Italy Country Dossier

"Imagine staying amongst some of the best scenery in the world, sampling the local cuisines and wandering amongst beautiful olive groves, beneath rugged mountains through ancient laneways and amongst grape vines. Peace, tranquility and fresh country air will invigorate the weariest traveler. Whether you choose to stroll in Tuscany through ancient piazzas or beneath the sheer walls of the Dolomites your time in Italy will be one of beautiful places, great food and friendly people. It doesn't get much better."

Jane Castledine – Tour Leader

• Factfile
• Preparing to go
• Money
• Cultural & Environmental Guidelines
• Arrival
• On Tour
• General Information

Factfile

Capital: Rome
Official Language: : Standard Italian and numerous dialects, German, French and Slovene.
Religions: 85% Roman Catholic, 5% Jewish and Protestant.
Voltage: 220 Volts. Sockets are European two pronged round pin variety.

Preparing to go

Visas

Most nationalities (including citizens of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US) do not need a visa to enter Italy.

Money

Local Currency

The monetary unit in Italy is the Euro (€).
Approximate exchange rates (as at May 2008) are as follows:

• 1 Pound Sterling = € 1.28
• 1 US Dollar = € 0.64

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: Be careful with your belongings when anywhere in Italy and make sure that you keep firm hold of your bags and wallet. As with many European cities, tourists can be especially targeted by pickpockets.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs

The best place to change money in Italy is at a bank. Travellers' cheques and cash can both be changed but you may want to shop around for the best commission deals and shortest queues. Credit cards are widely accepted with VISA the easiest to obtain a cash advance from banks. Banking hours are normally Monday to Friday mornings from 8.30am until 1.30pm, and for an hour in the afternoon (usually 3-4pm), there are local variations on this. ATM's are widespread in the major cities and tourist centres making it easy to withdraw Euros direct from these.

Working out your Budget

The Pre Departure Booklet contains general information about the things you will need to consider when budgeting for your holiday. Below are some specific notes relevant to our tour in the Italy.

Entrance Fees

Please refer to your Trip Dossier for information and advice on how much to allow for entrance fees.

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: Remember to bring your student card if you have one or are entitled to one as you may be able to get discounts on certain entrance fees.

Meals

Breakfast is included on the majority of days on your tour, but where not included and for other meals your tour leader will be able to advise you of the best places to go.

Approximate costs for meals and snacks are given below but please note that the exact cost varies widely depending on whether you are in the capital cities or smaller regional towns;

• Simple snack - € 5-15
• Light meal - € 15-25
• Fancy restaurant - € 25+

For a guide to the type of food you will find in Italy see the Local Food & Drink section of this dossier.

Drinks
Tea and Coffee are always provided with breakfast. All drinks (i.e. bottled water, soft drinks) are at your own expense but are fairly inexpensive.

What to Take

The Pre-Departure Information that you will receive once you have booked your tour contains a comprehensive list of items that you should consider bringing with you.

Clothing

You should bring clothes appropriate to the time of year you will be travelling, and to the activities you intend to take part in. As the sun can get very strong in the summer, it is advisable to bring clothing to cover up your skin to prevent sunburn.

Prepare Yourself
The walking in these trips is not difficult and should be possible for anyone of reasonable fitness level. Of course the fitter you are the more you will enjoy any walking and if you have any concerns, we do recommend that you discuss them with your doctor.

Cultural & Environmental Guidelines

General

Please make sure that you adhere to normal standards of responsible travel such as conserving electricity and water, not littering and taking care not to disturb wildlife.

Photography

You should always ask permission before taking anyone's photograph and respect their decision if they say no.

Arrival

Arrival Transfers

An arrival transfer is not provided for our tours in Italy.

Making Your Own Way

The Meeting Point for your tour should be clearly marked on your travel vouchers.

From Florence airport (Amerigo Vespucci) City bus #62 runs to the Santa Maria Novella train station every 25mins for €4 (US$5) from 6:00 to 20:30 then at 21:30, 22:30 and 23:30.

From the train station the bus runs back to the airport every 30 min from 5:30 to 20:00, then at 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00.

Taxis from the airport to the centre of Florence will cost around € 15 during the day.

From the airport in Palermo to Palermo centre There is a regular bus service from the airport into the city centre every 30 mins from 6:30 to 24:00. The bus also runs in reverse from Palermo to the airport from 5:00 to 23:00. Tickets cost €5,00 per person.

Taxis from the airport to Palermo train station/centre (or vice versa) cost approximately €35,00.

