FAQs

Question

How Much is This Going to Cost Me?

Answer

Average Daily Cost: Way less than you're assuming. This is a very reasonably priced area to vacation in while you enjoy paradise. $85 per person for food and lodging a day (midrange) Hotel Price in Riva del Garda: $55-$160 per night for 2 people (Majority of places are less than $100 a night for nice hotels, many with breakfast included.) Food: $25-$40 per person (3 meals a day) Roundtrip Airfare: $450-$550 per person (1 stop out of EWR or JFK) $585-$850 per person (nonstop out of EWR or JFK) Misc: $50 ( activities, shopping etc.)

Question

WHEN SHOULD I RSVP BY?

Answer

As soon as possible!! Having a better idea of the headcount will help us pick the perfect locations and aid us with the proper set-ups. The sooner we have a general idea the quicker we can share the details with you!

Question

IS THERE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE RECEPTION?

Answer

Yes, there will be. Please check our transportation page for more details that will be coming soon!

Question

ARE THERE ROOM BLOCKS SET UP?

Answer

No. Italy runs a little different than the states and instead of setting up roomblocks we gave a list of suggested lodging establishments in Riva del Garda. There are MANY to choose from.

Question

CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE MY DIETARY RESTRICTION?

Answer

Yes! The bride has many herself and understands what it's like to be out and about (especially out of the country) and wanting to enjoy yourself without getting sick. When you RSVP, please put down any dietary restrictions you may have.

Question

IS THERE PARKING FOR THE CEREMONY & RECEPTION?

Answer

Yes. Should you not want to take the transportation we provide, you can take your own to the destination.

Question

ARE YOU REGISTERED? WHERE?

Answer

All the research has been done for you. Literally...all the items have been looked up to see who sold them for the best price. When you go on the registry you'll notice some things are from Home Depot, Amazon, Office Supply, Bed Bath and Beyond etc. all to offer the best deal. This website also price matches so if you find it cheaper some place else, by all means go for it! We also have cash funds, which are very important to us (we were originally only going to have those) which are for a specific experience versus material thing.

Question

WHAT IS THE ATTIRE?

Answer

We are going to mostly be outside for the ceremony & reception and it will be warm but not hot. I would say semi-formal, flowy long dresses, blazers and suits. Italy is all about fashion, especially in the north. So should you feel the need to go formal by all means, knock yourself out but don't think you need to show up in a ball gown and tux.

Question

WHO DO WE CONTACT IF WE WANT TO TURN THIS INTO AN ITALIAN OR EUROPEAN VACATION?

Answer

I’m glad you asked....the wedding is one day, why not check this bucket list trip off your list? Please contact my very good friend Lauren Steger who will gladly book any or all the details of your trip regardless of what or where they are. Her contact info is lsteger@aaamidatlantic.com (732) 451-0600 ext 4188010.

Question

Power: Converters & Adapters

Answer

Electricity -- Italy operates on a 220 volts AC (50 cycles) system, as opposed to the United States’ 110 volts AC (60 cycles) system. You’ll need a simple adapter plug (to make the American flat pegs fit the Italian round holes) and, unless your appliance is dual-voltage (as some hair dryers, travel irons, and laptops are), an electrical currency converter. You can pick up the hardware at electronics stores, travel specialty stores like AAA, luggage shops, airports, from Magellan’s catalog, even Marshalls/Homegoods/TJMax has things.

Question

Common Phrases

Answer

Buongiorno- Good morning, used as a greeting in the morning or afternoon. Buonasera- Good evening. Buonaserata- Something you say when leaving & wishing the person a good time for their evening plans. Buonanotte- Goodnight. Only to be used when you are going to bed, not used as a greeting. Ciao- Means hello & goodbye Arrivederci-A formal goodbye Quanto Costa- How much does this cost? Non Funziona- It 's not working. May need to use this at the toll booths that accept credit card. Parla Inglese- Do you speak English? MANY do. I's are pronounced like e's E's are pronounced like eh Latte means milk, not a type of coffee Panino means sandwich not a pressed grilled sandwich Caramella means candy, not caramel Cappuccinos are ONLY drunk before/during breakfast. NEVER after a meal or any other time of the day. Espresso is their caffeine of choice & can be drunk any time of the day...they're strong. Caffe means coffee. "Caffe con latte e zucchero" is coffee with milk & sugar.

Question

Meals-CRUCIAL

Answer

Lunch is between 12-3pm. Many restaurants close by 2 or 3. There will be NO PLACE TO EAT after until they open for dinner so plan your day accordingly! They eat dinner late. No such thing as early bird specials there. Many places don't open for dinner until 7-7:30pm. An evening stroll around 11pm is VERY common with a gelato. Gelato is eaten ANY time of time day and yes it is different than ice cream. It's creamier, melts faster & healthier for you so eat up! They offer vegan flavors & have gluten free cones in most places. You will find them everywhere. Gluten free is widely catered to. Many places may not say it on their menu but just ask! Most restaurants have at least gluten free bread/breadsticks &many others have gluten free pasta/pizza. You'll notice a lot of menus have symbols showing what ingredients that are considered common allergens in each of the dishes. If you see a little grain/wheat symbol it does NOT mean gluten free (senza glutine) it means that it contains it.

