Helpful Travel Tips to Make Your Trip to Italy
As a citizen of Italy and the U.S. I’ve been taking small groups to Italy for the past 10 years. I’ve learned from my travelers that being preparade in just a few basics is can make a huge difference in the enjoyment of the trip. Helpful Travel Tips to Make Your Trip to Italy Visit my website and view the itineraries of 4 excursions in 4 different places. If you are planning a trip or just dreaming of going, the itineraries are full of ideas.
Planning to travel outside the U.S.? There’s more to consider than just “booking a trip.”
Travel is evolving—not only due to the surge of travelers leading to over-tourism, but also because of the significant changes travelers need to be aware of.
I’m passing along timely tips that travelers receive when taking my excursions. These will save anyone grief, time, and money
If you want to have any cash to make purchases anywhere in Europe, you will need to convert U.S. dollars to euros. You can do this at any of the many ATM machines available in airports, banks and in shopping areas. All you need is a debit card with your bank.
However, I’m seeing these “special” ATM machines popping up everywhere (see photo.) Avoid these because add a 13% service fee onto whatever amount dollars you are converting.
You might want to convert a small amount of currency at your local bank before the trip but know that banks also charge a service fee. I mention “a small amount” to avoid needing to think about losing cash while traveling.
Check the expiration date on your passport and make sure it doesn’t expire within 6 months of your return date. For example, if you are returning from a trip on May 30 your passport must not expire before November 30th. Otherwise, you could be denied entering or leaving your destination. This is a relatively new requirement.
Next, be aware that starting in the first half of 2025 you will be required to have a travel authorization card in addition to your passport. This is different from a Visa. It’s an ESTA (electronic system for travel authorization) card to enter Europe. This new system affects U.S. residents and residents from 60 other countries formerly exempted from this requirement.
Applying online for this card is easy. It’s simple but required! The cost is under 20.00 and will be good for several years.! The EU has been trying to put this requirement into practice since 2021, but it was delayed due to covid and will go into effect next year.
