These notes were also sent to me by Susan from PA and I have not had time to put them on the web site.


Tips for Italy


CLOTHING:
The Italians dress up more than the Americans do. The churches especially have stricter rules for dress than anywhere else. For entrance into a church women must have their shoulders covered (no tank tops). You can have short sleeves on or carry a top to put over your shoulders when you enter the church. St. Peter’s in Rome (and some other churches) goes even further and does not allow people to enter with shorts on. Everyone’s knees must be covered. It seems that jean shorts, jog suits and sweats are also a definite no no. Casual shorts should be okay for the country touring in Tuscany. Apparently the only ones in short shorts are the German tourists.
People are expected to dress better for dinner than the days’ sight seeing clothes. Clothing is still casual (no jackets, ties etc.) but on the nicer side. We are planning on one night at the best place in Florence for dinner, so a jacket will be appropriate there.
Remember it will be pretty warm in Italy during our visit. The average 24-hour temperature is 75° (day and night combined!). The average day temp is about 80°. So bring cool loose fitting clothes.
Bring comfortable shoes! Try looking at the Aerosoles (catalog 800-798-9478) or Rockport. On this note about feet, on some days we may be walking a lot. It is wise to buy moleskin (found in drug stores) or the Band-Aid blister pads to help your feet.

THEFT
From all my research it is definitely tourist beware! Italy is known for their gypsies. They are ingenious and talented thieves. They will use babies, children or anything else to divert your attention so they can pick your pockets. My sister-in-law thought she was a very savvy traveler (she has traveled all around the world) and kept her money in her (very tight fitting) front pants pocket. She let the gypsies come near her and was relieved of all her money without feeling a thing! The best thing to do is not to allow them near you. This can even be done with great rudeness, since you are just protecting yourself. Tell them to stay away from you! Some even go so far as bringing whistles to blow when they get too close.
It is a good idea to make photocopies of all your important papers such as passports, plane tickets, driver’s license, birth certificate etc. Pack these in a separate area just in case. Bring only the credit cards you need and keep a copy of the number and an International phone number to call in case of theft. ATMs are available and of course traveler’s checks are good (they are free if ordered through American Express using a gold or platinum card using this phone number (888-301-2349).
Do not think a waist pack is a good theft deterrent. Use a purse or pack only for non-valuable things. A money belt or under-garment pouch is best for money, passports and credit cards. These can be found in travel catalogues such as Travel Smith (call for a catalogue 800-950-1600, if you order give code A1422 for a 10% discount from The Parker Company). You can also find purses and waist packs with steel cables in the straps.
A good idea is to have all valuables in places with zippers with an added insurance of a safety pin to keep the zipper closed.
Leave valuable jewelry at home. It is not worth any problems.
I don’t want to scare anyone. Common sense is really important there (as in any city!). Theft may be common, but on the brighter side it is done with no harm to the victims. Pickpockets, bump and run etc are the very favorite ways. You may be mad and poorer afterwards, but not harmed! Plus it seems that most of the problems occur in the cities, we will spend most of the time in the country.

ELECTRICITY
Italy works on 220 volts verses the US that works on 110 volts. For small appliances check to see if they can be switched to 220V (there will be a small switch and will be well marked). If there is not you can purchase a small converter for under $40. It switches the volts from 110V to 220V. If you try to plug it in without converting, it will blow the motor with too much voltage. Italy also runs on a different cycle, 50 versus 60. With this you will find electric clocks and computer clocks will run slower. Finally the plugs are different. You will need to purchase an adapter before you leave. Make sure you get an adapter that fits the plugs we have with one side wider than the other. I brought an old adapter with me to Germany and forgot that now we have these new fangled plugs! I had to let my hair air dry!

