Things to know before you travel to Italy

Tourist Offices:

In the United States: 630 Fifth Ave., Suite 1565, New York, NY 10111
(tel. 212/245-4822; fax 212/586-9249); 500 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2240,
Chicago, IL 60611 (tel. 312/644-0990; fax 312/644-3019); 12400 Wilshire
Blvd., Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (tel. 310/820-0098; fax 310/820-6367).

In Canada: 1 place Ville-Marie, Suite 1914, Montrial, PQ H3B 2C3
(tel. 514/866-7667; fax 514/392-1429).
In the United Kingdom: 1 Princes St., London W1R 8AY (tel. 020/7408-1254;
fax 020/7493-6695).

The Italian National Tourist Board sponsors the site www.itwg.com
The Italian Government Tourist Board site is www.enit.it

Passports/Visa Requirements:

A U.S. PASSPORT or valid entry document is necessary to enter Italy. A VISA IS NOT REQUIRED for a U.S. or Canadian citizen holding a valid passport unless he/she expects to stay in Italy more than 90 days and/or study or seek employment. It is suggested that non-American citizens check current visa requirements with the nearest Italian Consulate before departure.
For visa information please visit: www.italconsul.com

Currency

The new monetary currency is the Europe which is divided as follws: Bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 Euros, and 20 and 50 cent coins also. Toursist can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM machines, or exchange office at airports, seasports and railway stations in the main cities. All major credit cards are accepted throughout Italy.

American Express: Offices are found in Rome at Piazza di Spagna 38 (tel. 06-67-641), in Florence on Via Dante Alighieri (tel. 055-50-981), in Venice at San Marco 1471 (tel. 041-520-0844), and in Milan at Via Brera 3 (tel. 02-7200-3693). See individual city listings.

Business Hours

Regular business hours are generally Monday to Friday 9am (sometimes 9:30am) to 1 and 3:30pm (sometimes 4) to 7 or 7:30pm. In July or August, offices may not open in the afternoon until 4:30 or 5pm. Banks are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 1 or 1:30pm and 2 or 2:30 to 4pm and closed all day Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays. The midafternoon closing (riposo) is often observed in Rome, Naples, and most southern cities; however, in Milan and other northern and central cities the custom has been abolished by some merchants. Most shops are closed on Sunday, except for certain barbershops that are open on Sunday morning and tourist-oriented stores that are now permitted to remain open on Sunday during the high season.

Electricity

The electrical current in Italy is AC - the cycle is 50Hz 220 V. A tourist carrying electrical appliances to Italy should have a transformer, either obtained before leaving your country or bought at an electrical appliance shop in Italy. Plugs have round prongs, not flat, therefore an adapter plug is needed.

Embassies and Consulates

In case of an emergency, embassies have a 24-hour referral service.

The U.S. Embassy is in Rome at Via Vittorio Veneto 119A (tel. 06-46-741; fax 06-488-2672). U.S. consulates are in Florence at Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38 (tel. 055-239-8276; fax 055-284-088) and Milan at Via Principe Amedeo 2-10 (tel. 02-29-03-51-41). There's also a consulate in Naples on Piazza della Repubblica 1 (tel. 081-583-8111). The consulate in Genoa is at Via Dante 2 (tel. 010-58-44-92). For consulate hours, see individual city listings.

The Canadian Consulate and passport service is in Rome at Via Zara 30 (tel. 06-445-981). The Canadian Embassy in Rome is at Via G. B. de Rossi 27 (tel. 06-445-981; fax 06-445-98754).

The U.K. Embassy is in Rome at Via XX Settembre 80A (tel. 06-482-5441; fax 06-487-3324). The U.K. Consulate in Florence is at Lungarno Corsini 2 (tel. 055-284-133; fax 055-219-112). The Consulate General in Naples is at Via Francesco Crispi 122 (tel. 081-663-511; fax 081-761-3720). In Milan, contact the office at Via San Paolo 7 (tel. 02-723-001).

The Australian Embassy is in Rome at Via Alessandria 215 (tel. 06-852-721; fax 06-852-723-00). The Australian Consulate is in Rome at Corso Trieste 25 (tel. 06-852-721).

