Shopping

Shopping in Italy can be a real treat. With a few exceptions, most shops open early, between 7:30 and 8:30am and will close for lunch around 1pm. During this time the shops and groceries will close and the streets will become deserted as the local inhabitants go home for lunch. If you are planning a picnic lunch for the park or for a train journey make your purchase prior to 1pm. Meats, cheeses, and salads can be sliced to order much as they are here. But, be aware that prices are generally per 100 grams and everything is sold by weight with the exception of bread. The grocer will be also happy to slice your bread or rolls for you if he knows you are making sandwiches.

 

**Tip: Pack a few packs of mustard, mayo, ketchup, salt and pepper the type supplied by a your local fast food chain. You will find that this will be much more practical than buying jars of each. Also throw in a few plastic forks, spoons and one sharp paring knife. Place all in a zip lock bag and you will be prepared for a picnic at a moments notice.

 

The shops will re-open around 4pm, closing between 7:30 and 8:30pm

 

Restaurants

Menus for most restaurants are conveniently posted outside the entrance. Study the menu and the charges carefully before you decide, then a quick peek inside the door to determine if the restaurant has the right ambiance for you. Unless a Turista Menu is featured all is a la carte. The Turista Menus can be a good value if what is featured appeals to you and you are hungry enough for several courses. Substitutions are rarely permitted so don't bother to ask. Also pay close attention to what is written at the bottom of the menu. Coperto or cover charge is the fee the restaurant charges for the place setting. Servizio or service charge is more like what we call a tip. Both charges are standard in Italy and will be seen on almost all menus. An additional tip left by you is not required, only If you were really pleased with the waiter. You will often find displays of food at the entrance, if you don't understand the menu you can always point to what you would like. Italians eat less sauce on their spaghetti than Americans do, if you would like more sauce, just ask. 

 

Hotels & Pensiones

Half of the pleasure of travel comes from discovering the differences between "them" and "us". However, some differences can be quite a surprise. Many well established hotels are located in buildings that are really quite old, sometimes 200-800 years old! So with that in mind, remember that elevators may or may not be present and when they are, may not move with the speed and precision that we are used to.  As few hotels were actually built as hotels, try to envision the original buildings use, it most likely was a large home or an in-town palace, with this in mind the winding hallways and unusual room layouts will add an extra dimension to your stay. The desk clerk or Concierge can be your best friend, he can advise you where to catch the closest bus, point you in the right direction for a pleasant walk, give you a free map of the city, or make restaurant recommendations. Always, pick up a business card or brochure of your hotel. Many print a mini-map with their location on the back, this can be a Godsend when you return after dark and all of the streets look alike. Finally, examine your bill carefully upon check-out. Many pensions charge by the room but some will charge per person. Always have the clerk write the price for two before you check-in and save the paper for check-out.