Tips on traveling to Italy as a tourist

 

 Italy is one of the most popular and attractive tourist destinations in the world, with more than fifty UNESCO World Heritage sites, three active volcanoes and more than 1,500 lakes, and traveling to Italy is characterized by delicious food and the smallest restaurant in the world that can accommodate only two people Although it is a relatively small country, it really has something to suit everyone's tastes, from charming beaches and beautiful cities to attractive archaeological sites, arts, and dazzling landscapes.However, it is common to experience culture shock, which is defined as the confusion and anxiety of visitors caused by the difficulty of assimilating a new culture and customs substantially different from their original culture or adapting to the local community in foreign countries, and this can sometimes lead to fraud, tourist By paying extra money, and generally causing disappointment or confusion.

You have a lot to know about Italy and consider before planning your trip, so if you are traveling to the country for the first time, in this guide you will find many tips and advice related to traveling to Italy to help you have a great trip, enjoy your time, and overcome the potential challenges that you may face while traveling to Italy. Italy, which will enable you to enjoy a safe stay and experience a unique experience on every trip you take.

1. Pack as few items as possible

While traveling to Italy, getting around Italian cities with a lot of bags and heavy luggage can be a big challenge for visitors, due to the many stairs and ramps, cobblestone streets, and narrow hotel stairs. Regardless of your travel style, be sure to pick the right bags and pack only the essentials to ensure an easy trip and a comfortable stay. If you're planning to visit places like Venice, you'll also need to be able to carry your luggage on water buses and up stairs because lifts are rare.

2. Wear comfortable shoes

Wearing comfortable shoes when you are outside will make your life a lot easier for the same reason mentioned above. If you are planning a trip to Venice, keep in mind that you may need a pair of stivali di gomma rubber boots as a precaution in case the water levels rise in the lower parts of town such as Piazza San Marco.

3. Check the validity of your train ticket

If traveling to Italy by train, be sure to validate your ticket before boarding the train. Since train stations in Italy do not have turnstiles, it is up to you to validate your ticket at the machines located near the entrance to each station platform and are usually green or yellow, and be aware that passengers are charged high fines with expired tickets.
Emergency tip: If you can't find a machine or it doesn't work, or if you're in a hurry, the best thing to do is to write on the ticket the last time it was used, this may just be enough to convince the ticket collector to Board the train that you have good intentions.

4. Book high-speed trains in advance

High-speed trains in Italy are referred to as "frecce", such as Freciarossa, Frecciabianca and Frecciargento. Reservations usually open 120 days before the date of your trip, and it is always best to buy tickets in advance to ensure you get a cheaper price. Italo, which is the official seller of Italian high-speed train tickets.

Tips for eating in restaurants in Italy

1. Dinner is eaten late

Italians, especially in the south of the country, usually eat their food late starting at nine in the evening, the restaurant that serves dinner between 5 and 7 in the evening caters to tourists, so the quality of the food is often lower, good restaurants do not open for the most part before 7 In the evening, unless places also serve an aperitivo, a drink that comes with chips and other appetizers, this can be an excellent way to quench your hunger while waiting for dinner or to whet your appetite.

2. The tipping culture does not exist in Italy

No one will criticize you and you won't get bad looks if you don't tip the waiter, although it has become a common culture in major tourist places, some restaurant waiters may expect it especially if the service is good and meticulous, the food served is delicious and the whole experience is enjoyable, Italians are willing to leave about 1 -2 euros only per person.

Useful tips for sightseeing in Italy

Some stores and establishments take a break during the day

It is rare to find a 24/7 shop in Italian cities, let alone small towns, while working several hours non-stop is becoming more common in some larger stores, where generally every Italian shop or place closes right after lunch at 12 or 1 p.m., then reopens at 3 or 4 p.m. After the ribosino has taken a nap and the rest period is over, Monday is usually a day off for shops, mini markets, restaurants, hairdressers and beauty salons, it would be good to blog Opening hours because that will definitely benefit you.

Check public holidays dates

Public holidays are likely to affect your travel plans and the ability to visit attractions. The most important public holidays to know about are the following:

● January 1: New Year's Day.

● January 2: Epiphany.

The date varies from late March to April: Easter and Little Easter.

● June 2: Republic Day.

● August 15: Feast of the Assumption Ferragosto.

● November 1: Halloween.

● November 8: Immaculate Conception.

● November 25: Christmas.

● December 26: St. Stephen's Day or Boxing Day.

