Five Tips for Maximizing Your Italy Travel budget

A guest post by Cecil Lee:

Italy is undoubtedly one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe and is the 5th most visited country in the world. Its rich cultural and historical features have earned Italy the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites-currently 44-and draws over 40 million international travelers each year.

For many of us, traveling to Italy is a dream comes true and it’s not always easy for a budget traveler to make the most of his trip. With the strong Euro, high tourist demand and an elevated standard of living, traveling to Italy can be prohibitively expensive.

But don’t let that stop you! Here are five tips that may help you cut or maximize your Italy travel budget.

1. Spend more time in each city
Instead of rushing around the country from city to city, plan to spend more days in each destination … and cut your transportation costs. Day trips from one base hotel or B&B are often cheaper-and more fulfilling-than checking into and out of hotels every few days.

2. Eat like a local
Only tourists each out each meal-to maximize your budget, plan on purchasing food items like cheese, bread, fruit and cold cuts that you can leave in the refrigerator at your B&B. You’ll save money and have a more authentic experience.

3. Book local transportation and accommodations in advance
You’ve heard “the early bird gets the worm,” right? Well, he also gets the best deals. Book your local trains, rental car and B&B early to ensure you get the best price. Many family-owned hotels, B&Bs and agriturismi fill up quickly, leaving last-minute travelers with expensive hotel or resort options … so plan ahead.

4. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Breakfast is often included in the price of your hotel or B&B, yet many travelers sleep late or miss the planned breakfast hours. Plan to eat breakfast at your B&B every day and save your euros for things that really matter … like an afternoon gelato.

5. Avoid Tourist Traps

Locals know the best places, the least expensive pizzerias and the best bargain shopping centers and supermarkets. So ask them. Your hotel or B&B staff is a great resource, but also ask for local suggestions from friendly people you meet on the train or on the streets. Don’t ask where you should go, though. Ask them where they go – it’s not always the same thing!

I hope these tips will help you plan your next trip to my favorite country … bella Italia. What other tips do you have for maximizing your budget in Italy?

Cecil Lee is an avid traveler who is also a passionate travel blogger and travel photographer living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He writes about travel for MNUI travel insurance and on his own travel photo blog, Travel Feeder.

*All photos courtesy of Cecil Lee, Travelfeeder.com