General Information about Traveling to Italy

Passports/Visa Requirements:

A U.S. PASSPORT or valid entry document is necessary to enter Italy. A VISA IS NOT REQUIRED for a U.S. or Canadian citizen holding a valid passport unless he/she expects to stay in Italy more than 3 months, and/or to study or seek employment.

Italian Currency: 

Tourists can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM machine, or exchange office at airports, seaports, and railway stations in major cities. All major credit cards are accepted throughout Italy.

Business Hours:

In Italy regular business hours are generally Monday through Friday 9/9:30am to 1pm, and 3:30/4:00pm to 7:30/8:00pm. In August, offices may not open. Banks are open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 1 or 1:30pm, and 2 or 2:30 to 4pm, and closed all day Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays. Most shops are closed on Sunday except for certain tourist-oriented stores that are now permitted to remain open on Sunday during the high season.

Electricity:

In Europe the basic voltage is 220, rather than the 110 as in the U.S. Many personal appliances can switch between the two, but to be safe you can buy a transformer for about $10 (I bought one at Home Depot; Sharper Image and similar outlets offer them as well). Also, Italian electrical outlets are the two-pin type and thus will not work with American plugs.

Rest Rooms:

All airport and rail stations have rest rooms, often with attendants who expect to be tipped (when the restroom is free of charge). Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, gas stations, and all hotels have facilities as well. You have the right by law to use their facilities (but of course if they refuse there is little you can do without ruining your vacation). Public toilets are also found near many of the major sights. Usually they’re designated as WC (water closet), or donne (women) or uomini (men). Many public toilets charge a small fee or employ an attendant who expects a tip, so always keep a few 50-cent coins available.

Safety:

Italy has a low rate of violent crime, little of which is directed at tourists. The most common menace, especially in large cities, is the plague of pickpockets and roving gangs of Gypsy children who virtually surround you, distract you in all the confusion, and steal your purse or wallet. Never leave valuables in a visible place in a car.

Time:

In terms of standard time zones, Italy is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. Daylight Savings Time goes into effect in Italy each year from the end of March to the end of September.

Tipping:

This custom is practiced with flair in Italy – many people depend on tips for their livelihoods. However restaurants already include service charges in their bill and a small tip of 5% is sufficient. Ten% is a large tip.

Hotels:

A service charge of 15% to 19% is already added to your hotel bill. In addition, it’s customary to tip the chambermaid 1 Euro per day; the doorman (for calling a cab) 1 Euro; and the bellhop or porter 2 Euros for carrying your bags to your room. A concierge expects about 15% of his or her bill, as well as tips for extra services performed which could include help with long-distance calls. In expensive hotels these Euro amounts are often doubled.

Restaurants and bars:

The tip (usually called ‘servizio’) is often added to your bill to cover most charges. An additional tip isn’t mandatory; however, it’s nice to leave an extra couple of Euros if you’ve been pleased with the service. Restaurants are required by law to give customers official receipts.

Taxis:

Expect to tip 15% of the fare. Taxis are readily available throughout the country and rates are comparable to the average U.S. rates. Meters are provided and fares are displayed. It is recommended that OFFICIAL cabs be used.

Motorcycles & Mopeds ( Motorini ):

Most Italian cities have the centro (town center) closed to cars unless you display a special permit – only electric cars are allowed. Also renting a bicycle is sometimes opportune. Expect to see hundreds of motorini driving all around you!

Television:

Italians watch less television than Americans. Italians are more likely to take a walk on the piazza, enjoy an extended conversation on a street corner, have a gelato, or take in a movie after dinner.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND INSURANCE:

(By the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Washington, DC 20520) Medical facilities are available but may be limited outside urban areas. Public hospitals sometimes do not maintain the same standards as hospitals in the United States, so travelers are encouraged to obtain insurance that would cover a stay in a private Italian hospital or clinic. It is almost impossible to obtain an itemized hospital bill from public hospitals, as required by many U.S. insurance companies, because the Italian National Health Service charges one inclusive rate (care services, bed and board). The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult their medical insurance company prior to traveling to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans to cover overseas health care expenses including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties, whereas travelers who have purchased overseas medical insurance have, when a medical emergency occurs, found it life-saving. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, ask if payment will be made to the overseas health care provider or whether you will be reimbursed later for incurred expenses. Some insurance companies include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202)647-3000.

American Express Travel service: Offices are found in…

• ROME: Piazza Di Spagna 38Rome, Italy 00187 Telephone : +39 (06) 67641Fax : +39 (06) 67642499
• MILAN: VIA LARGA 4Milan, Italy 20122 Telephone : +39 (02) 72104010
• VENICE : 1471 San MarcoVenice, Italy 30124 Telephone : +39 (041) 5200844 Fax : +39 (041) 5229937
• FLORENCE: Via Dante Alighieri 22 RFlorence, Italy 50122 Telephone : +39 (055) 50981 Fax : +39 (055) 5098220 NAPLES: Dusila Travel (**) Via S. Lucia 145/147
• Naples, Italy 80132 Telephone : +39 (081) 2452448 Fax : +39 (081) 5987829

Useful Addresses…

• Embassies & Consulates: The U.S. Embassy is in Rome at Via Vittorio Veneto 119A (tel. 06-46-741; fax 06-488-2672).
• U.S. consulates are in Florence at Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38 (tel. 055-239-8276; fax 055-284-088) and
• US Cosulate Milan at Via Principe Amedeo 2-10 (tel. 02-29-03-51-41)
• The US Consulate in Naples is on Piazza della Repubblica 1 (tel. 081-583-8111)
• The US consulate in Genoa is at Via Dante 2 (tel. 010-58-44-92)
• The Canadian Consulate and passport service is in Rome at Via Zara 30 (tel. 06-445-981)
• The Canadian Embassy in Rome is at Via G. B. de Rossi 27 (tel. 06-445-981; fax 06-445-98754).
• The U.K. Embassy is in Rome at Via XX Settembre 80A (tel. 06-482-5441; fax 06-487-3324). The U.K. Consulate in Florence is at Lungarno Corsini 2 (tel. 055-284-133; fax 055-219-112). The Consulate General in Naples is at Via Francesco Crispi 122 (tel. 081-663-511; fax 081-761-3720). In Milan, contact the office at Via San Paolo 7 (tel. 02-723-001).
• The Australian Embassy is in Rome at Via Alessandria 215 (tel. 06-852-721; fax 06-852-723-00).