GRAND VOYAGE ITALY
  • Piazza
    • Older Posts
  • Travel
    • Our Family's Voyage
  • Cucina
  • Culture
  • History
  • Style
  • Photos
  • Videos
    • Music Videos
  • About
    • Survey
    • Links
  • Shop 🛒
  • Piazza
    • Older Posts
  • Travel
    • Our Family's Voyage
  • Cucina
  • Culture
  • History
  • Style
  • Photos
  • Videos
    • Music Videos
  • About
    • Survey
    • Links
  • Shop 🛒
We're All About Italy

Typical Daily Costs for an Italian Vacation: Plus Great Travel Tips!

6/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Average Daily Cost (per person)       € 115.25
Accommodation                                    € 65.61
Food                                                           € 30.78
Water                                                         € 3.13
Local Transportation1                          € 10.78
Entertainment1                                      € 14.72
Communication                                     € 5.66
Tips and Handouts                                € 6.90
Intercity Transportation                     € 27.16
Souvenirs                                                 € 17.95
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps       € 50.63
Alcohol                                                     € 10.99

Because Italy is such a popular destination, travel costs can be high. It's possible to find cheaper meal options and if you're on a particularly tight budget. Most restaurants charge a sitting fee if you dine inside... this is even true when you stop at a bar and just want to have a couple of cool drinks and sit in their cafe outside. They'll charge you several Euro for the table. Instead, get your drinks and find a bench or a sitting wall under the shade of some trees.

Hotels are usually high quality but the rooms are smaller than when traveling in the United States. Choose a hotel based on location, not size, and you won't be disappointed. Consider renting an apartment if you're staying in one location longer than 2 nights. This will save money, give you a place to have a rest during the middle of the day (just like the Italians do with their Riposa) and give a place to try cooking in once in a while. 

Traveling in the off season or shoulder season can also save you lots of money (although the "shoulder" season is getting narrower and narrower). This will also help you avoid the crowds which can be overwhelming during the summer months. If you can visit the area during the later fall (mid-October or later) or early spring (early April or earlier), then this is ideal, as the weather is pleasant, the crowds are less, and prices remain low. Winter can be cold (but never as cold as most northern Americans are used to), but is also a fun time to visit. Traveling to Italy during the winter months helps you see a whole different side to this normally touristy country.

  • Some consider train travel to be expensive in Italy, but we thought it was affordable. It does add considerable time to your traveling... consider it will take a half day to get from one part of the country to the other.  Costs are generally comparable to what you will find elsewhere in Europe. You'll usually get the best prices if you book your tickets in advance. High speed trains and faster and more comfortable than the Regional trains, but they do cost more and only go between more major cities. There are discount passes available, but these passes usually come with limitations and requirements.

  • Southern Italy is less expensive than northern Italy. It's also less touristy. Consider the natural beauty of mountainous Basilicata, rugged and wild Calabria or the beauty and the sea down in Puglia. If you're looking to save some money and get off the beaten path, head to the south where your money will go farther and you'll see a whole different side to the country. It was our favorite part of Italy!

  • You'll save money on food if you have a filling lunch in a restaurant (before 12pm unless in Rome... otherwise, they close up for Riposa) and then prepare a picnic for dinner. There are many great markets where you can pick up Italian cheeses and breads as well as regional wine for a good price... alimentari (local grocery stores) are affordable and offer great, affordable local wines. Even if you don't have access to a kitchen, you can turn these items into and excellent meal. They have a lot of ready to eat items, just like American delis.

  • Most people visit Florence, Rome and Venice during their trip to Italy. Pick at least one small town to visit that is off the beaten path. Spend a day or two exploring its streets and neighborhoods and you'll leave with a whole new perspective on this country. You'll probably enjoy the time spent in the small towns better or as much as the time spent in the crowded big tourist cities.

  • Avoid doing a tour. Italy is easily visited independently. Transportation is excellent and the tourist infrastructure is well established. There is really no need to visit this country as part of a package tour. I strongly suggest renting a car and following your nose. Although gas is expensive in Italy, cars are very efficient offsetting the costs. 

--Jerry Finzi

If you enjoyed this post, please tell your friends and share it on Social Media. Ciao!




0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    1 Making Plans
    2 Gear And Tips
    3 Getting Around
    4 Tuscany
    5 Amalfi Coast
    6 Basilicata
    7 Puglia
    8 Rome
    9 Postcards
    Fotos Di Finzi
    History For Italians
    Humor
    La Cucina & Recipes
    More Than Gelato Pizza
    More-than-gelato-pizza
    News Del Giiorno
    Off The Tourist Path

    Archive

    July 2024
    June 2024
    January 2021
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2014 - 2024 by GrandVoyageItaly.com
Picture
  • Piazza
    • Older Posts
  • Travel
    • Our Family's Voyage
  • Cucina
  • Culture
  • History
  • Style
  • Photos
  • Videos
    • Music Videos
  • About
    • Survey
    • Links
  • Shop 🛒