Can somebody add new suggestions to this article before I move it to the main website ?


A Cheap Italian Vacation

If you’re planning on visiting Italy this year but are on a budget, there is absolutely no reason for to sacrifice your level of enjoyment while on vacation. Italy does not have to be an expensive trip, it is totally possible to have the trip of a lifetime without spending a great deal of money. However the key is to plan ahead, which shouldn’t be too difficult or stressful. You don't have to have your vacation itinerary down to the minute, but having a plan and doing your homework will pay off with a problem-free trip. Just arriving in Italy with no idea where you’re going to stay, eat or go for entertainment isn’t very wise, even if you’re not on a budget, which is why you need detailed information prior to making any commitments.


Getting There

The best time to visit Italy and keep to your budget is the off season, which runs from November to April. Italy in the spring since is not too hot or too over-crowded with the summer tourists. The crowds start leaving around October and so Italy in autumn is also very enjoyable, with the South still warm enough to hit the beach.

Airfare deals can be found even in peak season, but once again traveling when other are not will save you more money. Start researching prices for airline tickets early on in your trip planning and cast a wide net. Generally speaking, the Internet is your best bet to find a cheap flight, but make sure you go beyond the official airline websites to the discount sites like Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, and Priceline. To maximize your fare search, Kayak.com compiles fares from both travel websites and the airlines themselves.

These sites were designed to help you find plane tickets, hotel accommodations and car rentals at prices that may be as much as half off what you’d pay if you purchased them directly. If you purchase a plane ticket and make hotel accommodations simultaneously, you can often get an even better deal than when purchasing airfare alone.


Where to Stay

When on a budget in Italy, some of the best types of places are hostels, pensione, and bed and breakfasts. Bed and breakfasts in Italy can be quite comfortable, with of course the added bonus of having your meals included in the cost. Some bed and breakfasts only provide breakfast as part of the package, but you may be lucky enough to find one that includes all three meals, which could really save you a bundle.

Hostels (ostello) in Italy range from modern dorm style institutions to beautiful Renaissance Villas with frescoes and gardens. Hostels always offer some sort of breakfast and the nicer ones offer fabulous Italian dinners family-style on the cheap. They are often the cheapest way to stay, however privacy in some hostels is non-existent and a few hostels still have a curfew. Of course a little research before traveling will make your lodging decision pretty easy.

Couples on a budget may find a pensione a better option than a hostel. Pensione are small family run hotels that offer more privacy than a hostel at a very affordable price. Pensione are all different, some are run more like a bed and breakfast, while other offer nothing more than a private room. Some pensione in large cities like Rome and Naples offer discounts at local restaurants and stores in lieu of serving food themselves.

Off-season travel will often make small apartment affordable once the summer crowds leave. Apartments, hostels and even some bed & breakfasts provides a kitchen that can be used by guests. Providing another way for you to save money, since you can cook your own meals!


Dining in Italy

Even if you do decide to stay where can prepare your own meals, who wants to visit Italy without dining out? Luckily there are some delicious restaurants available that will allow you to enjoy the food without going over your budget. When dining, stick to the smaller, family-run establishments with names like trattoria, osteria, enoteca (wine bar) and avoid the ristorante. Also when ordering it is both fun and budget-friendly to order an assortment of antipasti to share and then stick to the primi piatti (first course) menus. Don't forget to eat all the free, fresh Italian bread you can eat.

It is hard to find a bad Pizzeria in Italy and it is one of the tastiest and most-affordable ways to eat while traveling. Whether you decide to sit down for a classic Pizza Margherita, or some Pizza al Taglio while seeing the sights, both your stomach and wallet will remain full. Another cheap eats option are the cafeteria-like restaurants, popular with the Italian lunch crowd that offer all sorts of favorites, sold by weight.

Some things that you should remember when dining in Italy: Most restaurants add a cover charge in addition to the cost of the meal, about 1-2 euros per person. Also, a delicious Italian coffee can cost more than double if you decide to sit rather than stand at the bar.


Fun and entertainment

If you’re traveling with your significant other, Italy can be the perfect place to spark some romance in your relationship. Just the sheer atmosphere of the wonderful cities in Italy is enough to bring romance to any couple, but with some effort, you could really ignite the flames. On the other hand, if you’re going to be traveling with someone other than a significant other, there are plenty of fun yet economical activities in Italy to keep you thoroughly entertained. There are numerous tours that you can sign up for, site-seeing, wine-tasting at Vina Roma in Rome, or shopping at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. Whatever interests you have, there’s sure to be something to keep you entertained without causing you to overspend. In fact, one of the most enjoyable things to do while in Italy is to join in on some of the local activities, such as the evening stroll known as La Passeggiata, which wont cost you a cent.


Getting Around Town

One of the main types of transportation in Italy is the extensive train and bus systems. You can use these systems to get to just about any destination you desire, and the more you use it, the more discounts you’ll receive for future fares. Both the train and bus system have weekly and monthly passes and combination passes that allow you to save even more.

Of course there is the option of renting a car while in Italy, but this isn’t the most cost-effective choice for those adhering to a budget. Traveling by bus or train may seem somewhat less convenient than driving a car, but if you take into consideration that you won’t have to deal with driving in an unfamiliar country on unfamiliar roads, this should help you to realize that using public transportation isn’t such a bad option. Considering the traffic in some Italian cities, walking or bicycling may be a better option anyway. All the major train stations in Italy have a bike rental shop nearby, which will allow you to cover much more ground in less time, for much less money than a car. Besides, train and bus travel is a great way to actually meet Italians, you didn't just come for the scenery did you?

With careful and strategic planning, you can travel to Italy and make it the best trip you’ve ever had in your entire life without going absolutely broke. Some of the best experiences traveling through Italy are already free: sunsets, evening strolls, exploring village markets, quiet churches and festive celebrations. For the smart and savvy traveler, Italy is affordable at any budget.

Does this help to make it easier to read? Io credo di si.

Other than that e molto buono e informativo.
Got a lot of ideas for my trip to Italy fra poco. June 16th 2009.

I would add something like this:

Avoiding touristic places is always a wise idea if you plan to eat spending little money. Prices can be doubled in Italy depending on the area you're visiting, in the most famous places restaurants and bars have high prices as they're aimed especially to tourists.
In Piazza di Spagna you can find bottles of water at 2€, just a few streets away you will pay it half the price. Spend your money in shops which customers are mainly Italian, you will save money and you will also see more of the authentic Italy, not the pre-fabricated one aimed at tourists.


I know I wrote it very bad, but that is the idea, if someone corrects the language it'd be better
I'm writing very bad in English last days, as I'm done with English exams and I'm focusing intensely on Swedish and Spanish languages

If something else comes to my mind I'll add it.

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oh, what a great thread !!
your post, zidanie reminds me of the condition here in egypt
if u go just a little away from the touristic areas, u will find half the price or even less
thx guys for your great effort

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What is a friendship? A soul dwelling in two bodies