CURRENCY
As of February 1 the exchange rate for the Lira is L2000 to $1. As mentioned earlier you can use traveler’s checks, Eurochecques (small charge is assessed for cashing them), or credit cards. Your ATM card that also has a credit card mark on it can be used in the ATM machines. This is by far the best way to get cash. Machines are all over in both the small and large towns. VISA is the most widely accepted credit card followed by American Express, Eurocard and Diner’s card.
For the best exchange rate use a credit card or ATM card. The next best rate is at a bank. At a bank they will first exchange the dollars to the new Euro Dollar and then to Lira. Banks are open Mon-Fri 8:30 to 1:15. The afternoons are spotty, as are Saturday hours. So stock up when you can! There are some machines that exchange $20 bills to Lira in some of the larger cities. The exchange rate is not great and they do not accept the new $20 bills.
Keep all receipts for money exchanges! It may be necessary for customs.

DRIVING
If you plan on driving in Italy you will need an International Driver’s License. It is not required to rent a car, but is required if there is an accident or a problem with the local police. It is not worth taking any chances since we will always need 2 drivers. To apply for an I.D.L. you can contact any AAA. You will need passport style pictures and about $10. Call 800-337-9222 to find the office nearest you. The cars will be standard transmission. I have rented a 9-passenger van and a mid-size station wagon. This way we can accommodate all the luggage.
The driving laws are pretty much the same. The most important thing to remember is always stay to the right except when passing. When passing it is best to keep your left blinker on until you return to the right lane. Speeds can be extremely fast on the autostrada and cars come up on you within a blink of an eye. Drivers are most often not patient, especially near a city. Passing on a curve is considered a birthright, so beware! My favorite quote is from the mayor of Naples concerning stoplights. “A green light is a green light, avanti, avanti. A red light – just a suggestion. And yellow? Yellow is for gaiety.”
We will be traveling on some toll roads. The best way to pay for these will be with a credit card. We can put together a gas kitty once we get there. Gas is expensive in Europe and we will be filling up two cars.

Vaccines
Yes! Not a thing we want to think about but the infectious disease clinics in several major hospitals and the Center for Disease Control recommends that all people travelling to Italy get the hepatitis A vaccine. Apparently there is a very high rate of Hepatitis A in Europe, especially Italy and Greece. While you are at it you might want to consider a tetanus booster also. It should be done every 10 years for adults.

TIPPING
Restaurants include a service charge in the final bill. It is about 15% of the total bill plus $2 per person for linen and bread. If the service was good you should put an additional L4,000 to L10,000 on a separate plate for an added tip. Bars usually do not include a tip and you should add an extra 12-15% to the bill. For faster service in a coffee bar you put down a L100 or L200 coin at time of ordering. For taxi fares round up the fare for the tip.

PHONES
The cheapest way to call home is by purchasing a prepaid calling card at a tobacco shop in Italy. It is called a Carta Telephono Prepagata – “Easy Talk”. You prepurchase it by units. Instructions are in English and are very easy. It works out to about .50 per minute versus $1.50 per minute for Sprint and AT&T calling cards. If you use MCI for long distance you can get the Italy option for $1 extra per month; it will then cost .17 per minute for all calls to Italy and from Italy to your home phone. You may want to check with your long distance carrier for a similar program. Mine lasts for only 6 months, but that is plenty! Italy is 6 hours ahead of us in time.

VAT
The VAT is the added value tax common in most of Europe. Since we are not members of the European market we are exempt from this tax, but there are catches to this policy. The excemption is not good on hotels, services and car rentals. It is only good on single purchases (can be multiple items at time of purchase) over 300,000 Lira. At the time of purchase you can ask for special sales with the tax already subtracted or get the proper forms to collect later. At the airport before leaving you must fill out the forms and present them along with the items at a customs desk. With this proper certification you can mail them in or in some airports present them for immediate reimbursement. Make sure you keep all receipts for purchases! It may take up to 6 months for the refund, but you will get it. Items that you purchase and have shipped home are not eligible for VAT refunds; it only applies to items that you carry home. Remember you are required to show them at the customs desk at the airport.