Tourism in Spain

                                                

 Spain is one of the world's top travel destinations, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. Tourists flock to Spain for a variety of experiences, from exploring ancient cities to lounging on golden beaches. Key destinations include:

Barcelona: A city renowned for its unique architecture, particularly the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudí. The city's lively streets, Mediterranean beaches, and cultural landmarks make it a favorite among visitors.

Granada: Home to the Alhambra, a stunning palace and fortress with a blend of Islamic architecture and beautiful gardens. Granada's charm lies in its historical depth and picturesque setting against the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Madrid: The capital city, known for its world-class museums like the Prado, royal palaces, and a bustling nightlife. Madrid offers a blend of tradition and modernity, providing tourists with a true Spanish cultural experience.

Costa del Sol: This sunny coastline is famous for its beautiful beaches, resorts, and warm weather. It is a perfect destination for those looking to relax by the sea or enjoy water sports.

Seville: A city of flamenco, Seville captures the essence of Spanish passion. The city's rich history, including the Seville Cathedral and the Alcázar, draws millions of tourists each year.


Spain is also known for its delicious cuisine, including tapas, paella, and a variety of fresh seafood. With its diverse landscapes, from the Pyrenees mountains to the Balearic Islands, Spain offers something for every traveler.

Egypt is home to TOURSEM

                                             

 
Egypt is home to some of the world’s most iconic tourist attractions, thanks to its rich
 
history and
 cultural heritage. Here are the top tourist sites in Egypt:
1. The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza are among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and remain one of the most visited sites globally. These monumental tombs, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, were built over 4,500 years ago and stand as a testament to the engineering skills of ancient Egyptians.

2. The Sphinx
Adjacent to the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx is a limestone statue with a lion’s body and a human head, believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre. It is one of the largest statues in the world and a symbol of Egypt.
3. The Valley of the Kings
Located on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, the Valley of the Kings served as the burial ground for pharaohs such as Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The tombs here are richly decorated with hieroglyphics and offer a glimpse into ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
4. Karnak Temple Complex
The Karnak Temple Complex is one of the largest religious complexes ever built and is located in Luxor. It includes the impressive Great Hypostyle Hall, with its 134 massive columns, and is dedicated to the god Amun.
5. Abu Simbel Temples
The twin temples of Abu Simbel, carved into a mountainside by Pharaoh Ramses II, are a marvel of ancient architecture. The temples were relocated in the 1960s to save them from being submerged by the waters of Lake Nasser.
6. The Egyptian Museum
Located in Cairo, the Egyptian Museum houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of ancient Egyptian antiquities. The museum's most famous exhibits include the treasures of Tutankhamun, including his gold mask.
7. Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple, situated on the east bank of the Nile, is a large temple complex dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. The temple is particularly beautiful when illuminated at night.
8. The Red Sea
For those interested in diving and snorkeling, Egypt’s Red Sea coast is home to some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs and diverse marine life. Destinations like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada attract beach lovers and underwater adventurers alike.
9. The Citadel of Saladin
Overlooking Cairo, the Citadel of Saladin was built in the 12th century as a fortress to protect against Crusaders. It is also home to the stunning Mosque of Muhammad Ali, which offers panoramic views of the city.
10. Philae Temple
The Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is located near Aswan. Like Ab
u Simbel, it was relocated to save it from the rising waters of the Nile after the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

These sites highlight Egypt's incredible history, from the time of the pharaohs to the Islamic era. Visitors can explore ancient temples, tombs, and monuments that have stood for millennia, making Egypt a truly unique travel destination.

Relaxation New York City Style

 New York City is perhaps the busiest city in the world. The people here are always running to and fro from work to home to meeting to school functions for their children to dinner you name it and most people in this city are constantly on the move. New Yorkers work hard and they play hard and for the most part you will not find a city full of couch potatoes. 

As a result of the constant movement and often constant stress of keeping pace in the city that never sleeps there is a huge demand for spas, massages, and a service industry that is devoted to helping these over worked, over played, and over stressed people learn to relax. Of course there are other industries in New York City that are equally dedicated to keeping them awake and alert. 

If relaxation is the order of the day you will be glad to know that there is a spa on almost every corner in New York City and if your vacation is one in which you wish to have a relaxing time of things then you may want to select a hotel with a spa on the premises and never walk outside. I can't imagine being in New York City and staying in my hotel the entire time but for some getting away is the only way they'll be able to leave work and responsibilities behind in order to truly relax and receive the full benefits of a spa treatment. 

