Happy Mother’s Day Italian Style
I just couldn’t help myself! Enjoy the giggle on this special day.
Posts tagged ‘italy’
May 12
Featured Photo Friday | Rooftop View
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Copyright 2013 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Carnival opens in Venice
Carnival began last evening and all of Venice has come to life with color. Enjoy the video and photos below!
Venice Carnival Canal Water Show
Photos Courtesy of Carnival of Venice
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![IMG_0131[1]](http://onceinalifetimetravel.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/img_01311.jpg)
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Copyright 2013 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Featured Photo Friday | Lunch Receipt Italian Style
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Copyright 2013 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Jan 25
Earthquake in Italy | 5.0 near Parma
News is just barely trickling in about an earthquake today near Parma. I haven’t heard back from friends yet, reports are pretty vague at this time. I will write more as information comes in.
Link to real time site HERE.
Travel to Italy Tip #7 | Purchase train tickets in country
Italy’s train system can be frustrating to say the least. Between delays, cancellations and strikes a traveler can lose their cool. My next tip won’t necessarily save you money outright, but will help hedge your bets when using the trains for transportation on your trip.
7. When possible, purchase your train tickets once in Italy
My people try to get as much taken care of ahead of time before leaving for their vacation. While I am an avid planner and believe that setting yourself up early is important, train tickets are where I draw the line. Except for a few exceptions, I discourage people from buying before leaving. Here is why:
Traveling brings about the unexpected and Italy more so than many places. Most of the time these unplanned situations are actually positive, but occasionally they can wreak havoc on a trip. Italian trains are more often than not late, some cancelled altogether. Strikes are common. You can actually find out exactly when and where most of the train strikes are as the publish them each month, but prepurchased train tickets usually need to be taken care of before that final list is public. Insurance must (should) be added to prepurchased tickets to cover these situations. Also, you never know when you might fall in love with a place or want to change your plans. With prepaid tickets you lose your flexibility.
There are times I would take advantage of buying ahead. For example, if I am ever arriving in Rome but need to take the train the next day to another major city I grab my ticket. Some of my past clients staying in Florence have wanted to day trip to Venice and for simplicity’s sake I have made pre-arrangements.
Instead, I head straight to the train station or a local travel agency once I arrive in Italy and purchase the tickets I need. For travel between smaller towns (example: Orvieto) I just arrive a few minutes before hand and get my ticket from the window or the machine. That way if I want to linger a bit longer over a meal or am itching to get back earlier I have the flexibility.
Train travel seems overwhelming but is actually quite simple and I will be running a series on my train travel tips in the upcoming weeks. Check back this week for more tips about car rental, taxis and public transportation.
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copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Travel to Italy Tip #6 | Travel second class when riding the trains
Now that we have gone through some important big money-saving topics it is time for a few nitty gritty travel tips. Today I will be talking about train travel with the biggest money-saving rule as Tip #6.
6. Travel second class when riding trains.
Who says there isn’t room in 2nd class?
More than once I have worked with clients who first went through big name travel companies to make travel arrangements and reservations. They are almost always told to buy first class train tickets. There is absolutely no better way to waste your money. First class compartments are a bit roomier and have assigned seating. That’s it.
The major train connections between big cities have assigned seats whether you choose 1st or 2nd class. For example, anyone traveling between Florence and Venice will find their seat on the train similar to that of an airline flight. Why pay more money? Both classes are heading to the same spot, both have designated seating.
Second class seating might fit more people depending on the style and age of the train you are on. I have occasionally had to work my way through several cars to find a seat (see my train tips article coming soon) but that has been during peak travel times. Also, I find I love traveling second class because I have a chance to ride with the locals like a local. I always bring a make-shift picnic and use the sharing of my food as an ice breaker for meeting others.
If you are a hard-core first class traveler, then by all means feel free to throw your money away. Just remember that train travel will not be like that on the airlines and don’t expect warmed towels with an aperitif waiting for you.