BUGS
We will be staying out in the country; the nearest town is 5 miles away. There is a good chance that there will be bugs at night. As in the rest of Europe they do not have screens on the windows. (We will not have air conditioning either. Again this is extremely common in Europe. Air conditioning is mostly available in some restaurants and the very upscale hotels.) A hint I have learned is to pack some vinyl screen (you can purchase this at Home Depot by the foot) and the blue painter’s tape and create your own screens. This may not be necessary, but it is worth bringing. Mosquito netting can also be purchased and the same thing done. Mosquito coils are also recommended, I am told we can purchase those in Italy. From what I have read Italians feel that screens ruin the view out of a window, prohibit you from leaning out the window and plus one does not sleep with the windows open. 

CLEANING CLOTHES
The villa is suppose to have a washing machine. European washers are very different from the ones in the US. They are smaller in size, much rougher on the clothes and take longer to wash. My washer in Germany use to heat the water to boiling for the whites! We will have a dryer (this is very unusual, they normally hang clothes). You may want to pack soap. If your clothes are in need of gentle tratment, you may want to bring a delicate soap and hand wash.

SHOPPING
The exchange rate is in our favor! The things to look for is leather (purses, shoes, gloves etc), Tuscan pottery, Venetian glass, and olive oil (incredible!). There will be markets in the towns, I have a list of market days. Florence’s market is everyday and yes you can haggle the prices! I also found the outlets for Gucci and Prada. Luckily they are only 20 minutes away from our villa. Prices are reduced 30%– 40% off retail. Still expensive, but also very intriging. You can bring back cheese but not meats according to customs. Gold is popular, but the prices are not bargains. Shops open at 8:30 to 9:00, close from 1:00 to 3:00 for lunch and remain open to 7:30 to 8:00. Some stores close on Saturday afternoon in the summer and are closed on Sunday.

MEALS
Breakfast is a very small meal in Italy. It usually consists of cappuccino and brioche or croissants and is very informal, a stand up meal. Cappuccino is only a morning drink and is not consummed after midday. We probably will not have an american coffee maker. If you really need that you might want to bring a drip cone.
Lunch is from 12:30 – 2:00 and can be larger than we are used to. It is normally a pasta and you can have a salad as a second part and be acceptable. Dinner is served after 8:00 and is also multi-coursed and long. So forget diets and come prepared to eat! It is actully considered bad form to only order a single item.

RESTROOMS
Unfortunately the restrooms are often dirty, smelly and absent of toliet paper. There are virtually no public restrooms in Florence. Most cafes have restrooms, but you are expected to purchase a drink to use them. In the country it will be even a bigger challenge, so come prepared with toliet paper and a sence of adventure!

UNUSUAL THINGS TO PACK
The villa will come with all linens and cooking equipment. It will not have any “consumable” items. A visit to a local store on the way in will be mandatory. Just to be on the safe side you may want to pack some toliet paper. Unless we hit a store in the Pisa area the stores will be closed by the time we get to Ambra. They will be closed on Sunday also. Most villas come with irons and boards, I have a travel iron just in case. If you bring prescription medicine it must be packed in the orginal container from the drugstore. If it is crucial medications, bring a back up prescription. Since it is summer, bring sun screen.

I have maps, menu translator, guide books, wine ratings and language translation books.

MUST DO BEFORE THE TRIP
 Get an International Driver’s License
 Think about packing, with 10 people the luggage quantity might be staggering! Try to double up with outfits.
 Purchase specialty items required for traveling, adapters, security pouches, walking shoes etc.
 Buy guide books and get an idea of what interests you!
 Put together the important documents and copies with International phone numbers in case of problems.
 Buy travelers checks, make sure your ATM card will work in Italy and it wouldn’t hurt to get some Lira before the trip.
 Make sure you have reservations for the Hilton in Rome for June 16 and if you are using points in Venice you have changed the reservations for the Gritti Palace.
 READ UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN by Frances Mayes. Her descriptions of Tuscany and the Italian food, people and land are so eloquent and compelling. I truly felt that I could close my eyes and picture myself there! It is a must read before the trip!! Read it slowly and savor the atmosphere!