What do we need to plan well for our son's trip to Italy?

Question

My mom is taking our 14 year old son and his two cousins to Italy for a two week trip. They will travel from Rome to Capri and FLorence, Pisa, Milan, and Venice, and Sorrento (for Pompeii.) The schedule, including sights, hotels and restaurants are set, so I can't pass on any "must see" tips.

However, 'must brings' 'must do before hand' 'must know' 'must get this innoculation' 'must not consume this type of food/wine/ would we really helpful.

I'd like to help him pack well enough, so my son has little to carry, but enough to wear to a nice rest/cathedral and for walking/touring.

Thanks so much for any information you have to share!

Answer 1

1.  Good shoes for walking.  I am sure you heard this before, but it is so very important.  I wore slight heals one day and was crazy.  Beyond all the walking managing the cobblestones and bricks will make you nuts!

2.  Avoid anything linen!  

3.  Tyleno!!!!!!!  I cannot emphasize this enough!  My husband doesn't take pills generally, but we both took two every morning before breakfast.  First, unless you are very physically active you will walk, climb and descend more than you probably ever have in your life.  Second, the beds were pretty firm.  Definitely not the pillow top I am used to.  Also any other over the counter medicine that you keep on hand.  The otc meds do not have instructions in English.  It is difficult to understand dosage information considering the language barrier and the metric system!

4.  Small packs of Kleenex.  As soon as you belive that all the bathrooms in Italy do have toilet paper you realize they don't.  Do not leave the hotel without them!

5.  Don't forget a plug converter.  I don't know what they are really called, but I bought mine at radio shack.  I am from the US and the plugs are very different.  Which brings me to #6.

6.  DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FORGET AN IRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  After three days a maid in Florence told us that irons in Italian hotels were illegal.  Is this true?  I am not really sure.  But I stayed in hotels in Venice, Florence and Rome.  No irons.  I did find a supermarket and bought one for 40 Euro.  I must admit this is the best iron I have ever used, unfortunately I can't use it in the US.

7.  Of course my fiancee was in the hospital in Florence, so I have experience with this.  If this happens make sure you have very low expectations.  We have dubbed it "Ospidale de Rwanda."  Make sure that you have insurance information.  They would have done everything if I had been more prepared for his stay.  They asked me for a 1500 Euro deposit for his stay.  I simply said I didn't have that since I knew my insurance would cover it, but it was difficult.

8.  I didn't take any innoculation prior to and was fine.  My fiancee had a prior condition that was made worse by dehydration from the flight.  

9.  Eat and drink everything!  I found that at the restaurants off the beaten path were full of fresh ingredients.  Including the wine!  When I ate in piazzas and more touristy areas the food was not as good, although not dangerous.  Again, I am not sure if this is a law, but it many of the restaurants we went to if food was frozen it was clearly labeled on the menu.  We asked and were told yes it is the law that frozen foods are labeled, but with my terrible Italian who knows if this is really true.  Stay away from these foods, they are not dangerous, but not nearly as good.  

10.  The rules about dressing you read online are pretty much false.  I did not have enough casual clothes, and felt very overdressed most of the time.  I know this sounds pretty low class, but I ended up doing laundry to wash the two pair of jeans I had.  The only time one needs to be "dressed" is if you are going to a really, really nice restaurant.  Generally, jeans are fine during the day and at most restaurants.  At the majority of the churches they do require you are in pants and sleeves.  Again, jeans and a shirt work fine here.  I didn't see any dress codes at any of the restaurants we went to, but we didn't eat anywhere where is cost more than 100 Euro for both of us including lots of wine!  

Considering how many cities your son will be visiting remind him that people will not see him in the same clothes.  One or two more formal outfits will be plenty.  He will only wear them out to dinner after he has been trekking around Italy all day.  I am not a 14 year old boy, so I would wear a pair of jeans for 2 days.  Also consider the travelling time.  If the trip is two weeks, they probably will actaully be in Italy for 12 days.  6 pair of jeans or pants, 12 casual shirts, and 3 dressy outfits, plus the other "stuff" would be fine for me.  The flight is very long, so comfy clothes are a must!

Answer 2

First off, June can be a bit of a hot time to be in parts of Italy, so shorts are suggested as are short sleeve shirts.  At hat is a must, as would be sun screen.  If he likes to dress formal-casual you might want to find a more formal hat other than a baseball cap (but if nothing else at least the bb cap).  And shoes that have good support and are comfy is a must, there is a lot of walking on tours, good sports socks are suggested too.  It is really just easier to buy Europa phone cards than trying to rent a cell, much cheaper in the end.  As for money, yes, there are ATMs, however many banks charge a fee for use of an ATM that is not supported by that bank as well as a currency conversion fee.  Obviously it is not so much of an issue of what to see if he is traveling with a tour group.  I do suggest however for sake of memories that if he is using a film camera to take plenty with him.  (for fun I suggest that you let him try some black and white film).  If it is a digital camera, then have some way that he can unload and store pictures to off of his camera so that there is always room for more.  As for shots, just be sure that he has all basic shots up to date (should only need what the school requires).  There is no fear of food of there, and most water at restaurants is bottled.  Drink plenty of water.  (oh suggestion some restrooms cost, so always have a little change in pocket.)  Don't carry a wallet on the out side, have a waist pocket or traveler's pouch (not a f***y pack), I have never had a problem yet, but I will say, it is better safe than sorry.

Answer 3

rubber shoes (flip flops) for the showers, even in nice hotels

small compact umbrella - easier to use and get dry than a rain coat.

small day-pack - for hat, sunscreen, water bottle

camera and cards etc.

When I was there last I was approached by many folk (mainly American) to ask if they sold batteries/film/etc in Italy!  Yes they do.

It is mainly a cash economy so you should make inquiries at your bank about accessing cash in the places they are going.  i.e. very few places accept credit cards and the ones that do charge at least a 1% fee to do so.

Tell him to listen and look, take heaps of photos and read up about the places he'll be going before he goes.  You wouldn't believe the daft questions that people ask...like why did they build the bell tower at Pisa on a lean?  

tell him to have fun!!

Answer 4

http://wikitravel.org/en/Italy

Answer 5

You didn't say how your mom, son, nephews are traveling to all those places.  Are they taking the train?  If they are, I have to tell you that, unless they are on a Eurostar, there is a good chance their trains will be late, and if they have less than 30 minutes between connections, there is a good chance they will miss their connections.  It's better to know this up front.  There will be no apologies, and since reservations are required on many/most European trains, they will be required to buy new seat reservations.  It's extremely exasperating. But, perhaps they are going by coach....

ATMS are pretty much everywhere.  The bank will charge a fee each time you withdraw, so you'll be tempted to take out a higher amount, but then of course you don't want to have too much cash on you either.  

The Italians don't learn English as well as other Europeans.  *Any* Italian your son knows will help.

Also you didn't say when they are going.  July, and especially August, are very hot, so he should pack accordingly.  Despite the heat, air conditioning is not as common as in the US.  Also, if he is there in August, it's possible that a lot of shops, etc. could be closed because pretty much all of Italy goes on vacation at the seaside for all of August.

As for what to wear, he shouldn't try to wear his baseball cap inside anywhere, especially a church.  He's probably too young to understand this, but the Italians will think he's a cretin if he walks around in a basketball jersey, shorts, white sneakers and baseball cap--especially in one of their churches or museums.  This attire will also make him stand out as a tourist and could make him a bigger target for pickpockets as well.  

Find some light-weight, light-colored, somewhat dressy pants and shirts for him to wear and he should be fine. I don't know what shoes Italian kids are wearing, but the French are wearing the Converse Allstars.