Italian Travel Advice

MONEY

It is never a good idea to carry a lot of money while in Italy or Europe. While the Italian Lakes district is a very safe area, pick pocketing is a common problem in all areas of Europe. Don't carry lots of cash at a time, and make sure it is not easily accessible to pick pockets (the wallet in the back pocket is an easy target).

Traveler's checks are somewhat outdated these days, and a lot of places no longer accept them. Use a credit card; they are accepted in most places and have the best exchange rate. To pull out Euros you can go to Italian ATM machines, known as BANCOMATS. They accept all major debit cards.

Don't forget to alert your local bank that you are traveling to Italy so they don't freeze your account by mistake; that would certainly mess up you Holidays to Italian Lakes!

INTERNET AND PHONE SERVICES

Communication to countries outside of Italy is fairly easy these days. Internet cafes exist in all towns and are not very expensive; usually not more than 12 Euros per hour. A lot of them also have phones to make international calls, paying by the minute.

Another option is to sign up with Skype, where international calls are extremely cheap and you only need an Internet connection to use it.

STORE AND RESTAURANT HOURS

Italy is not as convenient as the US in terms of hours of operation for many establishments. Most places are closed in the early afternoon for two to three hours, and also tend to close earlier at night as well. This includes restaurants.

TIPPING

In Italy, it is not the norm to leave a tip. Usually people will leave the change and maybe an extra Euro. The same is true for taxis; don't leave a tip unless you really want to.

Just remember that the customs in Italy are different from those in America. This is just another reason Italian lakes holidays are so interesting and fun!

For even more information about Italian Lakes Holidays, please visit Italian Lakes Holidays. This site has information related to Travel Tips in Italy, the lakes, Italian culture, villa purchasing information, and more!

Easy Way to Find Beautiful Wedding Locations in Italy

Italy is the perfect place for a dream wedding and is becoming a popular choice with destination weddings. The reason for this is simple. The country caters to almost everyone's tastes. Finding beautiful wedding locations in Italy is not a very difficult thing to do. You will find plenty of options on various websites with detailed descriptions and pictures. If you are hiring wedding planners, they would have a few suggestions as well. However, this article should give you a head start on what you can look forward too.

Options, options and more options...

Beauty and more beauty is all you will find in Italy - a perfect destination for a wedding. Beautiful wedding locations in Italy are a very common sight. Here are a few of the locations that you might want to consider:

Lake District: As the name suggests, plan your big day in what could possibly be the most relaxing and romantic atmosphere in Italy, on the edge of a lake.

Friuli and Veneto Regions: Venues that are tucked away and intimate is what you will find in this region made up of old towns that still retain their charm, dreamy castles and gorgeous villas.

Tuscany: Ancient towns on the top of hills, enchanting landscapes, mouth watering food and some of the best is wines is what defines this region.

The Italian Riviera: Quaint fishing villages and vineyards dotting a gorgeous coastline define this area. It is the perfect place for an outdoor wedding.

Lazio, Rome and Florence: The beauty of these cities is timeless and that is what ranks them amongst some of the most exhilarating venues for a wedding in Europe. Amongst other venues are Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Sorrento and the Southern regions.

Weddings in Venice

Venice is considered the most romantic city in the world. With the unique experiences and its atmosphere of magic, who wouldn't want to get married here? Venues for weddings in Venice are easily available. Civil ceremonies take place at the Palazzo Cavalli which dates back to the 17th century, while blessings can take place at the Anglican chapel. Lovely Venetian restaurants, villas and luxury 5 star hotels are available for receptions.

Romantic Italian Honeymoons

When you begin planning your honeymoon, you want to find a place that is romantic, interesting, and that will create lifelong memories. One place that offers all of that and more is Italy. Read on for some ideas on romantic Italian honeymoons.

There are a number of excellent reasons to choose Italy for your honeymoon destination. For one thing, it is exotic enough to feel like you are really trying something new, but it is also a very easy place for Americans to get around. The people are very friendly, and at least in the metropolitan areas, most speak English (but they do still appreciate it when tourists make an effort to learn at least a few Italian phrases). Italy is easy to get to by air or rail from another European country. And then there is the food, the art, the culture, the countryside, and the shopping; need I say more?

Each part of Italy has something interesting and unique to see. The breathtaking beauty of Tuscany makes it one of the top destinations for newlyweds. You can spend leisurely afternoons enjoying the Tuscan countryside and visiting world class vineyards. A cooking class is a fun way to spend an afternoon in Tuscany, as well.

Then take some time to spend in Florence, the biggest city in the region. Florence was a thriving hub of the Renaissance, which is very evident in the stunning architecture and art in the city. Pay a visit to the Duomo, the impressive cathedral that is a central feature of Florence. Then hop over to the Ponte Vecchio, a famous shop-lined bridge. This is the perfect place to pick up romantic jewelry gifts for your new bride, perhaps something to complement her wedding set. If her wedding jewelry was created in gold, you will find it especially easy to buy coordinating gifts at this iconic shopping district. Speaking of shopping, no trip to Florence would be complete without a trip to the flagship Ferragamo store.

Florence is also an incredible honeymoon destination for art lovers. Check out the Uffizi, which is an incredible museum featuring works by famous artists such as Bottecelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rubens. Then head over to the Galleria dell'Accademia to view Michelangelo's larger than life sculpture "David". If time permits, you will find countless other galleries, palaces, and churches to visit in Florence.

Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world, making it a perfect stop for an Italian honeymoon. Stroll arm in arm alongside the famous canals, and take a ride in a gondola. Sip an espresso in St. Mark's Square. There are beautiful hotels and inns in every corner of Venice, but for the ultimate experience, book a room overlooking the splendid Grand Canal. Music lovers will enjoy an evening spent at La Fenice, the famous grand opera house. And for one-of-a-kind souvenirs, head over to the island of Murano for hand-blown glass.

Rome is another popular destination for honeymooners. It offers incredible architecture and ruins dating back thousands of years. Many of the most famous sites in the world are here, including the Colosseum and the Pantheon. While in Rome, also take a side trip to the Vatican to view St. Peter's Square and the Sistine Chapel.

Italy is such a romantic and fascinating place to take a honeymoon that the only hard part will be leaving! The great thing is that not only can you enjoy an Italian honeymoon, but you can plan to revisit it for your anniversary trips. There is so much to see and do in Italy that you might well find yourself returning year after year.

Spring in Italy

This the best time to vist Italy> whether is mild, not hot as August and starting April is less crowd compared to september. But Entire May and june first week, crowd is high in most of destinations in Italy. Some times In Spring there are few days of rains. If you plan to visit any destinations in Italy in Spring, better to bring rain cort or umbrella. At rainy time dont expect to buy one on the street, street sellers will give you big bill. Bring sweater or sweat shirt too. It will help to warm you up. sometimes whole day you need to wam up. But most of the days, morning and evening warm up is enough. Day time can stay with normal clothes. My advise is to bring extra pair of shoes too, You may not wear sandles and go out.
Why I recommend this sprin is good for any destination in Italy ( specally Nothern areas) weather is perfect and less crowed, So you can easly move around and enjoy your vacation up to top. Do not worry about things to do in Spring, it is almost same as summer, most of places are open and street festivals are performing. shopes, restaurenst are open. sometimes you can gain from bit lower rates to Hotels and shopping items too.

Visiting gardens in your selected destination is must. you can enjoy beauty of spring blossoms.f you avoid main cities like Rome, Florence and visit to counrty side, you will enjoy the full beauty of Spring in Italy.Tuscany, Capri, Amalfi coast have great gardens to visit