Preparing for the Trip

I'm one of those people who like to soak up the culture of other countries and get to know their customs. That's why I never rent a car on holiday — I much prefer traveling by train. I have to say that a high-speed train ride in Italy is a somewhat better experience than the average speed on our own tracks: the Italian Frecciarossa and Italo trains run smoothly, on time, and with a level of comfort we often wait for in vain back home.

Tip: High-speed train tickets in Italy usually work with dynamic pricing, similar to flights — the earlier you buy, the cheaper it gets. It's worth watching for last-minute deals too, but I wouldn't recommend relying on them.

Everything sorted in advance

At the same time, I always want to have everything organized, so I definitely spend more time preparing for the trip than packing my suitcase. I always have hotels booked ahead of time — that goes without saying — but also all the public transport tickets, whether it's local transit or the high-speed train. I always recommend downloading the necessary apps in advance and keeping your documents in digital form, ideally offline too (screenshots or PDFs on your phone), since the signal at train stations and airports can sometimes be unreliable.

Preparation tips:

• Download the local transport operator's app (both city transit and trains) before you leave — it'll save you time on the ground.
• Save your tickets and reservations as PDFs on your phone in case the app doesn't work or there's no connection.
• Check in advance whether card payment terminals at your destination work the same way as at home — as I mentioned before, in Rimini you can now simply tap your card.
• Don't forget travel insurance and a photo of your documents saved in the cloud.

Choosing and booking the hotel

I usually pick hotels through Booking.com or Google Maps — that gives me a quick overview of location, price, and reviews. But I always recommend making the actual reservation through the hotel's official website. I write to them, explain my requirements — a sea view, or a late check-out, for example — and have them put together an offer. The hotel then usually tailors an offer for me and often gives a better price than what's listed on booking platforms, since they save on commission fees.

Tip: Direct contact with the hotel also comes in handy for special occasions (anniversaries, birthdays) — hotels tend to be more willing to prepare a small surprise when they know what the occasion is.

Booking ahead pays off

I always recommend planning your trip well in advance. Not only are hotels less likely to be sold out, but train tickets and flights also end up cheaper. For low-cost airline tickets, I track prices several months ahead and book as soon as the price drops to a reasonable level — waiting until the last minute for a summer trip to Italy practically never pays off.

Summary of my tips:

1. Train instead of a car — more comfortable and closer to real life in the country you're visiting.
2. Download apps and documents in advance, ideally with offline access.
3. Book hotels through the official website — better odds of a good price and a more personal touch.
4. Plan ahead — for hotels, trains, and flights alike.