I end up taking a trip somewhere I find that I bring two or three times as much as was necessary.
Challenge yourself to pack in a carry on bag and save yourself from unnecessary fees, stress, and extra burdens. Having only a carry on means you can be more flexible if a flight gets delayed and you need to hurry to your next connection. Lighter and smaller luggage will allow you to get from place to place in Italy with ease on trains/taxis/buses. You won't have to worry about losing your luggage because you will have it with you, and it won't be checked on a plane where it could get lost in the multiple connections you may have.
There are some great ways to save space and I will plan on deep diving into how I will be packing my carry on bag, but one thing I keep seeing everywhere is packing cubes. These can help you organize everything in your bag, as well as maximizing the space you have. The bag I just purchased is a roller-to-backpack style carry on bag. I couldn't find the exact same bag online, but here is a carry on bag that is similar in price and style to mine. I love the idea of being able to roll my bag when I'm having to walk a long distance, while also being able to sling it on my back and run to my next connecting flight. Make sure whatever bag you choose fits the size and weight limits for your airline. If you will be flying multiple airlines, look at the regulations for each, and choose the smaller option to save yourself from any trouble at the airport.
Good luck with planning your trip! I will be posting more ideas for packing and travel tips as our own adventure draws closer, so come back soon for more helpful information!
*Home Life Renewed is not affiliated with with expedia.com, booking.com, or airbnb.com. Any information provided is for informational use only and not professional travel advice.
Great info! Thanks! Definitely smart to make sure passports are up to date!