13 Surprising Things To Know Before Visiting ITALY!

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  • Опубліковано 22 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 80

  • @vernonandmaryana
    @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +3

    What tips would you add? For someone visiting Italy for the first time?
    Most important, have a good time when traveling and visiting here ❤

    • @sheilahamilton1747
      @sheilahamilton1747 6 місяців тому +2

      I’ll be looking for that regional food and wine speciality before October!! 😊

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому

      @@sheilahamilton1747which regions are you heading to?

    • @allanbarnard4668
      @allanbarnard4668 6 місяців тому +1

      Great video, love how relaxed and unscripted it is and so on point! Small suggestion: you may want to switch your ring light on when recording? A few things I would add to your next video: 1) Savoury breakfasts like eggs & bacon are not a big thing in Italy and mostly only available at non-Italian chain restaurants. 2) On the issue of wi-fi: although most hotels and AirBnBs have it, it's not widely available in public spaces, especially in smaller villages. Renting or even buying a pocket wi-fi is a good investment. A local e-sim card is also an option, but that means swapping your own sim card out if your phone does not have the option of dual sim cards. 3) At restaurants, consider the house wine (vino della casa - rosso or bianca) vs branded bottled wines. A whole lot cheaper and perfectly drinkable if you just want a glass of local wine with your meal. 4) In Venice, do a Google search for the cocktail bars where mostly locals hang out and where snacks are served with the aperitifs. Bite-sized nibbles, called cicchetti, that are cheap (sometimes even complimentary) and delicious and great with your Aperol Spritz. Rome also features a number of these cocktail bars, but you have to do some research because tourists simply don't know about them. 5) Finally, something that should be fairly obvious: before arriving at your destination, check if there are any local festivals happening. I can't tell you how many times we've stumbled upon a fabulous local event that we didn't have tickets for. Hope this helps!

  • @TommasoNimali
    @TommasoNimali 6 місяців тому +15

    The reason why the ticket must be validated before leaving is that you can buy tickets without any marking and that they can be used at any time, especially on regional trains. To prevent anyone from reusing the tickets and to speed up checks by the controller, the user is expected to stamp the ticket before leaving.

  • @ceoninja
    @ceoninja 6 місяців тому +10

    Regarding validation of tickets, the issue stems from the way train tickets work in Italy (and in many european countries). The basic fare you pay, gives you permission to ride a train from A to B, on a specific railway class, but with no link to any specific train, date or time of travel. Basically, you can go from A to B any time you want, (technically) once. This way of ticketing accounts for situations like needing to from A to B while getting off at multiple stations and re-boarding, which is a scenario that used to be a lot more common in the past. The problem with this way of ticketing is that in the past people would get on the train, evade the ticket officer (or sometimes, a ticket officer could just not check their ticket in a timely fashion) and get off the train at their destination with a fully valid ticket in their pocket which they could then use again since it was not marked by a ticket officer. Because of this, they introduced Ticket Validation, that is you need to stamp your ticket the day you board the train, so that even if a ticket officer does not come and check your ticket, it's now void for further runs and cannot be recycled. Because of the reasons behind Ticket Validation, it does not apply to any ticket that is explicitly linked to a time and date. For example, if you book a Frecciarossa ticket with a reserved seat, that ticket is bound to a specific train on a specific date and time and it does not need any validation at the railway station.

  • @MP-pj7kr
    @MP-pj7kr 6 місяців тому +8

    Coperto is an indication of how old can be our heritage: it's coming at least from early XVII-XVIII hundred when poor people (i.e. workers, countrymen, etc.) had permission to stay inside a hosteria to eat his own stuff payng a little (of course less than a lunch).
    Pane e Coperto could be translated exactly with Bread and Covered

  • @Evolving62
    @Evolving62 Місяць тому +1

    Aww 🥰 I ❤ you guys bc u seem to be very knowledgeable and honest . I hope to visit from NYC before December ✈️

