Italy - Travel and booking information

Travel and booking information Italia On Tour

Important travel and booking information
Italy is a popular travel destination all over the world with its mild climate, the incomparably beautiful Mediterranean landscape, the romantic inland villages, the magnificent mountain landscapes, the breathtaking cliffs, the beneficial thermal bathing resorts, the secret bathing bays and long sandy beaches.
Italy enchants you, no matter which region you travel to. Whether the incomparable Tuscany, the coastal landscapes of the Adriatic Sea, the mountain landscapes of South Tyrol and an absolute must the Gulf of Naples with the world-famous Amalfi Coast, Capri with the unique Blue Grotto, the Green Island of Ischia and much more.

Enjoy the Italian way of life “La dolce vita” on a city trip to Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples, Genoa or Milan with the tasty and healthy cuisine and traditional customs.

Here is a list of travel and booking information for your Italy vacation:

Pharmacies – Farmacia
The pharmacies, here called Farmacia, are marked with a green cross. When lit it means that the pharmacy is open or has an emergency service.

Driving in Italy
The motorways in Italy are chargeable (Autostrada del Sud in southern Italy free of charge). Expressways (Superstrade) are free of charge.
The background color for signs in Italy is different than in Germany. Here are some examples:
⦁ Motorways: green (instead of blue)
⦁ Country roads: blue (instead of yellow)
⦁ Place-name signs, city-center signs or subordinate streets: white
⦁ Sights, close range: brown
The speed limit on Italian motorways is 130 km / h, unless otherwise indicated.
When parking, the colored edge strips have a precise meaning: blue stands for parking that is subject to charges, yellow and black and yellow for parking restrictions (or parking spaces for the disabled, pay attention to the signs). Green markings mean special restrictions (see signs). In Bolzano you are not allowed to simply park on white lines.

Swimming – beaches
If swimming is prohibited, the beach supervisor / Bagnino di Salvadaggio will hang a red flag. Please follow these guidelines. Strangers can hardly assess flow conditions.
Nudism is rarely allowed. “Topless” as well, but nobody in northern Italy is knocking off their feet anymore. But you withdraw to change clothes, even if it’s just the towel.
Dogs, beach castles, fishing and campfires are also prohibited on the beach.
Most of the beaches are chargeable during the season. Otherwise there is the possibility to lie on the free beach sections, which are mostly neglected and have no toilets and changing rooms.

Travel by train
Purchased tickets must be validated before boarding! The validators are located at the beginning of the platform.
Driving in Italy is significantly cheaper than in Germany, but the trains are considered unpunctual, often defective and not always very clean.
The Italian high-speed train is the IC / EC. We also have the Freccia trains with special low-cost tickets.
A new train company is the Italo, which only offers certain routes with a few stops.

Banks
The opening times of the banks are generally from 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and from 2.45 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. except on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Every bank offers the option of withdrawing cash with EC and credit cards at the ATM with the relevant PIN, even outside of opening hours. For security reasons, the maximum daily amount is € 250. Credit cards are accepted in almost all shops.

Important: The Italian cards have a pin with 5 secret numbers. Enter the 4 secret numbers and confirm. If you enter an incorrect PIN twice, do not try a third time, otherwise the card will be withheld and it will only be possible to hand over it from one of the banks in Germany.

Booking processing – booking information
When booking, send us your complete details by email so that we can send you the booking confirmation. The down payment of 20% of the travel price is due immediately, the remaining amount is due 30 days before arrival. As soon as the payment has been received on our account, we will send you the complete travel documents. Since our office is on the island of Ischia, we offer telephone support throughout Italy. Our friendly team is available for you 24 hours a day.

Theft
Thefts happen, like everywhere else in the world, especially where there are many tourists. Italians have removable car radios. Do not leave any valuables in the car. In the event of theft, go to the nearest police station immediately, in Italy it is the Carabinieri. Insurance companies only pay if you can show a police report. Theft of bags and handbags is particularly widespread at train stations or during train and bus journeys. It is best to always take what you need with you and leave everything in the hotel safe, including your passport and travel documents.

Shopping and strolling
The prices stated on the goods are fixed prices. The act as we know it from earlier is hardly widespread in the south. As a rule, this is only possible in the markets and at street vendors.

Because of tax evasion, you should always ask for a receipt (scontrino fiscale) and keep it at least for a piece. This in the event that you are stopped by the tax authorities.

