Traveling to Europe (Italy) for the first time.

superhappypanda

So it looks like I'll have some time on my hands come April/May and was thinking of heading to Italy for a couple weeks. I was hoping to get some advice on this as it's the first time I'm leaving North America (US and Canada) and am not really sure what to expect. I was going to be flying out from Seattle and was looking at renting a villa or small apartment around Tuscany or Umpria, possibly Campania. What should I expect to budget for something like this outside of my airfare and lodging (how much should I tip the owners of the villa)? Ideally I'd like to spend some time in a smaller town and do something like ride a bike in, hang out, relax, eat, drink, etc. I'm not much for clubbing or anything like that. I'd much rather spend time with the locals rather than doing a bunch of touristy stuff. I was also thinking about taking some cooking lessons while I'm out there too. It's something I've really come to enjoy doing and would love to pick up some tips while I'm out there. Also, I'll most likely be going by myself on the trip since most of my friends can't make it right now.

BlindZenDriver

Sounds like a nice plan to me. It is a great area and you have picked a nice time of year to go as well.

As for cost of lodging, food and so on that depends a lot on location and food habits so it is hard to tell. I'd suggest getting a travel book or two about going to Italy - that should tell you a lot and also point out stuff you may not have thought of.

You can get a small start here: visititaly.com/ (although I suspect you may have been to that site already :-))

Platy

Tipping isn't customary in Italy, although that doesn't mean you can't leave a tip. Tips are also not expected in restaurants since most charge you a separate service fee.

Although you said that don't want to "touristy stuff", I'd definitely suggest taking trips to Rome and Florence.

superhappypanda

I'll probably make a day trip to Rome. Depending on how close I am to Florence I might do a few days there. Honestly, the idea of just hanging out with the locals in a small town for a week or two, drinking, reading, walking through the countryside sounds ideal. Im trying to find this villa that offers cooking lessons too since I really want to learn some tips. But in a nutshell, slow, peaceful and recharging. The last 3 years have been a physical and emotional roller coaster for me so I want to take it kind of slow.

Of course that could all change by next year and I might want to get back to skydiving, rock climbing and try surfing or diving off the coast or do more of a road trip adventure and only book a day or two in a locale and be on the move the whole time.

Iceman.USAF

I swear by Rick Steve's guidebooks. I've used a few and they've been awesome. Here's the Italy 2013 one.

dexter

Watch out for Gypsies. They're really tricky, you could probably find examples online of the sorts of scams they pull on you.

ie- one asks you for directions while another pick pockets you.

Also, I know you specified you wanted to stay around the North, but just incase: stay out of the South unless you have family there. Rome is fine but Calabria, Sicily etc. aren't places I'd recommend you wander around on your own.

Learn a few phrases (assuming you aren't Italian speaking) but know that each region has a different dialect and way of pronouncing words - you should be fine if you stick to the North though.