December 26, 2025 • 35 mins
Planning a trip to Italy in 2026? Listen in for our essential guide to Italy trip planning for the coming year. We cover trip planning steps, timing and must know dates and events for planning your ultimate Italian adventure.
Read the full episode show notes here > untolditaly.com/304
Untold Italy App • Trip Planning Services • Small Group Journeys through regional Italy
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The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast Editing, Audio Production and Website Development by Mark Hatter. Production Assistance and Content Writing by the other Katie Clarke
Read the full episode show notes here > untolditaly.com/304
Untold Italy App • Trip Planning Services • Small Group Journeys through regional Italy
Support the show
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Editorial Information
The Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast Editing, Audio Production and Website Development by Mark Hatter. Production Assistance and Content Writing by the other Katie Clarke
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thinking about a trip to Italy in twenty twenty six
and not sure when to begin your planning. Right now
is a great time to start. In today's episode, we're
walking through the steps to build your plan, what travelers
should know about traveling to Italy in twenty twenty six,
and how to set your trip in motion.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Tawatuti and Benvenuti tu one told Italy the Travel podcast
to where you go to the towns and villages, mountains,
the lakes, hills and coastlines of Belli, Italia. Each week,
your host, Katie Clark takes you on a journey in
a search of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, the lato,
(00:43):
and of course a whole lot of pasta.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
If you're dreaming of.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Italy and planning future adventures there, you've come to the
right place.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Have you been telling yourself One day I'll learn Italian?
But then another year slips by. You watch others speak
easily while you still hesitate to say even a few words.
You buy the apps, bookmark the websites, maybe even take
a few lessons, but it never sticks.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Don't let another January come.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And go while your dream of speaking Italian stays on hold.
Let this be the year that you finally start or
push past that plateau once and for all. As Angela
from Australia said, I put my inability to learn down
to my senior stage of life. But with Intrepid Italian
it seems to just fit. Each new module inspires me
(01:39):
to continue. Whether you want to connect with your heritage
partner or even move to Italy. Michelle from Intrepid Italian
has a practical eighty twenty method that teaches only what
you need with no wasted time. Visit Intrepid Italian dot
com forward slash untold Italy to grab your free trouble
Phrase guide and claim an exclusive twenty dollar coupon to
(02:01):
use on any of Michelle's online courses. That's Intrepid Italian
dot com forward slash untold Italy to grab your free
treble Phrase Guide.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Hi. I'm Katie, the founder of Untold Italy.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
We're a modern travel company that hosts intimate, small group
journeys across regional Italy and we also assist independent travelers
with one to one trip planning services and we have
a travel app that is full of curated recommendations for
the whole of Italy from the top of the Boot
to the Toe. Every week on this podcast, we talk
with locals, fellow travelers, and experts so you can learn
(02:38):
more about Italy and focus on the experiences that matter
to you. Let's get into today's episode, c our friends.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas, and if you're
new here Benvenuti, welcome and we are so thrilled to
have you join us as you plan your trip to Italy.
And thank you to all our regular listeners for joining
us from all corners of the earth. We just love
(03:00):
our global community of curious travelers keen to open their
hearts and minds to Italian culture and their way of life.
The time just after Christmas when this episode is first
coming to you is peak travel planning season for the
year ahead, So today I thought i'd get you started
with our top general tips for planning your Italy trip,
but also some must know information for twenty twenty six. Specifically,
(03:25):
I am going to give you our general philosophy on
planning and enjoying travel in Italy and our step by
step guide to getting your trip planning and booking organized
so that you can make them most of the time
that you have available now.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
And then can.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Relax and get on with your life and knowing that
you have something really wonderful to look forward to in
twenty twenty six. Now, if you're still thinking about going
to Italy in twenty twenty six, this will be useful
for you too, And what I would say is just
do it. There is no best time or year in
your life to take the trip. You won't regret going,
(03:59):
but you will regret not going. Every year, things come
up at work or at home, prices go up, the
world goes a little crazy or even crazier. But spending
time in a different country, absorbing another culture, and taking
time out from your everyday life is actually priceless, and
you'll feel ready to take on any challenges that you
(04:21):
face when you get back home. Italy in particular, has
a way of soothing the soul like no other place
I know.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
So do it.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Go to Italy and enjoy every last minute because life
was meant to be lived, not trudged through. Now, before
I dive in, we will cover a lot of things
on the podcast today, So what I suggest is to
listen and absorb, and when you're ready, all the information
that we discuss is available for you as always on
the episode, show notes on our website and there will
(04:50):
be a link to them in your podcast app listing two.
So ANDIAMO, let's go straight up. I want to address
the elephant in the room, and that is how much information,
advice and opinions are out there on how to plan
your trip. It can be completely overwhelming, especially when the
advice is contradictory. And I think we all know what
(05:11):
I'm talking about. We're in an age of information overload
and it actually stops people from following their travel dreams.
We had a few clients this past year say exactly
that they desperately wanted to go to Italy, but were
so overwhelmed by choices and information that they just didn't
go in previous years. And that's a little heartbreaking, don't
you think. But I completely get it. Between Google, travel websites, Instagram,
(05:35):
and TikTok, which just seemed to spew forth travel ideas
like a perpetual fountain, it can be completely overwhelming even
for someone who knows Italy well, let alone if you're
a first time at Italy or haven't been back for
a decade or two. On any given day, I'm seeing
thousands of restaurant recommendations, unbelievable views, and travel tips.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Do this, don't do that.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Everything looks simply amazing, and you don't want to forget
anything you saw, just in case it's critically important.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
So you create a saved folder.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Of ideas in various apps, and the ideas just seem
to multiply like breeding bunnies. And then what happens is
you go to plan your trip and you don't know
how to pull it together into a cohesive plan that
suits your timeline or your budget, and so you throw
some ideas into chat GPT, hoping for the best, or
just to copy an itinery someone made on line, because
(06:29):
surely they know what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
People, they might know what they're doing for the type
of trip that they want, but is it actually what
you want out of your trip? Online itineries and chat
GPT force people down quite a predictable path, and that
means you end up following the crowds and or the
logistics don't quite work out, or it's just not realistic
for your budget. So what we're going to do here
(06:54):
today is break things down into manageable chunks so you
can get to the outcome a book trip to Italy
that you are completely excited about, one that makes your
heart seeing that is at a pace that is right
for you, and he's on budget. And if you're new here,
you're probably thinking, why should I listen to this Australian woman?
(07:15):
Isn't she just adding to the noise? And to that,
I'd say, of course. We create a lot of content
here online, on the podcast and on our other platforms,
but ultimately what we try to do it Untold Italy
is give you a thoughtful and curated approach to your
trip planning, whether you're traveling independently or joining us on
one of our small group tours. My team and I
(07:38):
have been doing this since twenty eighteen and help thousands
of travelers plan their trips to Italy each year. We
are either regular travelers to Italy and by that I
mean several times a year, or we live there. Among us,
we have decades of travel experience across the twenty regions
of Italy and have all traveled in different ways over
that time. We've been solo travel journeyed as couples with
(08:01):
friends and family with babies and kids, and aging relatives
on type budgets and with luxury in mind. We travel
by train, we drive, we go on tours. I think
you get the picture. We have a lot of experience
and the one thing that we know is that there
is no right way to travel Italy or any other
country for that matter. The only way to travel is
(08:23):
the way that suits you and the people that you're
traveling with. So it is critically important that you know
what you want out of your trip and what an
amazing time feels like to you. Many people want to
see the highlights in Rome, Florence, Venice via Malfy Coast
and Tuscany, and that is the classic first time as trip.
