Oh the jealousy. That friend of yours is on another trip. Your neighoubor is instagramming her fabulous cruise, even your parents are posing pictures of the stunning sunset right out their window. You know all those perfect moments you see blasted out into the universe on the daily? Well, they are all a pack of lies. Correction, they aren’t all lies. Those are perfect moments, but quite often it’s not the whole truth. What about the stuff you don’t see? The missed connections, the upset stomachs, the short tempers and time we “almost” got scammed. This is all a part of travelling and in my experience when you travel the best way, no the only way to travel, is to hang on tight to each other and truly find the joy in the journey – not just the destination. When you travel hiccups happen, people get tired, hair is messy and goofy mistakes are made. You have to roll with it!
Here are 7 mistakes to try and avoid when travelling in Italy.
Packing Too Much
While I’m a proponent for “packing all the things“. This time around I must admit I packed too much. Cobblestone streets, funiculars, trains, planes and automobiles and a super heavy bag do not mix. Thank goodness for a Hubby with a strong back and a good sense of humour.
Rental Car Hours
We knew restaurants were often closed midday for a few hours, but it never occurred to us that a rental car company would simply change their hours in the Fall and close down at 2pm on a Saturday. Arriving at our Rental Car Company at 2:05pm to be met with a CLOSED sign was frustrating. Realizing the storefront didn’t open again until Monday morning was heart breaking. A hard lesson learned and had me fighting tears.
Train Drama
One should never run for a train. (at least if you can help it). Double check your schedule, make sure you are getting on the correct train going in the right direction! (not that we’ve ever done this) Adventure found in Italy!
Point 2. When running for said train and a nice gentleman in an official looking vest is nodding yes, yes, correct train and offers to help you load your bags and direct you to your seats. Don’t accept the help. He doesn’t work for the train, he works for tips and will very quickly demand a hefty one. Ouf. At least he carried those super heavy bags.
Relying Only on Credit Cards
It’s always a smart idea to have credit cards as a back up payment method when travelling. In many smaller restaurants and quaint family run business in Italy, cash is the only way to pay. Don’t miss out on the chance to have the best gelato of your life. Carry some Euros.
Waiting In Line For Attractions
You can wait in line for hours for those popular tourist attractions OR you can often buy tickets for the same attractions and skip-the-line by purchasing tickets in advance. Save your precious time and do a little research before you head out on your trip. Adding an Insider Tip about the Ferrys in Como! The people working at the docks are extremely helpful. If you are unsure which ferry you should be taking, just ask. Someone will point you in the right direction.
Skipping A Meal Against Your Will
As mentioned many restaurants shut down for a few hours during the midday. Plan accordingly. With most establishments in Como closed between 1pm – 5pm, have a snack before or early dinner after and hit the hot tourist destinations in between. Insider Tip: When your meal is over you will have to ask for the bill. It’s considered rude to present it to you until you request it and even when you do staff are in no hurry to bring it to you. Meals are meant to be enjoyed, not rushed.
Overtipping
After you’ve enjoyed your glorious plate of pasta and wine – double check that bill. Many restaurants automatically add a service charge to the check. Also keep in mind, it’s neither customary nor expected to tip in Italy. If you have truly exceptional service it’s okay to add a couple of Euros on top of the receipt but it isn’t required.
As you head out on your next adventure remember this, sometimes the very best memories happen as you make your biggest mistakes. Hold on tight to each other and enjoy the ride.
Happy Travels!
I tend to forget that credit cards aren’t accepted everywhere and that I can’t expect to TAP my way without exceptions! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
thanks for the information based on your experiences.
These are all great tips Stephanie. Thanks for sharing as it’s easy to find the “fun” but the “reality” is just as important to know when travelling.
I value your sharing these mistakes , something to think about when travelling in the future
What an unforgettable experience this whole trip must have been. As for rental cars, the last time I booked one in Germany for a trip up to Denmark, my son booked it for me from England. My daughter luckily went with me to collect it – they had absolutely no record of the booking! The money had gone from my son’s account. We then ran, we were on foot, looking for another car rental agency – we found a Hertz and despite officially being closed they did rent me a lovely car. Whew, plans back on track.
Even with a lot of research beforehand, these hiccups will always occur! It’s nearly impossible to go into an unknown place & know everything. Great tip about the “train guy”. I would never think, especially looking official, that he is working for his own big tips!
These are great tips, I wouldn’t have remembered that everything shuts down for a siesta, even had I remembered I wouldn’t have expected that from a car rental firm!
As someone who wants to one day visit Lake Como, there are something interesting things you mentioned that I didn’t know about. Like places closing at certain times. I guess travelling can definitely be a learning experience and a test in patience.
I’m glad I could shine a light on a few things you didn’t know! This was my second trip to Italy, first time in Lake Como, and I have to warn you. Once you make a trip to Italy all you can think about is how to go back! LOL
Good one on packing lightly! For most trips to Europe, my husband and I use one 21″ rollie and one backpack. It has taken us a long time to get to packing so lightly, but it is such a weight off your shoulders!
These are words to live by! I think I need to get myself a beautiful and yet light back pack 🙂