Lessons Learned in the Mediterranean
We thought that anyone thinking about traveling to the Mediterranean might like a few tips to make their travels more enjoyable. This page is best viewed on a laptop or computer rather than on a phone or tablet (photos aren't in the correct order on a phone).
See quick links at the left for faster navigation of this page
TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION
Since flight time seems to be the most tiring part of the journey, we like to spend some down time in our new location. If you are traveling thru many time zones and can afford it, take the time to stay in your new time zone for a few days before embarking on your primary adventure ie. tour, cruise, road trip. We were well rested after a few days in Barcelona so we could tackle the cruise with gusto. And you never know what you might see while walking those lost hours - strange clock, eh? It was almost noon when this shot was taken.
We purchased our inter-city train tickets from ItaliaRail before we left Canada. That way, we knew what time the trains were leaving so could be at the station ahead of time – trains in Italy are almost always on time and won’t wait for you.
But buying early doesn’t solve the problem of figuring out which platform number the train is leaving from but often there was a non-descript, written board which lists the trains by number and usual departure gate.
The stations along your route are often identified by signs so watch as they go by so you know when your stop is coming up, if you have a route map. There’s not a lot of time to get yourself and luggage off the train.
The stations along your route are often identified by signs so watch as they go by so you know when your stop is coming up, if you have a route map. There’s not a lot of time to get yourself and luggage off the train.
You can plan your travel between cities with a cool website ( www.rome2rio.com ). They will give you options such as plane, train, bus, taxi, drive yourself with costs and estimated times.
If you purchase bus or train tickets while in the
country, be sure to get the ticket validated before or as you board the bus and HANG ONTO THE TICKET. Often there is an employee on the bus/train who comes around to check your tickets, sometimes as you disembark. If you don’t have a
valid, date stamped ticket you will pay a fine which is almost 10X the price of the ticket, in cash, before they let you off the bus. No concession for being an unsuspecting, clueless tourist as there is zero tolerance. See more details in the Firenze/Florence blog.
(More practise needed on the Etch-a-Sketch for adding lines to a photo - grin)
When using taxis, carry a piece of paper with your hotel or B&B address written down so you can hand it to any non-English speaking drivers. Only use cabs which are labelled as taxis and have a meter, unless you agree on an amount before leaving. Ask ahead of time for the estimate of the fare and don’t be rushed into paying for it at the end of your cab ride. Use paper and pencil if you are unsure of the fare they are asking, as they will happily accept any amount of money you give them, even if you are grossly wrong like we were.
Getting around – use apps on your phone like “Google maps” to set out your route (walk, bus, taxi). If you get lost, it helps you find where you are in the maze-like back streets of Rome and many other European cities. We were able to use our RomaPass on the buses while the pass was active (the passes are usually only good for a set number of days from first use).
ACCOMMODATIONS
Renting an AirBnB suite enabled us to stay near the main attractions in several cities. You need to read the reviews carefully and read ‘between the lines” to figure out if the place is right for you.
We found Sev’s Evaluation tips for selecting a place to be very useful so have included the PDF here.
ATTRACTIONS/TOURING
For convenience and often less money, you can purchase ‘skip the line’ tickets to major attractions before you leave home. We purchased several tickets and found the timed entry to be excellent, except for The Vatican where we ended up being squeezed between two large tour groups and couldn’t stop to look at anything. Many places have put a cap on the number of people admitted per hour which makes the visit more pleasant. Be sure to book your tickets on the website of the actual attraction, rather than a bulk seller. If there are problems, you are unlikely to get your money returned from these websites.
We bought FirenzeCard and ROMA PASS as we wanted to visit many of the popular attractions. Not usually included in the Passes, the Hop-On-Hop-Off buses are a great way to get an overview of a new city and figure out the lay of the land. If it is really hot, try to find one with a covered roof. During peak season these buses can be very busy so when you get off, you may have trouble getting back on.
Before leaving home, we booked several tours with local guides – Sev did a great job selecting local tours in several of the ports that we visited. The local tours were cheaper than those presented by the cruise line and could be customized to suit our interests. Use Trip Advisor reviews to determine suitability and money value. Pay attention to details that might interfere with your tour (cruise ships will not wait for you, if you are late arriving back at the ship).
