This Is Italy
Many lovers of Italy travel to their beloved country several times, as we discovered during previous research on this website. We would all prefer to do that, but yes, it is no longer cheap to travel to il belpaese. Or are there perhaps some good tips to save and add some extra days to our favorite one? sweet life to add?
1. After the autumn holidays and before the Christmas holidays
The cheapest travel period is after the autumn holidays and before the Christmas holidays. Roughly from the end of October to mid-December. If you have the opportunity to travel during this period, you can save a lot of money.
The most expensive holiday period is the summer holidays and construction holidays, in July and August. You want to avoid that period if you want to get away as cheaply as possible.
2. Find alternatives to popular destinations
Yes, Lake Como is expensive. Yes, Tuscany is expensive. Yes, the Riviera of Flowers is expensive. And especially if you want to be in the most expensive spots in those regions or areas. But that is not always necessary. If you want to save money, it's best to stay a few kilometers from that cute Tuscan village or that apartment right on the lake, especially if you have your own transport.
It is also worth looking at less touristy destinations in Italy. If you stay in a non-tourist area out of season, you can easily save €200 per night on your accommodation. Just calculate what you can do for that!
Need inspiration for alternative destinations? Look here.
3. Go by car or camper instead of by plane
If you travel by car, it costs you fuel, vignettes and tolls and - also - some maintenance and tires. But usually you travel in a group and if you divide the costs among, for example, 4 people, the cost per person is not too bad compared to airline tickets.
Moreover, Italy does not have to be far away. Only about 1.000 kilometers away you can reach Lake Como, which you can easily drive to in a day.
A big advantage of going with your own car is that you can take all the things you think you need and that you no longer have to rent a car separately. Having a car locally is a must for most Italian destinations.
Traveling with a camper also has a major advantage: you have your own accommodation with you and in many places in Italy you will find camper pitches, where you can even spend the night for free with limited facilities. We wrote down all the tips recently in this article.
4. Save on more costs before your holiday
And there is more to save. Whether you travel with your own transport or not, check the status of matters such as insurance and mobility guarantees.
If your car is being maintained by the brand dealer, you automatically have a mobility guarantee. This means that you can get help through the call center of the car brand you drive. If you also have a Roadside Assistance membership with European coverage, you may pay double. Make sure you check the terms and conditions in advance mobility guarantee are. For example, some brands only slow down, while the ANWB or its sister companies in Europe always try to get you back on the road. Also keep in mind that as a Roadside Assistance member you will always be helped, even in another car, while a mobility service is registered.
Another cost item is insurance, both car insurance and car insurance Travel Insurance. Regularly compare both insurance policies to see whether you are not paying too much. It often happens that people have included 'world cover' in their travel insurance, even though they are only going to Italy or other European countries. You also regularly see cover for 'winter sports' or 'extreme sports', while you may not do this at all. Check extra carefully for double coverage.
Car insurance can be cheaper if you reduce the coverage to WA Limited Casco instead of all-risk insurance. The latter requires a lot of premium, which in many cases you will lose. With Limited Casco, window damage is in any case included and that is one of the most common damages you will have. That is usually worth the (usually) few euros difference per month with WA alone. But make your own personal assessment based on a good comparison.
5. Still flying? Then book well in advance
According to research by Skyscanner, the flight price comparator, the best time to book flights from the Netherlands is on average 24 weeks before departure. This mainly applies to flights in the high season. And the cheapest day of the week to travel is a Saturday.
It will come as no surprise that the costs are highly dependent on the destination and travel time. Do you want to go to Italy, but the destination or month doesn't matter that much? Then try playing with the data.
According to Cheaptickets.be, Friday and Monday are the cheapest days to book a trip within Europe. Cheaptickets.be also states that within Europe and in the low season you should book an average of 2 months in advance for the best price.
Also take into account the early booking discounts, which you get in January and February (and sometimes also in December and March). After that, the prices of both tickets and accommodations usually only increase. Yes, you can also wait until the last minutes to save money, but then your options are also more limited.
Don't choose the large airports as standard, but see if you can fly to your Italian destination from a smaller airport. That is a lot quieter and you often save on flying and parking costs.
Also don't forget to book in a private or incognito window of your browser, otherwise the prices will almost certainly go up after a few returns to the booking site!
6. Save on your accommodation
Location and period already make a big difference, but you can save even more if you don't make so many demands on your accommodation. Some holidaymakers like to stay in a hostel (the former youth hostel) for the excitement.
Don't be put off by that old-fashioned word (that's probably why they changed it), both young and old will find a place here. You do not always have to stay in a dormitory with 10 people. Sometimes you just have your own bedroom for yourself and your company.
You can easily orientate yourself on hostels in Italy via hostelworld.com.
7. Know what you pay and where
You can save a lot of costs by knowing where to go and what to do. Gasoline is – just like at home – expensive along the highways. Eating out is expensive in touristy places. If you have to buy medicine in Italy (even just paracetamol), it is always expensive.
Bring what you need from home, if you can get it cheaply at home. Cooking your own food in your accommodation can also be very enjoyable. Buying food in the supermarket or at the market in Italy is not expensive.
If you go out to eat, don't go directly to the square where all those tourists are, but walk into a back street where the locals are eating. More fun and cheaper!
In addition, take advantage of discounts by purchasing tickets online in advance (always check the website of the attraction itself) and by not being tempted to make purchases that you do not need. If you can't resist on the spot, negotiate!
In Summary
You will notice: you can save money in many areas, but that does require some planning. How do you make your holidays cheaper so that you can enjoy Italy even more often? We would love to hear from you in a comment.
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