Italy is undoubtedly the country you should visit at least once in your life. Stunning architecture, nature, cuisine, wine — what else do you need to be happy? But if everything were so perfect, there would be no need for articles like this. So here is a selection of life hacks to help make your Italian vacation Instagram-worthy, rather than "Oh my God, where have I ended up?"
Medicines
I'll start with some "grandma's advice": put together a first aid kit at home, especially if you take something regularly. It's unlikely that anything prescribed by doctors in your country will be sold in Italy, and if you catch a cold, you'll be drinking a mild fever reducer at the price of a local handbag, even if it's a replica.
Language
Once in Turin, we went to a fancy-looking restaurant where the menu was only in Italian, and it turned out to be a place for raw foodies. The appetizer of raw minced meat was an unforgettable experience. So don't rely too much on your English, as it's not as common there as in other parts of Europe. So here's some advice: get a local SIM card and use online translators if you don't want to find yourself in an awkward situation. In tiny, colorful Italian villages, the chances of finding someone who speaks English are pretty much zero.
Phone charger
Quite often, you can see Italian sockets with three holes. They are almost never found in new hotels, but they can be found in older hotels or apartments. The reception desk usually has suitable adapters, but you may end up running around the city looking for an electrical appliance store. So take care of this in advance.
Tips
They are usually already included in the price, but leaving more separately is not prohibited. Sometimes you even want to leave an unusually large tip, because Italians provide high-quality and heartfelt service in restaurants, especially family-run ones with delicious home cooking. Be sure to try it!
Working hours
Italians love to sleep after lunch, so long afternoon breaks in local shops are a common occurrence. Of course, this does not apply to tourist spots (practically), but markets will be more colorful for Italians.
Safety
Italy is not Norway, where you can leave your wallet on the street and it will be returned to you. Therefore, whenever possible, leave your valuables in the hotel safe, do not take all your bank cards and a lot of cash with you. Also, make a copy of your passport and carry it with you, leaving the original in a safe place.
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Water
Drinking water in Italy is excellent, and the further north you go, the better it gets. You can drink it straight from the tap. So stock up on reusable bottles in advance. If they understand English in a restaurant, they may well pour water directly into your container. Otherwise, look for drinking fountains. I've heard that vending machines with clean water have also started to appear in large cities.
Tours
Almost every major city offers free tours led by locals. You can save money on museums by using tourist cards. And every first Sunday of the month, all state museums in Italy are free to visit.
Shopping
The discount season in Italy lasts from January to March, and summer sales run from July to August. Only in large cities will shopping centers stay open until 8 or 9 p.m., so plan your shopping trips for the daytime. On Sundays, almost no one works, with rare exceptions. And at the end of August, the country experiences a "dead season" in terms of shopping. All trade stops, as they say, "everyone has gone to the sea." Of course, you will always find something, but the choice will be small. This does not apply to souvenirs.
You have to agree that these are not serious enough obstacles to prevent you from traveling to delightful, sunny Italy and sampling all kinds of gelato and pizza. The only things that slightly annoyed me were communication problems due to not knowing the language and the crazy fluctuating opening hours of establishments. But you can handle that, so have a bright and delicious Italian vacation!
