Italy ~ New to Italy ~ Please Read This ~ Sue Gillen
Oct 2, 2014 14:37:53 GMT
californian likes this
Post by Owen on Oct 2, 2014 14:37:53 GMT
1 ~~~ July 2001 ~~~~~ Comments by Sue from the State of PA in the USA ~~~ 679
New to Overseas Travel ~~~ Comments apply to any Foreign Country that you may visit ~~~~~
I've just returned from a wonderful 4th Trafalgar tour. Many of the 1st time travelers to Italy would have had a much better beginning of the tour if they had a better understanding of Italy and coach travel. So here it is...my first PSA (public service announcement)!
1) Italy is not the USA. If you cannot accept and appreciate the differences, perhaps you should reconsider taking a European coach tour.
2) The tour director uses the cell phone a lot! No, they are not personal calls...the calls are to the home headquarters or to call ahead to a destination. Timing is everything, and your tour director will do everything possible so YOU don't have to wait in lines.
3) About timing...If you are just 5 minutes late, that sets the whole group back 10+ minutes. Your tour director will post detailed notices concerning times for breakfast, baggage and departures. READ THE NOTICES!!! Be prompt, or better yet, 5 minutes early.
4) Italy is HOT in the summer. And humid. But you still need to have your knees and shoulders covered if you want to enter a church. Pack accordingly and don't be offended if you are not allowed to enter places because of your dress.
5) Be prepared to walk. Don't expect elevators in 400+ year old buildings. There are steps...lots of them! And they are sometimes steep, uneven, and never-ending!
6) When planning your travel budget, include $$$ for water. It usually does not come with dinner and you'll be buying it frequently to carry with you as you tour. $1 to $2 a bottle.
7) Don't expect to see a lot of ice. In fact, don't expect cold things (including the air conditioning) to be as cold as you're used to (or hot things to be as hot as you think they should be).
8) Toilets...all shapes and sizes (and smells), and they often cost to use them. 200 lira = 10 cents. You'll appreciate it when your TD points you to a free facility.
9) Italian food...you'll be surprised because it's not what you're expecting! Italians coming to the US don't like what we call Italian food! The order of the courses is different (pasta 1st, then main course, THEN the salad!), coffee is served only at breakfast, but may be served with dinner if they know they're dealing with tourists, the milk is often served warm...remember, I said to accept and appreciate the differences
10) Occasionally your hotel will be changed. If that happens, you'll be in a better hotel than the original one. You spend so little time in the hotel anyway, all you need is a place to rest your weary body!
11) Saved the most important for last...Trust your tour director! He/she is a professional who wants only the best for you. You may not understand some of the things they ask of you, but they are there to insure your safety and pleasure. I have been blessed with four of the best (Sue, Karlheinz, Monika and Lidia) and would be happy to travel with them again.
Hope this doesn't discourage anyone from traveling.
I just wanted to clear up some of the misconceptions some of my fellow travelers had at the beginning of my last trip.
I heard many of them say "If only someone had told me...", so that's what I just tried to do.
If you have any questions, e-mail me at sand I'll respond as soon as I've recovered from jet-lag!
Sue
New to Overseas Travel ~~~ Comments apply to any Foreign Country that you may visit ~~~~~
I've just returned from a wonderful 4th Trafalgar tour. Many of the 1st time travelers to Italy would have had a much better beginning of the tour if they had a better understanding of Italy and coach travel. So here it is...my first PSA (public service announcement)!
1) Italy is not the USA. If you cannot accept and appreciate the differences, perhaps you should reconsider taking a European coach tour.
2) The tour director uses the cell phone a lot! No, they are not personal calls...the calls are to the home headquarters or to call ahead to a destination. Timing is everything, and your tour director will do everything possible so YOU don't have to wait in lines.
3) About timing...If you are just 5 minutes late, that sets the whole group back 10+ minutes. Your tour director will post detailed notices concerning times for breakfast, baggage and departures. READ THE NOTICES!!! Be prompt, or better yet, 5 minutes early.
4) Italy is HOT in the summer. And humid. But you still need to have your knees and shoulders covered if you want to enter a church. Pack accordingly and don't be offended if you are not allowed to enter places because of your dress.
5) Be prepared to walk. Don't expect elevators in 400+ year old buildings. There are steps...lots of them! And they are sometimes steep, uneven, and never-ending!
6) When planning your travel budget, include $$$ for water. It usually does not come with dinner and you'll be buying it frequently to carry with you as you tour. $1 to $2 a bottle.
7) Don't expect to see a lot of ice. In fact, don't expect cold things (including the air conditioning) to be as cold as you're used to (or hot things to be as hot as you think they should be).
8) Toilets...all shapes and sizes (and smells), and they often cost to use them. 200 lira = 10 cents. You'll appreciate it when your TD points you to a free facility.
9) Italian food...you'll be surprised because it's not what you're expecting! Italians coming to the US don't like what we call Italian food! The order of the courses is different (pasta 1st, then main course, THEN the salad!), coffee is served only at breakfast, but may be served with dinner if they know they're dealing with tourists, the milk is often served warm...remember, I said to accept and appreciate the differences
10) Occasionally your hotel will be changed. If that happens, you'll be in a better hotel than the original one. You spend so little time in the hotel anyway, all you need is a place to rest your weary body!
11) Saved the most important for last...Trust your tour director! He/she is a professional who wants only the best for you. You may not understand some of the things they ask of you, but they are there to insure your safety and pleasure. I have been blessed with four of the best (Sue, Karlheinz, Monika and Lidia) and would be happy to travel with them again.
Hope this doesn't discourage anyone from traveling.
I just wanted to clear up some of the misconceptions some of my fellow travelers had at the beginning of my last trip.
I heard many of them say "If only someone had told me...", so that's what I just tried to do.
If you have any questions, e-mail me at sand I'll respond as soon as I've recovered from jet-lag!
Sue
