Are you planning on traveling to Italy at some point in the near future? If this is the case, you need to be sure that you have properly prepared for your trip. Taking some time to make sure you have made the correct preparations will make it less likely that something will go wrong to disrupt your vacation. Traveling to a far away location like Italy is not something you should do on a whim. A trip of this magnitude needs to be carefully researched. The time you spend doing this will pay off in the long run. Here are some of the most critical things you need to consider prior to departing for Italy.

1. Save a considerable amount of money by booking a hotel that is not located in a major city.

Many tourists make the mistake of booking a hotel in cities like Rome, Naples or Venice. The hotels in these cities are always expensive. The people who own the hotels know there will always be a high influx of tourists who are willing to pay high prices for their accommodations. However, you do not need to fall into that same trap. You can instead get a hotel that is in a smaller city that is located just outside of the major city that you want to visit. You will find that the hotel rates in the smaller cities will be much more reasonable. You will need to pay for transportation to the larger city. However, you will still be saving money overall.

2. Exchange your money into Italian currency before you depart on your trip.

The places to exchange currency in Italy are notorious for giving tourists a bad exchange rate and charging a high fee. Therefore, you would be wise to avoid this situation entirely by taking the time to exchange your money before your trip. Try to get as much Italian currency as you will need for the duration of your trip.

3. Try to bundle your hotel, rental car and plane tickets together for your Italian trip.

Bundling has become one of the most popular ways for people to save money when they travel. You should look for Italy tour packages that offer a discount when you agree to book your hotel, rental car and plane ticket at the same time. You can choose to book only a hotel and plane ticket if you will not be using a rental car during your stay in Italy. Call multiple companies to compare their prices.

4. You will not be able to hail a cab in Italy.

One of the most common mistakes that tourists make in Italy is when they try to hail a cab. You cannot simply waive your hand and get a taxi to pick you up like you can in the United States. In Italy, you will need to go to a taxi stand and wait in line. You can also call for a taxi to pick you up. Scheduling a taxi to pick you up at a specific time will not be a problem. The taxi companies in Italy are usually on time.

5. Stores in Italy will often close in the middle of the afternoon.

One of the things that perplexes many foreign visitors to Italy is the fact many stores will close their doors at around 1pm and reopen at 4pm. This is a common practice in Italy. This gives the employees of these stores a chance to go home and have lunch. You might not see this very often in the major cities. However, it is more common in small cities with lower populations and fewer tourists.

6. Public transportation strikes are common in Italy.

Be aware that public transportation in Italy is not as reliable as it is in the United States. Bus and taxi driver strikes are common. Therefore, you would be wise to leave far in advance if you need to be somewhere at a specific time.

7. You might not be able to eat dinner early.

The vast majority of restaurants will not open their doors until 7pm. Therefore, people who like to have an early dinner should be aware of this.