Question

Meals Continued... Expand your palate & I promise that you will not be disappointed.

Answer

There may be something in the dish that isn't mentioned on the menu. Just ask. ALL water is bottled &purchased by the bottle, never tap. You can choose still/naturale or sparkling. It's not bad service, they just never rush you when eating. A meal, especially dinner, can take hours. They give you your space & you can ask for something when you need to. The checks are typically paid at the counter. They give you a generic print out to bring to the counter or you reference your table number. An itemized receipt means you pay through your server. Cuisine is VERY regional. No typical Italian American cuisine in the north. Minus Venice, it's a very meat & cheese area. The fish will be lake fish (very bony, white, flaky fish w/a subtle flavor) or fresh water fish like trout or salmon (sometimes in a steak form or a whole or half a fish)& a knife to cut the boning line out. Lot's of meat &cream sauces with limited red sauce. Ex) Lasagna with white béchamel sauce stuffed with meat.

Question

Driving in Italy... Freedom, Fast Drivers, Hairpin Turns Along Cliffs, Costly

Answer

It's FAST! There are lots of circles. People will pass you all the time! It's not road rage, its part of their culture. Vespas & motorcycles are constantly weaving in & out of the cars so be careful. Drive aware of your surroundings but not hesitantly because you'll be driven right off the road. Gas is very expensive..it goes by the liter not gallon. When renting a car (even if automatic) get a diesel. Make sure to pull up to the right pump, self service (give your pump # inside) or attendant (more $$). Orange, cylindrical, waist high structures on the side of the road are speed cameras. Tickets €45-€100 each will be mailed to you so slow down near them. Mountain streets-Full of hairpin turns on cliffs Village streets-SUPER narrow. Cobblestone & uneven ground can scrape the front of the car. Time variable roads-Pedestrian only certain times of day! Parking Spaces-Very narrow. Public transport/Bike rentals- Cheap & efficient but not 100% timely. Nervous drivers-DON’T DRIVE THERE.

Question

Currency- Euros

Answer

Current rate from Euros to USD right now is €1 = $1.13. This changes daily. Do you need to tell your bank or credit card that you’re traveling? Ask if they have foreign transaction fees with their credit or debit cards. Bank associated ATM's in Italy-Better rates, lower fees & are everywhere. Airport $$ exchanges are always more expensive. Local Banks-Charge fees & have their own conversion rate. There's a fee to convert money back to USD so take out what you think you’ll need. Most places accept credit card but it's always good to have Euros on you. They negotiate/bargain a lot (especially in the markets) & they get charged very high fees to accept credit cards. Sometimes they'll charge less when paying with cash. Tipping: Servers don't get tipped in Europe because they make a normal salary. If you wanted to leave a tip because you they were really great you can do so but don't feel the need to leave 20%. We had an incredible meal for €140 & gave the person €10 & he freaked out.

Question

Fees & Taxes

Answer

Coperto: A per person cover charge that can range from €1-€4 a person when sitting down to eat. Prior to covid only major tourist places had them but now practically every place does. I'm assuming it's to help with the lack of money they made the past 2 years and the increased fees they're now charged for accepting credit cards. Taxes on products & clothes are built into the price. So if something says €10 that's exactly what you pay at check out. Tourist tax: Similar to large resorts in the US, there is a small, per person/per night fee that EVERY place charges, even airbnb's. It's mandatory according to their government & gets charged upon check-out. They prefer cash for this. They will ask to take a copy of your passport & some places even ask for your S.S. number. (Yes, I know unheard of in the US but the airbnb & a few wedding vendors needed it). In Italy they have Identification Numbers that they show for everything so our Social Security number is the closest thing to it.

Question

Your Phone & Communicating- Sim Cards

Answer

Local or pre-purchased sim cards (€15-€40) have great service & free EU roaming. TIM offers a prepaid sim card for €20 with 40 GB data. Airports sell them too. Verizon International Plan-$10 a day plus cost of calls/texts and data is likely still roaming which is an extra cost. Still may not work in certain areas. Order a sim card online &get it shipped to your home at Simoptions.com that specializes in sim cards for travelers & offers a bunch of different packages. Most of these are good for all of Europe. Go to this link for details: https://www.traveltomtom.net/destinations/europe/italy/best-prepaid-italy-sim-card WhatsApp: Free app for phone calls, texts or video calling. No data usage/charges when connected to wifi (available at eateries, airports, hotels & some whole towns like Venice & Verona). Both parties need the app. Facebook Messenger does all of the above services, again as long as you’re connected to wifi & the other person has it as well it will also be 100% free!

Question

Northern Italy/Italians

Answer

They wake up late in Italy. Many stores are not open until 9:30-11am and you will not see the common areas start to fill up until around then or after. Northern Italians are more reserved than Southern Italians. They aren't as loud and boisterous or touching feely as their southern counterparts. They're all still very friendly and accommodating in every way. This area is popular for Germans and Austrians to vacation to this time of year. They're proud people so please be respectful of their wonderful culture and try not to be typical loud, obnoxious Americans. :-) Ex) Burping in public is as bad as clipping your toenails at the dinner table.