But how you see them is where things get interesting.
(08:45):
Do you want to go super fast and see as
much as possible or are you craving quieter moments where
you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. Do you love
art and history and want to delve into the context
behind them, or is your idea of a good time
zipping around Rome the back of a vesper. There's no
right or wrong answer here. What I suggest avoiding is
(09:06):
building an exhaustive list of places, and this might also
surprise some people, but also a huge list.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Of experiences or activities.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
We are in an age of experience driven travel, and
let me tell you, at any given moment, in any
city in Italy, you can do a cooking class where
you will learn to make spaghetti pomodoro that's just spaghetti
with a simple tomato sauce and chilimasu, which my eight
year old could make. Or go on a wine tour
or a market tour, or explore an ancient site.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I get the.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Feeling that some people think that they are missing out
or doing it wrong if they don't do some or
all of these activities, and that couldn't be further from
the truth. At its most wonderful, travel is what is
meaningful to you. Italy called you with a feeling, lean
into that and go from there. If you have zero
interest in ancient sites but are obsessed with trying a
(09:59):
five different carbonaras until you find your favorite, then that's
exactly what you should do. Skip the Colosseum tour and
eat your way around Rome. If you're looking for a
relaxing vacation, skipping the crowd of big cities might be
the best idea that you've ever had. What feels right
to you might be a week in a villa in
Tuscany or a musaria in Pullia, where you gather your
(10:21):
friends and family and make little forays into the countryside
for adventures. Maybe you're traveling with your elderly parents who
have always dreamed of seeing Italy and you want to
make that happen. Well, what you can do is help them,
help you and ask them what is their real dream.
It might be as simple as sitting in a sunny
piazza and wandering around small villages, and that's a lot
(10:44):
easier to organize than logistics around Rome and Florence and Venice.
And if you want to feel part of Italy and
don't want to drive or don't know how to access
the local experiences you've heard about, then there are options
for you too.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Once you work on what you really want out of your.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Vacation, then you'll be able to zone in on places
and experiences that are important to you, and you can
ask better.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Questions of friends.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Planners, Google and AI tools to get you started and
to help you pull your plans together. At this point,
you should start zoning in on when you want to
go and your budget. This will help refine things further
The good news is Italy is amazing at any time
of year, and you can do it on a pretty
small budget too. I can think of many great options
(11:31):
for every season and every budget, and that's really the
beauty of Italy. Because it is so diverse from region
to region, the feeling that you're chasing is there to
be found somewhere. Spring is one of my favorite seasons
to visit because the place is jumping with energy. Wildflowers
are in bloom and it's not so hot or crowded. Plus,
(11:52):
for all you vegetable lovers, it is artichoke season and
there are so many different ways to try them. Autumn
or fall is fantastic for the harvest and cooler temperatures.
I also love the festivals at that time of year,
and it's perfect pasta eating weather. Go for a long walk,
eat a plate of pasta, and then go for another
long walk. It's just my idea of heaven, really. And
(12:15):
earlier this year, we spent some time in Rome and
the Dolomites in winter and we had the most wonderful time.
Italian ski resorts are so friendly and fun, and Rome
was buzzing with locals. It's really not even that cold
there in Rome in winter, actually there's lots of blue
sky and crisp sunshine, which is.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
The type of winters that I really like.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
If you can only travel in summer, there are important
things to know about closures and places that get very
hot and crowded. They're not trip killers, but they're just
good to know. So we've got lots of resources on
our website that can help with that. Be super realistic
about your budget. Italy can hit the wall at hard,
but equally you can find alternatives that are much more affordable.
(12:58):
We have a budget calculator on our website that can
help with this. Your main cost will be accommodation and transportation,
so if you don't move around so much, you can
reduce quite a few big chunks of cost that way,
and accommodation can be as varied as you like. So
here you have a good foundation to start from. You
have the feeling that you want from your trip, you
(13:19):
have when to go, and a rough budget.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So what you can do from there is really.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Zone in to your desires and then refine things a
bit further. So, as an example, if you want a
quiet summer beach vacation in Italy, but are on a
tight budget, the Amalfi Coast might not be the best choice.
In fact, it definitely isn't. Your hard end bucks are
going nowhere fast there. There are plenty of other options.
(13:46):
For example, just south of the Amalfi Coast is the
Chelanto Coast, which is absolutely beautiful and far less crowded
and expensive. And from there you can even dip into
the Amalfi Coast and see what all the fuss is
about from a less crowded ferry or even by renting
a boat. So you see here that a bit of
thought can help drive better queries for your research. And
(14:08):
in this case, I'd be looking for budget alternatives to
the Maufi Coast in summer rather than looking at a
Maufi Coast trips.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
For example, Once you know what.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
You want out of the trip and you have your
timing and budget all organized, the logistical planning can really begin.
The first part really doesn't need to take long at all,
maybe even an hour or so, but if you skip it,
you're going to go round and round in circles. So
I really really encourage you to really have a think
about what you want out of your trip, have a
good thing about when you can go or when you
(14:39):
want to go, and also the budget. And at this
point I would get at your map or Google maps
and start plugging your rough ideas out.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
It is absolutely critical.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
That you do this, as you might have found, say
a good price for flights into Milan, but it is
a four hour train journey to get to Naples from
there and then another couple of hours travel to get
to the Amalfi coast. So you see that logistics can
put us better in the work sometimes. Now, most flights
into Italy from outside Europe arrive into Roman and Milan,
(15:12):
but there are decent connections to Venice, Naples and Catania
in Sicily also, and later on in this episode, I'm
going to tell you about some new flights that are
coming into Italy which are quite exciting actually, so like
it's really good to have an idea of where the
flights are going, but not get too hung up on
that because as I said, most arrive into Roman Milan,
(15:34):
and it's generally best to fly direct into Italy as
there will be options that might be cheaper to transit
through Europe.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
But you know, this is where things go a little
bit wrong.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I find when you're trying to swap planes or carriers
in Paris or Amsterdam or Berlin or somewhere like that,
it can be a bit messy. So if you're just
staying in Italy, I would suggest flying straight into Italy
and choosing train transportation from there. And just on the
subject of trains, you'll need to work out if you
want to really travel by train or by car or
(16:07):
a combination of both. And if you've been listening along
for a while, you'll know that the general rule is
that if you're traveling between the major.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Cities and tourist areas, the train is the best and
the most efficient option.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
If you want to see the countryside, you'll likely need
a car or expect to be spending a lot of
time in transit, and this is where compromises need to
be made. If you have a two week trip planned,
it's generally best to visit three to four places if
you like a medium paced trip, and then from there
working out a logistics plan is really important.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
This is where a lot.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Of people get tripped up, and it's actually the main
reason why people hire us to help plan their trips
and a big reason for joining one of our small
group journeys around regional Italy, and honestly, this is where
travel planning services are so useful. You can save yourself
hours going around in circles trying to figure out travel routes,
which a lot of the time, I've got to tell
(17:06):
you are not well documented on Google for a variety
of reasons, but number one is that a lot of
the Italian transport companies do not publish their schedules the
way that we kind of expect they would, especially if
you're going outside the major tourist areas. So yeah, if
you're getting stuck, there is a reason and it's not.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
You, and it's a good idea to get help at
that stage.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
But once you have a rough plan in place, then
it is a very good idea to book your flights.
