Top tips to save money on your holiday to Italy

Steeped in history, culture and, for many, the very essence of European civilisation, Italy has long been a destination on anyone’s grand tour of Europe. Traditionally, though, many potential visitors may have been put off by the costs of accommodation, food and travelling around the many sights, sounds and places to visit.
Before judging for yourself the economics of a holiday to Italy, you might want to consider some of the following money saving tips and suggestions:

• of course there are some cities that are likely to prove such a huge draw that you may not want to miss them – cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice to name but three;
• they may be more than worth a visit, but that is no reason for having to stay right in the city centre to appreciate all that is on offer;
• you might want to consider staying out of town and making use of public transport to get to and from the sights of interest each day;
• indeed, you might find an Italian holiday every bit as satisfying and rewarding by staying entirely off the beaten track;
• a personal comment on the website Go Italy, for example, extols the virtues of visiting less frequented parts of the country;
• if that is your decision, then you are likely as not to be hiring a car to get about and do your exploring;
• remember in that case that the hire car business practically anywhere in Europe may be at the same time competitive but also confusing when it comes to sorting out exactly what is being charged;
• a case in point is the cost of car hire excess insurance in Italy – which your car rental company is almost certain to be pleased to offer you;
• in order to avoid the potentially high daily rate of such insurance from a car rental company, however, you might want to consider arranging it in advance through an independent insurance provider based in the UK – and probably pay considerably less for it;
• not only your hire car but practically everything else about your holiday – from accommodation, to food to excursions – is likely to cost more during the busy, crowded months of high summer;
• to avoid the crowds and save on the overall cost of your holiday, you might want to consider visiting in the spring or autumn;
• whatever time of year you are able to visit you are almost certain to want to sample the delights of Italian cuisine – of course, this might work out a very expensive habit if done on a daily basis, so you might want to consider following the locals in choosing the dish of the day at lunchtime.

Romance, beautiful countryside, stunning cities, more history than almost anywhere else in Europe – Italy seems to have it all. You do not need to be travelling on a budget to enjoy some of the simple savings that might make your holiday money stretch even further.