If you haven't traveled in Italy it can be a little confusing at times so here are a few tips and tricks that we have gathered from our trips in Italy.

Public Transit: Train between big cities, rental or bus to day trip to smaller cities.

Roads: The roads in Italy are not like the roads in the US. The roads are very narrow, twisty and generally in rough shape. This goes for the back roads and highways as well. The backroads are filled with narrow roads that have a lot of blind corners and the locals don't really believe in staying in their lane. You aren't able to go the speeds you can go in the US so if you see that a place is only 30 km away and you think, ok that will be a quick trip, think again, plan for much more time than you would in the US.

Driver's license: Think about getting an international driving permit if you are planning on renting a car. The process is very simple and can be done entirely online. It basically is a statement saying your license is legit in the state you live in.

Fueling up your rental car: Every Italian gas station is the same, there is a central machine you go to to pay with cash or card and select your pump #. You pay and usually select what amount you want to put in, then that machine turns on your pump.

Parking: Universally in Italy, if a spot has white lines, its free. If it has blue lines its pay. Most Tuscan towns have a parking garage, this is usually your best bet. Find a good garage and set that as your destination. When you use a garage, you always go pay at the machine with your ticket, and they go to your car and leave the garage. When you pay the ticket you put in your license plate and the camera recognizes it or you will put your ticket in and it will let you out.

Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL): In Tuscan towns pay close attention to Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL). These are off limits to enter unless you are a local who lives in that area. They are typically well marked, but if you drive in them they will give you a ticket a camera immediately records your plate and you will receive a hefty fine in the mail when you get home.

Road Signs: We highly recommend that if you are going to be driving in Italy that you take some time to familiarize yourself with the Italian road signs before making the trip. Some are intuitive but many can be a little confusing especially if you are trying to process what you are seeing with the chaos going on around you.

Timing: Lunch is typically between 12:00 and 2:30. If you expect to eat lunch earlier it may be difficult to find a place that is open or already serving lunch. Dinner doesn't typically start until 7:00. Many restaurants close between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner. There are places where you can get an earlier dinner but most locations don't serve dinner until later in the evening.

Service: The table is yours for the night, service is a little slow because of that, don’t be in a hurry because they won't be.

The Check: They do not bring the check until you ask for it. You will sit there for days wondering if they are ever going to come. When you are ready flag down your waiter and ask for “il conto per favore”

Water: They will ask still or sparkling or “naturale” or “frizzante”. It is common for them to not give you water, you may have to order it.

Wine: Drink the wine of the region you are in. If you are in a restaurant, order the house wine, it will be the cheapest and is usually as good or better than most of the of the other wines on the list!

Tipping: Tipping is generally not expected. Servers get paid a salary and don’t count on tips like they do in the United States. If you pay in cash you can leave the change as a tip, or round up. For example if your bill is 47 euros you can round up and give them 50 euros but it is generally not expected.

Restaurants: In cities in Italy the restaurants around major tourist attractions aren't the best food and they are going to be over priced. If the restaurant has laminated menus with photos of the food, multiple languages on the sign and a waiter standing outside trying to coax to you to come in, just walk on by. Chances are if you can see a major monument from your table, the food is probably lesser quality and overpriced.

Credit Card Payments: For the majority of purchases you make with a credit card, the terminal may ask if you want to make the purchase in Euros or USD, always select Euros. If you select USD there are several fees that are added on for the processor to convert the currency. If you select USD over a long trip an all of the transactions, those fees will add up to a potentially large number.

Pickpockets: Italy is generally safe, but unfortunately pickpocketing is prevalent, especially in the larger cities in the tourist areas. You can use a cross-body bag that zips and you keep in front of you or close to your side. Men should keep their wallets in their front pockets and secure them. You may want to consider a money belt that goes under your clothes as well.

Visiting Religious Sites: Be aware that if you are vising historical religious sites there is a good chance that you will not be able to enter if your shoulders and knees are not covered.

Luggage: If you visit and stay in any of the city centers be prepared to drag your luggage across uneven and cobblestone streets. It can be extremely tiring and frustrating especially in the cities with significant elevation changes. (Note: see footwear below)

Bathrooms: There are limited bathroom options in Italy. Most cities have a paid public restroom that can be used but you can't just pop into a shop and use their bathroom like you can in the US, so you will need to plan accordingly.

Cash: It is a good idea to carry some cash with you for use in the smaller shops and public bathrooms. If you use an ATM to get cash try to use one at a bank for lower fees.

Tourist Attractions: Many of the larger tourist attractions such as the Duomo in Florence, the Uffizi Gallery also in Florence and the Leaning Tower of Pisa require timed reservations that need to be booked in advance as they are often sold out the day of. Look for official websites that end in .IT to avoid scams and overcharging.

Shoes: As mentioned above, many city centers have uneven and cobblestone streets making walking in heels or dress shoes ill advised. You will also likely be walking the entire day as you see the sites in the city, so consider wearing comfortable shoes that can be worn all day.