Planning Ahead
Italy is one of Europe's most popular travel destinations, and hotel space is at a premium in nearly every season. Making advance hotel reservations for your travel in Italy is a good idea. Only the most casual of travelers should wait until arriving before seeking reservations, especially if you're planning to visit such major destinations as Florence, Rome, or Venice.Your hair dryer or electric razor will burn out on the 115-volt and 220-volt alternating current used in Italy. The 220 is prevalent, but both types are found. A converter can help once you determine which voltage a hotel has. Even then you still need adapter plugs (though the rounded two-pronged plug is common in Italy, so are a number of other configurations). Battery-operated appliances can help solve the problem—or do without your electric gadgets.
Coin laundries are difficult to find. Even those lavanderie that claim to be "self-service" aren't, but at least they usually can do your clothes in a day. You may want to plan on washing some items yourself, so bring detergent, a flat disk stopper (it will work with any drain), and even a piece of rope for a clothesline.
Umbrellas and books in English are much cheaper in the United States than in Italy, as is camera film (hand-check cameras and film at airport security points—the X ray machines can blur film).
When packing, remember to bring along appropriate clothes for visiting religious sites, such as cathedrals. Usually there's an unspoken dress code that demands long trousers for men and below-the-knee skirts for women. Sleeveless shirts might also be forbidden, especially on women (you'll also be admonished to remove headgear inside a church or holy building).
It's a good idea to have your medical prescriptions filled before you leave for Italy, and if possible bring along the actual signed prescription from your doctor should you need a refill while traveling.
Check your insurance policy for coverage abroad and special procedures to be followed for reimbursement. (Some Italian hospitals, particularly private ones, require cash payment at discharge.) Collect receipts and carry your insurance ID card with you. If your policy does not cover foreign travel, temporary ones are available through travel agents.
When to Go
For many leisure travelers, when to visit Italy comes down to two considerations: climate and crowds. In terms of weather, the best times to visit Italy are May and early June, and late September to November. The weather is generally pleasant and warm at those times from the Alps south to Sicily, and the school-vacation crowds are busy at home. But even these seasons are very popular, enough so to require advance reservations. (In fact, Italy is such a popular destination that it is hard to say when it might be safe to travel without reservations.)
The great migration of tourists (and vacationing Italians) begins in July, intensifies in early August, and doesn't begin to let up until the schools reopen after the first weekend in September. Most Italians desert the oven-like urban areas for cooler beaches and mountain resorts, making cities much quieter, with less traffic—though most cultural activities and many restaurants close down too. However, this doesn't stop foreigners from taking over the sidewalk cafés, filling the hotels, and forming long lines at museums. In the summer, no place is uncrowded in Italy.
If crowds bother you, then maybe those few months not mentioned—especially November into early December and mid-January into February—are for you. The weather can be icy-cold in the north (the Lake Region is closed), the sky can be cement gray for days in every region, and even in Rome and Sicily a raincoat with a lining is a good idea. Yet you can actually find a seat in the Sistine Chapel. And prices are at their lowest, for flights, hotels, and tour packages.