Italy is an abundantly wealthy country – in terms of history, sights, food – yet it can be explored and experienced in depth, even on a shoestring budget. Traveling off-season will extend your budget, and will allow you to soak up the area without having to fight the crowds.
Lodging can be a traveler’s biggest expense, but with careful planning, you can actually save money and provide another dimension to your experience.
For older teens and younger adults, youth hostels offer a great budget alternative to hotels. The Italian Youth Hostel Association’s website at ostellionline.org provides great information in Italian or English.
Apartment rentals are a good choice for long or short stays. Apartments will give you a bit more room than the traditionally small European hotel rooms but will not be as draining to your budget if you research well.
By renting an apartment, food expenses will be less too. Visit the street markets and prepare fresh local foods in the apartment. Plan to eat one or two meals per day in the apartment.
Sightseeing is the activity of choice for most travelers, but individual attraction tickets can eventually add up to big expenditures. Look for combination tickets for the local attraction – these can sometimes be a great bargain. For example, in Rome, a visitor can purchase a “Rome Archaeology” ticket, so see 9 attractions for 22.70 Euros, saving over 10 Euros compared to individual tickets.
To save money on flights to Italy, check out websites such as www.skyauction.com or www.priceline.com – flexibility in dates and times of departure can assure you get the best bargains here. Sometimes, on last minute trips, calling the airline directly will get you the best price they have available.
Transportation within the country doesn’t have to be expensive. Purchasing bus, train or boat tickets that are good for multiple uses are usually a wise choice. Examples of these types of tickets for multiple uses include daily or weekly vaporetto passes in Venice, and weekly bus passes in Rome. These multiple use tickets will save you money and give you more freedom of movement than purchasing a single one-use ticket. Many Italian cities are great “walking” cities, so that will save a bundle too. Just take along a good map, your language guide and a bottle of water.
Italy is also a great place to ride a bike or scooter. Most of the trains and buses have provisions for hauling your bike as you travel longer distances. Just ask at the ticket window, or when you make reservations.
Food is another “budget eater.” (Pun intended). Careful planning and specific timing can save you a bundle. Utilize the apartment you’ve rented by preparing one or two meals there each day. Eating lunch out saves time and money during a day of sightseeing – you don’t need to return to the apartment when you are across town, and most luncheon menus offer comparable entrees to their dinner menu, yet at a fraction of the cost. Also in restaurants, look for daily specials or the prix-fixe menu. If you prefer to eat dinner out, look for restaurants offering an “early bird” special. The menus for these meals are not as extensive, and less expensive, than those of the regular dinner menu.
The custom in Italy is to relax over a several course meal, but don’t feel chained to that – guests in most restaurants are welcome to order only the primi (first course – usually a salad, appetizer or pasta) or secondi (usually the main entrée) course. A trattoria tends to offer more casual fare; a ristorante is more expensive and formal. Standing at the bar, rather than sitting at a table, saves money – table sitters many times are charged a “service fee” plus tip. House wine is usually an inexpensive choice for drink, less expensive than soft drinks, juice and sometimes even water.
Of course while in Italy the best, and most delicious, bargain of all is the gelato. It’s so inexpensive, be sure to try a different flavor every day of your stay!
