Advice on my trip to Italy

June 10, 2009 11:48 AM

So I'm going to Italy for a class and then I'm planing on traveling around for a little while afterwords in the month of August. I'll probably stay mainly in Italy, but I would like to go to Greece and maybe visit my cousins in France. I've never done something like this so I really could use some help with my trip. Is there some guide for people for backpacking in Europe? What are just some overall recommendations on traveling like this?

What type of bag and what to bring. How do I go about getting a euro pass? Or is it better to just rent a car? Should I go to hostels? If so how should I be prepared for that, I've never stayed at a hostel? what do people generally do about cell phones when traveling abroad?
How do people generally book hotels and other things if they can't speak the language?
I'll probably be bringing my netbook since my class recommends to bring a laptop, anything I should know about converters and stuff like that?
Is it better to get Euros here in the US at a bank or somewhere else?
Also I don't speak another language but will try to learn some Italian before I go.
Aslo some recommendations on where to go and what to see would be great. I'm more into nature and ruins, as well as food. Not really into clubs and touristy areas, crowds in general.
Sorry for the mass of questions. I'm a bit of an introvert and never really planned a trip like this for myself. And I will probably be doing this by myself so I'm a little nervous about it.
Just some general advice and recommendations would be really great.

posted by Rustbeard to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

Total self-link, but I wrote up a beginner's guide to backpacking through Europe here. It answers a bunch of questions you just asked.

You can easily get to Greece from Italy via a ferry out of Bari.
posted by nitsuj at 12:07 PM on June 10

My best advice would be to buy the Lonely Planet Guidebooks for the countries you are visiting. The Rough Guide guide books are also good, but I've always sworn by Lonely Planet.
posted by Digital_Man at 12:10 PM on June 10

Make sure that your bank account can be accessed from ATM machines overseas (and very important: that the PIN number is short enough to work on any machine - I limit mine to 4 digits.), and that the fees for doing so are not outrageous. Then, you can just take money out from your account at home whenever necessary.
posted by Digital_Man at 12:13 PM on June 10

Congrats on having the opportunity to go on a great trip. I can only answer some of these questions because the time I did my trip though several countries in Western Europe, I was traveling from Africa back to the states, so I could only get Eurail tix in Europe, etc.

Anyway, for backpacking (Books)
--The Lets Go series was very helpful to me. In particular, it listed the addresses and cost for cheap accommodations (eg, youth hostels). If you want to save $ and time before you go -- and you know your destination in each country -- get thee to a library now and just photocopy those pages.
--If you want travel ideas for a book, the eyewitness series are great (lots of pictures, 10 to things to see, etc.)

I travelled during the off-season (Sep-Nov), so for me, getting hostels were easy even for countries that I did not speak the language. There was usually a both at the train station with someone who spoke several languages. Even in tiny towns in Europe, if you got on a bus with a backpack and you were a 20-something year old, people pointed you towards the nearest youth hostel.

Places that I would suggest (based on your nature/ruins preference)
--Pompeii (near Naples) -- you can still see some of the plaster casts of the bodies as they were at the time of death. As you wander through Pompeii, you can see mosaics on the ground and some of the murals on the walls (note these are truly ruins though most of the buildings are gone)
--The village of Assissi. I am not religious, but it was interesting to see the town and learn more about St Francis of Assissi (you can get free tours of the churches from the middle ages.). If you have extra time, hike into the hillsides and see the so-called place where St Francis preached to the birds.
--Southern France (eg, Nimes, etc) -- there are very well-preserved Roman ruins in Nimes and in many of the towns in these areas. Many of the surrounding areas are fields (wine country).
posted by Wolfster at 12:20 PM on June 10

Not to be contrarian, but I actually prefer Rough Guides over Lonely Planet. LP is its post-9/11 incarantion has become much more mainstream, like Frommer's, and skimps quite a bit of the interesting little details for which it used to be known. Rough Guide packs in a lot about history, literature, music, etc. for each country, information which really helps fill out the kind of trip you're taking.

Any big-name travel guide, however, will lead you right into the sorts of touristy places you sound like you want to avoid. You can't dodge the tourists entirely, however, especially if you want to see the big sites like the ruins in Rome. But if you're looking to get off the beaten path a bit you might want to go some exploring on-line, or else post questions about specific places here (I asked a question about Sheffield a while back and got some great answers, and suggestions for places to see that I didn't find in any travel guide).

I remember when going to Europe that Rough Guide's First-Time Europe helped quite a bit. It looks like it hasn't been updated in a while, though, so some of the information might be a bit dated...a lot of it isn't time-dependant, though, so you might want to check it out. It should answer a lot of the little questions you have when planning a trip like this.

