7Research opening times
Many churches are free to visit in Italy. However some are closed on Catholic festivals and feast days. It is always best to check ahead. During the summer months many businesses are closed for the August holidays and it can be impossible to find restaurants that are open for business past a certain hour. Most shops are closed on Sundays.
8Bring something for the kids
Hotels in Europe do not offer all the services that American hotels do. There are few swimming pools or video games available, and programs on television will be mostly in Italian. Even English language programs will be dubbed into Italian. Bring a book, a ball or a portable media player to distract your children – even the best behaved child is likely to rebel after too many old churches and dusty art.
9Watch out for pickpockets
Like all big cities, Rome, Florence, and Milan have their fair share of petty crime. Keep an eye out on your belongings especially in crowded areas like Rome’s Termini train station, the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) of Florence and around the Duomo in Milan. Beware of distraction techniques as pickpockets often work in gangs.
