10 simple tips for saving on travel costs in Italy
Just before you join the tourists at the Vatican, or in the canals of Venice, or at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, here are 10 tips to help you save a good amount of money on your upcoming trip to Italy.
1. Travel during less busy periods:.
Each region in Italy has different peak periods. Feel free to check when to travel in Italy.
In the art cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan, the winter months are the cheapest. Christmas in Italy is always a special time, particularly in Rome. On the other hand, during the hot month of August, prices in most art cities are lower. Italians take their annual vacation during this month, and although you may find many tourists in the cities, hotel prices are generally lower. Also, during the holiday season in Italy, there is a high chance of finding elevated accommodation prices.
2. Reserve in advance:
Don’t wait until the last minute. Book your arrangements in advance, especially at the recommended hotels. They are always more sought after than others. Many hotels often provide early booking deals. Take advantage of them.
3. Are direct flights expensive? Consider booking connecting flights:
Direct flights, especially during peak seasons, can be expensive. However, with some flexibility on your part and willingness to fly not directly but via one of the capital cities in Europe, you can save a lot of money on your plane ticket. Here are 5 tips for saving on plane tickets to Italy
4. Sleep in a small, charming hotel:
In Italy, there are many large hotel chains, some of which are international, that pass their high marketing costs onto room prices. The high room rates shouldn’t intimidate you. Throughout Italy, you’ll find an abundance of guesthouses, apartment hotels, B&B options, and small, charming monasteries at affordable prices, with the added benefit that the owners will be pleased to assist you in any way to make you feel at home. Booking accommodation in these places will save you a lot of money. AirB&B is a great example of an option for finding inexpensive, quality, and family-friendly lodging. Remember, especially in larger cities, you’ll spend most of your time outside the hotel exploring the old town or its surroundings.
5. No need to sleep in the center:
In city centers, you will always find particularly high prices. Take advantage of public transportation and book hotels that are not located in the most central part of the city.
Another option is to look for small towns outside the major cities. The cost of accommodation there is much cheaper.
Important – do not be tempted by the low price. Make sure to check the transportation routes from the hotel to the city center you wish to visit. Look for accommodation in a nearby town that has, for example, a train to the city you want to explore.
Examples:
- Instead of booking in Rome: book in Ostia or Fiumicino
- Instead of booking in Florence: check out Prato or Pistoia
- Instead of booking in Venice – book in Mestre
- Instead of booking in Milan – check in Bergamo
- All these alternatives have train and/or direct bus services that can help you save a lot of money on accommodation and also reach the city center you want to explore quickly.
6. Buy train tickets now:
You can place orders completely independently on the online site of Trenitalia
The most important thing – the earlier you book, the cheaper the seats will be. You can take advantage of the special offers the online site of the train offers (see example in the picture)
Very important (don’t forget) – validate your tickets at the yellow boxes located on every platform before boarding the train.
7. Take advantage of the free entry days to various sites:
Many tourist sites in Italy offer free entry on certain days and times. If there isn’t a fixed day of the week, at least once a month. Proper planning of your trip days to align with these free days can save you a good amount of money, especially at those super popular sites where the entrance fee can sometimes approach around 20 Euro per person.
Try to incorporate as many attractions as possible into your trip that do not charge an entry fee.
Change the main meal time to lunch:
In Italy, you can find tempting and inexpensive offers during lunchtime, with a menu identical to the evening one, but at a much lower price. Another way to save is to visit one of the bars in every city or town and enjoy the Aperitivo = Happy hour, which takes place between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, costing between 5-15 Euro ($6 – 17) contingent on purchasing an alcoholic drink – this will save you a lot of money on one hand and allow you to feel full on the other. Sometimes even 50% less.
9. Picnic – a key part of the experience:
Italy is the capital of fresh, healthy, unprocessed food. Italians revere this fact, which is reflected in countless markets and unique small neighborhood grocery stores, where you will find a variety of vegetables, fruits, cheeses, cured meats, homemade bread, and more. It is much cheaper and an inseparable part of the Italian experience.
Swap some of your meals in restaurants for visits to the various markets and food shops in Italy – and prepare a picnic in one of the many green parks in the different cities or at the picnic spots scattered along the peninsula. You won’t regret it.
10. The little things that make a big difference:
When you travel as tourists, you want, and rightly so, to pamper yourself as much as possible. There are small things that proper management can save you quite a bit of money over the course of the trip.
Water: In Italy, buying bottled water at tourist sites is not necessarily a cheap task. In most bars, a small bottle of water will cost you about 1 Euro ($1.15). In the center of large cities, it can sometimes be even more. During the hot seasons, buying several bottles of water a day, on a trip of 7-10 days, the multiples are clear. Want to save significantly? Buy packs of water at the local grocery store (if you are in city center) or at big supermarkets (if you are on the road) and save dozens of euros. Another way? Italy has a lot of approved drinking water points called Acqua Potabile. Look for the signage or ask the locals. They will definitely know.
Coffee: There is no doubt that one of the greatest pleasures while traveling is sitting in one of the amazing squares like Piazza Navona in Rome or Piazza San Marco in Venice, sipping coffee, and enjoying the atmosphere while watching passersby. It’s the essence of Italy. However, this pleasure comes at a cost. A sit-down espresso in city center can cost: 2-5 Euro ($ 2.3 – 6) and a cappuccino ranges from 2.5-10 Euro ($2.8-11.5). So how do you save? The first option is to drink while standing, like most Italians do, near the bar, where you will also enjoy a pleasant chat with one of the bartenders. Another option is to move away from the central squares to the side alleys, where again, standing up, you’ll find the same quality coffee (promise) at more reasonable prices—1.2 Euro for espresso and 1.5 Euro for cappuccino. Long live the small difference. Drink coffee only at the bar and less in cafes, and again, while standing, not sitting.