A general rule of thumb is around six to eight
months out from when you're due to travel is when
you will find the best prices. But if that's not possible,
don't worry. Just set up a Google flights alone for
your dates that you want to travel and you may
be able to catch a bargain.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Let's take a quick moment. We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Planning your own Italy trip. But feeling overwhelmed. Our consulting
services give you personalized guidance based on years of insider
knowledge and local relationships. Learn more in the show notes.
Now I'm going to cover things that you need to
think about for twenty twenty six and this time last year.
Everyone was bracing themselves for chaos in twenty twenty five
(18:21):
thanks to the Vatican Jubilee, but in the end it
turned out to be a travel year just like any
other in Italy, except a little busier in Rome, especially
around the Vatican, but that was to be expected. The
popular places were popular and crowded as always, and the
Vatican Jubilee year finishes actually in twenty twenty six, in
(18:42):
January sixth, so for most of us it will be
over and it'll be kind of like a normal travel year.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
I don't know what that is, really, but we'll find out.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I guess there are some big events happening in twenty
twenty six though, that are good to know about so
that you can adjust plans as necessary, be prepared. And
first up is the Winter Olympics, which is going to
be held in Italy this year from February fourth to
twenty second, and that's going to be in and around
Cortina da Pezzo, up in the north of Italy and
(19:14):
close to Milan, So if you're traveling around this time,
there will be some traffic and congestion, no doubt. And
you know they are generally places though that are visited
by skiers and winter sports lovers, so it doesn't include
general tourist traffic. What I would say is in Milan,
which is honestly one of the world's most expensive cities
(19:34):
when it comes to accommodation, I think they are trying
to coincide with some of the fashion week activities around
this time also, so if you're thinking of going into Milana,
will be getting onto booking your accommodation very very quickly.
And also if you're considering a winter or skiing trip
to Italy in the coming years, watching the coverage is
(19:54):
going to be so much fun as you're going to
get a lot of great ideas. It is really really
fun to be up in the north of Italy in winter.
They do everything incredibly well. Everything is so clean and
organized and tasty, and it's just.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I think some of the very best bits of Italy.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Actually, don't tell anyone I said that because I'm not
supposed to have favorites, so after the main Winter Olympics,
the Paralympics will follow those events in March, and again
there'll be additional traffic in those areas. Also in twenty
twenty six, Venice cana Vale, which is their big celebration
that they have every year that runs the seventh to
(20:35):
the fifteenth of February, so that smack bang in the
middle of the Olympics, and it looks like northern Italy
will be the place to be if you're a lover
of the Vesper Scuta brand, true icon of Italy. They'll
be celebrating their eightieth anniversary in twenty twenty six and
there are a series of events known as Vesper World
Days planned in Rome from June twenty fifth to twenty eighth.
(20:59):
I think that's going to be very cool and fun.
I was hoping I'll be there for that, but I
think I'm going to miss it. And another very impressive
anniversary is the eight hundredth anniversary of the deaths of
Saint Francis. And this is a very significant event or
series events that will be marked across the country because
Saint Francis is the patron state of Italy and he's
(21:22):
very important to Italians, not just from a religious standpoint
but also culturally. So we'll be doing a full episode
on this topic in a few weeks, because even if
you're not Catholic, it's really very interesting to learn about
the philosophies of Saint Francis and how his teachings have
shaped Italy as a country and the way it is today.
(21:42):
So really the main major events will happen in the
first quarter of twenty twenty six and then we will
roll into more of a standard travel year. And as
I said, who knows what that means. Ever since I've
been doing that, we've had all sorts of crazy things happened,
But yeah, I think it'll be There won't be too
many disruptions that have been in previous years. And if
(22:02):
you want to stay on top of what's happening around
Italy in terms of local events, we keep the premium
version of our Untold Italy app updated with local food
and community festivals and more.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
And often it's hard to find these online.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Because you can ask Cassie on our team because she
lives in this small town in Abruzzo and she said
to me, oh, I think it was around the middle
of December. I think we're going for a meeting to
discuss what's happening about Christmas, And that was like, as
far as everyone here was concerned, Christmas.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Is already halfway through.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So Italians don't really you know, they don't really advertise
some of the fun local festivals that are fun to
take parties, so you definitely want to know about them,
and we do our very best to keep people updated.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
To buy the app.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Some things to keep in mind for twenty twenty six
that are not event related, but they are some changes
happening to require documentation and rules to travel to Italy
and travel around Italy. So if you haven't traveled to
Italy in the last six months or so, there is
a new process on arrival, which is the EES or
(23:09):
the European Union Entry and Exit System, and this is
basically collecting passport and biometric data when you arrive, and
it's the standard process now in many countries, including the
United States, and it's not something you can opt out of.
So it's good to be aware because it may delay
some of your processes going in and out of the country.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Something people got a little bit anxious about last.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Year due to exaggerated media reports, but it is actually
likely to happen later in twenty twenty six, and that
is the introduction of the newts or visa waiver system.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
And this is essentially an online.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Pre registration system that is similar to esther what travelers
from many countries need to use to enter the United
States or the ETA to enter the UK. There's no
official start date or confirmation of the process at the
time we're recording this, but it's just to be aware
of and it's really no big deal. You'll just have
(24:07):
to enter your passport and travel details into their system
and pay a small fee and the waiver will be issued.
That applies not just in Italy but across the European Union.
And like I said, we will let you know as
soon as the roll dates are announced and it's official,
because that's what we've always done here at Untold Italy.
We do not report rumors, so when it's ready to go,
(24:28):
we'll do an announcement on our channels. It's probably likely
only going to affect people that are traveling later in
the year. A process that is expanding to sixty days
now is the Venice Tourist tax collection and these tax
targets day trip visitors to Venice, and the number of
days it applies to has grown for twenty twenty six
(24:50):
to up to sixty.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
We'll link to.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Our article on this tax in the show notes so
you can check the dates. But it's worth noting that
you do need to apply for a waiver if you'll
pla to stay overnight. Even though it's a tax on
day trippers, you won't need to pay a fee, but
you do need to show that you have an exemption.
But don't worry, they have other ways to tax you
if you're staying overnight, of course. Now something new that
(25:15):
will be implemented from twenty twenty six is an entry
fee to access the front area of the Trevy Fountain
in Rome. This is very new news and it was
announced by the city's mayor about a week ago and
it's designed to protect the monument from the thirty thousand
plus daily visitors, which is an incredible number of people.
And I think last year they said they had a
(25:36):
total of nine million visitors. And if you've been in
that area, it's really quite small, like it's not a
stadium size to hold that many people, So you can
imagine that they're trying to think of ways to keep
people moving around. Four hundred people will be able to
access the front of the fountain at any time, which
I guess is good for photos but maybe not for
(25:57):
the vibe. So to be clear, you'll you will be
able to see the fountain from the existing barriers. You
just need to pay if you want to get up close.