In addition to the many spas that are available there are also gyms and sports complexes that will allow you to work out your frustrations or aggressions through physical exertion in addition to the many parks scattered throughout the city that offer places to walk, run, jog, ride bikes, roller blade, and participate in dozens of other physical activities as well. 

If the physical activity and the spa treatment don't help you reach your relaxation goals, then perhaps an evening out is in order. You will find all kinds of ways to spend your evenings in New York City. There are bars, lounges, comedy clubs, dance clubs, and simple hotel bars where you can have a nice drink or two to lighten your mood and then head back up to your room without the worry of how you're going to get back to your room. 

Of course, many believe that laughter without a doubt is the best medicine for whatever might ail you so the many comedy clubs around New York might be the best place to look for a night of fun and relaxation. Chances are if you're standing in New York City, pretty much anywhere you are kind of near a comedy club. If there's doubt I can almost guarantee that a bellhop or concierge might be able to help you find one close by and rather quickly.

Then of course, there's the last resort. Well for some, for me it's the first thought that comes to mind for relaxation: hot tub and massage. Not necessarily in that order but either or both is a great way to spend the evening. If you are fortunate enough to have a loved one along with you it is a great idea to share both the hot tub and the massage. While giving massages to each other is nice, there is something deliciously sinful about lying beside each other while receiving the royal treatment. You know you will be heading back to reality soon so enjoy this while you can.

Great Places to Play in New York

 New York actually has a great deal to offer young and old kids alike who enjoy very little better than playing a great game, video or otherwise. For those of you who enjoy this particular pastime, there are many unique opportunities in New York City in which you can participate in the games you enjoy so much while spending time with friends and family.

Astroland Amusement Park at Coney Island has much to offer the adventurous gamer. From thrills and chills on the midway to the Cyclone Roller Coaster and many wonderful rides in between, this park also offers arcade game rooms along the way where you can play video games of all kinds. This is great for those rainy days when you can't ride the rides or simply when it's just too hot to stand in line. It's also a great bonding experience for father and sun to play the games together and see who has the edge at any given moment.

Dave and Busters is a unique dining experience while offering a wide selection of gaming options. This is not your average arcade food by any means. In fact, this isn't your kids arcade or their arcade games. Dave and Busters offers good food and great fun under one roof and if you have the chance I recommend you take the big kid in you to try it out.

The ESPN Zone is a great place to spend the day with the family. They offer food, fun, and 200 televisions. Who could ask for more? The food is American grill type food and the entertainment is for the most part sports themed and interactive. If you're looking for a great way to bond with the kids this is definitely better than Chuck E. Cheese, especially for the slightly older kids. 

The Nintendo World Store is another wonderful attraction that is located at 10 Rockefeller Plaza. This neat store will have your kids thinking you're the coolest parent on the planet just for bringing them. That of course will not stop them from asking for everything they see but it will buy you a few minutes of coolness before they grow tired of hearing the word no. You may want to relent at some point however as there is some merchandise offered that is exclusive to this store and cannot be found elsewhere. Even if you must order it and have it shipped home for a later surprise it is better not to always wait until too late to find out you can't get something (at least not without a costly trip to New York). Perhaps one of the coolest things about this particular store is that your kids can try out games that haven't been released yet so they can go back to school with the inside scoop on the latest Nintendo games and you are once again world's coolest mom. 

Even for the technologically challenged parents among us it is often a good idea just to enjoy playing games with your kids. Even if they win or maybe, especially if they win, let's hope they are better winners than we were when we were kids. I think we all need to take the time to play with our little ones every chance we get. They grow up so fast and one day they will stop asking us to play with them. 

Finding Bargain Basement Accommodations

 

One of the things I've noticed through my many travels is that people often give up on the possibility of a good deal before even trying to get one. The art of bartering seems to be a lost art as is the art of comparison-shopping. When it comes to travel and vacation, every penny that you save on accommodations, food, and transportation is one more penny you have to spend on entertainment and adventure. 

There are certainly plenty of both to be had in the wonderful city of New York and a vacation here is much like Alice's adventures in wonderland. There is just so much to do and see that it is almost impossible to know where to begin. I recommend making arrangements to save money before ever arriving in the city. One of the ways you can do that is by investing a little time each evening and making copious notes about whom you've talked to where and what they've had to offer you as far as price and perks for accommodations.

