Guide For Your Next Trip to Italy

Are you planning on taking a trip to Europe this summer?. If you are going in the summer season this blog post is for you. I just got back from my trip to Italy and I will be discussing all the tips you are going to need to know before taking your trip.

When to go?

Typically people travel to Europe in the summer because that is summer vacation for the entire world. This means if you plan on going in the summer time, the places you visit will not only be scorching hot but also pact with tourists. If you want to avoid the crowds then you better set that 5 am alarm clock to see the destinations before the sun comes all the way out and before everyone wakes up. If you do have the option to travel to Europe a different time then it is suggested to go between February- April when school is still in session and the weather is not as hot.

Where to Stay?

Deciding on where to stay will be one of your most important decisions because this will determine the amount of public transportation you will need to take while on your trip. Another factor you need to consider is the cost. I traveled to Italy with my family therefore staying at a hostel was out of the question. My parents hired a travel agent that found the hotels for us which I will share here.

Rome: Hotel Best Western

Venice: (we actually stayed in the island of Murano which is a 30 minute boat ride from Venice)

Pisa:

Florence:

~If you want more details about the hotel accommodations and how well this was located to the main attractions check out my other blog post. "Hotels in Italy" ~

How to Travel within the Cities and Country?

Italy's public transportation is pretty great so you will be able to take the metro, train, electric bikes, electric scooter, bus, plan, or Uber!

Plane: This is an option if you are going from one side of the country all the way to the other side. This is a good idea if you do not want to waste time using other forms of public transportation because a plane would be the fastest choice.

Metro:

If you are traveling within the city, for example, Rome. You will be able to use the metro very easily because all you need to do is type in your destination on apple maps and it guides you in a detailed way as to where to find the metro and what stop you need to get off. When you arrive you will see a little kiosk where you can buy your ticket.

If you do choose this form of transportation be aware of pickpockets. They really do look like regular people. A key indicator is that they may be huddled up in groups and have their purses opened so they can stuff it with whatever they steal. So make sure to keep your purse or backpack IN front of you and to not have anything in your pockets.

Train:

This is a good option if you are traveling between cities. When traveling long distances over an hour it is worth traveling by train.

Uber:

This is surprisingly very affordable way to move around the city. You will need to download the "Uber" app on your phone to call for an Uber. You will enter your preferred destination and an image will pop up with options as to what type of size vehicle you need depending on the amount of people in your party that need a ride.

I did notice I got charged a "foreign fee" for every time I got a ride. I felt very safe taking Ubers with my family and it allowed us to avoid the caos we experienced on the metro.

Electric Scooter:

There are many electric scooter companies all around Italy. To use these scooters you will need to download the company's app which will be written in bold letters on the scooter itself. We used the "Bird" company and connected our credit card to the app so we could rent any "Bird Scooters" we found on the street. If you are not able to see any scooters near you then simply open the app and you can view a map of all the scooters in the city.

Renting a Car:

This was surprisingly not as pricy as you may think. We spent about $25 a day to rent a car plus we payed for a full coverage in insurance. People drive very aggressive so make sure to pay the extra $100 and get insurance so you are protected in case anyone hits you. We rented a car in Venice and traveled with it to Pisa and Florence.

(you need to pay for tolls when traveling so make sure you do some research as to how to do this so you do not get fined)

Walking:

Walking around the city you are exploring is one the best ways to get a feel for the city. We found adorable cafes and restaurants by walking through the hidden streets of Italy.

What to wear?

Check the weather before visiting your destination! If you are going to Italy in the summer season be prepared to sweat. You may reach temperatures as hot as 100 degrees so you need to make sure to pack clothes that are breezy and comfortable. You most likely will walk between 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day so comfortable tennis shoes is a must.

If you would like to get some photo inspiration as to what outfits to wear in Italy. Check out my other blog post, "Outfits in Italy"

Best BOBA place in LA

Finding a good boba place is as difficult as finding a good smoothie place. It's either a hit or miss for me. Fun fact: I actually don't like the boba balls but I do like the Tai Tea."Mini Monster Caffe" has a location at Universal City Walk right outside of Universal Studios. This place has the best Tai Tea I have ever tried in my life. When you order the large size they give you a super cute cup shaped as a little Monster. The vibe in the store is super aesthetic and makes a great place for a photo op. If you are ever wondering in LA and looking for a place to get a fresh cold drink, this is your place!

I really like when companies think about the envioronment when creating products. They have a sustainability page promoting their glass take home jars to help the environment. I took my jar home and it is serves as a perfect souvenir to commemorate your trip.

Date Night Outfit

Date Night outfits can be as casual and as fancy as you want it. I for example always need to take into account the weather and location of the date. No one is going to wear a miniskirt to a rock climbing date haha.

I went downtown Santa Barbara to "Blue Water Grill" which overlook the pacific coast. This location has outdoor seating and luckily my date gave me a warning that we would be sitting outside.

This outfit is actually very simple once it is broken down. I start off by going with a neutral skirt with a plain black blouse. I knew the black blouse would be perfect with the black knee high boots. The leather jacket is also a darker neutral shade, matching the skirt. The necklace is from World Market and my glasses are from H&M. All together this made up this super chic comfortable outfit. If you are ever worried about to wear to a date you can never go wrong with basics and just add accessories to them to dress up the look more.