A Glimpse of Italy with Travel Tips for Writers

By Debby Giusti

If you’re planning to research a foreign setting for your current work in progress or if you’re mulling over the idea of writing a story set outside the United States, an international trip might be in your foreseeable future. I’m not a travel expert or a tour guide, but my husband and I lived in Germany for three years and traveled through most of Europe, usually accompanied by our three young children. We’ve returned to Germany a number of times since then, and for the last nine years, we’ve taken a yearly trip outside the US. This year we returned to Italy.

Basilica of Saint Francis sits high on the hill in Assisi.

For me, packing is always a challenge. In the month prior to our tour, I checked the weather in Italy to get an idea of what to expect. The forecast was for temps in the mid-70s during the day with lows in the 50s at night, and we were blessed with sunshine and blue skies throughout our trip. Savvy travelers know to layer their clothing and to always be prepared for showers. We had water-proof jackets, umbrellas and ponchos but, thankfully, never used our rain gear. In fact, a light jacket and a sweater for the cool mornings were all we needed.

 

A lovely roadside grotto

I pack my things in extra-large zip-locked bags and squeeze out the air so they almost become vacuum sealed. That way the plastic bags can be shuffled around in my suitcase

without wrinkling my other clothing. One of my favorite travel gadgets is a hand-held suitcase scale. Most airlines have a 50 pound limit on checked luggage with steep charges for any overages. I always weigh my bag, and if over the limit, I switch heavier items, like shoes, to my carry-on bag.

 

Bell tower and church in Orvieto dates from the 1300s.

Medication should be packed in their original containers for easy identification and should be kept in carry-on luggage to ensure they remain with you in case your main suitcase goes missing. Larger toiletries can be packed in your shipped luggage, but liquids and gels carried on board the plane must be in no more than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) containers and placed together into one quart-size zip-locked plastic bag that TSA wants to see when you go through security. Knowing luggage can go missing, I always include an extra outfit and sleepwear in my carry-on bag as well as anything I might need for that first overnight stay. Laptops and tablets needed to be placed separately on the security conveyor belt, along with your shoes (don’t forget to wear socks so you don’t have to walk barefoot), jackets, sweaters and outerwear, belts, jewelry, watches and anything in your pockets. I take off my jewelry and watch and place them in my purse before arriving at security.

 

One of the many towns we passed as we traveled through Italy.

Our flight to Italy was more than eight hours long and over ten and a half hours on our return flight to the US. My husband and I get up often, drink lots of water and take an aspirin at the start of our trip to help prevent blood clots. Some folks wear knee-high compression socks to keep their legs from swelling. My physical therapist daughter encouraged us to “pump” our feet frequently to help circulation.

 

Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome. The photos hanging on the front facade
are of the five newly canonized saints.

Whether flying domestic or international, I carry Wet-Wipes and wipe down the seat belt, arm rests, tray table and television viewing screen. I take my own earbuds so I can enjoy the in-flight music and/or shows even before the flight attendant passes out the complimentary earphones. Eye masks, blankets and pillows are also provided on long flights.

A Vatican Swiss Guard. The guards stay at their post for
 two hour stretches. The youngest age to join the guard is 17.

International travelers must show their passports frequently in the airport. I have a pouch that hangs around my neck and is large enough for my passport. I wear that neck pouch while flying, and later transfer my passport to a money belt I wear around my waist. I also use a writer’s conference name badge to carry some cash and credit cards around my neck and keep a change purse in my pocket for coins and smaller bills. FYI, make a copy of the photo page of your passport and give one to someone remaining in the US, give another copy to a traveling companion and keep one in your suitcase in case your passport is stolen. We also keep copies of credit card international phone contact numbers. 

We were front row when Pope Francis passed by in his Pope Mobile.
He kissed lots of babies that morning!

ATMs are readily available in foreign countries, but a charge for each transaction is added to your withdrawal. Also be careful if using street ATM machines. Those located inside banks are a safer option. The airports have exchange kiosks and most hotels can exchange money, although the rate of exchange is usually not as good as banks provide. I always order foreign currency from my local bank in the US (for a $5 charge) so I don’t have to worry about exchanging money during my travels. Most foreign vendors accept US credit cards for purchases.

