Consider Traveling to Italy in the Off Season
The weather in Italy is perfectly fine in the Spring and Autumn. Many airlines will offer discounts for trans Atlantic travel in the non Summer months. Some prepackaged tours and hotels will also have off season discounts. As a bonus, one will avoid the crowds of fellow tourists that exist in the summer months, making easier to get into restaurants and sight-seeing attractions. Use various internet services like Expedia and Orbitz to find good deals for travel to Italy as well as hotel bookings.
Be Careful About Picking Your Hotel Accommodations
In the main tourist cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice, the closest a hotel is to the center of the city, where the main attractions are located, the more expensive the accommodations. There are some good deals to be had on bread and breakfasts and, if one is a young student, a Youth Hostel is certainly an option. Also consider accommodations outside the main cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice, but within easy train distance of those cities for day trips.
Getting Around
Travel between Italian cities is best done by train rather than car, the latter of which can be very expensive. The Trenitalia Pass offers discounts for travel within Italy for nonresidents and can be bought in the United States through a travel agent of on the Internet or at major train stations in Italy.
Rome has an underground train system, which is of somewhat limited value having only two lines, and a somewhat more extensive bus system. Central Florence and Venice are small enough to be explored on foot by any reasonably healthy traveler. Florence does have a bus system, however. Venice also has an extensive water bus system that travels along the Grand Canal. Ass with most places in Europe, avoid taxi and car travel as much as possible, as it tends to be expensive.
Eating
Besides the gorgeous art and architecture, the food is the best reason for visiting Italy. Fortunately, along with all of the five star, super expensive establishments, there are plenty of family owned eateries where great Italian food can be had at reasonable prices. An osteria is essentially a wine bar where food is also served. A trattoria is a casually run, family owned eatery that can be found in any Italian town. The best way to find a good trattoria or osteria is to explore some of the side streets a little away from the main tourist areas and experience the joy of discovery as well as some good, home cooked Italian food.
Other Resources
The following will provide some good tools and information for putting together an enjoyable and, hopefully, inexpensive vacation in Italy.
Restaurants in Italy, Slow Travel - Italy
Nice informative blog on budget trip to Italy. I traveled Italy last year and plan my trip with trip advisor Italy. It was awesome trip.
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