Most travellers to Italy want to know the effect the Euro has had on travel to this region. Sadly, the cost of enjoying this lovely country has doubled since 2002. Gone are the days of cheap rooms in grande Villas, or dining well for a fraction of the cost in Australia. The Australian dollar seems to hover somewhere between .55 - .65 Euro. The Euro has proved to be a very strong currency and there would not be a single Italian tourist operator displeased with the conversion from Lire. In effect, a once $160.00 four star room is now $270.00 plus. Dinner for two that may have costed $80.00 per couple is more likely to be $160.00, and so on. The US dollar is no longer king and Italy has become a destination that requires serious budgeting and planning. Don’t expect too many genuine bargains, instead undertake better research and consider dropping down a star rating in your usual accommodation level or taking a shorter break then normal. Whatever you choose, be happy in the fact that you are buying lifetime memories !!

Anyone travelling to Italy without a proper travel insurance policy would be foolish. Especially if you are hiring a motor car or motor cycle. Whilst there are countless stories of handbags being stolen or pick-pocket gangs fleecing tourists the real concern is in motor vehicle accident or damage. The cost of replacement or repair is horrendous. A well designed travel insurance policy should contain coverage for motor vehicle theft excess or motor vehicle damage excess. Most of the time the hiring of a car in Italy involves a contract signed in Australia, prior to your holiday. Once you collect the car the charming counter staff at Avis, Hertz, Eurocar, etc will demand additional excess costs at 12-30 Euros a day. This can add up to hundreds of dollars and cripple your budget. Make sure your policy covers for excess, and all the ‘Super Excess’ jargon in the contract as well as other important matters such as theft, lost or stolen goods, medical assistance, bombings, etc !!

We would rather trust the local Mafioso boss than the desk jockey of an Italian hire car company. Take heed, they are all crooks with only one interest, that is to fleece as much money as possible from you ! Whether its for excess clauses you simply don’t need or some other ‘Super Tax’ or ‘Road Tax’ or ‘Government Tax’ or ‘Airport Parking Tax’, ‘Airport Pick-up Tax’, etc. I have argued my way through half a dozen taxes only to start my Italian holiday exhausted by the experience. You have to understand their logic, that is, they will never see you again so they attempt to extract as much money as possible from you.

Not to be confused with Grande Prix circuits, these freeways can be incredibly dangerous, not to mention costly. Speed limits signs are never observed and often seen as an incentive to break the limit. Autostradas change dramatically throughout the country. In northern Italy they are the domain of over laddened semi trailers travelling at break-neck speeds, above 140 kph is normal. Don’t be surprised at seeing a Mercedes whizzing past you in excess of 200kph, its all very normal. Many autostradas have four lanes in either direction and keeping away from overtaking vehicles becomes more of a challenge then actually driving on the wrong side of the road.

Northern autostradas are full of pot holes and littered with rubber pieces thrown up by passing truck tyres. It’s not uncommon to see accidents at toll gates as cars collide into one another in an attempt to stop and pay the exorbitant toll fees. As a rule the toll will cost about $10.00 per 100 kilometres, sometimes more. To the contrary, the autostradas in southern Italy are a real pleasure. With far fewer tourists, travellers and semi trailers; the roads are also better maintained and often toll free. Should you use autostradas then you can expect some reasonable food at the Autogrilles (fuel stops) which are dotted along your journey. My advice is to use an autostrada to leap-frog from one area to another, then get back onto the local roads, slow down and enjoy your holiday….there’s lot to see!

The biggest problem with wine faced by Australians in Italy is understanding the varietals. Australians are so used to the French varietals of wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, etc. Italy is an entirely different ball game with varietals that can sometimes confuse, such as Cataratto, Insolia, Marzemino, Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, etc. Here are a couple of tips that you might observe.

Should you be in a ristorante or trattoria, seek guidance from the waiter. We suggest asking for the vino di regionale - wine of the region. Almost all eating establishments are proud of their wine selection and the regional wine will often work well with the menu, don’t worry that you can’t pronounce the name of the grape variety. Another tip is not to ask for a French varietal, you are not in France!  Please…try, Italians make fantastic wine.

