GENERAL INFORMATION

We've compiled some general information about traveling to Italy and listed it alphabetically by subject.  
The information contained here is a small sample of the type of information that we include in your Travel
Book.

In addition to the entries below, be sure to check out our blog, Italy del Giorno, for more information.

ACCOMMODATIONS

    Concierge in Umbria is uniquely qualified to help you choose the perfect accommodation for your
    Italian vacation. Italians value hospitality and the options available to its visitors are many.

    We have relationships with a wide variety of accommodations in Italy and have visited (often
    unannounced!) every establishment that we recommend.  

    Villas and Apartments: Villas are typically self-contained private residences that are available for
    rental on a weekly basis. If you have ever researched villa rentals on your own, you know that the
    quality and cost of these private houses can vary greatly. They come in all shapes, sizes, and
    locations, with varying degrees of creature comforts.  The rental period is typically from Saturday to
    Saturday with a minimum one week rental.  

    Concierge in Umbria works closely with property owners as well as prominent villa rental agencies
    based in the U.S. and Italy to create a shortlist of premier accommodations for our clients.

    Luxury and Deluxe Hotels:  Concierge in Umbria has forged relationships with the finest hotels in
    Italy and will guide you not only to the right property, but also more importantly, to the best rooms!

    Boutique Hotels:  There are lovely small hotels throughout Italy that can make your stay quite
    special.  Some of these properties are located in historic towers or palazzi, or offer some other
    unique or distinctive special feature or service.  By telling us about your preferences, we can match
    you with the most suitable accommodation.

AIR TICKETS

    The Internet and frequent flyer programs have revolutionized how airline tickets are purchased.  
    Because you are often seeing the same “deals” that we are, we typically offer consultations as to
    what flights to buy, but it's often best if you purchase the tickets on your own.

ARRIVAL

    Italy has two major airports for international flights from the USA -- Rome's Fiumicino Airport and
    Milan's Malpensa Airport.  Both are around an 8 hour flight from New York.  Both of these airports
    offer connecting service to all of Italy's major destinations.  There is also connecting service from
    the USA to Milan and Rome plus the airports of Firenze, Venezia, Napoli, Palermo and Catania
    through Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, London, and Amsterdam.

CAR RENTAL

    Driving in Italy is an adventure that calls for courage, good reflexes, and patience.  If your ideal trip
    calls for driving yourself, you should be prepared to circle roundabouts more than once before
    making a decision as to where you are going, drive on streets and through archways that are only
    marginally wider than your car, and park in impossibly tight spaces.  Most rental cars in Italy have
    standard transmissions -- you will have to pay a premium for an automatic car.  Also, we always
    recommend renting the smallest car possible to help with parking and we always insist on a diesel
    car -- the price of diesel fuel ("gasolio" in Italian) is currently well over $9 per gallon and unleaded
    gasoline is much more expensive.  We recommend AutoEurope for car rentals in Italy.   

    For driving times and point-to-point directions we recommend Via Michelin or buying a GPS
    navigator.

    If you plan to rent a car, you will need an International Driver’s Permit.  It is easily obtained from
    either of the two authorized issuers of the permit.


CELL PHONES

    Having a local, Italian cell phone number is an indispensable tool when you are on an independent
    itinerary.  It will facilitate communication between you and the guides, drivers, etc. as well as
    provide a measure of security should you encounter problems on the trip.  We highly recommend
    purchasing or renting a cell phone with an Italian phone number.  You can do this through Cellular
    Abroad.  When ordering please enter promotion code CIUMBRIA to receive $10 off.


INSURANCE

    We encourage all travelers to protect their investment with travel insurance.  We recommend CSA
    Travel Protection.  Please contact them directly with any questions you may have about their
    products.  If you decide to buy insurance from CSA, we ask that you input the following information:

TOUR GUIDES

    Prior to working in the travel industry, We had always considered ourselves to be independent
    travelers.  We had proudly visited many destinations without benefit of a guide and thought we
    were doing fine.  We are now forced to acknowledge that we didn't know what we were missing
    until our first guided visit to a tiny Umbrian hill town.  We had in fact visited the town several times
    and thought we knew the place like the back of our hands.  We were flabbergasted by the end of
    our 3 hours with a licensed guide.  A native guide with a wide range of knowledge and interests
    can bring insights and perspectives to an experience that our own backgrounds don't allow us to
    imagine.

    Official guides are a revered and protected species and for good reason.  They undergo rigorous
    examinations on a variety of subjects including art, history, political science, language, architecture,
    etc.  Unfortunately, not all guides are created equal.  We have interviewed and auditioned all of the
    guides that we recommend.  All of them are licensed professionals with affable personalities and
    strong English skills.

TRAIN TRAVEL

    Italy's train network is not one of Europe's finest.  If you are used to the comfort and efficiency of
    the Swiss or German rail networks, you will be in for a shock when you ride the rails in Italy.  On
    Italy's trains you are likely to encounter delays, old equipment, overcrowding, dingy stations, a lack
    of sufficient air conditioning, no help with your suitcases, and rude train personnel who have a
    strange habit of going on strike just when you need to take a trip.  That being said, your itinerary
    may call for using the EuroStar Italia trains for trips between the major cities or even a EuroNight
    train to arrive in Italy from France or Germany.  In these cases, we always recommend 1st Class
    seats to help mitigate some of the problems with overcrowding and comfort.

WHEN TO GO

    Italy is open year round.  Many of the high traffic, summer, and beach destinations, like the Amalfi
    Coast, close in the winter but because so much of Italian life, food and culture is seasonal no
    matter what time of year you go you'll be sure to find fantastic local experiences to enjoy.

























Maria Gabriella Landers and Brian Dore
Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists since 2006.
Bon Appétit Travel Board Member - Brian Dore
Concierge in Umbria is an independent, boutique travel service.
Our specialty is custom luxury travel to Italy.

Web: www.conciergeinumbria.net
Email: info@conciergeinumbria.net
Phone: +1 212-769-4767
In Italy: +39 349 369 0413

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