Several of the private guides we used contracted for Viator. Viator is a Trip Advisor company but is very conscientious with excellent, knowledgeable guides in roomy vehicles (see below). They guarantee returning you to the ship on time and would make good on their promise as they have a reputation to uphold. Note the flag being carried by the tour leader in the photo on the right. We saw many of those in Venice.
If you would rather wander on your own, Rick Steves has great audio walking tours of European cities. You can download his app for free, then downloaded the tours to your phone before you leave so you don’t need a data connection to listen to them while abroad. ( www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-europe )
If you are traveling during off-season or shoulder season, some of the local attractions might not be open or have shorter open times ie. Most gondolas in Venice close down at sunset. Even during prime time, some attractions are closed on specific days so do your homework at home while you have lots of time and cheaper internet service.
Sometimes, you have to look hard to find a washroom/toilet/restroom/water closet while in Europe. Occasionally, you need to pay to use the facilities but these ones are usually cleaner - carry some coins in your pocket for these and other tip situations. If you are using a WC in a restaurant/cafe, they will want you to purchase something. Cafes close to main attractions are very expensive - €20 ($30) for a soda pop and a coffee (and a pee)!!!
FOOD
From what we could see on menus, the Mediterranean diet consists of tomatoes, pasta, pizza, olive oil followed by liberal quantities of limoncello.
Using phone apps like Yelp, you can find restaurants, with reviews, to match your price and taste. They might even tell you what the food items mean as “salad” does not necessarily mean what we think of as a salad. Photos below can be scrolled thru.
In Italy, gelato is delicious and so easy to find. Spend some time exploring the different flavours – you can ask to taste flavours before buying. Shops off the main roads and tourist areas are less expensive, usually, but ask or look for the price listed. We tried Cannoli but preferred the gelato as a treat.
Limoncello is a liqueur made from lemons which is
readily available at almost all restaurants. The better
restaurants will give you a free sample at the end of
the meal, if they think you might come back. If you
order it at the end of the meal, you get a larger glass
full but you pay for it.
Pizza in Italy is usually on a thin crust, but not always, as pizza from Naples and Sicily is rectangular and has a thicker crust. A Margherita is not a drink but a plain cheese pizza. Most of the others listed on a menu add only one or two toppings not like “the works” in North America.
Of course, there are many pasta dishes to choose
from, with a variety of sauces, both red or white.
And sometimes freshly made pasta.
CLOTHING
Sturdy shoes are necessary for walking on the uneven cobblestones in European cities. Even some of the main sidewalks are uneven. You can expect to walk up and down many flights of stairs. Remember that the first floor (Primero) is actually the second floor.
For the ladies, a small scarf in your purse can save the day, if you are asked to cover your head or shoulders in a religious building. We didn't experience that on our travels but some places do request you to cover up.
The apartments that we rented often provided washing machines for laundry but we never did see a dryer. It’s necessary to hang your laundry inside on the racks supplied or outside on the balcony.
Few places provided facecloths with the towels so we now pack one each when we travel.
SHOPPING
The Euro (€) is the cash currency in most of Europe (but not Albania or Croatia as they haven’t joined the EU as yet). The euro bills are colourful like Canadian bills with the €20 looking a lot like $5 Canadian so be careful when paying by cash. Most American and Canadian credit cards are welcome, unlike Cuba where American based credit cards are not accepted.
The leather craft in Italy is superb with very colourful items of excellent quality. Of course, everyone has heard of Murano glass beads but it doesn’t stop there. Glass shops have an array of items like Christmas ornaments, goblets and ceramics. And the carnival masks hand made in Venice are so unique and interesting.
The Vatican had the most elaborate
gift shop that we saw. You can even
buy Holy Water as a gift for a loved
one at home.
SECURITY
Expect to have your bags x-rayed or searched at almost any of the attractions (the photo below was taken in the lobby at the Vatican Museum, with the x-ray machines in the background). Some places require you to leave backpacks or large bags in lockers and some request no photos inside.
Lastly, BEWARE of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas such as buses, stations and tourist attractions (even those places with an admission charge). If you are feeling jostled, then you are most likely being picked. Carry only the amount of cash and credit cards that you need for the day – best to leave your passport in a hidden place or a very secure place on your person. Use money belts for those times when you are moving from place to place and pouches inside your pants for daily use. And keep a copy of your passport and credit card numbers/contact info in a separate, secure place.
Read about our experience in our Roma blog.
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