It was announced that the fee would apply between nine
am and ten pm, so I think we can all
have a good guess at what will happen in the morning. Anyway,
there are no further details as yet on how the
(26:17):
implementation will work, and we will keep you posted. Another
development in Rome, which as a train and archaeology nerd,
I'm pretty excited about because I actually think this one
has been over twenty years in the making. Very exciting news.
The Colisseum Metro line seas station is finally open now.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
The line CE isn't particularly.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Useful currently unless you're saying in the Pinetto district, but
it will be an important link through Rome when new
stations open at Piazza Benezzia sometime in the next twenty years.
I guess the challenge has always been the need to
navigate investigate the ancient Roman ruins of the area before
tunneling through to create the metro lines. And fortunately the
(27:01):
Italian government take this very seriously. It's really important, I think,
to preserve their heritage. The new metro station is like
a mini museum showing artifacts found in the construction, so
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Now.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Lastly, there are some new flight routes announced going into Italy,
including direct flights from JFK Airport into Bari in Paulia
starting in June with Italian air Company Nios and Newark
Tobari on United starting in May. If you're flying from Canada,
there will be flights direct to Palermo in Sicily from
(27:35):
Montreal on Air Canada for the epeak season. And for
our friends on the US West Coast, Alaska Airlines will
fly direct from Seattle to Rome starting at the end
of April twenty twenty six. Most of these new flights
will be running seasonally from May through to end of October,
which gives you a very good idea of when peak
(27:56):
season is. No doubt, there's going to be more things
to consider that will come up throughout the year, and
of course we keep you updated via the podcast, our
newsletter and alerts in the Untold Italy app.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
There is a lot of.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Things to stay track of in travel generally, so it's
always a good idea if you are traveling. You want
to sort of balance the bit about being overwhelmed to
just having a good idea of what's going on now.
I want to take you through a rough order of
when to book things for your trip, and we have
this nicely laid out in lots of detail in our
article on how to book an Italy trip, but here
(28:31):
is a quick summary, and this is based again on
years and years of experience. If you're joining a tour
or a trip that travels around parts of Italy or
like a cruise, lock in those dates first.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Otherwise the first step is to book your flights.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Accommodation is next, and you know at this stage of
the planning because things can be a little.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Bit fluid and you might need to change.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
We always try to get flexible cancelation if possible these days,
personally prefer hotels over airbnbs and apartments, but if you're
going down the short term rental route, then make sure
you understand the cancelation clauses very clearly. There have been
some tightening of the rules in Italy lately. Yeah, you
just want to make sure that you know exactly what
(29:15):
you're going into.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
All of those activities.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Flights and accommodation are best done well in advance, and
I would say as soon as you know, or six
months at least if you have that opportunity, is a
great upper time. I wouldn't leave it much longer than that,
especially if you are traveling between May and October and
you've got some really specific places that you want to stay,
or you're particularly fussy. You're going to have the best
(29:40):
choice if you book those now or as soon as
possible for summer. If you plan to rent a car,
do this as soon as possible too, especially if you're
traveling at peak periods and or you want an automatic transmission,
as those get snapped up pretty quickly as they're not
the most common type of car in Italy. Trains can
be booked weeks out, but I tend to do them
(30:02):
about three or four months out, and as can activities
like tours the coliseum or Vatican museums. If you do
have a specific time in mind, though, it's best to
book early and with the transport you can get some
savings by doing that. Lastly, very popular restaurants may need
to be booked six months in abouts. Also, my classic
(30:23):
example of Rossoli in Rome is just it's impossible to
get into now, really, so I've let it go. I've
let it go. I can't get organized to do it,
so sorry Roscholi. It's just it's a little bit too hard. Anyway,
if you plan to travel this spring or summer to
the major tourist areas, the time to act is now,
(30:44):
I would say, And that is now is the end
of December and first few weeks of January. I would
say this is also the case for the autumn and
full season two. So September and October are becoming very
very popular months to visit thanks to the lovely weather.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
And perceived fewer crowds.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Well, there are fewer Europeans traveling, so that's probably why
people are choosing those months. Of course, if you're going
to lessen own areas, the timing is not as urgent,
but we still do see accommodation in Pulia and Tuscany
in particular get booked up very early, sometimes twelve months
in advance.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Now here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Some people love trip planning and getting in the weeds
with transport booking systems and logistics, and for others it's
the thing of nightmares. Well, they simply don't have time
or don't know where to find the places and experiences
that I have in mind. In this case, it is
absolutely the best idea to call in the professionals who
will get you organized in no time. Of course, our
(31:44):
travel planner Is are ready to help with any of
your trip planning needs across Italy.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
We have an unparadibled.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Depth of experience and knowledge that we are able to
share across team members that other planners and travel agents
may not have. And as I mentioned, we love to
help people realize their dreams and help you travel in
the way that you want to.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
We're not here to tell you what to do. We
respect your travel style and are here to enhance your.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Experience in Italy by smoothing out logistics and finding those
special accommodations and activities that fit your group perfectly. You
come with the ideas, we help you make it happen.
And if you simply want to relax into Italy and
feel part of it, the ultimate escape is to join
one of our beautifully hosted untold Italy tours in the
regions of Italy like Tuscany, Pulia, Sicily and Umbria.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
You can simply skip the noise and join us.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Or they're also planned so that they depart from the
largest cities like Roman Florence, so that way you can
get your big city thrills first or when you've finished
the tour. But in the meantime, we wisk you away
into the countryside where we have an Italian adventure like
no other. Our incredible, wonderful hosts are there to make
sure that you have the experience that you've been dreaming of.
(32:54):
If that's one where you escape to the beautiful countryside
or coast and you feel part of the Italian lifestyle. Our
tour itinery is a plant, but there's always time for spontaneity.
So if a guest wants to hug a giant olive tree,
or go off with their partner, or a little gelato
walk or coffee or drink, or find a special place
(33:18):
that you know that they want to find a special
place related to something that they've read that's on our route,
will do our very best to make that happen. Your
host knows how to read the room and always finds
ways to surprise you, and they are the ultimate gateway.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
To your experience.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Initially, many of our guests and clients try and mix
a match approach, which in fact some people have called
an Australian style of travel.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Well, I don't know if it's Australian, but it makes
sense to me.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
You can plan some things on your own and then
get some help for other things, or have a fully
hosted experience.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Like I said, we just want you.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
To have the best time, so you choose the way
you want to do that, and if we can, we'd
love to help you. And the reality is, whichever way
you like to travel, there is an option in Italy
for you. If you're traveling independently, We've got some carefully
research and updated resources on our website and app to
smooth out your planning, and if you need some help,
(34:12):
of course we're.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Here for you too.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
So I hope you're now well equipped to start planning
your twenty twenty six trip. Use the downtime between Christmas
and New Year wisely and you'll be all set. Italy
is waiting and as always you'll find everything we mentioned here,
including the step by step what you need to do
and when on the episode show notes on our website
at Untold Italy dot com forward slash three oh four.
(34:37):
We've included all those flight tracking details and all of
those things different flights coming in the documentation changes. Everything's there,
so you don't need to worry about going to research
it all.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
We've put it all there just for you.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
So I'm wishing you many happy travels in the year ahead,
and we'd love to know where you went and the
experiences and places that you loved. It's so fun to
hear where your Italian journeys take you. Coming up next week,
we're taking a trip around Sicily, but until then, it's
one and a happy New.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Year and chow for now.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
The Untold Italy podcast is an independent production podcast editing,
audio production and website development by Mark Hatter, Production assistance
and content writing by the Are they kJ Clark?
