Buongiorno Italia!

As much as I love France it's time to move on. Luckily the next stop is an amazing one. Italy. So many cities to visit, so little time, but luckily it's very easy to visit multiple cities in less than 5 days. Now is definitely the time to improve your time management skills.

Luckily you're still using the Euro so there is no need to exchange currencies. The economy was definitely hit hard by the recession and it's slowly making it's way back just like the rest of the world. But keep in mind that Italy is known for its higher prices; it is still a fairly touristy destination. You can always find great deals if you look hard enough. While I was in Italy the best thing I bought was a leather bracelet in a marketplace. All of my friends got matching ones and we still have them to this day. So spend less and focus more on making memories.

Best airlines from Paris to just about anywhere in Italy: Easyjet. If you don't mind flying to another city first and then catching a connecting flight to Italy use Wizz Air or Smart Wings. Keep in mind that with these discount airlines you may have to fly out of one of the smaller Parisian airports and usually land in a more rural airport of Milan or Rome. Either way it's definitely worth the price.

Getting around Italy: trains, trains, trains. Tren Italia is your best bet for inexpensive train rides. You've probably heard a lot about Eurostar and the Eurorail pass but for a student it is truly a rip off and will cost you an arm and a leg. Just make sure you don't decide to buy your train tickets last minute during a holiday weekend-- especially Easter. My friends and I bought our train tickets from Venice to Florence last minute during Easter weekend and ended up having to spend extra on first class tickets since second class was completely sold out. Plan ahead and save money.

Another tip: watch out for pickpocketers. Italy is notorious for them. As long as you are a smart traveler and always aware of your surroundings this won't be a problem. Don't be the dumb tourist.

These tips should help during your entire stay in Italy, in my next post I'll go into specifics for multiple Italian cities.