  • @domenicodeiana9812
    @domenicodeiana9812 4 місяці тому +3

    Hi guys, I'm not here to debunk what you said, but only to make things more clear to anybody else
    😊
    Unfortunately not everyone has RIPOSO. Independent family owned businesses choose to close and reopen as you said, because Italy is structured that way. I mean when people finish work late afternoon, they might want to get some shopping of any kind up until 8pm.
    Scams and tourist traps are sadly common, also anywhere in the world where tourists flock.
    I'm not saying Italians are saints, but most of scams and pickpocketing are made by illegal immigrants.
    Indians selling roses2, gypsies stealing your goods, Nigerians tie bracelets and so on.
    Getting tipped is always welcome but not mandatory.
    It's nice to leave a few Euros just to round up the bill.
    For instance if you cheque is 47 Euros, usually customers say to keep the change.
    They'll never tell you, but if you get up and haven't tipped they would think you're definitely stingy!
    I never got the coperto thing but it's in our DNA and we accept it as the norm.
    Locals understand your background what kind of person you are by the way you dress, but at the end of the day don't care because you're not Italian. If you were they might judge you, right or wrong.
    Seeing someone not at the beach and wearing swimming costumes is weird, funny and strange at the same time 😅
    People might give you a sometimes quick, a sometimes longer look.
    In most cases is just curiosity, in others is being rude and I don't like it either.
    The thing about streets made of cobblestone is true to a certain extent, and that's only on some parts in some towns, in some city centres.
    Someone already answered about tickets.
    Many houses and more have and are getting AC installed. most of the shops and all malls have it. It's just that it's not super cold like in the US(been there several times!).
    Your statement about not having cold coffee is false!
    Every bar and café in the summer makes cold regular coffee and crema di caffè(even better).
    Also if you ask UN CAFFÈ A PORTAR VIA, you'll get a takeout one.
    Nowadays cash is rapidly being taken over by cards and contactless methods and by THE LAW you can't run a business of any kind if you don't have a POS system.
    Honestly you might come across someone who says there's no internet or even that the machine is broken. True or false thankfully those cases are getting rarer.
    The thing about every region having its own specific food is accur6, but even more that you may think!
    Every region has from 2 to 10 provinces and each one has countless traditional recipes!
    If you ask the waiter to change some ingredients, in most case they will only if won't change much of the original dish, or if you're intolerant and/or allergic they'd do anything to help you out.
    August is when most of businesses shut and as a chain reaction people want to go on holiday or are forced because many have left and it won't be any point in staying in town.
    Also the scorching heat really make you be willing to work.
    It's not true anyway about everyone leaving for the whole month. It used to be like that up until let's say 30 years ago.
    I truly hope you're enjoying your life in Italy 😊

  • @JACK_TheAllSeeingEye
    @JACK_TheAllSeeingEye 6 місяців тому +2

    TRAIN TICKETS:
    Tickets get validated so that you have to buy one for every trip....not just one...that you show every time.
    Tickets were often 'punched' by a conductor to show validation that the trip was taken...spent...used.
    Hence the old adage 'Getting your ticket punched.'
    Most tickets have date of issue now, but.........tradition.
    Also it used to be in England that if you missed your train, or for any reason really, you could return the ticket for your fare back.
    Cheers⭐

  • @desertinutah
    @desertinutah 4 місяці тому +1

    "Two alcoholics in Italy." That was very funny--one of the best openings ever. I'm a 73-year-old woman and I would like to go next year. A 2 - 3 hours nap period sounds perfect! I may look stupid in my Sketchers?! 🤣Boeing!! Eek! I dream of going to Split and the rest of Croatia, too. Wow! What a country! I like to get wired on caffeine, too! The "Under the Tuscan Sun" experience might happen to Rick Steves. I will follow you on Instagram--first time ever. Funniest and most enjoyable for sure and I've watched a lot. Do more!!

  • @Lidarzd
    @Lidarzd 6 місяців тому +1

    loved this vlog❤ great info thank you so much

  • @laura_and_shanman
    @laura_and_shanman 6 місяців тому +2

    Visiting Italy (Rome/Florence/Venice/Milan) in early March 2025 - thanks for these tips!!

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +1

      Don’t forget, Venice had tourist tax some days now. You can see the schedule of this on the Venice city page. You pay online 5€ and you’ll get a code. If you spend the night there you don’t need to pay.

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +2

      Also Rome has lots of really free water stations, the mineral water there is very refreshing.

    • @laura_and_shanman
      @laura_and_shanman 6 місяців тому

      @@vernonandmaryana Thank you! Staying for 2 nights so hopefully all good.