Entry into Italy
You need identity card / passport to enter in Italy.

Electricity
230 V 50 Hz alternating voltage are usual as in Germany. In Italy, narrow Euro plugs are used with rectangular sockets. Adapters are required for older sockets, as the Euro plugs rarely fit. When booking holiday apartments, electricity consumption is often not included. In this case, the consumption will be paid on site.

Celebrations and holidays
Italians like to celebrate often and often. There are a number of patronage festivals, regular folk festivals with processions, music and colored lights, colorfully decorated streets and churches that invite you to celebrate, often combined with large fireworks.
January 1st – New Years / Capodanno
January 6th – Three Wise Men / Epifania
Easter Sunday and Monday / Pasqua
April 25th – Liberation Day / Festa nazionale
May 1st – Labor Day / Festa del Lavoro
Pentecost Sunday / Pentecoste
June 2nd – Republic Day / Giorno della Republica
August 15th – Assumption of Mary / Ferragosto
November 1st – All Saints’ Day / Ognissanti
December 8th – Conception of Mary / Immacolata
25./26. December – Christmas / Natale

Travel by aircraft
International regulations apply to air travel today. It is best to take a look at the general rules of the respective airline if you want to know more.
Since longer security checks can be expected in some cases, it is advisable to plan more time at the airport. We are happy to help you book your flight. Today, Italy is served by various low-cost airlines. Depending on which airport is suitable for you or how flexible you are, the price can go down or up. We are happy to help you find the cheapest flight option.

Gastronomy / restaurants / bars
Italy is the travel destination when it comes to good and tasty cuisine. There are many options for eating out. Often it is not easy for the traveler to understand what exactly it is about. There are many delicious ways to have a meal in Italy. However, it is not always possible to determine which restaurant category it is based on the name.
⦁ Agriturismo – this is often an agricultural activity with organic products.
⦁ Bar / Cafe – the bar is usually a bar or a coffee like you know it at home, but there is also the possibility to order sweet and salty dishes in the bar.
⦁ Birreria – Brewery with simple dishes that can be consumed with beer.
⦁ Enoteca – wine house or wine cellar with simple small dishes and dishes for fun. Often meat and cheese dishes.
⦁ Osteria – typical local restaurants with local cuisine. Usually good and not expensive.
Pasticceria – pastry shop
⦁ Panificio – bakery
⦁ Paninoteca – pub for a snack with bread / hamburgers
⦁ Pizzeria – pizza and pasta dishes
⦁ Ristorante / Pizzeria – Italian cuisine in general
⦁ Ristorante – Restaurant with mostly high prices
⦁ Tavola calda – fast food
⦁ Trattoria – mostly middle-class restaurants

In Italy you pay before you order. Furthermore there are 2 different prices. If you drink an espresso standing you pay less than if you order at the table. An extra service fee is charged here.

Tip, called “mancia” in Italy, is very welcome in Italian gastronomy, even if you find the item “Servizio” on the bill. Servizio is charged by the innkeepers for the cover and bread and has nothing to do with the tip.

In Italy it is customary to eat out quite late, so most kitchens do not open until 7:00 p.m.

Pets to Italy
Dogs are not that popular in Italy. When booking accommodation, you should find out whether a pet is allowed and whether it costs anything. Dogs are not allowed on the public beaches. The leash and muzzle must always be carried with you, and the leash must be put on permanently. You need an EU pet passport to travel to Italy. For this purpose, the animal must be clearly identified with a chip (a tattoo is no longer sufficient). For hygienic reasons, dogs and cats over 6 kg are only transported on the Italian railways to a limited extent. However, the reports contradict each other as to the details.

Clairaudience
In general, you should expect a certain clairaudience in Italy, especially when it comes to historical buildings.

Churches
When visiting churches, wear decent clothing (covered shoulders and knees). It is forbidden to tour the church during services.

Disease in Italy
Most health insurance companies automatically print the “European Health Insurance Card” EHIC on the back of the insurance card. If necessary, this must be presented to the local health service (U.S.L. – Unità Sanitaria Locale or A.S.L – Agenzia Sanitaria Locale) in Italy.
We always recommend foreign health insurance, as not all costs are always covered by the health insurance company. Furthermore, the local conditions are not what you know from home. Important: As a tourist you will be treated in the hospital in the emergency department “Pronto Soccorso” without any problems.