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Yes, there are two of us.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
For more information about Untold Italy, please visit Untold Italy
dot com.
Thinking about a trip to Italy in twenty twenty six
and not sure when to begin your planning. Right now
is a great time to start. In today's episode, we're
walking through the steps to build your plan, what travelers
should know about traveling to Italy in twenty twenty six,
and how to set your trip in motion.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Tawatuti and Benvenuti tu one told Italy the Travel podcast
to where you go to the towns and villages, mountains,
the lakes, hills and coastlines of Belli, Italia. Each week,
your host, Katie Clark takes you on a journey in
a search of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, the lato,
(00:43):
and of course a whole lot of pasta.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
If you're dreaming of.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Italy and planning future adventures there, you've come to the
right place.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Have you been telling yourself One day I'll learn Italian?
But then another year slips by. You watch others speak
easily while you still hesitate to say even a few words.
You buy the apps, bookmark the websites, maybe even take
a few lessons, but it never sticks.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Don't let another January come.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And go while your dream of speaking Italian stays on hold.
Let this be the year that you finally start or
push past that plateau once and for all. As Angela
from Australia said, I put my inability to learn down
to my senior stage of life. But with Intrepid Italian
it seems to just fit. Each new module inspires me
(01:39):
to continue. Whether you want to connect with your heritage
partner or even move to Italy. Michelle from Intrepid Italian
has a practical eighty twenty method that teaches only what
you need with no wasted time. Visit Intrepid Italian dot
com forward slash untold Italy to grab your free trouble
Phrase guide and claim an exclusive twenty dollar coupon to
(02:01):
use on any of Michelle's online courses. That's Intrepid Italian
dot com forward slash untold Italy to grab your free
treble Phrase Guide.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Hi. I'm Katie, the founder of Untold Italy.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
We're a modern travel company that hosts intimate, small group
journeys across regional Italy and we also assist independent travelers
with one to one trip planning services and we have
a travel app that is full of curated recommendations for
the whole of Italy from the top of the Boot
to the Toe. Every week on this podcast, we talk
with locals, fellow travelers, and experts so you can learn
(02:38):
more about Italy and focus on the experiences that matter
to you. Let's get into today's episode, c our friends.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas, and if you're
new here Benvenuti, welcome and we are so thrilled to
have you join us as you plan your trip to Italy.
And thank you to all our regular listeners for joining
us from all corners of the earth. We just love
(03:00):
our global community of curious travelers keen to open their
hearts and minds to Italian culture and their way of life.
The time just after Christmas when this episode is first
coming to you is peak travel planning season for the
year ahead, So today I thought i'd get you started
with our top general tips for planning your Italy trip,
but also some must know information for twenty twenty six. Specifically,
(03:25):
I am going to give you our general philosophy on
planning and enjoying travel in Italy and our step by
step guide to getting your trip planning and booking organized
so that you can make them most of the time
that you have available now.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
And then can.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Relax and get on with your life and knowing that
you have something really wonderful to look forward to in
twenty twenty six. Now, if you're still thinking about going
to Italy in twenty twenty six, this will be useful
for you too, And what I would say is just
do it. There is no best time or year in
your life to take the trip. You won't regret going,
(03:59):
but you will regret not going. Every year, things come
up at work or at home, prices go up, the
world goes a little crazy or even crazier. But spending
time in a different country, absorbing another culture, and taking
time out from your everyday life is actually priceless, and
you'll feel ready to take on any challenges that you
(04:21):
face when you get back home. Italy in particular, has
a way of soothing the soul like no other place
I know.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
So do it.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Go to Italy and enjoy every last minute because life
was meant to be lived, not trudged through. Now, before
I dive in, we will cover a lot of things
on the podcast today, So what I suggest is to
listen and absorb, and when you're ready, all the information
that we discuss is available for you as always on
the episode, show notes on our website and there will
(04:50):
be a link to them in your podcast app listing two.
So ANDIAMO, let's go straight up. I want to address
the elephant in the room, and that is how much information,
advice and opinions are out there on how to plan
your trip. It can be completely overwhelming, especially when the
advice is contradictory. And I think we all know what
(05:11):
I'm talking about. We're in an age of information overload
and it actually stops people from following their travel dreams.
We had a few clients this past year say exactly
that they desperately wanted to go to Italy, but were
so overwhelmed by choices and information that they just didn't
go in previous years. And that's a little heartbreaking, don't
you think. But I completely get it. Between Google, travel websites, Instagram,
(05:35):
and TikTok, which just seemed to spew forth travel ideas
like a perpetual fountain, it can be completely overwhelming even
for someone who knows Italy well, let alone if you're
a first time at Italy or haven't been back for
a decade or two. On any given day, I'm seeing
thousands of restaurant recommendations, unbelievable views, and travel tips.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Do this, don't do that.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Everything looks simply amazing, and you don't want to forget
anything you saw, just in case it's critically important.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
So you create a saved folder.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Of ideas in various apps, and the ideas just seem
to multiply like breeding bunnies. And then what happens is
you go to plan your trip and you don't know
how to pull it together into a cohesive plan that
suits your timeline or your budget, and so you throw
some ideas into chat GPT, hoping for the best, or
just to copy an itinery someone made on line, because
(06:29):
surely they know what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
People, they might know what they're doing for the type
of trip that they want, but is it actually what
you want out of your trip? Online itineries and chat
GPT force people down quite a predictable path, and that
means you end up following the crowds and or the
logistics don't quite work out, or it's just not realistic
for your budget. So what we're going to do here
(06:54):
today is break things down into manageable chunks so you
can get to the outcome a book trip to Italy
that you are completely excited about, one that makes your
heart seeing that is at a pace that is right
for you, and he's on budget. And if you're new here,
you're probably thinking, why should I listen to this Australian woman?
(07:15):
Isn't she just adding to the noise? And to that,
I'd say, of course. We create a lot of content
here online, on the podcast and on our other platforms,
but ultimately what we try to do it Untold Italy
is give you a thoughtful and curated approach to your
trip planning, whether you're traveling independently or joining us on
one of our small group tours. My team and I
(07:38):
have been doing this since twenty eighteen and help thousands
of travelers plan their trips to Italy each year. We
are either regular travelers to Italy and by that I
mean several times a year, or we live there. Among us,
we have decades of travel experience across the twenty regions
of Italy and have all traveled in different ways over
that time. We've been solo travel journeyed as couples with
(08:01):
friends and family with babies and kids, and aging relatives
on type budgets and with luxury in mind. We travel
by train, we drive, we go on tours. I think
you get the picture. We have a lot of experience
and the one thing that we know is that there
is no right way to travel Italy or any other
country for that matter. The only way to travel is
(08:23):
the way that suits you and the people that you're
traveling with. So it is critically important that you know
what you want out of your trip and what an
amazing time feels like to you. Many people want to
see the highlights in Rome, Florence, Venice via Malfy Coast
and Tuscany, and that is the classic first time as trip.
But how you see them is where things get interesting.