  • @MichellMendoza-x4c
    @MichellMendoza-x4c 3 місяці тому

    When should I buy the train tickets in advance? We go to Italy in September. Also, We go to Milan, when should I buy the Duomo lift ticket? Now or the day before we go?

  • @AngelaPerkins-i3w
    @AngelaPerkins-i3w 3 місяці тому

    We will be traveling in the winter months, I travel with my dog are dogs accepted in the cities and are they aloud on public transport. we will be in our campervan so plan to park outside the city. Also I am not able to drink alcohol due to medical condition will I struggle when I go for a meal.

  • @MP-pj7kr
    @MP-pj7kr 6 місяців тому

    The validation of train ticket at train station before start is another old heritage. In the past you bought the ticket from a city to another without other restriction (as no's of intermediate trains,u.s.o) so you had to demonstrate the date you left the first city beginning the trip.
    I think it was the same in Germany too: Karl Marx wrote "if to make the revolution the German workers have to occupy a trainstation, they would all buy the ticket!"

  • @manuele4513
    @manuele4513 6 місяців тому +1

    Dear friend, because you are an honest person, you don't get there. Some "smart ones" used the same ticket several times (evading controls). For this reason in Italy we must validate the ticket

  • @caramia4789
    @caramia4789 2 місяці тому

    August is a bad time to be in Rome or Milan but why would you think coastal towns will be closed for August? That’s when Romans and Milanese go to the coast.

  • @mfolson81
    @mfolson81 6 місяців тому

    Fantastic vdeo, subscribed. We're going to Venice, Rome & Sorrento in September. Do you recommend any good restaurants on the south half of Venice, Rome or Sorrento? Thanks!

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +2

      I’ll make a list and post it here. So many! Google maps is always pretty good here also for reviews. I would not eat it anything below four stars. Also, you can make reservations a lot of times through Google Maps. Also, don’t forget Venice has started the tourist tax. Check to make sure the dates you’re going are not affected. If you’re spending the night there, you don’t have to pay, but I still believe you do need to register.

  • @gabrielesantucci6189
    @gabrielesantucci6189 4 місяці тому +2

    "The recipe are probably 100/200 years old"!!!😂😂😂😂
    In italy we have recipes from 400/500 maybe 1000 years ago!!! 100 years is yesterday for us!!😂😂😂😂😂

  • @karebeark3572
    @karebeark3572 6 місяців тому +1

    I'm coming from America. How much cash (Euro) money should one at least bring for a 10 day trip? Any advice on luggage storage at train stations?

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +2

      Most places here now take card but I’d commend possibly having 400-500 in euro in cash. In case you want to go to some markets, souvenirs, street food and some bars (don’t take card). For luggage storage, most hotels have a hold for bags. Always check reviews on google. There’s a website that we used before stowyourbags that you can book lockers online.

  • @goodphone156
    @goodphone156 6 місяців тому +1

    I also don't like this thing of having to stamp the train tickets, but it seems that since some tickets are valid for a few days if you make the trip snd don't stamp it you can use it for another!!
    But you buy a ticket on line especially jn speed train this thing don't need !!

  • @jimhertwig2220
    @jimhertwig2220 6 місяців тому

    Possible reason for validation of train tickets: preventing them from being used again?

  • @cjay2
    @cjay2 16 днів тому

    Regarding leather goods, find the italian sellers. The rest have been taken over by ar abs and their wares are terrible. Last you a year if you're lucky. But it will cost you. You get what you pay for.

  • @faithhopelove-24
    @faithhopelove-24 6 місяців тому +2

    i won’t forget the rose scam when we were in athens and then lady really pushed it because she’s pregnant. my dad and my husband said it’s okay just think we helped her 😩

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому

      I’ve seen those also, they also use kids, very sad how the take advantage of people.

  • @vivianacavazzini1237
    @vivianacavazzini1237 6 місяців тому +1

    bars and restaurants do not close at lunch time anywhere in Italy unless it is their day of closure.

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +1

      Some of the places won’t have their kitchen open and close early. What I also mean lunch, is after 2:30. A lot of people eat around 15:00, when most places will be closed.

  • @deanhatescoffee
    @deanhatescoffee 6 місяців тому

    We're going to Italy in October. After staying in Cinque Terre, I was planning on renting a car from La Spezia to drive through Tuscany on our way to Rome. I don't mind driving through most cities, but I don't want to drive anywhere between Termini and the Vatican. What would you recommend to avoid tourist traffic? Is there a drop-off point outside of Rome, or on the northern end of Rome? What would you recommend?

