After I couple of months in hiding- I’m back! My life got a little hectic for a hot second (in a good way!) In the past few months I’ve planned a few more trips, traveled to Italy and Germany and wait for it…got engaged! Life has been a little crazy but I’ve made it my New Year’s resolution to get back at it.
So what better way to jump back in you ask? By writing about my amazing Italy vacation of course! Italy was awesome. Even if I hadn’t gotten engaged in the middle of Venice, it still would probably be my favorite European trip to date.
That being said, of course there were a couple of minor things that could have been improved on. Having never been to Italy before, there were definitely some things that I wished I packed but didn’t. None of them ruined the trip by any means but would have probably made the trip more comfortable if I would have brought them!
Lightweight Layers
If you’re traveling all over Italy, you definitely want to check out the weather for each stop you’re making. The temperatures and weather patterns can vary greatly from the North to the South- they can even change from East to West! Cardigans are also great to have on hand to throw on before going into churches- most require shoulders (and knees!) to be covered and are strict with this rule.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I bought three of these cardigans for my trip. They are seriously that good. The quality of the fabric is nice, and they are light enough to 1) not add too much weight to your suitcase and 2) allow you to adjust to the various temperatures you’re bound to encounter.
Comfortable Shoes
Since you are going to be doing a ton of walking each day of your trip, quality walking shoes are probably the most important thing you’re going to bring with you. Shoes that offer good support are a must.
If you’re looking for a different style of shoe, these boots will provide you with plenty of support. They also come in a wide variety of colors and are a little more structured- great if you have foot issues.
Whichever shoes you decide to wear, I do recommend you avoid heels- particularly skinny heels. The cobblestone all over Italy is not only killer on the feet but potentially dangerous if you’re wearing heels. I would also recommend avoiding shoes without a lot of support- think Converse. Even though I love my Converse and they look great, I can’t even imagine how bad my feet would’ve hurt walking all over Italy in them.
A Good Crossbody Purse
Pickpockets are everywhere you go and Italy is no exception. I’ve found a great crossbody is not only fashionable but helps keep all of your belongings safe and secure. I always keep my purse across the front of my body and I keep my hand on the purse itself- especially when I’m in areas that are known to have pickpockets.
I love this crossbody that I found on Amazon. It’s cheaply priced but still good quality. Don’t just take my word for it- this purse got awesome reviews and has over 5,000 ratings as of today. It’s also the perfect size for travel. You can easily fit an average size wallet, phone, camera and anything else you might need inside. I actually just bought a second one to use for an every-day purse.
If you’re looking for something more designer, this crossbody by Kate Spade is my personal favorite purse. In my humble opinion, it’s not only a perfect size but also great quality that you would expect out of a Kate Spade. I use mine for every day use but I have also taken it all over Europe with me and it has worked great.
I feel that it’s also worth mentioning that if you’re traveling to Italy, you can absolutely find a great purse while you’re traveling. Florence (and Tuscany in general) is one of the best places to find leather goods but you can find them everywhere. I personally found mine (below) in a leather shop in Venice.
A Lightweight Jacket
When we went to Italy in the beginning of September, I figured that it would still be pretty warm. What I was not prepared for was cooler and rainy weather when we headed west to Cinque Terre. We were only there for a day and half but I pretty much froze the entire time.
As I mentioned before, temps in Italy can vary like crazy. Even though we had 80 degrees and sunny in Rome, northern and western Italy was in the 60s-70s and a little rainy when we were there. I did look at the weather beforehand but I failed to recognize that temps like that feel a lot cooler when you’re right on the water. Looking back, I really wish I had brought a lightweight jacket with me for those days.
I absolutely love this jacket because it’s not only light and easy to pack but it’s waterproof. This is key if you run into any unexpected rain showers. I also love that it comes in multiple colors. This brings up the topic of fashion for tourists in Italy. My advice? Where whatever the heck you want. Seriously, for your average tourist nobody is going to look twice at your clothes.
Washcloths
Ok. So probably not the route you were expecting. However something that I really wished I would have packed was actually a non-clothes item. While some of the hotels we stayed in had them, the majority of the ones did not have washcloths. I made do by using the corners of the bath towels but it was a little inconvenient. I like these washcloths because they’re light, quick-dry and antibacterial.
International Voltage Converter/Universal Adapter
One thing I never considered when traveling to Europe was the voltage a country used. Sure I knew the outlets were different shapes but I never considered that the amount of electricity flowing through them was different. While the the voltage the United States uses is 110 volts, Europe uses almost double of that, 220 volts. What this means for you is that if you plug a hair straightener or phone charger into a European outlet and it doesn’t automatically convert, you can completely fry them!
Some electronics and appliances will automatically convert voltage. Apple phone chargers, for example, do this. However if your product doesn’t automatically convert have no fear. You can buy one of these guys that will act as a middle man to convert your voltage for you.
While you’re at it, pick up a universal power adapter. Choosing a universal adapter makes it so much easier to travel between countries. This particularly came in handy for me when I traveled to Switzerland the first time. I didn’t realize that Swiss outlets are not compatible with euro outlets. Luckily my adapter was universal and did have the Type C plug that you need.
I really like the power adapters with USB ports. You can charge way more things at one time which is particularly useful when you’re charging overnight.
Italian Phrase Book
If I learned anything in Italy, it was that Italians are so proud to be Italian. I think that most cultures appreciate you trying to speak the local language, but Italians reeeeally appreciate it. Even just saying hello or thank you in Italian goes a long way. You also might find yourself in a situation where the locals only speak Italian. This is especially true in the smaller towns but I definitely ran into some Italian-only speakers in the big cities too. Get yourself a basic Italian phrase book like this one and you won’t have to worry about it.
Anything else I’m missing that’s an Italy must have? Make sure you let us know in the comments below!
