Tips for exploring Italian cities like Venice and Rome

                                                                                         

Before you go on that long deserved holiday, you could do a little research about the destination, like its culture and the people. This way you will not have any surprises when you are there. Here is a little fact: If you go to Italy, it is very important to know how to drink your coffee. In the morning, you should only drink cappuccino to wake up and to be gentle to the digestion, then after 12 you can only drink espresso or café Americano. The locals will definitely know you are a tourist if you order a cappuccino after 12. Maybe even learn a few sentences in the language like good morning, how are you and thank you. An attempt to understand and respect another culture and its tradition is appreciated by the locals and will make your holiday more enjoyable.

Italy is a magnificent country to visit, offering distinct scenery, extraordinary ruins, museums, churches, food and wine. Most people have heard of Rome, Venice, Pisa, Florence and Milan, along with these beautiful cities are the lesser well-known destinations of the Lake District in the North of Italy, Tuscany & Umbria, the Amalfi Coast or the stunning islands of Capri and Sicily.

One of the first things to consider when visiting Italy is clothing. In the foyer of most churches are posted dress codes and rules. You might think that as you are on holiday it is acceptable to dress in shorts and tank tops but it is worth remembering that a church is there for people to pray and not just for tourists. If you have bare shoulders or knees, some churches will not let you enter, especially in Rome at St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums and at the Basilica di San Marco in Venice.

Depending on what you would like to do and when you would like to go, the weather in Italy is something to think about when you are booking your holiday. Up north in the Alps, it can be cold and snowing during winter, springtime in Tuscany is cool at night and soft during daytime. The summer months, June until September, can be very hot from Venice all the way down to Sicily. Light clothing, sunglasses, hat and sun cream are inevitable as it is easy to get sunburn if you are sightseeing all day long.

If you are leaving some of your family members behind and you would like to call them once in a while just to let them know what a good time you’re having, it might be a good idea to or buy a telephone card and use public phones. If you are bringing your mobile with you, you can also buy an Italian pre-paid card + top-up and call your family via the Italian Mobile network. Italy’s country code is 39. Some of you might even bring the laptop along. Skype is one of the easiest ways to call people from all over the world for very little amount and if you call someone on their laptop it is for free.

As with any city, be wary of bag snatchers and pickpockets. Put your money safely in a money belt or a purse on a string around your neck and conceal them under your clothes. There are many ‘gypsy’ children in Rome who are accomplished at picking pockets so be careful.

Choosing Italy as your holiday destination is a great choice and now you know in which part and city of Italy you would like to explore like Venice the next step is which kind of Venice accommodation you would like to stay. The types of accommodation are endless, from luxury hotels and hostels to bed and breakfasts, apartments and guesthouses. If you are looking for something different then know that Italy has a type of accommodation called “Agriturismo”. These are definitely different from any other hotel. For example, all meals usually are prepared from freshly grown produce from the farm itself. Regardless of the country surroundings, the accommodation isn’t always basic, many Agriturismo resorts offer a high standard of lodging, and some even have swimming pools. Most of the Agriturismo resorts are located outside of the cities.

Hotels are the most popular type of accommodation to be found in the cities of Italy, like Rome, their ranking is from one to five stars but is slightly different from other countries. Mostly, a one-star hotel is very basic with a bed in a private room but you will have to share a bathroom and breakfast won’t be included. Two-star hotels generally give the option of a private or shared bathroom, will provide a TV and breakfast, but don’t expect anything overgenerous. Facilities and services depend entirely on the hotel. Three-star hotels should provide satellite TV, a telephone and a bathroom with bidet. Again, it depends on the hotel; some might have minimal facilities, whilst others will have large airy rooms, tasteful furnishings and a full breakfast. Rooms in four-star hotels should be quite large and include facilities such as a telephone, satellite TV and bathroom. Expect plenty of choice at breakfast and on site facilities such as a bar and free ADSL. As you can see you have plenty of Rome accommodation to pick from, but do some research before you book.

Whether you are intending to visit a popular Italian city such as Rome, Venice, Milan or Venice or heading to the country for a quieter break you are likely to find friendly people and a unique experience.

About the author:
Richard Greaves writes articles for Cheaperthanhotels.co.uk, which is a website on which you can book several worldwide accommodations like Venice accommodation or other hotels in Italy likeRome accommodation.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com