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +1

      Usually we look for parking garage in the area we want to be. That way you can avoid the craziness. There’s plenty underground garages you can park for a few days. Be careful driving in certain areas, there have locals only places, fines are high there. On google you can also see the buses and their routes with times, they’re pretty efficient here.

    • @deanhatescoffee
      @deanhatescoffee 6 місяців тому

      @vernonandmaryana yeah, I'm thinking we'll just return the rental after we're done driving through Tuscany and take a bus from there. No need to keep paying for a rental when we'll be walking most of the time anyway. :)

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +2

      @@deanhatescoffeeTuscany is our favorite to drive around in. Stopping by vineyards and getting locals wines, tastings and local foods (so much cheaper than in cities) also you can stay at a lot of them. Look up agriturismo in Tuscany, they have food, pools and experiences.

  • @peterleonard9759
    @peterleonard9759 5 місяців тому

    Are there very many places where you could rent a Vespa scooter?

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  5 місяців тому

      In major cities yes, but not in Venice. It’s most popular in Rome and Florence. Also in some towns in Tuscany. Especially the vintage vespas, are very popular. Keep in mind driving here is a bit different. Most people need to master the roundabouts 😄

  • @RudyEsposito-w9q
    @RudyEsposito-w9q 5 місяців тому

    Because its an open ticket, so if you do not validate you can still use it.

  • @cerliezio
    @cerliezio 6 місяців тому

    You need to validate the ticket because especially on short trips it may not be checked by the ticket inspector and if the ticket is left blank it may be reused another time. Simple explanation

  • @annmiddleton8780
    @annmiddleton8780 6 місяців тому +1

    Really great info, thank you!

  • @donnamcc-ll1tq
    @donnamcc-ll1tq 6 місяців тому +1

    Thank you! I've watched many Italy tip videos and this one is one of the most comprehensive. Highly recommend!

  • @TravellingTorunn
    @TravellingTorunn 6 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for this very good and informative video with a lot of topics. Very useful. Subscribed 😊

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому +1

      Awesome, thank you! More travel adventures to come! We upload every Friday 😄

    • @TravellingTorunn
      @TravellingTorunn 6 місяців тому

      @@vernonandmaryana That is great. I'll watch 🙂

  • @Chi-n7q
    @Chi-n7q 2 місяці тому

    How to get to capri Italy from Athens greece

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  2 місяці тому

      1. Fly from Athens to Naples (1.5-2 hours).
      2. From Naples Airport, take a taxi or shuttle to the port (about 20-30 minutes).
      3. Ferry from Naples to Capri (45 minutes to 1 hour). Ferries depart regularly from Molo Beverello or Calata di Massa port.

  • @maggietang1858
    @maggietang1858 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for sharing. Although I have been to Italy 3 times, the info is still useful 👍👍.

  • @annaesposito541
    @annaesposito541 3 місяці тому

    Not true.Like you said in this country there Is lots of turism and they're Always open.What you said May have happened in some small northern Town.

  • @CurtRuhtz
    @CurtRuhtz 6 місяців тому

    I'm not a wine drinker...Do they sell liqour at the restaurants and also.. are there any liqour stores in Rome?? thank you ..liked your informal video

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому

      They have a full bar in most places. They have a lot of alcohol stores, no worries.

  • @antonellacastelli6770
    @antonellacastelli6770 3 місяці тому

    Di venire in italia senza pensare che tutto sia o meraviglioso o schifoso. Di sforzarsi di dire due parole in italiano non sono obbligata a parlare una lingua che non sia la mia. Di stare lontani dai ristoranti che sono palesente per turisti. E venire in italia magari non a luglio o agosto mesi veramente pesanti soprattutto ora con il cambiamento climatico. Buone vacanze.

  • @goodphone156
    @goodphone156 6 місяців тому

    Good information!!

  • @Nickysmom
    @Nickysmom 6 місяців тому

    If you don’t validate it means you didn’t use it and can use another day. In other words, you rode for free

  • @Cosmove1
    @Cosmove1 3 місяці тому

    Anche io sono venuto in U.S.A. e non ho trovato nessuno che parlava italiano. Dove sta il problema? - I also came to the U.S.A. and I didn't find anyone who spoke Italian. What's the problem?