Check back this week for more tips about train travel, car rental, taxis and public transportation.
I love feedback, so leave me comments!
copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Travel to Italy Tip #5 | Support smaller family run businesses
Now that’s what I call a Bed and Breakfast!
A series posted last year, but the information is priceless!
I talked in previous posts about finding a home base and staying there for an extended period of time and also the benefits of traveling to a lesser known area. Tip #5 brings both of those pieces of advice together to help save you money yet keep your experience amazing.
5. Stay in smaller, family run accommodations
This is something I live by. I support these places 100%. Smaller doesn’t mean less, in fact it is usually the opposite. There is a ton of love put into accommodations run by families and that is reflected in the way guests are treated. Plus, Italian families are struggling to make ends meet just like us. I like to know that my money is helping to support them in their passion, not just being funnelled into some big corporation.
Dinner at our agriturismo
So how do you find these places? I start by looking for Bed & Breakfast’s (B&B’s) and agriturismos. A B&B normally doesn’t have many rooms and these rooms can occasionally be a part of the owners’ home. The hosts are more readily available and looking forward to answering your questions, helping with your plans plus giving great advice for the area. An agriturismo is a working farm that also accommodates guests. Many of these places have an option for meals in addition to breakfast. Being on a farm doesn’t mean you are surrounded by barnyards. Most have beautiful grounds complete with olive groves and vineyards.
I have put together all of my favorite resources here to help you get started. TripAdvisor is a great site. Real reviews from real travelers along with average prices to help you with your budget. Just remember to take everything said with a grain of salt. Sometimes the happy travelers aren’t always the ones writing the reviews. I also use SlowTrav as a place to get ideas as their travel philosophy is much like mine.
Find a smaller accommodation and you won’t be sorry. You may even find you have become a part of their family.
Instant Italian family
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copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Travel to Italy Tip #4 | Travel to lesser known areas
Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche
A series posted last year, but the information is priceless!
Another way to help save money and make your dream of travel to Italy come true this year is to think outside of the box. The majority of tourists all travel to the same areas in Italy. In major cities, the tourists can be found in the same concentrated places. Of course there are the blockbusters to see, but aside from that you really don’t need to get caught up in the masses. To increase your enjoyment, see more of the real Italy all while saving money, follow tip #4.
4. Travel to a Lesser Known Area
Most guidebooks lead people to the same places over and over. When I travel I make sure not to miss the important sites and places that are a priority to me, but when I am done I make a beeline for the opposite direction of the other tourists.
An alternative to Tuscany is Umbria. You are still within easy driving range if you want to still explore Tuscany. Umbria is like Tuscany’s shy little sister and once you get to know her you find she has just as good of a personality. I love Umbria. It is full of hill towns, churches, parks, lakes and experiences. This area is a marvelous home base.
Quaint and out of the way
Feeling even braver? Then I encourage you to try Le Marche. You will be lucky to find much more than a few token pages about this in mainstream guidebooks. Le Marche feels like my personal secret, one that I can’t keep. You can have it all here, from beaches to quaint villages. The best part is that you won’t get run over by a herd of tourists snapping pictures. The area is still close to places like Gubbio and Assisi making them an easy day trip. Another area under the radar is Abruzzo, a mountainous region that is my next project. Drop dead gorgeous country at a better price with less commotion.
You don’t have to skip the well known areas if you don’t want to. Just try finding a city or town that is a little less popular and you will save money. For example: When traveling to the Amalfi Coast (where nothing is cheap) stay in one of the smaller but just as amazing towns further down. Instead of Positano, try Ravello or Furore. An alternative to this coast line is the Italian Riviera and my favorite the Cinque Terre. Here prices are better and they would love a visit as they recover from the flooding. Staying in Venice? Try the Accademia District. It’s just one bridge away from the action. Florence on the ‘other side’ of the river is a completely different place.
Looking for places in lesser known or visited areas is just another tip to saving money and making that dream trip come true this year. Stay tuned, I’ve got more tips on the way.
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copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