Should you be buying wine to take back to your villa or apartment then we offer a golden rule: don’t buy the cheap stuff on offer at the local supermarket, as it’s only going to be a cheap drink! Seek out the local Enoteca, which translates for wine merchant, there’s one or more in every town. They’re always extremely knowledgeable, very passionate and willing to give you an invaluable lesson on local wines - plus they will always sell you a wine that will impress. Most Enotecas offer wine by the glass and a range of bar food which is very tasty.  Treat yourself to a visit in every town you plan to stay in for a few days.  They are like mini wine expos!!  They are often very useful in advising where the great eating houses are.

One thing that Italy excels in is their hotel (albergo) star rating system. No matter where you travel you can be assured of consistency in product. Italy uses the same rating as the world over, 1 – 5 stars, however, unlike Australia, you can have complete faith in the Italian system. For example, if your budget is based on 3 star accommodation then feel safe that the quality of the hotels you choose will be consistent, whether you are travelling north or south of the country. Furthermore, hotel operators cannot exaggerate their rating with a higher rating than what is officially allocated. To do so would mean an instant loss of trading license. The entire rating system is government controlled and Italy is a country obsessed by officialdom.

Thankfully the silly system that prevails in Australia, (one star for an electric kettle and another star for having a television, etc), is not the case in Italy. It’s all to do with ambience, parking, restaurant, views, balconies, etc. Little things that matter when you pull in at the end of your day. Mind you, don’t get too fussy at the 2 star level as the real niceties only start from 3 stars, and there are a vast number of beautiful properties at that level. The same applies for Villas and apartments. Once you select your hotel always insist on inspecting the room first and should you expect a better view or larger room then ask, and you will often get what you want.

Australia is certainly the lucky country when it comes to extras (inclusions) in hotel rooms. For some strange reason, probably due to competitiveness, travellers in Australia enjoys a vast range of freebies within their hotel suites, such as a welcome glass of wine or drink at the bar, bath robes, exotic toiletries, free workout in the gym, chocolates and the list goes on. When this started is a mystery. There are some hotels offering ridiculous gratuities, such as limo pick-up or free meals.

Should you have a real focus on finding great food in Italy then understand the four levels of eating houses available. Starting from the top, the most stylish level of eating in Italy is the Ristorante. Often expensive, and like restaurants worldwide, there can be various styles, from fine dining, alfresco, chic but casual, etc. There are many serious ristorantes all over Italy, some of which have received international awards for their cuisine. A number of the finest restaurants in Europe are in Italy. Generally, the ristorante is reserved for the special occasion. Naturally, the menu can be very expensive but the food and setting can often be sensational.

The next level is called trattorias, and there are trattorias everywhere, offering tasty food at reasonable prices. Sometimes they are called café’s. The décor is usually casual and most trattorias offer alfresco dining, on the street ! Many travellers will prefer to eat in local trattorias, the waiters can be good fun and the menus are often in English. A non English menu usually indicates an excellent trattoria.

The next level is where the real food of Italy can be found - l’osteria. There is normally one in every town, or at least close by. They can range in appearance from a simple café down a side street to a dining room inside a Villa or attached to a country home. Often there is only four tables on offer. The dining rooms can be simply presented with handmade table cloths and local carafes of wine. L’osteria’s use fresh local produce in their preparation The food is usually cooked by the nonna and the dishes are always high in flavour. The perfect way to eat, however do not expect translated menus or the razzamatazz of a ristorante. Do expect some unusual dishes such as tripe, offal and sometimes strange local cheeses. Be brave…you’ll never eat better food!

For years Italy was notorious for its blatant smoking habits. No place was considered smoke free and travellers were forced to suffer the stench and discomfort of smoking. But things have changed over the past two years. One of the conditions for Italy’s inclusion into the EU was to introduce a proper non smoking policy. There have been genuine reforms on this level.

Italy now boasts non smoking in all eating establishments, except if the dining area is outside or on a terrace or balcony. Viva non smokers!!!

Taxis: They are no different to anywhere else in the world. Before you get into the taxi clearly state your destination and ask the cost of the fare. This way you will be driven to your destination for a price you are happy with (or at least agree upon).

Café latte: If you are in the piazza of a large town (think Rome, Venice, Florence etc) and you want a coffee then avoid sitting at the table of a café’, or else expect to have to mortgage your home to be able to pay the bill. The worst we have heard of (from a guest at the Villa) was $25.00 per coffee in Piazza San Marco in Venice. Walk inside and stand at the bar and pay $5.00 ! It may also be worth noting in some places if you order a “latte” you will end up with a glass of milk! (Yes, I did feel foolish.)