Danielle & Nick
Information and Tips
The Money
Tips on paying in Italy
Italy’s currency is the Euro. Exchange rates vary but they are currently about $1.21 to €1. Be sure to notify your bank and credit card companies that you are travelling and to find out if there are any foreign transaction fees or additional charges. You should also confirm your ATM and credit cards are set up for use in Europe (if you have a chip you should be all set). Your ATM card should work in Italy and is the easiest way to ‘exchange’ currency. Depending on your bank this should also be a much better exchange rate than using the money exchange places at the airport. If you do wish to get euros before you travel ask your bank if they have any foreign currency on hand or if you can order some.
Transportation
Tips on getting around Florence
Taxis can be called by phone or found at the various taxi stands dotted around the city/airport/main train stations. There are taxi stands by the Duomo, near Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Repubblica to name a few. It is also possible to get them by SMS or Skype or with dedicated APPs, like AppTaxi. Train travel is reliable and relatively uncomplicated in Italy. We recommend travelling in first class if the price difference is not too great for your trip. You get additional leg room and space for your luggage, in addition to drinks, snacks, and sometimes a lounge at the train station to wait for your train. We use the Trainline EU app to purchase and order train tickets. It allows you to purchase from multiple train lines and to store your tickets electronically.
Communication
Tips on staying connected in Italy
Contact your cell service provider to let them know you will be travelling and to inquire about international phone/data plans. We typically purchase an EU sim card at the airport upon arrival and swap it out, but this is not always an option. We recommend that you download some phone apps, such as; Whatsapp, Viber, or even Facebook Messenger that will allow free calling over a wireless internet connection. We personally use Whatsapp. We also recommend that you download Google Translate or another translation app. You’ll want one that will allow you to scan or take a photo of text, as well as translate spoken language. It is not necessary to speak Italian to get around Italy but you should learn a few key phrases to greet and thank people.
General Tips
General tips for travelling to Italy
You will need a plug adapter for your electronics. These are easily available on amazon or in the airport if you do not have one. If you plan on bringing a hair straightener or curler, double check that it is either dual voltage or designed to operate using 230 volts, otherwise the fuse will blow and you will break your hair tool. Apps such as Tripit and Google Trips can be helpful to manage your itinerary and travel documents. We also recommend saving electronic scans or images of your passport and all flight/ticket information to a google drive folder.
Common Italian Phrase
Here are a few common phrases in Italian!
Hello and Good-day (formal) – “Buongiorno” and after 3pm in Florence “Buonasera” (good evening). Hello and Bye (casual) – “Ciao” said like ‘chow.’ To people you have met several times. Thank you – “grazie” Please – “per favore” Your Welcome – “Prego” Do you speak English? (formal) – “Parla inglese”? I don’t understand – “Non Capisco” How much is it? – “Quanto costa?” Florentine phrases to impress locals What are you talking about?! “Icchè tu dici?” Cool! – “ganzo” I Like! – “Mi Garba” (instead of ‘mi piace’)