Italy is an amazing country to visit, offering distinct sceneries like the extraordinary Tuscany, astonishing ruins like the Colosseum, museums, churches, wine and a lots and lots of amazing food. Along with the famous cities like Rome and Venice these are the lesser well known destinations; the Lake District in the North of Italy, Tuscany & Umbria, the Amalfi Coast or the stunning islands of Capri and Sicily all the way south of Italy.

When making plans to travel to another country it is always a good idea to do some research on your destination. Attempts to understand and respect other cultures and their traditions will always be appreciated and make your holiday more enjoyable.

There are many things to consider when you go to Italy. Besides the eating and drinking habits of the Italians, you should also look into dress codes. I am not talking about having to wear designer clothing but more what kind of clothing. If you like to visit churches then you should know that in most churches dress codes and rules are mandatory. If you have bare shoulders or knees, some churches will not let you enter, especially in Rome at St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums and at the Basilica di San Marco in Venice. If it is to hot outside then just bring something to cover up with you.

The weather in Italy in the summer months can be very hot so choose light clothing to take with you. Dont forget your sunglasses, hat and sun cream as it is easy to get sunburn if you are walking around all day sightseeing. Short thunderstorms in the afternoon are frequent in Rome and inland cities, so it might be advised to have an umbrella with you.

If you are leaving some of your family members behind and you would like to call them once in a while just to let them know what a good time youre having, it might be a good idea to or buy a telephone card and use public phones. If you are bringing your mobile with you, you can also buy an Italian pre-paid card + top-up and call your family via the Italian Mobile network. Italys country code is 39. Some of you might even bring the laptop along. Skype is one of the easiest ways to call people from all over the world for very little amount and if you call someone on their laptop it is for free.

As with any city, be wary of bag snatchers and pickpockets. Put your money safely in a money belt or a purse on a string around your neck and conceal them under your clothes. There are many gypsy children in Rome who are accomplished at picking pockets so be careful.

Choosing Italy as your holiday destination is a great choice. Now you know which part and city of Italy you would like to explore the next step is which kind of accommodation you would like to stay. The types of accommodation are endless, from luxury hotels and hostels to bed and breakfasts, apartments and guesthouses. There are plenty of cheap hotels in Rome and other cities in Italy as well. If you are looking for something different then know that Italy has a type of accommodation called Agriturismo. These are definitely different from any other hotel. For example, all meals usually are prepared from freshly grown produce from the farm itself. Regardless of the country surroundings, the accommodation isnt always basic, many Agriturismo resorts offer a high standard of lodging, and some even have swimming pools. Most of the Agriturismo resorts are located outside of the cities.

Hotels are the most popular type of accommodation to be found in the cities of Italy, their ranking is from one to five stars but is slightly different from other countries. For example, you have chosen the city of Venice. Mostly, a cheap hotel in Venice is very basic with a bed in a private room but you will have to share a bathroom and breakfast wont be included. Two-star hotels generally give the option of a private or shared bathroom, will provide a TV and breakfast, but dont expect anything overgenerous. Facilities and services depend entirely on the hotel. Three-star hotels should provide satellite TV, a telephone and a bathroom with bidet. Again it depends on the hotel; some might have minimal facilities, whilst others will have large airy rooms, tasteful furnishings and a full breakfast. Rooms in four-star hotels should be quite large and include facilities such as a telephone, satellite TV and bathroom. Expect plenty of choice at breakfast and on site facilities such as a bar and free ADSL.

Whether you are intending to visit a popular Italian city such as Rome, Venice, Milan or Venice or heading to the country, like Tuscany, for a quieter break you will meet the friendly people of Italy and a belissima experience.