Italy Budget Travel Tips

Excellent guide, so helpful! I'd also add another tip for Italy - ATMs most times dont charge fees but some bank ATMs are known to charge fees nowadays also, I recently got charged 5 euros at a bank ATM- so its worth finding those without fees. Then I used the ATM Fee Saver mobile app - it gives a list of the fee-free or low fee ATMs in Italy along with withdrawal limits for foreign card holders. I've used it many times and saves up on sooo much unnecessary expenses. Of course, decline conversion at foreign ATMs

It sounds so beautiful! It’s not in my own budget lately but trying to save up. My husband has family there and I’ll be happy if he decides to go. I could technically but we have cats here and I can’t imagine spending more than a week without working 😊

Great video. Found all these helpful. I wasn't on a tight budget but didn't want to be ripped off. I did struggle to find 'non tourist' restaurants though. Saying that a main part of the meal usually pasta was always around €14.
Found alcohol to be fairly expensive, although, it wasn't that sort of holiday. Beers usually around €6-7. Far too much to see and enjoy to waste a day with a hangover.

Last time I visited Rome in January 2020. The weather was perfect - dry and sunny and chilly. Everything as I like!

You sound like jack black! It's awesome!

Budget tip: stay with relatives.

Heading to Italy on my own (I’m 18) for the first time. Doing lots of research on Money saving. This defo helped thanks!

100% on aperitvio! That is one of my fave part of Italy! Some of the best aperitii we have had was in Bologna!

Thank you for the Great points!

Question for everyone: he said to buy all train tickets in advance...is that even for smallish journeys 3 hours and less? I kinda wanted to stay flexible so i wouldn't have to pay fees to rebook but dont want super expensive because I waited till day of ..help?

Mark Hi! Love your videos! I'm from Quincy IL, and know your mom! So my question is how far in advance should we book our train tickets? We are arriving in Rome on 9/28 staying 2 days and then heading to Florence on 9/30, we then catch our cruise ship from Venice on 10/4. thank you in advance for your help

How early to book train tickets? Going in mid September to Rome and Sorrento

@woltersworld -at about minute mark 6:15 you cover your mouth kind of and I can't discern what you're saying? Can you please say again here?

In the small cities italy is less expensive.
Especially in the south

Thank you!!!

We've been to Rome, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii in November during off peak season and yes, it was more affordable. In Rome we bought 1 bottle of water then filled up the bottle with free water from Romes water spigots instead of purchasing water. Another cost saver was buying apples and nuts and storing them in our bag. So when we visited sites such as vatican museum, forum, etc. we didn't have to buy from up-priced vendors in the touristy areas.

very good knowledge

Never been in Italy. It is definitely on my bucket list. Meanwhile I enjoy it through your videos. You just got a new subscriber!!!

Tip for Milano is to buy a three day public transportation ticket for 13€. It's good for metro, bus and those old charming trams.

About train tickets, how early do you need to book a ticket to have those discounts?

I have been watching you and your family for years. We just got back from our first trip to Europe. I took so much of your advice. The most important for me was probably walking more than usual at home before going. That helped so much. I don't know how I did all the walking but it worked out. The train stations in 3 different countries were challenging but we figured it out. Thanks so much for all your help. Our trip to France, Switzerland and Italy was amazing. Booking trains in advance on trainline was very helpful and might be a good topic for an upcoming video. The website was more user friendly than sncf and sbb. Thanks again. Rose Johnson

👍👍👍👍

I enjoy your videos ! We will be in Rome mid June. Are the short tours of Coliseum worthwhile (1 hr) enought time, includes access to Forum and another site . Also, we will be travelling N. Italy, central, Cinque Terre and ending at Amalfi. What is the best value train (type) ticket we should purchase, family of 5 ?

Great tips as always, thank you!!

Italy is a land of diverse destinations, each offering its own unique charm. From the romantic canals of Venice to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, the historical treasures of Rome to the cultural hub of Florence, and the picturesque countryside of Tuscany to the fashion capital of Milan, there is something for everyone. So glad to have found your channel, Mark.