Rest Rooms

All airport and rail stations, have rest rooms, often with attendants, who expect to be tipped. Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, gas stations, and all hotels have facilities as well. Public toilets are also found near many of the major sights. Usually they're designated as WC (water closet) or donne (women) or uomini (men). The most confusing designation is signori (gentlemen) and signore (ladies), so watch that final i and e! Many public toilets charge a small fee or employ an attendant who expects a tip, so always keep a few 200L and 500L coins on hand.

Safety

Italy has a low rate of violent crime, little of which is directed at tourists. The most common menace, especially in large cities, is the plague of pickpockets and roving gangs of Gypsy children who virtually surround you, distract you in all the confusion, and steal your purse or wallet. Never leave valuables in a car and never travel with your car unlocked.

Time

In terms of standard time zones, Italy is 6 hours ahead of eastern standard time in the United States. Daylight saving time goes into effect in Italy each year from the end of March to the end of September.

Tax Free Shopping in Italy (IVA Refund):

Although normally shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30/4 p.m. to 7:30/ 8 p.m., in large cities and tourist areas there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m to 7.30 p.m. with possible variations from town to town. Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim are found in many Italian cities and towns and are open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Some excellent purchase options are: Clothes for men and women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts); lacework, jewelry, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver items, alabaster, woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal ware.

THE IVA TAX IS 16.67% of the purchase price of nearly everything sold in Italy. Non-European residents shopping in Italy can claim a refund of IVA on each purchase that exceeds 300,000 lire. There are no rebates of the IVA tax on hotels, restaurants or tourist services.

Upon making a purchase, the buyer must ask for an IVA refund. This form itemizes what has purchased and stares the refundable IVA amount. Stores that display a Global Refund “Tax Free Shopping” sign offer IVA refunds in cash upon departure from Italy, otherwise the only refund options are by credit card or by bank check. Bank check refunds should be avoided, as fees to cash them in the USA can be very expensive.

As with all exports, purchases must be declared at the Custom Office upon departure from Italy or the European Union (EU) and a validation stamp must be obtained. Validation stamps can be obtained at the Customs Office of an Italian airport only if purchased goods are shown first to the Custom Officer and then inserted immediately into the luggage to be checked in for final destination outside of the EU. If the purchases will remain the traveler’s carry-on luggage, the customs stamp can only be obtained at the Custom Office of the EU airport where the travel will be in transit for final destination outside of the EU. If the traveler is departing the EU by train or car, the customs stamp for Italian IVA refund form must obtained at the border (travelers are departing the EU when they cross from Italy to Switzerland).

Stamped Global Refund Checks can be exchanged immediately for cash or credit card refund at the nearby Cash Refund Office. Allow two to three billing cycles for a credit card refund. All other IVA refund forms should be sent to their respective stores within 90 days of the date of the receipt. On receipt of this stamped form the vendor can then forward the IVA rebate to the tourist who made the purchase. For more information about shopping tax free in Italy call Global Refund at 800-566-9828 or
visit their web site at http://www.globalrefund.com.

Tipping

--This custom is practiced with flair in Italy--many people depend on tips for their livelihoods. In hotels, the service charge of 15% to 19% is already added to a bill. In addition, it's customary to tip the chambermaid 1,000L per day; the doorman (for calling a cab) 1,000L; and the bellhop or porter 3,000L to 5,000L for carrying your bags to your room. A concierge expects about 15% of his or her bill, as well as tips for extra services performed, which could include help with long-distance calls. In expensive hotels these lire amounts are often doubled.

In restaurants and cafes, 15% is usually added to your bill to cover most charges. An additional tip isn't expected, but it's nice to leave the equivalent of an extra couple of dollars if you've been pleased with the service. Checkroom attendants expect 1,500L, and washroom attendants should get 500L to 700L. Restaurants are required by law to give customers official receipts. Taxi drivers expect at least 15% of the fare. Taxis are readily available throughout the country and rates are comparable to those charged in the average U.S. and Canadian cities. Meters are provided and fares are displayed. It is recommended that only yellow, medallion metered cabs be used.