Tips & Final Thoughts | D&DHeartofItaly2019

Our Tips

and

Final Thoughts*

*Or...Rick was Right

Six Months Ahead!

Walking to the bus from our hotel in Volterra which was parked

outside the city walls

1. Pack light

Search "capsule wardrobe" online. You will find suggestions for about 10 articles of clothing that will combine to create several weeks worth of outfits. We were able to fit everything in a regular size international carry-on suitcase. We also used the Rick Steves day pack as our personal item.

2. Use a travel scale.

It will keep you honest. Some airlines have strict weight requirements, and we saw people at the airport discarding items from their suitcases to meet these requirements.

3. Bring a good pair of walking shoes. There is a lot of walking. This trip was tagged strenuous, and we logged more than 17,000 steps a day.

4. Go to the grocery stores in each city. They are a great cost cutting way to pick up snacks. Plus, it's fun to see what the locals eat and interact with people in the neighborhoods. Most also sell great local wines at reasonable costs.

5. There are ATMs at the Rome airport, so you really don't need to buy Euros ahead of time. But we felt more secure bringing some euros from the USA.

6. Use taxis and the metro, and

avoid car services. We arrived in Rome a couple of days early and were unsure about the public transportation from the airport to our hotel. Our driver tried to scam us for an extra 20 euros. Returning home, we used the Leonardo Express, and it was a breeze.

Walking to our hotel in Volterra. Our bus was parked

outside the city walls.

The mini-market across the street from our hotel in Florence

the-agony-and-the-ecstacy-irving-stone-b

Our guide, Nina, explains the workings of the Metro to our group.

8. Use a money belt or neck wallet, and don't use a purse. Put your valuables in the money belt or neck wallet, and put those under your clothes. Other non valuable personal items can be carried in a day pack.

9. Bring a travel compass.

Rick Steves books have excellent maps, but it is still easy to become disoriented in a new city. A travel compass will help. We were able to purchase a day pack and travel compass from RickSteves.com.

10. Know what stamps to use. We purchased stamps from the Vatican and found out later that the postcards using Vatican Stamps could only be mailed from the Vatican.

7. Read a couple of books about the area you are visiting before you go. We read our Rick Steves book, but we also read Four Seasons in Rome, The Agony and the Ecstasy, and Leonardo Da Vinci. You can easily check these out from your local library.