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Planning your first trip to Italy? We share essential tips, funny mishaps, and insider advice to help first-time visitors have a smooth, unforgettable Italian adventure – from money management and documentation, to getting around and eating like a local.
Summary
In this episode, we are joined by Corinna Cooke, the best-selling author of the Glam Italia! How to Travel Italy series. She also runs boutique group tours for women in Italy and spends much of her year in Italy, especially now that she has a home base there. Corinna and Untold founder Katy share insider tips for first-time visitors to Italy, drawing on years of experience, they offer practical, no-nonsense advice to help you plan a smooth, unforgettable Italian adventure.
What you’ll learn in this episode
- Travel in Italy has changed dramatically over the years, with more pedestrian zones, mobile technology, and increased crowds
- Use travel-friendly credit or debit cards with low foreign transaction fees, and bring maybe €100 to €200 in cash for small expenses
- Withdraw money only from real bank ATMs – avoid currency exchange booths or “ATM” signs aimed at tourists
- Make sure you always carry your physical passport, if you are not from the EU, police can legally ask for ID at any time and you could risk a fine and a lot of hassle if you do not have it with you
- Expect to pay small tourist taxes, often in cash at accommodations, and be prepared for differences in amenities like air conditioning and bed firmness
- When booking hotels, confirm bed configurations, as a “double” bed may actually be two singles pushed together
- Book timed-entry tickets to major attractions well in advance and arrive on time, as late arrivals may be denied entry
- Italian meal times are later than in many countries, so make dinner reservations and learn a bit about local dining customs
- Coffee is often ordered and consumed at the bar, and prices can vary depending on whether you sit or stand
- Trains are the best option for getting between major cities – book high-speed routes early and understand the different train types
- If renting a car, choose the smallest model possible, make sure to get full insurance, and carry an International Driving Permit to avoid being fined or negating your insurance
- Venice can be tricky to navigate, especially at night – plan ahead for late arrivals and understand the city’s new tourist tax rules
- Pack light, as many hotels don’t have elevators and choose comfy shoes as you’ll be walking a lot, including on cobblestone streets
- Try alcohol wipes as a motion sickness remedy
- Be open-minded – things may go wrong, but that’s part of the adventure
- Try stepping outside your comfort zone: eat unfamiliar dishes, adjust to local rhythms, and embrace experiences that are different from your usual routine. That’s where the real magic of Italy happens
Timeline Overview
- 01:10 Reflections on past travels
- 07:09 Florence’s streets around the Duomo were once traffic-heavy and are now pedestrian
- 14:46 “Safe ATM tips for Italy
- 20:11 Passport scanning for security compliance
- 30:41 Buying tickets for the Colosseum after the ticketing chaos of 2023
- 32:47 Vasari Corridor visit tips
- 41:23 Italian dining etiquette
- 46:42 Car rental tips
- 52:32 Train Station navigation tips
- 01:03:01 Embrace travel imperfections
About our guest – Corinna Cooke
Author Corinna Cooke is a favorite guest on Untold Italy. Originally from New Zealand, she fell in love with Italy thanks to a high school art history teacher who introduced her to Italian Renaissance art. After moving to London and traveling throughout Europe, she couldn’t stop returning to her beloved Italy.
Now living in Phoenix in the United States, Corinna is a woman of many skills. She leads several Glam Italia small group tours to Italy each year and writes guidebooks of the same name exploring her favorite corners of beautiful Italia. Her “day job” used to be a make-up artist, but, these days her heart is always called to Italy where she lives part time. 101 Fabulous Things to do in Naples is her latest book full of fascinating stories, tips, and tricks on how to have a fabulous time in Napoli!
Follow Corinna here
Corinna’s books
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Malcesine – charming, small town on the shores of Lake Garda
- Verona – city in Northern Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage site for its well-preserved Medieval and Renaissance architecture (and famously home to Romeo and Juliet)
- Arezzo – city in Tuscany. Firm favorite of Corinna as it’s still mostly off the tourist trail
- Piazza Grande – the main piazza in Arezzo
- Vasari Corridor – built by architect Giorgio Vasari in 1565, the Medici family used it to go between Palazzo Vecchio from Pitti Palace safely
- Palazzo Farnese – high Renaissance building in Rome. Given to the French government in 1936 – still currently the French Embassy. You can visit, but only as part of a pre-arranged guided tour
Food / Drink
- marende – a local cheese and meat platter on which you will find the speck and Schüttelbrot crisp bread
- lamprodotto – Florence’s famous tripe sandwich
- la scarpetta – the bread you use to mop up the juices of your food – perfect for burrata
Words / Concepts
- Contiki – tour company, still offering group tours to Italy and Europe today – like their Simply Italy tour
- Trafalgar – tour company offering organised group travel trips such as Best of Italy
- Lira – the currency of Italy before the Euro was introduced
- Lonely Planet – travel guide company. A bible for travelers before the internet
- Wise – a borderless account that is easy to transfer money between currencies. Debit card not available in the US, but those in other countries use as an easy-to-use pre-charge travel card
- HSBC, Barclays, Schwab – credit/debit card companies good for travel cards
- Chappell Roan – American singer-songwriter who released the track ‘Good Luck Babe‘
- partenze – means ‘departures’ – so the boards will display this at the top
- binario – the train platform/track that a train departs from
- Alilaguna – runs water buses in Venice and has several stops across the three main lines – Linea Blu and Linea Rossa (seasonal line – April to October) both link Marco Polo Airport
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 264 – Italy by Train – Travel tips for booking to boarding and more
- Ep 215 – Discover regional Italy without a car
- Ep 211 – Eating out in Italy
- Ep 170 – Etiquette tips for your Italian trip
- Ep 159 – Popular tourist scams in Italy and how to avoid them
- Ep 095 – Coffee Culture in Italy
- Ep 255 – Beyond Pizza – Unforgettable Naples and her many Treasures
- Ep 234 – Savor Italy – Important tips for mindful travel
- Ep 216 – 10 reasons we love Umbria
- Ep 207 – How to find the perfect stay for your Italy trip
- Ep 188 – How to enjoy the incomparable Italian coast
- Ep 150 – What to wear in Italy
- Ep 132 – Why you need to spend at least 3 days in Venice
- Ep 116 – Extend your Italy trip budget with these travel hacks
- Ep 104 – Experiences to include in your dream trip to Italy
- Ep 081 – Packing for Italy
- Ep 053 – Planning the perfect Italy itinerary
- Ep 049 – Exploring Florence
Articles
- Italy Trip Planning Guide
- Italy Accommodation Guide
- What documents do you need for your trip to Italy?
- How to pack for Italy
- Best travel apps for Italy
- How much does a trip to Italy cost?
- Travel Insurance for Italy: Why You Need It, Travel Tips & FAQs
- A Traveler’s Guide to Understanding Italian Culture
- A Collection of Italy Travel Tips for Every Traveler
- How to Buy Tickets for the Colosseum in Rome
- How to Buy Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence
- How to Buy Tickets for the Last Supper in Milan
- How To Buy Tickets for The Borghese Gallery, Rome
- Traveler’s guide to driving in Italy
- How to travel by train in Italy
- Venice Airport Transfers: Getting to and From the Venice Airport
- Venice Tourist Tax – Latest information
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