 

The Pantheon

When living in Germany, we always traveled on our own. I was the trip planner and navigator—and often the translator—and my husband was the driver.  These days, we enjoy going on tours with a group from church. The in-country tour guides provide an abundance of information and are willing to answer additional questions via email long after our tour ends. They also know how to skirt the crowds and get us to our destinations without hassle or frustration. Bell stewards transport the checked luggage to and from the bus, and most times, our rooms are ready upon arrival. Breakfast is included each morning at the hotel. Usually lunch is on-your-own with dinners being a mix of pre-paid and on-your-own. The tour guide offers dining suggestions and reservations if needed.

 

Trevi Fountain

I take notes in a small composition book when we travel, like the ones I give away at conferences, and then type the information into a computer file when I get home. Photos are a great way to remember where we’ve been, and snapshots of historical markers and informational signs provide added details as well. I also make note of the guide’s speech patterns and colloquial idioms that would add depth to any characters I might create from that particular location for a future story.

Castle of the Angels at night.

Hotel rooms are typically smaller in Italy. The lights are activated by slipping your key into a slot just inside your room near the door. When you leave your room and take your key, the lights automatically turn off, saving electricity. Adapters are needed to run electronic items with different countries having different plug configurations. You can find adapters at various big box stores or luggage shops. I’ve found a good selection at TJ Maxx. One of my adapters has two USB ports so my husband and I can charge our phones at the same time. (BTW, most tour buses have Wi-Fi and charging stations.) Some hotels have special US sockets in the bathroom marked for “shavers only.” I have a hair dryer that can convert from US to 220 volts/international and use that when I travel, although the Italian hotels all had hair dryers. I charge my iPad and iPhone with an adapter. Small point and shoot cameras use an adapter. If you take a laptop or have a high-tech camera, check with the manufacturer about international usage. A couple of our cheaper adapters didn’t work so I advise taking more than one…just in case.

 

Three beautiful paintings by Caravaggio, a favorite artist of mine, were
on display at the Contarelli Chapel in Rome. The painting on the left
is titled The Calling of Saint Matthew. Saint Matthew and the Angel
is on the right.

European hotels usually do not provide washcloths or facial tissues, like Kleenex. Warming racks dry the towels in the bathrooms and the pipes can get very hot.  Because heat is never turned on in Italy before November 1, the warming racks and room heaters weren’t activated on this trip, but we were always comfortable in our hotel rooms and even used the air conditioning on warmer days. A European trend is for showers to have only a partial glass “curtain.” Care needs to be taken to ensure the hand-held nozzles don’t spray water onto the floor. Toilets have a dual flush system, one button for “light” needs and a stronger flush for “heavier” needs. Finding the flusher can be a challenge. Look up, look down, look all around. Some have pull levers near the ceiling. Some are activated by a foot pedal.

 

A view from the Tiber River.

While sightseeing, keep 1 Euro coins handy as many bathrooms charge for use. If public facilities aren’t available, buying a bottle of water at a deli or gelato shop allows you to use the restroom. Some of the bathrooms in various tourist areas have unisex stalls with men and women sharing the same facilities. Carry tissue and hand sanitizers since not all restrooms are adequately stocked with toilet paper and hand soap.

Michelangelo's exquisite Pieta.

Before traveling out of the US, notify your credit card company and let them know your travel dates and destination. Check with your phone service about international plans. My AT&T provider offers a $10/day international package with free text and phone calls with charges accrued only on the days used. I took that plan, but ended up relying on “Whats App,” a free download that provides free phone calls, FaceTime and text, including sending photos, to anyone, anywhere in the world as long as they are in the system. My family members downloaded “Whats App” onto their phones, and we talked each day. I sent pictures via text and noted where we were and what we had seen, which provided a running commentary of our travels. The only restriction was that my phone had to be hooked into Wi-Fi before I could call or send texts.

 

The Dome of Saint Peter's is 508 feet above the floor of the church.
Michelangelo created the Dome when he was 87 years old.

I am so grateful to have been able to tour Italy. The people were warm and welcoming, and the countryside was beautiful and serene. If long-distance travel is on your bucket list, I hope the information I provided might be of help when you travel to Italy or any another foreign destination.

 

Arrivederci Roma!

Please add your own travel tips or ask any questions that I might not have covered. International travel is exciting and educational, especially for writers researching various foreign destinations. Leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for  my November Love Inspired Suspense, HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST.

Happy traveling!

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

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