Most hotels today are quite willing to offer incentives to their guests in order to have warm bodies filling their beds. All good managers know that a filled bed earns them more money than empty beds under their care and the more money earned under their care, the more secure their positions. That being said, if you take wonderful notes about the other hotels you've discussed tentative arrangements with you are very likely to be able to strike a deal with one or more of them that is far more favorable then the original deal offered. 

This of course, will not work if you are trying for a weekend that is likely to be a popular travel weekend so if you're considering a popular holiday or extended weekend for your trip this is probably not the best idea and you should probably be glad for any offer you can find. That being said almost any other weekend on the planet is fair game unless there are some very large and popular local events that may be drawing a sell out crowd for the local hotel industry. 

Back to what I was saying, you can often not only get a better price by going between two competing hotels, but also added perks like tickets to shows, free meals, spa packages at the hotels spa, gift certificates to the hotel gift store. There are often little things a manager is willing to do in order to get your business with the assumption (often correct I might add) that he will make up the differences in add-ons and other purchases.

Some managers may get annoyed and confuse being frugal with being cheap. Please remember to tip properly. It's one thing to save money by being frugal and another thing to do so by simply being cheap. If you do not treat the staff well they will remember you long after you're gone. But that's another story all together. The trick is in always being polite when dealing with managers on the phone and going with your best deal. 

It is also important that you realize the best deal may not be in the cheapest room. If you're getting one or two meals each day of your staying and only paying $5 0r $10 more a day for the privilege then you are very well coming out ahead in the bargain, particularly if one of those meals is dinner.

Family Friendly New York City

 

Many people forget that New York is a town full of families and plan their vacations without providing much thought to the entertainment possibilities that abound for children in New York City. It only makes sense that with so many families living in this city that there would be very many family oriented things to do and sights to see. 

For instance, there are 5 zoos in New York City; some of them better known than others. The five zoos are Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Bronx Zoo, and Staten Island Zoo. Each zoo has something slightly different to offer than the others and if you have a true animal lover in your family there really is no harm in stopping by all of them. Also if you purchase the New York Pass you will find that most of the zoos mentioned above offer free admission to card holder.

For the child who loves drama, New York City offers many theatrical productions that might suit him or her just fine. The first is geared towards girls and is American Girl Place. You can enjoy dining, shopping, and theatre while spending a day with your special little girl. This is a great bonding experience for mothers and daughters. The Manhattan Children's Theatre produces several high quality shows for children and families throughout the year at quite reasonable prices (season tickets are also available for those who live nearby). The New Victory Theater offers a different type of theater experience for families to enjoy. The Paper Bag Players are a must see experience. They offer a different type of theatre for children that encourages audience participation that gets your children involved in the dramatic process. If you have the time you should also check out TADA! Youth Theater in order to show your children that even children have talents that need to be explored and can make a difference not only in their own lives but also in the lives of others. 

In addition to the great activities mentioned above, there are several children's museums located in New York in addition to other museums that offer exhibitions that may be of interest to your children. The following museums are well worth checking out even if you decide to seek entertainment elsewhere: Brooklyn Children's Museum, Staten Island Children's Museum, Children's Museum of Manhattan, FDNY Fire Zone, Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, New York Hall of Science, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, Queens Country Farm Museum, and Ripley's Believe it or Not! Times Square. There are many more museums in the city that may provide plenty of family entertainment and education but these are some of the most kid-friendly museums in the city.

Shopping is a fun and often educational process that often gets overlooked or even ignored when it comes to children. However, it would be remiss to mention great family things to do in New York without mentioning some of the wonderful children's retailers that abound in this city. Books of Wonder is aptly named as it brings back those books that held such wonder for us as children and gives us the chance to share those books with our children. They have old and rare books as well as many excellent current book selections. New York is also home to the largest Build-A-Bear store in the world, which will make the bear lover in your family's eyes light up with glee. There's FAO Schwarz, which is a toy store unto itself and almost worth the price of the trip to NYC alone. Old and young kids alike will enjoy spending an afternoon here. Toys R Us Times Square is offering up a Dinosaur portion of competition however by brining in great attraction to get families in the door and buying toys. Be sure that you let your little ones ride the Ferris wheel and that you get a copy of the photograph as a keepsake.

New York City is gaining a reputation for a much softer far more family oriented side. Don't let the past reputation of this city prevent you from making this the family vacation destination it could be ideally suited to be.