As for the language issue, hostel and pension owners generally speak English, though this is not a rule. Your best bet simply is to phone/e-mail places until you find an English speaker...it won't be that heard.
posted by hiteleven at 12:26 PM on June 10

What type of bag and what to bring.
Get the double-backpack that lets your remove a smallish bookbag for daily use. It will collapse into a duffel at the airport. Mine is from REI and looks a lot like this.

How do I go about getting a euro pass?
Google it. Its easy.

Or is it better to just rent a car?
No. Not cost effective. Gas in Europe is high, as is the cost of renting.

Should I go to hostels?
Yes, if you're young enough. European hostels are fab.

If so how should I be prepared for that, I've never stayed at a hostel?
Some are like hotel rooms, some are like bunkhouses. Bring a small combination lock for either your bag or your locker. Bring shower shoes, a drain stopper, and sheets. Buy laundry detergent there. You may not need the sheets, but some places make you rent them.

what do people generally do about cell phones when traveling abroad?
You don't need a cell phone. Internet cafes are ubiquitous, and you are not an on-call ER doctor. If you are, don't go to Italy.

How do people generally book hotels and other things if they can't speak the language?
Everyone speaks English.

I'll probably be bringing my netbook since my class recommends to bring a laptop, anything I should know about converters and stuff like that?
If your netbook has an adapter, then you don't need to by a voltage adapter of any kind. You may need a wall-socket adapter. Don't buy a set-the kind with two big prongs in a round circle is all you need.

Is it better to get Euros here in the US at a bank or somewhere else?
Don't get Euros anywhere. Take your debit card and use it there like here. You'll get the best exchange rate and you don't have to worry about anyone picking your pocket.

Also I don't speak another language but will try to learn some Italian before I go.
That's a good idea. Everyone loves when you try to speak their language. Generally they'll answer you in English. Don't be shocked/disappointed.

Aslo some recommendations on where to go and what to see would be great. I'm more into nature and ruins, as well as food. Not really into clubs and touristy areas, crowds in general.
If in Rome, make a morning trip to Ostia Antica. Tres fab. Don't let anyone put you off Venice...its overkill, but its Venice. If going to France you may as well swing through the Italian Riviera and the little clifside villages. You'll be glad you did.

Sorry for the mass of questions. I'm a bit of an introvert and never really planned a trip like this for myself. And I will probably be doing this by myself so I'm a little nervous about it.
Just some general advice and recommendations would be really great.
Don't be nervous. I backpacked through Europe alone in college and had the time of my life. You're jitters just mean you have high hopes--you won't be let down. Try to squeeze in Paris.

Buy a Let's Go guide. They are key IMHO.

Best cheap tip: Bring a jar of peanut butter with you, and a Nalgene bottle. If your funds start running low, you can eat peanut butter sandwiches made with cheap baguettes and drink water from public fountains. I was able to tour all of Western Europe for 50euro a day by keeping that provision (and some locally bought fruit, sausage, etc.) in mind.

I'm glad there's another young person going to Europe for more than discos and cheap beer/wine.

Feel free to send me a message if I can help otherwise.
posted by jefficator at 12:59 PM on June 10

I recommend that you read Rick Steves' website, as he caters to first time European travel.
posted by soelo at 3:27 PM on June 10

I recommend bags from Pacsafe – They are built to deter theft (with features like slash proof straps).
If you have a phone that uses a sim card (such as through tmobile or att), you can buy a sim card in Italy. The sim cards generally cost about 20 euros and come with a limited number of minutes. You can refill the minutes as you need them. Make sure to get your cell phone unlocked from your carrier before going though.
I used my debit card to get money from ATMs. Call your bank and ask what type of fees they charge. Banks differ greatly in how much they charge to take money out of foreign ATMs. I recommend using a credit card if possible to avoid the fees for taking out money from an ATM. Check with your credit card company to find out if they charge a fee for charging something in foreign currency. I use my Capital One card on vacation since they don’t charge a conversation fee.
If you are going to be alone, I recommend taking the trains as opposed to driving. My friend and I drove in Italy and without each other’s help it would have been nearly impossible to navigate even with a GPS. The traffic is intense in even smallish cities. Plus, there are restricted zones that only residents with special permits are allowed to drive on. These are not clearly marked. If you go into a restricted zone, a camera takes a picture of your license plate and months later you can end up with a fine of several hundred euros.
I highly recommend Pompeii and Hurculaneum. Both city ruins are amazing and you really get a sense of what it must have been like to live a couple thousand years ago. I also recommend Paestum, which is the site of Greek ruins.
Feel free to write me if you have any other questions.
posted by parakeetdog at 9:14 PM on June 10