Spend more on food and wine then you do for accommodations.

I am German, and have lived in Italy for 2.5 years. Basically everything mentioned, I would say, completely right. Several aspects obviously also count for countries such as France. Maybe one little extra thing is that August (as correctly mentioned by Marc) is very packed as the locals also have their vaccation. But that mainly counts for the sea side and not so much for the cities. So, in the cities you actually can find also cheap possibilities to stay and eat. But it's fucking hot though. :)

Ooh get some walking shoes - they have them heels in a Italy while walking is a no but the leather is nice - and you can get a well made sandal at a good price ❤

This video just made me miss Italy 🇮🇹
Ok - one tip chose what you want to see and then after that - enjoy the time in the country because you are the trip being there meeting new people everyday task in a new country is exciting - absolutely 💯

500 Euros for booking early ! That’s all you had to say !!!

So beautiful

I have three tips:
1) We did eat several meals last summer in Rome and Venice that were "3 Course for 18 Euros" which can be found at various eateries around town. We always found the food to be good and we saved quite a bit of cash.
2) To save our feet and save some cash, we opted to rent the electric scooters for trips that were within a mile or so way. We didn't have to pay a cab and we had fun saving money. Just be careful, cobblestone roads and scooters can be tricky!
3) AIR BNB!!!!!!! We saved HUNDREDS of dollars staying at Air BnBs everywhere. They were always nice (look for 'super hosts') and they cost around $100 per night compared to $300 plus for big name hotels AND we got to stay in areas where the locals live.

best timing... im planing my Italian trip for 2024

You should really check out La Maddalena Sardinia. My father was stationed their before he retired from that navy. When we lived their it was amazing

a month in italy sounds amazing! enjoy! molto bene

I'm surprised you haven't done a video in Colombia yet. THE best country in ALL of the World.

If you go during not hot times and you'll be on the go all day, stop by a supermarket. You can grab bread and "cold cuts" to make sandwiches, snacks, and drinks for a much cheaper lunch or dinner. They've got really interesting stuff in the freezer section too if you don't feel like going out. after a long day for dinner and you have a microwave in your housing.

You can save money and have a true local experience by just spending a sunday in the park. Nothing better then Italian children whining about the same things children whine about everywhere....but in Italian. Late May is great. Especially if you like asparagus and little strawberries.

Old Italian ladies have sharp elbows and will use them; especially on Vaporettos. Learn how to say 'Permesso'

My wife learned how to say 'pleasure to meet you' and for all the waiters 'make me happy' . The waiters may not ask what kind of wine you want. They ask will you be having wine? If you say yes don't be surprised if the water just walks away. They know what you ordered, they know how much you spent on your meal and they know what wines are in stock..... just trust them.

In Venice you can evaluate proximity to tourism by a single expresso. Near my hotel 1 euro. St Mark's Sq....2 sammies, coffee, 2 waters.... 67 euros and worth every penny. Water comes from fountains all over Italy. Just fill up and enjoy!

50% of the Aperol Spritz I get served in the US suck balls

I have been binging podcast w mark as a guest. He said he hates coffee . His wife is the coffee lover lol...

My biggest gripe w Italy is how they refuse to just give you tap water. You order water boom 5 euro nast sparkling water or mineral water. Random taxes in some city's. That have to be paid in cash like is this a gimmick? Read mixed things online

Expensive is relative. The US are expensive too. Italy is not Switzerland but it it no South East Asia either.

Great tips! We opted to splurge on our accommodations to be right where all the attractions are and were more conscious on our food budget (no fancy 5 Star restaurants but more family run places) 😊

Loved travelling around Italy, and definitely agree with the tip for buying train tickets early!
My tip would be to avoid the “Roma Turbo-pass” - the advertising suggests you can get a ticket to the Vatican and Colosseum at the time you want, but in reality the company buys these tickets late (literally days before you travel) and the time you get is what’s left!!
Just don’t do it, and buy your tickets direct from the official websites so you can get the time you want 👍🏻

Hi Wolter, thank you for great tips. Chaos