Having just returned from a week with the family in Tuscany, I've refreshed my thoughts on travelling around Italy and compiled some tips and tricks for ensuring a pleasant trip. Holidays in Tuscany can be beautiful, relaxing things but, if you're not prepared and informed, there are differences in culture, bureaucracy and pace of life that can cause stress and, potentially, ruin your vacation. In order to have the best possible time, bear these things in mind!
1. Language
Speaking Italian really helps. Of course, not everyone speaks Italian but I've found that knowing even a little bit will make locals act friendlier and more helpful towards you.
1. Language
Speaking Italian really helps. Of course, not everyone speaks Italian but I've found that knowing even a little bit will make locals act friendlier and more helpful towards you.
In bigger cities and tourist hot-spots, it won't be difficult to find people who speak other languages (English, in particular, though there are many signs and guides written in other languages, such as Mandarin in these same places) but you might not have this luxury in smaller towns. I spent the entire holiday translating for my family and we often found that people who didn't really want to help or answer questions suddenly brightened up once they heard Italian coming out of my mouth.
Try and learn some key phrases and download apps to help you during your trip. Things like greetings, “please”, “thank you” etc are easily and quickly learned and for more depth you can look into phrases such as “How much is it?”, “Where is the bathroom?” etc. Google Translate and Multi Translate are two particularly helpful apps to have whenever you are travelling abroad. Google Translate will allow you to input phrases and words you want translated into your own language and into the language you are trying to speak and the little speaker symbol will pronounce the words for you. Multi Translate can translate the text in images you have taken, which is helpful when translating directions on packaging, signs etc.
If all else fails, if you're in a bind, smile brightly and be as polite as possible and someone will try and help you out!
2. Opening Hours
One of the most important things to keep in mind is opening hours. As I live in Dublin and there is a great abundance of shops and restaurants open all the time, I had forgotten just how much opening hours matter in smalltown Italy. Again, if you are in a bigger city, this will be a little less of an issue but will still be pertinent. Expect things to close during the day between 12 or 1 to 3 or 4 – this includes pharmacies, shops, some supermarkets (larger chains in bigger towns may remain open) and more. Restaurants can open for lunch and then not reopen again until 7. Markets can end before 2pm and public services such as the post office may close early. Make sure you check opening hours before going anywhere as this will save you a lot of hassle! Oh, and if your flight gets you in after midnight and there is a big supermarket in the airport, don't listen to your family saying some other shop at a gas station or something will be open, buy the essentials then and there or you'll arrive at your rental without food or water and with a bunch of unhappy campers.
For more key tips to a stress-free time in Tuscany, be sure to read on to the rest of this series and keep them in mind when you find a vacation rental in Tuscany.
Try and learn some key phrases and download apps to help you during your trip. Things like greetings, “please”, “thank you” etc are easily and quickly learned and for more depth you can look into phrases such as “How much is it?”, “Where is the bathroom?” etc. Google Translate and Multi Translate are two particularly helpful apps to have whenever you are travelling abroad. Google Translate will allow you to input phrases and words you want translated into your own language and into the language you are trying to speak and the little speaker symbol will pronounce the words for you. Multi Translate can translate the text in images you have taken, which is helpful when translating directions on packaging, signs etc.
If all else fails, if you're in a bind, smile brightly and be as polite as possible and someone will try and help you out!
2. Opening Hours
One of the most important things to keep in mind is opening hours. As I live in Dublin and there is a great abundance of shops and restaurants open all the time, I had forgotten just how much opening hours matter in smalltown Italy. Again, if you are in a bigger city, this will be a little less of an issue but will still be pertinent. Expect things to close during the day between 12 or 1 to 3 or 4 – this includes pharmacies, shops, some supermarkets (larger chains in bigger towns may remain open) and more. Restaurants can open for lunch and then not reopen again until 7. Markets can end before 2pm and public services such as the post office may close early. Make sure you check opening hours before going anywhere as this will save you a lot of hassle! Oh, and if your flight gets you in after midnight and there is a big supermarket in the airport, don't listen to your family saying some other shop at a gas station or something will be open, buy the essentials then and there or you'll arrive at your rental without food or water and with a bunch of unhappy campers.
For more key tips to a stress-free time in Tuscany, be sure to read on to the rest of this series and keep them in mind when you find a vacation rental in Tuscany.
