travelitaly

5 Tips on Traveling Solo in Italy

By Ishita Sood

We continue our 5 Tips for Travel series with Indian Travel Blogger Ishita Sood. After years of following her passion and traveling Italy alone, today we are honored to feature her 5 Tip on making the most out of your Italian travel solo! 

"Italy is full of wonderful people who go an extra step to help you, so it is important to respect their traditions and culture too."

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

Traveling alone in Italy has its fun and frustrating moments, which is why it is important to know small points that can help save time and make travel enjoyable. Italy is full of wonderful people who go an extra step to help you, so it is important to respect their traditions and culture too. I have five simple tips to travel solo in Italy. So sit back and relax while you read all these points that make Italy a preferred choice of destination and also help ease you out during your Italian travels: 

1. Personal Safety is First

Nothing is more important than that, whether in Italy or anywhere else. I would recommend keeping an eye on your baggage at crowded places in the bigger towns which are prone to petty theft. Keep a copy of your passport in the hotel room just in case something happensAgain, this is not to scare you off, but just to caution you. Always exude confidence when in Italy by the way you walk or talk and try not to let small frustrations get to you. I have faced that countless times in my travels and I’d love to help anyone to know about travel in Italy.

2. Choose the Right Accommodation

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

Italy has plenty of stay options to choose from. If you are on a budget choose a hostel or an apartment at Airbnb. You can also stay in a convent or a monastery by choosing MonasteryStays.com. Here you have comfortable beds with private bathrooms at a reasonable price and most of them are in the centre of the town. For example, since Venice is expensive to stay, pick a monastery instead of a hotel and save money to get that gondola rideSimilarly, if you are visiting the Italian countryside, choose an agriturismo, which are refurbished old country homes renovated to give you a local experience. 

3. Practice Some Italian Before You Go 

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

It is really a blessing if you know some Italian words that could go a long way in your travels. Simple words such as “dove,” which means where, “salve,” which is a formal hello, or “grazie,” which means thank you, can put a smile on a stranger’s face. Don’t go saying "ciao" to anyone and everyone you meet, because that is an Informal way of greeting, such as for a friend. Basic food vocabulary or a small dictionary is an asset to those who travel to Italy. 

4. Blend with the Crowd 

 One of the best ways to get a feel of the Italian culture is to live like they do. For a truly authentic experience make sure you visit the local eating places- the “Osteria” and the “Trattoria. These are smaller versions of a restaurant with fresh produce and are usually family run. Additionally, in the evening the Italians go for an aperitivo at the bar. An aperitivo includes a drink with some light snacks and is the perfect time to mingle and make new friends. Don’t be shy in taking the first step. Whenever I am in Italy I usually have an aperitivo and observe the locals to catch a few Italian words for my Italian vocabulary. I also sometimes talk to the barista if the bar is not too crowded. Italians are so friendly and always make you feel comfortable.  

5. Respect the Culture and Be Flexible 

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

COURTESY OF ISHITA SOOD

 Respecting the culture of the country you are traveling is of prime importance. In Italy it is essential that you cover yourself when you visit a church. I usually carry a scarf with me all the time and wear half/full sleeves. Please avoid mini skirts and hot pants when you are in the churchAnother important aspect of the culture is to dress well when in Italy. By that I don’t mean put on flashy makeup and accessories. But probably carry a nice cross body bag, wear comfortable shoes and a simple dressItalians take their dressing very seriously and it is always more fun to be looked at in a nice way than be stared at. Italian region take pride in their products so don’t order a wrong food/wine in the wrong region. For instance, Chianti is in Tuscany and if I am in Lecce, Puglia, I’d ask for their local wine and not Chianti. Rome is famous for Cacio e pepe so eat that in Rome rather than in Sicily.  


Traveling Italy solo can be a rewarding and fun experience, especially by keeping in mind these great tips by Ishita! What tips can you add to this list?

For more stories on Italy be sure to follow Ishita Sood at www.ishitasood.com!

If you need some assistance with your solo trip contact us today! 

 


Meet Ishita

Ishita is an Indian blogger who is very passionate about Italy and feels deeply connected to its language, culture, food and history. She writes about her travels on her blog Italophilia (www.ishitasood.com) and visits Italy every year. She can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as @Italophilia and can be reached at ishitatravel@gmail.com.

Traveling to the Fullest with Jennifer from Sidewalk Safari

Interview and Written by Francesca Panzariello 

Making the most out of every opportunity is an essential quality to have for travelers. It’s a skill that travel blogger, Jennifer (aka Dr. J), has perfected throughout her many worldly adventures. Through her blog, Sidewalk Safari, she helps encourage readers to take advantage of any opportunity or free moment to explore the world – even if it’s the world right outside their doorstep. 

Jennifer caught the travel bug after finishing graduate school, but she sure has made up for lost time. After realizing her life goal was to live abroad, Jennifer set her mind to it, devised a plan, and made it happen. Without ever traveling to Ireland before, Jennifer and her husband were off to Dublin on a year-long assignment working for a popular tech company. 

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer (Sidewalk Safari) 

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer (Sidewalk Safari) 

Thinking they were only living in Dublin for a year, Jennifer wanted to make the most of their precious time abroad. The couple took 23 overnight trips during that first year alone. Whether it was extending business trips or checking off places from their personal list, they were exploring in any way possible. Fast forward six years, Jennifer and her husband are still living in Dublin as if they only have a year abroad, still traveling to the fullest. Exploring places like India for work, jetting off to South Africa on vacation, or just coming across quirky places around Dublin. It almost seems as if they’ve been just about everywhere you’d ever want to go. 