(08:45):
Do you want to go super fast and see as
much as possible or are you craving quieter moments where
you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. Do you love
art and history and want to delve into the context
behind them, or is your idea of a good time
zipping around Rome the back of a vesper. There's no
right or wrong answer here. What I suggest avoiding is
(09:06):
building an exhaustive list of places, and this might also
surprise some people, but also a huge list.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Of experiences or activities.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
We are in an age of experience driven travel, and
let me tell you, at any given moment, in any
city in Italy, you can do a cooking class where
you will learn to make spaghetti pomodoro that's just spaghetti
with a simple tomato sauce and chilimasu, which my eight
year old could make. Or go on a wine tour
or a market tour, or explore an ancient site.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I get the.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Feeling that some people think that they are missing out
or doing it wrong if they don't do some or
all of these activities, and that couldn't be further from
the truth. At its most wonderful, travel is what is
meaningful to you. Italy called you with a feeling, lean
into that and go from there. If you have zero
interest in ancient sites but are obsessed with trying a
(09:59):
five different carbonaras until you find your favorite, then that's
exactly what you should do. Skip the Colosseum tour and
eat your way around Rome. If you're looking for a
relaxing vacation, skipping the crowd of big cities might be
the best idea that you've ever had. What feels right
to you might be a week in a villa in
Tuscany or a musaria in Pullia, where you gather your
(10:21):
friends and family and make little forays into the countryside
for adventures. Maybe you're traveling with your elderly parents who
have always dreamed of seeing Italy and you want to
make that happen. Well, what you can do is help them,
help you and ask them what is their real dream.
It might be as simple as sitting in a sunny
piazza and wandering around small villages, and that's a lot
(10:44):
easier to organize than logistics around Rome and Florence and Venice.
And if you want to feel part of Italy and
don't want to drive or don't know how to access
the local experiences you've heard about, then there are options
for you too.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Once you work on what you really want out of your.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Vacation, then you'll be able to zone in on places
and experiences that are important to you, and you can
ask better.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Questions of friends.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Planners, Google and AI tools to get you started and
to help you pull your plans together. At this point,
you should start zoning in on when you want to
go and your budget. This will help refine things further
The good news is Italy is amazing at any time
of year, and you can do it on a pretty
small budget too. I can think of many great options
(11:31):
for every season and every budget, and that's really the
beauty of Italy. Because it is so diverse from region
to region, the feeling that you're chasing is there to
be found somewhere. Spring is one of my favorite seasons
to visit because the place is jumping with energy. Wildflowers
are in bloom and it's not so hot or crowded. Plus,
(11:52):
for all you vegetable lovers, it is artichoke season and
there are so many different ways to try them. Autumn
or fall is fantastic for the harvest and cooler temperatures.
I also love the festivals at that time of year,
and it's perfect pasta eating weather. Go for a long walk,
eat a plate of pasta, and then go for another
long walk. It's just my idea of heaven, really. And
(12:15):
earlier this year, we spent some time in Rome and
the Dolomites in winter and we had the most wonderful time.
Italian ski resorts are so friendly and fun, and Rome
was buzzing with locals. It's really not even that cold
there in Rome in winter, actually there's lots of blue
sky and crisp sunshine, which is.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
The type of winters that I really like.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
If you can only travel in summer, there are important
things to know about closures and places that get very
hot and crowded. They're not trip killers, but they're just
good to know. So we've got lots of resources on
our website that can help with that. Be super realistic
about your budget. Italy can hit the wall at hard,
but equally you can find alternatives that are much more affordable.
(12:58):
We have a budget calculator on our website that can
help with this. Your main cost will be accommodation and transportation,
so if you don't move around so much, you can
reduce quite a few big chunks of cost that way,
and accommodation can be as varied as you like. So
here you have a good foundation to start from. You
have the feeling that you want from your trip, you
(13:19):
have when to go, and a rough budget.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So what you can do from there is really.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Zone in to your desires and then refine things a
bit further. So, as an example, if you want a
quiet summer beach vacation in Italy, but are on a
tight budget, the Amalfi Coast might not be the best choice.
In fact, it definitely isn't. Your hard end bucks are
going nowhere fast there. There are plenty of other options.
(13:46):
For example, just south of the Amalfi Coast is the
Chelanto Coast, which is absolutely beautiful and far less crowded
and expensive. And from there you can even dip into
the Amalfi Coast and see what all the fuss is
about from a less crowded ferry or even by renting
a boat. So you see here that a bit of
thought can help drive better queries for your research. And
(14:08):
in this case, I'd be looking for budget alternatives to
the Maufi Coast in summer rather than looking at a
Maufi Coast trips.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
For example, Once you know what.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
You want out of the trip and you have your
timing and budget all organized, the logistical planning can really begin.
The first part really doesn't need to take long at all,
maybe even an hour or so, but if you skip it,
you're going to go round and round in circles. So
I really really encourage you to really have a think
about what you want out of your trip, have a
good thing about when you can go or when you
(14:39):
want to go, and also the budget. And at this
point I would get at your map or Google maps
and start plugging your rough ideas out.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
It is absolutely critical.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
That you do this, as you might have found, say
a good price for flights into Milan, but it is
a four hour train journey to get to Naples from
there and then another couple of hours travel to get
to the Amalfi coast. So you see that logistics can
put us better in the work sometimes. Now, most flights
into Italy from outside Europe arrive into Roman and Milan,
(15:12):
but there are decent connections to Venice, Naples and Catania
in Sicily also, and later on in this episode, I'm
going to tell you about some new flights that are
coming into Italy which are quite exciting actually, so like
it's really good to have an idea of where the
flights are going, but not get too hung up on
that because as I said, most arrive into Roman Milan,
(15:34):
and it's generally best to fly direct into Italy as
there will be options that might be cheaper to transit
through Europe.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
But you know, this is where things go a little
bit wrong.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I find when you're trying to swap planes or carriers
in Paris or Amsterdam or Berlin or somewhere like that,
it can be a bit messy. So if you're just
staying in Italy, I would suggest flying straight into Italy
and choosing train transportation from there. And just on the
subject of trains, you'll need to work out if you
want to really travel by train or by car or
(16:07):
a combination of both. And if you've been listening along
for a while, you'll know that the general rule is
that if you're traveling between the major.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Cities and tourist areas, the train is the best and
the most efficient option.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
If you want to see the countryside, you'll likely need
a car or expect to be spending a lot of
time in transit, and this is where compromises need to
be made. If you have a two week trip planned,
it's generally best to visit three to four places if
you like a medium paced trip, and then from there
working out a logistics plan is really important.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
This is where a lot.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Of people get tripped up, and it's actually the main
reason why people hire us to help plan their trips
and a big reason for joining one of our small
group journeys around regional Italy, and honestly, this is where
travel planning services are so useful. You can save yourself
hours going around in circles trying to figure out travel routes,
which a lot of the time, I've got to tell
(17:06):
you are not well documented on Google for a variety
of reasons, but number one is that a lot of
the Italian transport companies do not publish their schedules the
way that we kind of expect they would, especially if
you're going outside the major tourist areas. So yeah, if
you're getting stuck, there is a reason and it's not.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
You, and it's a good idea to get help at
that stage.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
But once you have a rough plan in place, then
it is a very good idea to book your flights.
