Lake Como is a dream destination – the beauty and charm of Northern Italy, with lots of things to do. When you’re visiting Lake Como, having some sort of plan for what to do is a great idea! Here are 12 ideas of things to do when you’re visiting Lake Como. 1. Plan time to go slow and enjoy the scenery. One of the most wonderful and simple joys of visiting Lake Como is the incredible scenery. It’s absolutely breathtaking to take in, and the longer you look around, the more you see. Don’t forget to schedule time just to indulge in doing nothing but leisurely walks or sitting on…
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6 Ways to Visit Lake Como on a Budget
Lake Como is an absolutely incredible place to go in Italy, but it’s not one that’s renowned for being cheap. However, if you’re careful with it, you can get the most out of your visit to Lake Como while on a budget! 1. Lake Como Accommodations on a Budget The first key for Lake Como is to figure out how to get your accommodations while on a budget. AirBnBs are plentiful in the area, with some more expensive than others (as with all things). One key for any place is that you can frequently get discounts of 20% or more if you’ll stay for either 5+ nights, or a whole…
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Books to Read While Visiting Venice
Nothing is more fun for a bibliophile than reading a book that’s set in the location you’re currently visiting. Given that Venice is a magical place in its own right, it makes it even more magical to read books set there. If you’re preparing for a trip there, headed there, or just dreaming about it, here are perfect books to read while visiting Venice. Nonfiction Books to Read While Visiting Venice City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas Before Italy unified, it was a collection of city-states, with Venice as one of the most dominant. This is a great survey of history and how one, small, island city came…
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12 Things to Expect When Visiting Venice
Venice is a dream trip – a collection of floating islands, all built with incredible architecture. Plus, it’s said that Venice is sinking, so many people have moved it up on their list of places to go. But what should you really expect when visiting Venice? 1. Expect Crowds on Crowds on Crowds It is hard to overstate how crowded Venice is. But Venice is filled with wall to wall people, all not quite sure where they’re going. Frequently, Venice is a day trip, so it can clear out quite a lot in the evenings. But during the day, expect there to be people everywhere. And in the areas like…
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Is the Venice Pass Worth It?
The Venice Pass, or Venezia Unica card is marketed to tourists and visitors to Venice and includes museum and church admissions and, optionally, public transit. It’s a convenient way to budget for Venice, and it allows for easy entrance into the must-see attractions. It can look like a godsend when you’re on a budget trip to Italy. But is the Venice Pass worth it? Venice Pass Costs There are a number of different versions of the Venezia Unica card to purchase. In fact, on the Venezia Unica site you can buy everything from a Platinum Pass to WiFi access. It’s a myriad of options, and to simplify it, this post…
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Is the Naples Pass Worth It?
The Campania Artecard – more commonly known as the “Naples Pass” allows for museum admissions and public transit in and around Naples, Italy. And of course, what everyone wants to know is – is the Campania Artecard worth it? (And as a side note: throughout this post, “Campania Artecard” and “Naples Pass” will be used interchangeably and refer to the same thing.) Naples has many attractions that are worth seeing, and there are numerous day trips from the city. You can easily spend a week exploring in and around Naples! The Campania Artecard Overview There are a variety of Campania Artecards available for purchase, but this post will focus on…
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13 Things to Know About Lake Como Before You Go
Lake Como is like something out of a dream, and visiting Lake Como is a perfect stop on any Italian adventure. The glassy lake water is surrounding by towering hills of rock, with perfect towns nestled in around it. The food, like everywhere in Italy, is to die for. The coffee is hot, and the gelato is wonderful. 1. Lake Como is BIG. This is something you really should know before you go. It seems like it’s a small lake, but it’s actually quite large. There are a number of towns around the lake, and there is not a train that goes all the way around it. There are also…
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Visiting Europe In the Summer: What You Need to Know
School’s out, the sun’s out – it’s summer! You finally have a few weeks to take the dream vacation to Europe. Before you go, make sure you’re prepared for what to expect from summer in Europe. 1. Air Conditioning Is Not Used As Much As in the US Europeans, in general, are much more tolerant of the heat than in the US. If you must have air conditioning, make sure to double check that your hotel offers it – and definitely check if you’re using AirBnB. For places that have AC, know that it won’t be turned down quite as much as it would in the US. I heard many…
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12 Tips for Taking a Budget Trip to Italy
Staying on a budget in Italy can be daunting, and it can feel impossible to take a budget trip to Italy. It’s an incredible country with so much to see and do, and all of it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But, it’s possible to adhere to your budget and see some of the most amazing things in the world. (Not to mention eating some of the best food in the world!) 1. Do Extensive Research Yes, it’s an old tip but it’s a good one. Make sure that your research includes as much as it can about where you’re going. Be prepared for the costs you’re likely to encounter. For instance,…
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How to Plan A Trip to Italy On a Budget
Italy is a dream destination for many, but it’s an expensive one as well! With the Euro being strong against the US dollar, and many things being generally expensive, planning a budget trip to Italy can be a challenge. While it’s a challenge, it’s totally do-able! Finding Cheap Flights to Italy Especially for Americans, flights are one of the most expensive parts of the trip. It can be hard to find good budget flights, but one of the keys is to be open to where you arrive and depart from. Using Kiwi.com or Skyscanner.com can yield great deals. You should absolutely be setting up alerts to find the best deals.…
