Italy has been a popular holiday destination all year – and one traveller has revealed how he managed to keep his costs down while spending an entire month in the sunny country. He spent four whole weeks on a jaunt around Italy including Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Florence, Tuscany and Sicily.
Actor Tommy Hatto, 28, from Swindon, offered some budget and travel tips as well as recommending the best places for tourists to visit while in the Mediterranean. Tommy, who also founded wellbeing company THO and posts about his travels on his website spoke to travel site Omio to share his top tips.
He explained: "Travel is one of my passions and I encourage anyone to travel. It really has helped me grow so much as a person, and it's hugely supported my own wellbeing.
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"My favourite places were Capri and the Amalfi Coast. To me, these just bring that whole classic Italian vibe to life. I'm a big ocean guy, so getting to swim in crystal clear blue waters and sailing around Capri on a yacht was absolutely an incredible experience. Some of my favourite memories of heading down to the quiet bays in the evening and going for late-night swims just brought so much peace."
But, how can you keep costs down? While the pound is stronger than the Euro we brits can still find a deal when on holiday in the EU. Plus, the cost-of-living in Italy is lower than in the UK – making well chosen restaurants and hotels within reach of avid savers, but you still have to be careful as the cost can rack up.
Tommy commented: "I can speak semi-fluent Italian, something I started learning after my first few trips to Italy. I think having a basic understanding of the language can really go a long way, and could actually save you money! We've got free drinks just from having great conversations with the locals and making friends. You never know how it can come in useful in the future!
"Also, don't just go and see the typical tourist sites if they aren't high on your priority list. I didn't end up seeing the Blue Grotto because I actually wasn't too fussed about seeing it versus what you would pay and the time taken up. I love walking and exploring the cities opposed to catching public transport, as I find myself finding local cafes and streets, which I never would have stumbled across before."
Picking up a few terms and phrases in Italian may be easier than you think, but researching your destinations well will also save you a fortune – street food and popular takeaway pizza joints can sometimes see you spend less than £5 on a meal as they don't add 'coperta' (a table tax). There's even a pasta place by the Spanish Steps – Pastificio Guerra – that offers a generous portion for £3.46.
Hotels or rooms further out from city centres are likely to be cheaper. In terms of transport if you want to visit several places then it might be cheaper to find the lowest cost flight you can to an Italian city and then hop on the train. Italy’s train system is much cheaper than the UK’s and you can often travel for hours for £20 or so.
But, planning such a large trip is also a big part of the experience and Tommy had some advice for how to make it a successful holiday. Apparently, you should aim to pack in lots of different types of town and terrain.
He commented: "When I plan trips away, I always try to have a mix between city exploring and then beach relaxing, so that's how it was decided. So it was a case of city exploring in Rome and Florence, but those relaxing coastal breaks in between, such as Capri and Sicily. Prior to going abroad, I was also looking at how much it would cost to travel from each place to the next so that played a factor in the plan as well. Whilst I was there, I used public transport to get out and about, including the train and bus!"
Finally, if you’re thinking of planning a long trip around the country of pizza and pasta then the actor had some "hidden gem" recommendations. He thinks they’ll manage to take your holiday to the next level.
Tommy said: "As for hidden gems, there are quite a few quiet bays in Capri that the locals use. I'd recommend finding some quiet ones and away from the main lagoons. It's just so peaceful getting to swim at dusk and evening time when the weather isn't so hot."
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