The girl also explained how to avoid repeating these common mistakes.
Italy attracts hundreds of millions of tourists every year, making it one of the most popular countries in the world. However, many visitors visiting this incredible country for the first time make a number of common mistakes that can spoil their vacation experience.
American journalist Jenna DeLaurentis, who tries to visit Italy at least once a year, in her blog for Business Insider named five mistakes that tourists make in this country, and also told how to avoid them.
“Even after visiting more than 40 countries, Italy remains one of my favorites. I try to return there every year, whether it’s a trip to the islands of Sicily or cycling in Puglia. However, on my first trip to Italy more than 10 years ago, I made almost every possible rookie mistake, whether it was getting caught by scammers in Milan or getting fined in Rome on public transport, ” she shared.
Only the most popular cities are visited
“I often see travelers following a proven route to the most popular destinations in Italy, but I also recommend exploring less-visited cities and towns. If you’re staying in Venice, why not take a day trip to the stunning Scrovegna Chapel in Padua or visit Verona’s 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre? If you visit more than just the most popular places, you will be able to meet fewer people and explore in more detail what Italy has to offer, ” says Jenna.
Don’t compost train tickets
The girl is sure that public transport in Italy is excellent and easy to navigate, since the signs are often in English and Italian, and online maps make it much easier to plan trips around the country.
“However, I often see first-time visitors forget to compost their train tickets. Tickets for some types of transport, such as regional trains without fixed seats, must be composted before boarding, ” she warned.
Fortunately, this is very easy to do: e-tickets can be composted online, and paper tickets can be inserted into a small vending machine on the train platform. The process takes only a few seconds, but if you forget to do it, you can run into a big fine.
Eat in restaurants close to the main attractions
“There is no denying that Italy is a gourmet paradise, but not all restaurants in the country are created equally. Many eateries near the busiest attractions, such as Rome’s Trevi Fountain, have high prices and (sometimes) low-quality cuisine because they cater to tired and desperately hungry tourists, ” notes the experienced traveler.
Instead, she advises paying attention to restaurants located at least a few blocks away from busy locations – this way you are more likely to find better and more authentic food options.
Fall into tourist traps
“One common trick that I see many tourists fall for is when someone approaches you with a small object in their hands, such as a rose or a bracelet. The seller hands it to the tourist, and as soon as he takes it, he is pressured to buy the product. Sellers ‘ tactics may seem intimidating, but it’s important to remember that there’s no need to actually take the product from them. A strict ” no “usually discourages the seller, but if he throws the product in your direction, just let it fall to the floor and leave,” explains Jenna.
They travel with large heavy suitcases
“I can easily identify first-time visitors to Italy by the size of their luggage. Many people pack huge, bulky suitcases and look unhappy as they move from place to place. Italy’s cobbled streets and lack of elevators can make traveling with heavy suitcases a nightmare. In addition, most trains have limited luggage space, so large suitcases may not fit over the seats, ” she warns.
To avoid stressful situations on the road, she recommends traveling with hand luggage and a small backpack. If you find it difficult to fit all your belongings in a small bag, you can use compression packing cubes.
