Milan & Northern Italy

Posted on Friday, January 27, 2012

Italy is a country with many different flavors. Northern Italy is a unique and exquisite experience where you'll find a more continental European feel with majestic mountain views, and stunning natural wonders.

Milan is a bustling cosmopolitan city charged with its own unique energy. It is home to the world's fashion industry, artistic masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and the world-famous opera house, La Scala.

Milan is the perfect launch for jaunts into the lake region, nestled just below the Italian Alps. Lake Como provides breathtaking vistas dotted with quaint lakeside towns and lavish villas.

For the most beautiful gardens in Italy, visit the shores of Lake Maggiore. Straddling the border between Italy and Switzerland, this glorious setting may just be the single most romantic spot on Earth.

Trafalgar Last Minute Deals!

Posted on Friday, September 30, 2011

* Price is per person, land only and based on double occupancy. CST# 2077132-20

Conditions
• This offer is combinable with all applicable Trafalgar
discounts except Early Payment Discount
• Applies to new bookings only & subject to availability
• Book between September 29 and October 12, 2011
• Definite Departures—these are guaranteed to run

Useful Italian Phrases

Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2011

If your Italy tour vacation is coming up, here are some quick and useful phrases to learn.

Save up to $600 per person to Italy & France!

Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Trafalgar’s unique, one-of-a-kind experiences are on sale now! Take advantage of great savings on these select 2011 Italy and France vacations: 

Don’t delay – space is limited and offer ends September 30, 2011!

*Savings valid on the above 2011 Italy and France vacations and departure dates only. Savings varies by itinerary, see above. Must be booked and paid in full at time of booking. Offer is not combinable with other promotions (except Show Coupons), but is combinable with brochure discounts (except Early Payment Discount). Subject to availability and offer can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply.

Money Exchange Italy Travel

Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011

I am leaving for Italy on October 1^st and I was wondering if it is still a good idea to exchange money before getting there or afterwards.

The current exchange rate is $1 USD is equivalent to .693424 EUR

So something that costs 1 EUR will cost $1.44 USD, 5 EUR, is currently $7.21 USD, 20 EUR is $28.85 USD and so on.

About the EURO

EURO come in both bills and coins.

Coins include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, as well as 1 and 2 Euro. The bigger the coin, the more value it has, unlike in the U.S. where the dime is smaller than a nickel, but worth more.

Bills come in 5 (greyish color) 10 (red,) 20 (blue,) 50 (orange,) 100 (green,) 200 (yellow) and 500 Euro (violet.)

Many vendors do not have a lot of change, so we don’t recommend anything over 50 EURO.

Traveler’s checks are difficult to exchange at hotels are shops, so take them to a bank or foreign exchange office.

ATM machines in Italy are known as Bancomat and can be found easily in large cities. Check with your bank or credit card company before leaving to see what their fees are.  IN the past the ATM was the best option to get money in Europe, however many credit card companies now charge 2.5 to 4% for cash advances. If you use your debit card, make sure you know what your daily limit is.  There are ATM machines at the airport, but they are usually quite full, so it is a good idea to have some EURO on hand when you land.

As far as credit cards, please note not everyone accepts American Express, so Visa and Mastercard are better options to take with you.

In the end it is best to have a couple of options with you just in case, so take a debit card and a credit card, or travelers checks and a debit card.  

Remember that your Italy tour guide can assist you with locations to exchange your money.