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  3 місяці тому +1

      Non si tratta degli Stati Uniti o dell'Italia. Ci sono 1,5 miliardi di persone nel mondo che parlano inglese e circa 70 milioni che parlano italiano. Anche adesso vedo persone utilizzare l'inglese in vari paesi come lingua comune per incontrarsi a metà strada. Per me, l'inglese è la mia quarta lingua.

    • @Cosmove1
      @Cosmove1 3 місяці тому

      @@vernonandmaryana ce ne sono 2 miliardi che parlano spagnolo o cinese o Indi...non è questo il problema. Venire in italia e PRETENDERE che tutti parlino inglese mi sembra eccessivo... Quanti americani parlano una seconda lingua?

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  3 місяці тому +1

      Nessuno sta pretendendo nulla. Penso che tu abbia una visione negativa degli americani e cerchi problemi di cui lamentarti. L'intero scopo di questo video è informare le persone, educarle se non sono mai state in un altro paese o in Italia.

  • @cerliezio
    @cerliezio 2 місяці тому

    Last time I was in the States I sadly realised that Americans do not speak Italian /Nor French orGerman) How disappointing !!

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  2 місяці тому

      Why would they? It also depends where. English is my 4th language. There are pockets in America that do speak Italian, Dutch, German, French not so much, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Spanish, Hindi. America is a large country, that’s were spread out. If you go to Houston, TX and think some will speak Italian to you, think again. Try the east coast.

  • @violetgaribyan-jg9ll
    @violetgaribyan-jg9ll 4 місяці тому +1

    🌻👍🏻🍷🌏🍕☕️

  • @36flamingo63
    @36flamingo63 6 місяців тому

    Well... Italy isn't all that devoted to Catholic holidays. For example, it does NOT celebrate some anniversaries (such as Ascension, Pentecost, Corpus Domini, all in May) that the Catholic areas of HARD-WORKING Germany celebrate....

  • @violetgaribyan-jg9ll
    @violetgaribyan-jg9ll 4 місяці тому

    ❤🙏🍒🚕🍕

  • @cjay2
    @cjay2 16 днів тому

    Best is just to refuse to speak with any of them - they are not italians, they are ar ab or afr ikan and they just want your money.

  • @caramia4789
    @caramia4789 2 місяці тому

    But in America the restaurants give you toilet water while in Italy you pay for a bottled water

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  2 місяці тому

      Now sure what restaurants you’ve been to. No need to be rude.

    • @caramia4789
      @caramia4789 2 місяці тому

      @@vernonandmaryana Every restaurant in The US gives tap water (aka toilet water). If you think I meant actual toilet water from the toilet bowl then you have problems. I am not being rude, it's funny but I get that sarcasm doesn't always shine through comments.

  • @earthn1447
    @earthn1447 3 місяці тому

    Vac form? Vap form? Get your money back?? This doesn’t make sense.

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  3 місяці тому

      VAT form, The **Tax-Free Shopping Form** is a document that non-EU residents can use to claim a refund on the Value Added Tax (VAT) paid on purchases made within the European Union when those goods are exported out of the EU.

  • @ekesandras1481
    @ekesandras1481 6 місяців тому +2

    What I don't like the most about Italy: they have a fetish for really strict laws and high fines.
    When any minor problem in the society appears, they always try to solve it with a strict law ... which in the end is mostly ignored anyway. As a person who is used to respecting the law, you get annoyed by what ridiculously minor things they regulate and later you find out, that you are the only one really respecting this law. But if you don't know the hidden social rules, you might be the only one getting the high fine, when you start to ignore the law just like the locals do.

    • @vernonandmaryana
      @vernonandmaryana  6 місяців тому

      This is true, the amount of little rules we learn about all the time. Do you think it’s just because of Italy or also because of the European Union?

    • @ekesandras1481
      @ekesandras1481 6 місяців тому

      @@vernonandmaryana that's an Italian thing. I think it might be inherited from Italy's fascist past, the idea to solve problems by a haphazardly made strict law and not by slowly convincing and educating people.

    • @szudy76
      @szudy76 6 місяців тому

      @@ekesandras1481sounds like fascist America these days