If you’re planning a family vacation to Italy, there are 10 things to know before going so that you have an amazing time.
Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are rich with history, sight-seeing, shopping, and gorgeous views. Our family has visited Italy a couple of times and despite all my research and previous visits, I seem to forget some of these unexpected events or situations different from living in the US or UK. Here’s what you need to know!
10 Things To Know Before Going To Italy
Plan your trip with these 10 things to know before going to Italy, you’re certain to have a fabulous time.
1 – Personal Space Doesn’t Really Exist
There is no concept. Don’t be surprised if people get within your personal circle. It’s completely different from America so it’ll be totally awkward if you don’t expect this cultural difference.
2 – Curcumvensia Train Is Easy
It’s not as bad as you read online. Yes, the train schedule was completely off with regard to the number of starts and stops. However, we still got to our destination (Herculaneum from Sorrento) within 15 minutes of our expected arrival, and the return route was only 2 minutes late. As long as you plan and are aware of the not-so-timely train, you will be less likely to panic that you missed the train.
Use the Curcumvensia Train to get to Herculaneum. It’s easy!
There is graffiti everywhere but aside from that, we never felt unsafe. Personal space was an issue but we sat 4 together so no one could sit with us anyway. In fact, it was so tolerable, convenient and cheap that we regretted our decision to rent a car in Rome to get to Sorrento. The train was THAT easy.
3 – Toilets Don’t Have Seats
There are no toilet seats girls. Not anywhere!!! Bring lots of tissues and napkins. You’ll need them to line the bowl. Yes, it’s gross and weird. The upside here is that you’ll get your squats in on vacation.
4 – Cash Is Needed All The Time
You need cash.
Not all taxis take cash. They will offer to take you to the ATM to get cash but that just seems weird. And then you’re paying for the extra taxi time.
Not only do most taxis primarily take cash, but surprisingly a lot of shops only take cash as well. This is super important if you need to take a gelato break for the kids or use the toilet. Yes, the toilet. 🚽
You’ll need change to use one. Several places charge to use the toilet (10p to 80p), so if you’re traveling with kids make sure you have some.
5 – Dinner Reservations Are Required Far In Advance
If you’re imagining a dreamy dinner every night or have your heart set on a certain restaurant during your stay, book now. Unless you’re eating buffet style or ok with tourist destinations that can seat people in bulk by the bulk, then plan ahead.
TripAdvisor is your best friend. We were able to make last-minute reservations on the few days I hadn’t prebooked.
Do not miss out on local favorites that serve truffle dishes, fresh parma, and ham, la cabanara, or stagliatelli saffron, black pepper, and cream sauce dishes. You will regret it if you don’t!
A few amazing recommendations in Rome are La Botticella and La Tavernetta 48. TripAdvisor makes it easy to book online without speaking the language.
La Botticella is the most memorable food experience of my life!!
6 – Shopping Vintage Is Amazing
I love designer everything. I’ve never really been a second-hand shopper but since I’ve moved to the UK and not working, I make more responsible shopping decisions.
Naturally being in Rome means Valentino, Prada, Versace, and Gucci are practically calling my name. 😂
Don’t get me wrong, I went into all those shops near Piazza di Spagna. It’s hard not to. They are just as gorgeous inside as the pristine windows with signage and displays on the outside.
Though I could have persuaded my husband to buy me a new piece to count as my gifts for the entire year, I opted for second-hand shopping this time.
Not only did I find exactly what I was looking for without breaking the bank, but I also spent loads of 1-on-1 time with the Lesley vintage shop consultant trying on different things with zero pressure. I went back twice since my first stop was close to their closing time. When I returned first thing the next morning, a Louis Vuitton bag, wallet and calendar/notebook were all being purchased by an Italian couple.
This Rome vintage shop is clearly hot and a MUST visit if you’re determined to not leave the city without a new Italian addition for your closet. 👜
7 – Tours Need To Be Reconfirmed
If you booked your dream tour in advance, make sure that it’s still scheduled before you leave for your vacation. Though City Wonders and Viator sites seem completely reliable, I can confirm that they aren’t as guaranteed as they appear.
Renting a boat to Positano is the highlight of any Italy trip
Out of the 2 tours booked, 1 of them ended up canceling without any sort of notification. I booked an all-day Amalfi Coast tour through Viator that was going to take us to Positano, my dream spot. It is specifically named Full-Day Amalfi Coast Cruise from Sorrento. It has been removed from Viator but beware.
This tour was the one thing that I looked forward to during our Sorrento leg of the trip. I got up and had our family ready for an 8 am hotel pickup and they never came. The next 4 hours were spent sorting out what happened and how to still get that Amalfi experience. It was stressful and disappointing.
We lost a lot of valuable time but also had to pay a tremendous amount more in order to get that Amalfi coast boat ride we wanted.
In the end, we experienced an amazing tour that was worth it and Viator refunded me for the original tour.
The lesson here is to follow up on your confirmation with a phone call or email, and have a 2nd tour-ready as a backup option.
8 – Comfortable Shoes Are A Must
You will be walking everywhere. Cobblestone streets are the primary road structures so leave stilettos at home unless you know with certainty you’ll be taking a taxi door to door.
I wore stilettos to dinner one night which was a huge mistake. We took a taxi from our hotel, but the drop off required walking down cobblestone streets and then the return required an adventure to locate the nearest taxi stop or area where an Uber could pick us up.
If you wear heels, you’ll either get a great calf workout walking on your tiptoes, ruin your heels or both. 😳For the most comfortable walking shoes, be sure to consider these before your trip.
9 – Crowds Are Intense & Unavoidable In Rome
If dealing with crowds isn’t your thing, think twice about going. The Vatican sees about 20K people on any given day.
Trevi Fountain, Rome
While we were there, Easter week, they were handling 50K people per day. The same for the Coliseum. Even the beaches had lots of people on them and it was only in the high 60s. The small streets were busy with people bumping into one another. You’ll have to wait in lines, queues and deal with all sorts of various waiting. So take a deep breath and be ready to just wait it out.
10 – Unpredictable Weather
I suppose this saying is true for everywhere. But bring a raincoat or umbrella in the event it starts raining while standing in a queue. Even with private tours and skip the line tickets, there are still queues to wait for some of which are outside. Keep everyone happy and dry with proper gear packed to enjoy the day.
Final Travel Tips Before Going To Italy
Everything else about our vacation to Italy was really as I imagined. Amazing hotels, like Hotel Continental Sorrento, made early mornings absolutely dreamy.
My daily balcony view from Sorrento overlooking Capri
The food, gelato, history, and culture all packed in a week between Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are simply amazing. Pack comfortable walking shoes, patience for crowds, a jacket for unpredictable weather and you won’t be disappointed. 🍝
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