Travel Tips for Italy

1. Do not take an electrical converter on your trip. Instead, most hotels have the appropriate type of converter for your needs. Check at the hotel desk to use their converter. I bought a converter at Office Depot. Inside was a converter for every imaginable country. One was specific for Europe and Italy. When I got to Italy, I needed to recharge my camera batteries. Using the converter I brought from the USA, I plugged it in, and then added my recharger. A few seconds later, I heard a loud pop and could smell something burning. The converter did not work. When I got to our new hotel, I asked the front desk if they had a converter. Yes, they did. They said, I had to put it on 50w? or else everything would explode. Ah, too late I thought.
2. Exchanging money. The easiest way to always have the correct change is to carry a credit card or a debit card. You cc bank will give you the best rate for exchanging money. You can always get cash at the local atms in a foreign country. These rates are much better than the fees and commission you would pay if you bought American Express Travelers checks or if you go to your bank to try and purchase foreign currency.
3. When visiting the Chianti region of Italy. Do not worry about drinking Chianti Classico. Drink instead the local wines of each of the villages. They are all delicious and a much better price.
4. Although the famous places of Siena, Florence, Rome seem mandatory. Try to visit some out of the way places. The tourist crowds are so overwhelming in the major destinations that you can be overcome by the crowds. But all of Italy is so historical that visits to out of the way places can be just or perhaps more enjoyable.