Traveling to Italy can be full of surprises -- good and bad. Here, I've highlighted 15 surprises you will want to be prepared for before you go:
- Automatic vehicles are not widely available. If you don't know how to drive stick-shift, you may want to learn!
- Cars are broken into and stolen with high frequency. Don't leave valuables in your rental car, keep luggage and important things out of sight, and be sure to lock it.
- Many hotels push twin beds together to form a double or king size bed. Be prepared to fall between the crack!
- Dates are shown in Day/Month/Year. This can really mess some people up when booking hotels or making restaurant reservations.
- Times are indicated in a 24-hour clock. So, learn what time it is when the time reads 18:45.
- Salad is considered a side dish, not a starter. No meal in Italy starts with a salad.
- Salad dressing is oil and vinegar, period. Don't ask for Thousand Island, you'll be met with a blank stare.
- Topless sunbathing is quite common on Italy's northern beaches. (OK, some of you may find that a pleasant surprise!)
- You don't flag a taxi cab. They will ignore you! Instead, walk to a taxi stand and wait in line for your turn at the next cab.
- Follow the speed limits. If you don't, you could be pulled over and ordered to pay the fine on the spot. Or, caught on camera and mailed a fine (if renting, the fine will be sent to your rental car agency who will then send you a bill.)
- There is no right turn on red.
- It is extremely difficult to pay for gas with a credit card, especially after operating hours.
- If you ask for a Martini, you will receive vermouth.
- You will not receive a bill after your meal until you ask for it.
- Returning a purchased item (even if it is flawed) is widely unacceptable. You buy it, you're stuck with it!
