How to Save Money Traveling in Italy This Year

Yes, the dollar is down and the Euro is up but it is possible to get a good value traveling in Italy this year.

I always suggest using a good travel agent - they can save you lots of time and know what's a good value and what's not. The cheapest price is NOT always the best value.

The least expensive way to travel is to package your trip. Basically, that means using a tour operator to "package" the various elements of your trip - air transportation, car rental, accommodations, meals, excursions, and so forth.

One of the best ways to visit Europe is by cruise and I'd suggest this if it's your first trip. A cruise is budget friendly because it's almost all self-contained. You'll only pay extra for gratuities, sodas, adult drinks, alternative restaurants, shopping, internet usage, spa services and similar pursuits. On some luxury lines, wine and/or hard liquor is included in the price of your cruise. If you do cruise, be sure your travel consultant checks air out two ways - one using the cruise line air. And, remember when you do this, the cruise line determines when you fly, what carrier, etc. Or, you can pay a little extra for an air deviation fee - a fee for customizing your air-plus the difference between their rate and the fare on the airline, date and time you want. Second, have them check "market" or published air - this is the air fare on any given day. It changes constantly, usually going up as the date of travel gets closer. Air fares are not guaranteed until they are paid for. Be sure the name on your passport matches exactly the name you give the airline res agent or travel agent. If you have to correct the name, the airline will charge you a $75 fee to do that. (Thank you very much!) Many tickets are nonrefundable to be sure your dates are firm. The airline will charge you a fee to make each change.

Look at using your frequent flyer miles. If you have enough, you can get a substantial savings. Or, you might choose to use your miles to upgrade to first or business class. If you don't live near a hub city (LA, Chicago, NY, etc.), consider driving to a nearby hub to save some money on flights. All cities have hotels near the airports where you'll leave your car at the hotel parking lot while you're out - this price is included in the cost of your night at their hotel pre/post your flight. (Park 'n Fly packages.) Most of them have complimentary shuttles to the airport. This is much cheaper than airport parking lots. You might also look at flying into London before flying into Italy. There are low-cost carriers that fly from London to the continent. However, be sure to ask about baggage allowance. Most of those carriers have very stringent requirements regarding all luggage whether checked or carried on. And, hefty fees for being overweight. Again, it's not a savings if you get a cheap ticket but pay more in baggage fees. (I'm not a light packer and don't wish to become one to save some money. I have a great rolling suitcase for all my clothes and a fairly roomy tote bag - that takes me for a 7-10 day trip/cruise and I won't go with less. I can handle both if I must but prefer help when I can find it.)

If you're cruising, look for an itinerary where you start in one port and end up in another. One of my favorites is the Venice-Barcelona route - a variety of options for ports, length of cruise, and you start and end in a different country, not just a different city.

Next, when cruising, think about flying in few days early to enjoy the area before you sail out and/or staying a day or two longer after you disembark. Ask your cruiseline rep or travel agent to get you the cruiseline hotel cost per night. Then, ask the travel agent, (or yourself) to check equivalent hotels for better rates. Location! Location!! Location!!! If you're saving $50 a night at a hotel in a more remote location but spend $60 in taxis, and a few hours in "transit," that hotel is not a bargain. (My family did this in Paris once - after one night and 4 taxi rides for 9 people - we moved hotels.) Find out what amenities there are - do they include a breakfast, etc.

You might also stay longer but get a rental car (book this from home because it's cheaper to do in advance) or take a train to another city (Rome, Florence, etc.) or region where you can spend a couple of days before flying home from that city. The trains in Italy are wonderful - modern and fast. Again, think location when you select your hotel. If you're taking the train, choose one convenient to the train station(s.) If you're driving, what's the daily charge to park your car? And, no, you don't need a car in Rome or Florence, only in the more rural areas of Italy or if you're driving long distances between cities. Be sure to get your international driver's license before leaving home if you think you might rent a car at the last minute.

But, what if you've cruised to Europe before and want to spend some time in the interior of Italy - Rome, Florence and so on. A tour is usually your best value. Ask your travel agent to give you some brochures on various companies and compare the class of hotel (1* to 5*), how many meals are included, whether the tours include the cost of admission to the museums, etc. Check to see if you'll pay extra for wine at dinner. Will you be picked up at the airport and taken to the first hotel or will you be expected to do that at your expense? And, at the end of the tour, will you take care of the transportation to the airport for your flight home or will they provide that? Again, the least expensive tour company might not be the best value. Perhaps you don't want a 2* hotel but will be happy to pay for a nicer hotel with more amenities. Make sure the tour allows enough free time to explore, shop and relax on your own.

Even on a tour, you're sure to have some meals by yourself. Try to leave the touristy areas behind and look for restaurants where the locals eat. Not only will you save money, you'll probably have better food. Wine in Italy will be less expensive than soda so you'll want to indulge. If the weather is nice, consider stopping and getting some terrific Italian bread, a chunk of cheese, some cold cuts and a bottle of wine. Then, enjoy a spontaneous picnic at a plaza or park. Use local transportation when you can - buses are a decent buy and you'll get a feel for the city you're in. When you take a taxi, be sure you have local currency in small bills(some will take a cc), check that the meter starts at zero and that the driver takes a direct route (I know, tough to do in a strange city!).

When shopping, again - think local. Ask where the locals buy their shoes, gift items, etc. I usually buy Christmas ornaments as gifts for people back home - not too expensive, easy to pack (select the non-fragile ones) and everyone enjoys them. Look for items popular in the region you're traveling - Murano glass in Venice, etc. Lastly, have the store wrap the item for shipping - if you try to save money and do it yourself and it arrives broken, well, it wasn't worth the savings. Be sure you're shopping at a reputable store, save your receipts, etc. It's best to pay with a credit card so you'll have some clout in case something goes wrong. And, when you see something you like, grab it - you may never find that exact item again. I wanted a cuckoo clock one year...I looked...and looked...and looked - and then we were in Belgium where there were no cuckoo clocks.

Bon Voyage!