“Turn everyday into a vacation day – even if you’re traveling for work. So many people traveling for business only see their hotel, office, and the airport. If you’re in a new place, there’s always something interesting to see or do”

Originally, Sidewalk Safari was created as a way for Jennifer to look back on her travel memories. Since then the blog has evolved into much more. It has evolved into a model to show people that it is possible combine business with leisure travel. Sidewalk Safari inspires people to make the best of those business travel opportunities. As Jennifer puts it, “Vacation is a state of mind.”  So why not turn your next business trip into a time to explore? 

It doesn’t have to be a big undertaking, start small. Have to travel for a meeting Monday morning? Leave Sunday and explore the city instead. Wake up an hour early Monday, grab a coffee and blend in with the locals. Above all, Jennifer offers this advice: WALK, WALK, WALK! She believes the best way to experience and really see a place is on foot. On your next trip, if it’s walkable, forget public transportation and hit the sidewalk. 

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer (Sidewalk Safari) 

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer (Sidewalk Safari) 

Everyone knows traveling can sometimes be overwhelming. Jennifer has the answers to all your travel stresses. Known for her organizational prowess, Jennifer brings those valuable life skills into planning her next trip with her husband. Planning a trip is like planning a project. Break things down into easy to manage pieces.

Keep a checklist, write everything out, and create reminders for yourself. It’s these simple and easy changes that can make all the difference when planning your next trip. As a result, Jennifer is able to live a balanced life, juggling a full time job, traveling and maintaining Sidewalk Safari successfully. 

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer (Sidewalk Safari) 

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer (Sidewalk Safari) 

“You only live once, make the most of the time you have and do the things you love. Travel is a big part of what makes me happy.”

Jennifer inspires us here at Travel Italian Style because she proves that anything is possible when it comes to travel. Very often as women we feel there is a lack of time for ourselves due to family and work obligations. We have trouble finding that balance-- Sidewalk Safari proves the contrary.

While balancing a married life and full-time job, Jennifer has still taken over 80 trips around the globe during the past four years. She proves that staying organized is the key to a balanced and fulfilling life!

 To read more about Jennifer, her travels (especially this post we love during her recent visit to Sicily) and to learn more tips for taking that dream trip, follow along on the Sidewalk Safari blog or on Twitter.

You may also want to check out  Vacation Counts which is written by her husband Scott who blogs about how to keep a healthy work-life balance.

What tips do you use to stay organized to promote a healthy travel-work balance? What advice can Jennifer or the TIS team share with you to help you get on the next plane to Italia?


Meet Francesca

Francesca is an Assistant Travel and Media Coordinator for Travel Italian Style. As an International Relations guru, she brought her studies to After studying in Perugia, Italy this past spring. Here, Francesca developed a better appreciation of the Italian way of life (especially the food). Through her passion for travel, she wants to help others get inspired to start their own adventure.

Francesca joined Travel Italian Style to be part of a company that gives people the chance to experience an authentic Italian lifestyle and to spread the travel bug. 

 

Photo Tour of Bologna, Italy

By Giorgio Nardini

Bologna

A little history for you: largest city and capital of Emilia-Romagna, the 1-million population town has been a melting pot of cultures since the Etruscans and Celts and is home to the oldest university in the world that dates back to 1088.

Bologna is a lively and very livable city. You can easily move around by walking or by bike. I visited Bologna last year for just one day. I hopped on a train from Rome in the morning and got back in the evening; a tiring adventure, but well worth it!

If you ask any Italian what's the first thing that comes to mind when you say "Bologna", they will say "Tortellini".

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

These rings stuffed with meat and sometimes cheese, are usually served in a broth of beef or chicken. I personally prefer them dry like the ones in the picture.

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

Other than tortellini, a must-eat local food is mortadella. It’s a sort of huge sausage made of pork (and pork fat, the white circles you see in the picture here) and spiced up with black pepper and pistachios. It’s a classic in every Italian region though: a “panino” with mortadella was my daily lunch during university because it’s cheap and delicious. In Bologna, it’s accompanied with tigelle. See those round slice of breads? Those are tigelle, usually served warm. And yes, everything else is good on a tigella: cheese, salami or ham.

Aside from the DELICIOUS food, there are also some great cultural attractions in Bologna.

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

Portici are these elegant archways that line a large part of the city's streets. There are more than 23 miles of portici in the old town only. If you count the outskirt's portici, it's 36 miles!

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

Between the XII and XIII century, the total number of towers reached 100. Nowadays only 24 survived.  Two towers of Bologna are ones of the landmarks of the city: the tallest one is called Torre degli Asinelli, while the shorter one is the Garisenda.

As when one sees the tower called Garisenda from underneath its leaning side, and then a cloud passes over and it seems to lean the more, thus did Antaeus seem to my fixed gaze as I watched him bend…”

-Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy, Inferno, XXXI, 136-140

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

PHOTO BY GIORGIO

Surrounded by historic and administrative buildings, Piazza Maggiore is the main square of Bologna. This majestic Medieval wonder dates back to 1200s and it was one of the first piazza built after the Roman Empire’s downfall. It is spectacular at night.

Bologna is a destination you don't want to miss out on.

Want to visit some other awesome places in Italy? Check out some of Travel Italian Style's tours!


Giorgio Velardita Nardiniand was born and raised outside Rome! He is joining the TIS team as International Public Relations and Branding Advisor. As a passionate amateur photographer, traveling is the thing he loves the most  can’t live a day without thinking about his next destination. When not researching for TIS, Giorgio shares his photos and advice on his very own blog wanderlustdaily.com/en which is written in both in Italian and in English. His goal is to inspire people to travel more. While he loves Italy his dream is to live somewhere in the USA (every since his first visit in 2009 when he was 18 & fell in love with the American culture (and burgers). Oh yes: he is also a foodie. Say “pasta” and “pizza” and Giorgio is your friend.