A general rule of thumb is around six to eight
months out from when you're due to travel is when
you will find the best prices. But if that's not possible,
don't worry. Just set up a Google flights alone for
your dates that you want to travel and you may
be able to catch a bargain.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Let's take a quick moment. We'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Planning your own Italy trip. But feeling overwhelmed. Our consulting
services give you personalized guidance based on years of insider
knowledge and local relationships. Learn more in the show notes.
Now I'm going to cover things that you need to
think about for twenty twenty six and this time last year.
Everyone was bracing themselves for chaos in twenty twenty five
(18:21):
thanks to the Vatican Jubilee, but in the end it
turned out to be a travel year just like any
other in Italy, except a little busier in Rome, especially
around the Vatican, but that was to be expected. The
popular places were popular and crowded as always, and the
Vatican Jubilee year finishes actually in twenty twenty six, in
(18:42):
January sixth, so for most of us it will be
over and it'll be kind of like a normal travel year.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
I don't know what that is, really, but we'll find out.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
I guess there are some big events happening in twenty
twenty six though, that are good to know about so
that you can adjust plans as necessary, be prepared. And
first up is the Winter Olympics, which is going to
be held in Italy this year from February fourth to
twenty second, and that's going to be in and around
Cortina da Pezzo, up in the north of Italy and
(19:14):
close to Milan, So if you're traveling around this time,
there will be some traffic and congestion, no doubt. And
you know they are generally places though that are visited
by skiers and winter sports lovers, so it doesn't include
general tourist traffic. What I would say is in Milan,
which is honestly one of the world's most expensive cities
(19:34):
when it comes to accommodation, I think they are trying
to coincide with some of the fashion week activities around
this time also, so if you're thinking of going into Milana,
will be getting onto booking your accommodation very very quickly.
And also if you're considering a winter or skiing trip
to Italy in the coming years, watching the coverage is
(19:54):
going to be so much fun as you're going to
get a lot of great ideas. It is really really
fun to be up in the north of Italy in winter.
They do everything incredibly well. Everything is so clean and
organized and tasty, and it's just.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I think some of the very best bits of Italy.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Actually, don't tell anyone I said that because I'm not
supposed to have favorites, so after the main Winter Olympics,
the Paralympics will follow those events in March, and again
there'll be additional traffic in those areas. Also in twenty
twenty six, Venice cana Vale, which is their big celebration
that they have every year that runs the seventh to
(20:35):
the fifteenth of February, so that smack bang in the
middle of the Olympics, and it looks like northern Italy
will be the place to be if you're a lover
of the Vesper Scuta brand, true icon of Italy. They'll
be celebrating their eightieth anniversary in twenty twenty six and
there are a series of events known as Vesper World
Days planned in Rome from June twenty fifth to twenty eighth.
(20:59):
I think that's going to be very cool and fun.
I was hoping I'll be there for that, but I
think I'm going to miss it. And another very impressive
anniversary is the eight hundredth anniversary of the deaths of
Saint Francis. And this is a very significant event or
series events that will be marked across the country because
Saint Francis is the patron state of Italy and he's
(21:22):
very important to Italians, not just from a religious standpoint
but also culturally. So we'll be doing a full episode
on this topic in a few weeks, because even if
you're not Catholic, it's really very interesting to learn about
the philosophies of Saint Francis and how his teachings have
shaped Italy as a country and the way it is today.
(21:42):
So really the main major events will happen in the
first quarter of twenty twenty six and then we will
roll into more of a standard travel year. And as
I said, who knows what that means. Ever since I've
been doing that, we've had all sorts of crazy things happened,
But yeah, I think it'll be There won't be too
many disruptions that have been in previous years. And if
(22:02):
you want to stay on top of what's happening around
Italy in terms of local events, we keep the premium
version of our Untold Italy app updated with local food
and community festivals and more.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
And often it's hard to find these online.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Because you can ask Cassie on our team because she
lives in this small town in Abruzzo and she said
to me, oh, I think it was around the middle
of December. I think we're going for a meeting to
discuss what's happening about Christmas, And that was like, as
far as everyone here was concerned, Christmas.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Is already halfway through.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So Italians don't really you know, they don't really advertise
some of the fun local festivals that are fun to
take parties, so you definitely want to know about them,
and we do our very best to keep people updated.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
To buy the app.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Some things to keep in mind for twenty twenty six
that are not event related, but they are some changes
happening to require documentation and rules to travel to Italy
and travel around Italy. So if you haven't traveled to
Italy in the last six months or so, there is
a new process on arrival, which is the EES or
(23:09):
the European Union Entry and Exit System, and this is
basically collecting passport and biometric data when you arrive, and
it's the standard process now in many countries, including the
United States, and it's not something you can opt out of.
So it's good to be aware because it may delay
some of your processes going in and out of the country.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Something people got a little bit anxious about last.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Year due to exaggerated media reports, but it is actually
likely to happen later in twenty twenty six, and that
is the introduction of the newts or visa waiver system.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
And this is essentially an online.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Pre registration system that is similar to esther what travelers
from many countries need to use to enter the United
States or the ETA to enter the UK. There's no
official start date or confirmation of the process at the
time we're recording this, but it's just to be aware
of and it's really no big deal. You'll just have
(24:07):
to enter your passport and travel details into their system
and pay a small fee and the waiver will be issued.
That applies not just in Italy but across the European Union.
And like I said, we will let you know as
soon as the roll dates are announced and it's official,
because that's what we've always done here at Untold Italy.
We do not report rumors, so when it's ready to go,
(24:28):
we'll do an announcement on our channels. It's probably likely
only going to affect people that are traveling later in
the year. A process that is expanding to sixty days
now is the Venice Tourist tax collection and these tax
targets day trip visitors to Venice, and the number of
days it applies to has grown for twenty twenty six
(24:50):
to up to sixty.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
We'll link to.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Our article on this tax in the show notes so
you can check the dates. But it's worth noting that
you do need to apply for a waiver if you'll
pla to stay overnight. Even though it's a tax on
day trippers, you won't need to pay a fee, but
you do need to show that you have an exemption.
But don't worry, they have other ways to tax you
if you're staying overnight, of course. Now something new that
(25:15):
will be implemented from twenty twenty six is an entry
fee to access the front area of the Trevy Fountain
in Rome. This is very new news and it was
announced by the city's mayor about a week ago and
it's designed to protect the monument from the thirty thousand
plus daily visitors, which is an incredible number of people.
And I think last year they said they had a
(25:36):
total of nine million visitors. And if you've been in
that area, it's really quite small, like it's not a
stadium size to hold that many people, So you can
imagine that they're trying to think of ways to keep
people moving around. Four hundred people will be able to
access the front of the fountain at any time, which
I guess is good for photos but maybe not for
(25:57):
the vibe. So to be clear, you'll you will be
able to see the fountain from the existing barriers. You
just need to pay if you want to get up close.
It was announced that the fee would apply between nine
am and ten pm, so I think we can all
have a good guess at what will happen in the morning. Anyway,
there are no further details as yet on how the
(26:17):
implementation will work, and we will keep you posted. Another
development in Rome, which as a train and archaeology nerd,
I'm pretty excited about because I actually think this one
has been over twenty years in the making. Very exciting news.