Tourist tax
The visitor’s tax has been introduced in almost all regions and areas for a number of years and is withheld at the hotel. This fee is not included in the tour price. The altitude varies from area to area and also depends on the category of accommodation.

Public transportation
The ticket (“biglietto”) for buses, trams, underground and suburban trains can sometimes be bought from the driver, but is not safe and costs more. You should buy one before you get in. Tickets are available in vending machines, tobacco shops (Tabacchi) or bars. Traveling by bus or train in Italy is a quirk. Punctuality is not taken literally. Bus and train travel is quite cheap compared to Germany. Find out about the offers in the individual cities and regions. The ticket is often combined with a discount in the museums. The controls are not accommodating to tourists if the ticket is missing. Fines are very expensive compared to the fare.

Opening times / Italian siesta
The opening times of the shops are usually very long. In summer you work into the night. But you stay closed longer at lunchtime. In tourist areas, Sunday and public holidays are not taken first. In the summer there is partial work. Supermarkets are usually closed on Thursday afternoons. The opening times of museums also vary according to the season. Museums are often closed on Mondays or Tuesdays. Find out beforehand. State museums are accessible free of charge every first Sunday of the month. Children under 18 usually have free entry.

Post
In contrast to the past, the post now takes around 3-4 days to arrive in Germany. The stamp that is used for this is Posta Prioritaria. Stamps are available either from the tobacco shop (Tabaccaio) or from the post office. It is best to buy the stamps directly with the postcards in the souvenir shop. You can hand the post in at the hotel, drop it off at the post office or in the red mailboxes.

Smoke
Since 2005 there has been a strict smoking ban in all public and publicly accessible buildings, including restaurants etc. It is only allowed outdoors and in designated smoking areas. However, this is also restricted: in Naples and Bolzano, smoking is also prohibited in all public areas where children and / or pregnant women (could) stay. This applies to streets, squares, etc., of course playgrounds, but also open-air stages and sports stadiums.
Travel insurance – travel cancellation insurance
In cooperation with ERV – Europäische Reiseversicherung, we offer the opportunity to insure your trip with travel cancellation insurance. You can also take out health insurance abroad. Ask us for your non-binding offer for travel insurance!

Summer vacation in Italy
The Italian summer holidays last about 3 months from about mid-June to mid-September, depending from region to region. During this time, the families with children leave the hot cities and spend the time at the sea. The beach areas are particularly popular on weekends. The The main travel time is still Ferragosto, the weeks around August 15th, although this time is the most expensive. During this time, the whole of Italy is on vacation and many factories and activities close. While beach areas are overcrowded, cities are empty, so this time is also a pleasant time to go on a city break.

Standard accommodations
The rating of the stars in Italy does not correspond to our Germans. Furthermore, in Italy we still have the so-called Adriatic showers with curtains. Furthermore, it is important to know that when booking a double bed (letto matrimoniale), a common blanket is provided for both beds.

Special features in Italy
⦁ the respective area code (e.g. 06 for Rome) must also be dialed in urban areas!
⦁ Cell phone numbers do not have a 0 in front
⦁ Anyone who travels a lot in Italy should possibly get an Italian SIM card to save roaming charges. You can only get an Italian SIM card (also prepaid) if you have an Italian tax number (“codice fiscale”). This can be calculated for every citizen of the other countries as well.
⦁ There are hardly any telephone booths in Italy any more, so it is not worth buying an Italian calling card.

Tobacco shop – Tabacchi
Marked with a capital T here. Not only tobacco products are available here, but everything you can imagine.

Drinking water
Tap water can be safely used for brushing your teeth and boiled. However, we recommend the bottled water for drinking unless there are special drinking water fountains.

Customs regulations within European countries
You can import the following goods per person:
Tobacco products (minimum age 17 years)
800 cigarettes,
400 cigarillos (cigarettes with a maximum weight of 3 g / piece),
200 cigars
1 kg of tobacco
Alcoholic drinks (minimum age 17 years)
10 L spirits, 20 L liqueurs, 90 L wine, 110 L beer
Coffee 10 kg

For citizens outside of the European countries, please inform yourself in advance about the exact customs regulations of your country. We are happy to help you with the information.
We ask for your understanding that we cannot accept any liability for any changes or incorrect information. All information has been compiled to the best of our knowledge and belief.

If you have a suggestion for a supplement to travel and booking information for your Italy vacation, please let us know. We are open to new ideas and information that seem important to you.

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