The girl admitted that her trip to Italy could have been even more exciting and stable if she had known something in advance.
Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world, but many first-time tourists make a number of similar mistakes that can ruin their experience.
This was the case with travel journalist Business Insider Joie Hadden, who had a lot to regret after her first trip to Italy.
“I never thought I’d become such a bothersome tourist until I visited Venice. I never imagined that I’d regret visiting the Colosseum in Rome. I never imagined that I’d be so upset about spending a night in Milan. But as I’ve learned as a travel journalist, I make mistakes every time I visit a new place,” she said.
Joey said that her first visit to Italy was in October 2022, during a two-week backpacking trip across Europe, where she traveled by train through four countries and spent six days exploring three Italian cities: Venice, Rome, and Milan.
“I had an amazing vacation, but it could have been even more exciting and stable if I had known something in advance,” the tourist added.
Five newbie mistakes in Italy
1. The desire to cram more cities into a short trip. “I had to visit three cities in six days, and my trip to Italy felt like a race. It started with a two-day stopover in Venice, and before I knew it, I was in Rome. About 48 hours later, I was on a train to Milan, where I spent only one night, and then I changed trains to another European city, ” Joey complained.Advertisementad
She explained that the fast pace of the journey made her feel like she was always in a hurry.
“A one-night trip to Milan wasn’t enough for me. If I had chosen just one city, I would have focused more on the experience and taken better care of the environment,” she added.
2. A trip in October didn’t help me avoid crowds. “Traveling to Europe in the summer doesn’t seem like the best idea. During peak season, the continent’s hottest destinations are overcrowded with tourists. So I thought that by booking a trip in October, during the off-season, I would avoid long lines and blocked-off views. Well, I was wrong. In Venice and Rome, I shuffled through the cobblestone streets, getting stuck in traffic jams. I dragged my feet along the crowded tourist-filled pavements. I looked at ancient landmarks like the Colosseum through the phone screens of people standing in front of me. So the next time I go to Italy, I’ll go in the winter, ” Joey said.
3. In Venice, I shouldn’t have booked accommodation outside the city. “Three nights in a castle for $360 was an offer I couldn’t refuse. After all, it was a unique opportunity to sleep like a queen in the Castello di Roncade tower, just a half-hour drive from Venice. Although my stay was wonderful and not expensive at all, I regretted learning that day trips can exacerbate the hype in places like Venice, increasing the crowd but not bringing money to the city for accommodation, the tourist shared her impressions.
She explained that by not staying overnight in the city, tourists are not contributing to the local economy.
4. You should learn the local etiquette before you travel. “As for tourist etiquette, I was wrong to assume that my sense of basic politeness would help me. After a walking tour of Venice, I hoped to have lunch, but all the restaurants I passed were crowded. Hungry and hot, I eventually decided to get off the road and joined the line for ice cream, then sat on a shady step to enjoy it. As I was about to take the first bite, the police officers waved their hands at me, a gesture that I interpreted as a “get up” sign. I then violated the rules of etiquette, which, according to the laws of Venice, could result in a fine,” Joie explained.
5. Don’t get too caught up in planning. “In Rome and Venice, I had a strict schedule. I booked tours and planned every hour of my day to see as many attractions as possible. Every place I visited was something I had seen in movies and on Instagram. It was exciting to see these famous places with my own eyes, but I felt like I was missing out on the opportunity to experience the wonder,” said the tourist.
In the end, when she reached Milan, she abandoned her plans and walked around the city, hoping to discover something new.
“And it worked. I stumbled upon a 15th-century castle that I had never seen on social media – Castello Sforza. As I walked through the gates, I felt like I had entered a fairy tale. I was surrounded by brick walls and towers covered in grapevines. Exploring this castle was more enjoyable than taking a gondola ride in Venice or visiting the Colosseum in Rome. I think it was because I didn’t expect it. The next time I go to Italy, I will take the time to find more surprises, ” she concluded.
