TRAVEL TIPS & ADVICE

Some added travel tips and advice while visiting.

Bank hours 8:30- 1:30

Museums and Churches - Early morning to 12:00. Close for about 3 hours and reopen usually until 6:00P.M.

Larger churches in the bigger cities are usually open all day.

Museums are closed on Mondays. In the low season hours are shortened during the day and in the high season they reopen at night.

Shops - Monday thru Saturday 9-1 and reopen from 4-7:30. Usually Sundays closed. However, in the big cities open all day including Sundays.

Large grocery stores open all day 7 days a week.Small deli’s and local food shops closed on Sundays.

Purchasing gas - Main highways open 24 hours. In the smaller towns Monday thru Saturday usually 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Keep in mind that self serve uses machines that only take CASH. EUROS.

Don’t forget a universal adapter for your electrical needs.

Always keep your passport with you.

Keep all of your receipts until you get home.

Keep a daily journal. Very helpful even if you have all those wonderful pictures. In time you will appreciate what you wrote on that day that you took those pictures.

EMBRACING THE ITALIAN CULTURE

Almost all the shops in the small towns close in the afternoon anywhere from 1-3 and reopen later. Plan your day around this.

NEVER bring food or drinks into Churches.

Dress properly when visiting a Church.

NO shorts, tank tops or sleeveless tops are excepted.

Do not walk into a Church during services.

The KISS right cheek first then left.

Meeting someone new shake hands.

Do not cut the word “Grazie” short. Say it right.

Watch your language.

No “doggie bags”.

Do not expect a lot of ice in any of your drinks.

Cappuccino only at breakfast.

Espresso after dinner.

Now lets talk bathrooms.Keep change with you at all times.Very few public restrooms.I was a little confused finding a bathroom. They are non gender for the entire family. I was looking for the male female sign and kept watching people walk in and out and I finally figured it out.

Once inside there sometimes is a timed light. You can sit there and wave your arms to get it to go back on!

Most times there are two buttons to flush. I’m sure you know why. It’s a water conserving issue.

If you would like to share any of your tips or advice please fill out this form and I will be more than happy to add them to my list.