On Tour

Safety

Most people find Italy very friendly and safe and feel quite comfortable wandering around alone during the day. However, as with any area you are not familiar with it is recommended that you exercise more caution at night and generally take taxis rather than walk especially if you are a lone female.

Tour Leaders & Guides

Your Tour Leader’s role is to ensure all aspects of the trip run smoothly. He/she will share their local knowledge, advice on how to fill your free time and co-ordinate the day to day running of the tour – although occasionally he/she may need your understanding if things do not go according to plan. If you have any problems on the tour, please let your Tour Leader know so that steps can be taken to put it right.

Please note that some styles of trip, such as Imaginative Escapes or Imaginative Honeymoons, do not have a Tour Leader. However, there will be representatives on hand who will be able to assist you in arranging any excursions that you wish you take.

Accommodation

Our main criterion for choosing hotels is cleanliness. Many hotels on Traveller tours will have a private bathroom, but there will be occasions when only a shared bathroom is available. The hotels will also have bar / restaurant facilities. Please bear in mind that hotels can sometimes suffer from minor problems and technical difficulties.

At each hotel your Tour Leader will try to organise the rooming arrangements to suit everyone's requirements. If you are travelling alone you will be allocated a room with another group member of the same sex (unless you have paid a single supplement*). If you are travelling as a couple please note that we cannot guarantee the availability of double beds.

*Note: Single supplements are only applicable to single travellers who wish to have their own room. Single supplements are also only available on Traveller tours and are not applicable on overnight boats, trains and while camping.

Laundry

There are laundry facilities available at the accommodation.

Local Food & Drink

Food
The main characteristics of Italian cooking is utilising excellent basic ingredients and cooking them to retain their original goodness and flavour. In Tuscany you can try Bistecca alla Fiorentina – a huge T-Bone cooked over aromatic charcoal and where the most important ingredient is olive oil.

The two most popular types of food served in Italy are naturally pizzas and pasta. Pizzas can be eaten in a pizzeria, where the crust is large and thin and the pizza is cooked in traditional wood-burning ovens, or alternatively, you can order pizza by the slice in a 'pizza à taglio' and either eat it inside the restaurant or take it away. Pasta comes in an impressive array of shapes, colours and styles. Served with sauces, including olive oil and garlic, or rich tomato and basil, these meals are simple, but very tasty. Many gnocchi dishes are also usually available and are often served with a meat sauce.

Your tour leader will be able to advise you on all the best places to eat and the various specialities.

Drinks
Beer and wine are both commonly drunk throughout Italy. With a history of winemaking stretching back 3,000 years, wine is an important part of Italian life. Other Italian drinks include aperitifs, blended over a base of world famous Piedmont Vermouth, dessert wines and sparkling wines from Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany and the islands. Italy also has a great variety of effervescent mineral waters.

Special Dietary Requirements

Vegetarians
There are many excellent vegetable dishes in Italy. Being vegetarian seldom poses a problem.

Food Allergies
If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them known to your Tour Leader who will do their best to ensure that your requirements are met.

Please note: Unfortunately we can give no guarantee that special requirements can always be met.

Communications

Email
Although there are internet cafes in Italy you will not find internet access once we reach our farmhouse accommodation on the 'Tuscan Dreaming' tour.

Phone
Although it is easy to make international calls in Italy, there will be little opportunity for this once we reach our farmhouse accommodation on the 'Tuscan Dreaming' tour.

Post
Post offices are widely available in Italy opening from 08:00 to 18:00 daily. Mail can also be posted at tobacconists (look for the white 'T' on a black background). Although international airmail pricing is less accurate here than at the official post offices.

General Information

Weather

The moderating influence of the sea and the protection given by the alpine barrier from cold north winds combine to bless Italy with a temperate climate. The weather can vary considerably according to how far you are from the sea or the mountains. Summer can be hot and dry with mitigating sea breezes on the coast and pleasantly cool in the mountains.

The following chart shows average daytime max temperatures (in degrees celsius):

Italy Meteorological Authority

Suggested Reading

Guidebooks

• Under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes
• Celebrating Italy by Carol Field – a veritable feast across Italy
• Midnight in Sicily by Peter Robb – a fascinating journey to the heart of the region

Background Reading

• Florence and the Medici-a pattern of control by J.R.Hale
• Galileo's Daughter: a Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel.

Contact Details

UK Office
The Imaginative Traveller
1 Betts Avenue
Martlesham Heath
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP5 3RH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1473 667337
Fax: +44 (0)1473 614566

24hr Emergency Contact
(MOB): +44 7802 415 886 (UK)