The Colisseum Metro line seas station is finally open now.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
The line CE isn't particularly.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Useful currently unless you're saying in the Pinetto district, but
it will be an important link through Rome when new
stations open at Piazza Benezzia sometime in the next twenty years.
I guess the challenge has always been the need to
navigate investigate the ancient Roman ruins of the area before
tunneling through to create the metro lines. And fortunately the
(27:01):
Italian government take this very seriously. It's really important, I think,
to preserve their heritage. The new metro station is like
a mini museum showing artifacts found in the construction, so
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Now.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Lastly, there are some new flight routes announced going into Italy,
including direct flights from JFK Airport into Bari in Paulia
starting in June with Italian air Company Nios and Newark
Tobari on United starting in May. If you're flying from Canada,
there will be flights direct to Palermo in Sicily from
(27:35):
Montreal on Air Canada for the epeak season. And for
our friends on the US West Coast, Alaska Airlines will
fly direct from Seattle to Rome starting at the end
of April twenty twenty six. Most of these new flights
will be running seasonally from May through to end of October,
which gives you a very good idea of when peak
(27:56):
season is. No doubt, there's going to be more things
to consider that will come up throughout the year, and
of course we keep you updated via the podcast, our
newsletter and alerts in the Untold Italy app.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
There is a lot of.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Things to stay track of in travel generally, so it's
always a good idea if you are traveling. You want
to sort of balance the bit about being overwhelmed to
just having a good idea of what's going on now.
I want to take you through a rough order of
when to book things for your trip, and we have
this nicely laid out in lots of detail in our
article on how to book an Italy trip, but here
(28:31):
is a quick summary, and this is based again on
years and years of experience. If you're joining a tour
or a trip that travels around parts of Italy or
like a cruise, lock in those dates first.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Otherwise the first step is to book your flights.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Accommodation is next, and you know at this stage of
the planning because things can be a little.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Bit fluid and you might need to change.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
We always try to get flexible cancelation if possible these days,
personally prefer hotels over airbnbs and apartments, but if you're
going down the short term rental route, then make sure
you understand the cancelation clauses very clearly. There have been
some tightening of the rules in Italy lately. Yeah, you
just want to make sure that you know exactly what
(29:15):
you're going into.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
All of those activities.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Flights and accommodation are best done well in advance, and
I would say as soon as you know, or six
months at least if you have that opportunity, is a
great upper time. I wouldn't leave it much longer than that,
especially if you are traveling between May and October and
you've got some really specific places that you want to stay,
or you're particularly fussy. You're going to have the best
(29:40):
choice if you book those now or as soon as
possible for summer. If you plan to rent a car,
do this as soon as possible too, especially if you're
traveling at peak periods and or you want an automatic transmission,
as those get snapped up pretty quickly as they're not
the most common type of car in Italy. Trains can
be booked weeks out, but I tend to do them
(30:02):
about three or four months out, and as can activities
like tours the coliseum or Vatican museums. If you do
have a specific time in mind, though, it's best to
book early and with the transport you can get some
savings by doing that. Lastly, very popular restaurants may need
to be booked six months in abouts. Also, my classic
(30:23):
example of Rossoli in Rome is just it's impossible to
get into now, really, so I've let it go. I've
let it go. I can't get organized to do it,
so sorry Roscholi. It's just it's a little bit too hard. Anyway,
if you plan to travel this spring or summer to
the major tourist areas, the time to act is now,
(30:44):
I would say, And that is now is the end
of December and first few weeks of January. I would
say this is also the case for the autumn and
full season two. So September and October are becoming very
very popular months to visit thanks to the lovely weather.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
And perceived fewer crowds.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Well, there are fewer Europeans traveling, so that's probably why
people are choosing those months. Of course, if you're going
to lessen own areas, the timing is not as urgent,
but we still do see accommodation in Pulia and Tuscany
in particular get booked up very early, sometimes twelve months
in advance.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Now here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Some people love trip planning and getting in the weeds
with transport booking systems and logistics, and for others it's
the thing of nightmares. Well, they simply don't have time
or don't know where to find the places and experiences
that I have in mind. In this case, it is
absolutely the best idea to call in the professionals who
will get you organized in no time. Of course, our
(31:44):
travel planner Is are ready to help with any of
your trip planning needs across Italy.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
We have an unparadibled.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Depth of experience and knowledge that we are able to
share across team members that other planners and travel agents
may not have. And as I mentioned, we love to
help people realize their dreams and help you travel in
the way that you want to.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
We're not here to tell you what to do. We
respect your travel style and are here to enhance your.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Experience in Italy by smoothing out logistics and finding those
special accommodations and activities that fit your group perfectly. You
come with the ideas, we help you make it happen.
And if you simply want to relax into Italy and
feel part of it, the ultimate escape is to join
one of our beautifully hosted untold Italy tours in the
regions of Italy like Tuscany, Pulia, Sicily and Umbria.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
You can simply skip the noise and join us.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
Or they're also planned so that they depart from the
largest cities like Roman Florence, so that way you can
get your big city thrills first or when you've finished
the tour. But in the meantime, we wisk you away
into the countryside where we have an Italian adventure like
no other. Our incredible, wonderful hosts are there to make
sure that you have the experience that you've been dreaming of.
(32:54):
If that's one where you escape to the beautiful countryside
or coast and you feel part of the Italian lifestyle. Our
tour itinery is a plant, but there's always time for spontaneity.
So if a guest wants to hug a giant olive tree,
or go off with their partner, or a little gelato
walk or coffee or drink, or find a special place
(33:18):
that you know that they want to find a special
place related to something that they've read that's on our route,
will do our very best to make that happen. Your
host knows how to read the room and always finds
ways to surprise you, and they are the ultimate gateway.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
To your experience.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
Initially, many of our guests and clients try and mix
a match approach, which in fact some people have called
an Australian style of travel.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Well, I don't know if it's Australian, but it makes
sense to me.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
You can plan some things on your own and then
get some help for other things, or have a fully
hosted experience.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Like I said, we just want you.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
To have the best time, so you choose the way
you want to do that, and if we can, we'd
love to help you. And the reality is, whichever way
you like to travel, there is an option in Italy
for you. If you're traveling independently, We've got some carefully
research and updated resources on our website and app to
smooth out your planning, and if you need some help,
(34:12):
of course we're.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Here for you too.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
So I hope you're now well equipped to start planning
your twenty twenty six trip. Use the downtime between Christmas
and New Year wisely and you'll be all set. Italy
is waiting and as always you'll find everything we mentioned here,
including the step by step what you need to do
and when on the episode show notes on our website
at Untold Italy dot com forward slash three oh four.
(34:37):
We've included all those flight tracking details and all of
those things different flights coming in the documentation changes. Everything's there,
so you don't need to worry about going to research
it all.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
We've put it all there just for you.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
So I'm wishing you many happy travels in the year ahead,
and we'd love to know where you went and the
experiences and places that you loved. It's so fun to
hear where your Italian journeys take you. Coming up next week,
we're taking a trip around Sicily, but until then, it's
one and a happy New.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Year and chow for now.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
The Untold Italy podcast is an independent production podcast editing,
audio production and website development by Mark Hatter, Production assistance
and content writing by the Are they kJ Clark?
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Yes, there are two of us.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
For more information about Untold Italy, please visit Untold Italy
dot com.
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