Marche

My granddaughter aged 22 and I will be taking a guided tour of Italy the latter part of May. All of our breakfasts are included and 4 dinners. We will be in Rome 3 nights, 2 nights in Tuscany, 2 nights in Venice, 1 night in Assisi, and 2 nights in Capri. I would think the included dinners would take care of expensive dining. What kind of prices can we expect for the other meals--medium priced restaurants? Is it best to pay with a credit card or cash? If by card, do we include the tip on the card or keep euros to leave on the table for the tip?

It is my granddaughter's first trip out of the country except to walk across the border into Mexico. I have done much traveling in earlier years, but am rusty on the current dos and don'ts.

From postings I read this a.m. apparently, we are trying to see too much in too short a time, but the tour is already purchased so will have to go with it.

All help appreciated including names of restaurants. What about going to an open air market and buying items to make our own lunch?

Dukey

2 nights in Tuscany..exactly WHERE?

How much do you EAT?

adrienne

Just like at home, Italy has restaurants in every price range. Did you see this thread with lots of restaurant recommendations?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...urants.cfm?152

I usually use a credit card in restaurants (but some restaurants do not accept credit cards so have cash on hand). Tipping is optional (everyone has their own thoughts on this) but you can leave a small sum on the table for the server; don't put the tip on the card.

Everywhere there are bars that serve inexpensive sandwiches, pizza, tartines, etc. Eating standing up is the least expensive option. Sitting at an outside table is the most expensive. I would not spend the time to find a street market since food is everywhere.

If you're trying to save on food do not eat near the tourist sights as the prices are higher than they are just a few blocks away.

In addition to suggestions here, almost every guide book gives restaurant recommendation by price range. Let's Go books give good suggestions on inexpensive eating.

I wouldn't bet that the included dinners will take care of expensive dining. Usually tour food is pretty mediocre unless you're on a very upscale tour that goes to the good restaurants. If you're on a budget tour you'll get budget food. Spend some money on at least one good dinner. And don't forget to eat lots of gelato (ice cream)!

suec1

My first trip to Italy was a tour - I had a great time, so fret not - you will see alot of the "A sights" without having to figure out getting around and often without waiting in lines. I do think it will be pretty intense but you can nap on the bus. But the included food may be mediocre which should be a crime in Italy where decent food does not have to pricey. I think sometimes they try to cater to American tastes and serve boring food.

So if it were me, I plan to spend some money for dinners and lunches on my own but I am a foodie. I suggest you pass on the optional, pricey dinners that may be offered and head out on your own. Do some lunches at the bars or takeaway places but for your extra dinners try to find a mid-priced family owned place - Many places have antipasto bars with delcious roasted vegetables, then you could get a pasta and main course to share. House wine is usually available and not bad. Esp. for Rome you may just want to explore near your hotel - do you know where you are staying, if you post that you might get some suggestions. I would guess maybe around 50E for two would get you a very nice evening - maybe some other posters could give their cost guesstimates.

zeppole

Italy is the land of doing "too much" for everybody, and sometimes all the yelling about not doing too much is for travelers who are booking their own trains and buses, checking in and out of hotels, hauling their own luggage -- all to go to the exact same places your bus is going. They don't end up actually spending any more time seeing the sights than you will even with all their rules about "always 3 nights in one place."

So enjoy your trip!

Going to an open air market or even a good store is a great way to enjoy Italy, and you can get great fruit, sliced meats, cheese and some prepared dishes. Just be aware that markets, outside or inside, close by 12:30 and don't re-open until 4pm.

I second the suggestion that you invest in a guide like Let's Go or Lonely Planet. These are guides really geared toward young travelers who don't have much money, so they include lots of tips about eating smart and cheap in Italy.

Suec1 is giving you good tips too but I live in Italy, and I'm a foodie too, and I am less enthusiastic about trying to locate a "special meal" in a restaurant in the places you are going that isn't a budget buster. It's a bit the same problem as New York. I wouldn't stress that. Better, to me, is if you spy a nice pizzeria with a good roasted vegetables table, go in there. Your hotels may have some good tips too.

But if you know your hotels already, I'm sure people will be happy to help if they know of nice places nearby.

Ann1

I would suggest using a cc as much as you can. If you choose to leave a tip, I would leave it in cash. Tipping is not the norm in Europe but because Americans are used to it, waiter do expect something...not 15%, less.

One thing to remember is if you use American Express be prepared to have a Visa or Master Card with you. A lot of places are not accepting American Express anymore. And as mentioned before, many places are not accepting any credit cards at all anymore so be prepared with cash.

julia_t

When I travel with either of my young daughters I budget on 50 euros per meal for the two of us, which usually will include a carafe of wine and/or a soft drink. We always have tap water in Italy rather than bottled water.

Sometime we spend a bit more more, sometimes a bit less. But that is a good average price for what is generally a good meal of probably 3 courses.

Yes, 20 euros a head not including drinks in a restaurant is very easily achievable.

suze

Sure, if you can find open air markets, making a picnic lunch is a wonderful idea. Or even from a regular grocery store or bakery.

nytraveler

Unless you are taking a VERY upscale tour the dining on the tour will be inespensive and edible - not a whole lot more. Tour groups don't provide upscale meals.

That said you can eat at almost every price point - but do realize that due to the value of the dollar - and that you are likely in more tourist oriented places than the one in which you live - expect to pay somewhat more for the same type/level of meals.

sarge56

Well, the Euro today is down to $1.36. Love that! More than a dime cheaper than when I went in 2007!

Marche- have a wonderful time! How lovely that you are traveling with your granddaughter! I hope to take mine to Italy one day! (I may have to wait a few years... she's only 5!)

Buon viaggio!

zeppole

nytraveler,

I didn't know you took tours. Which ones have you been on in Italy?

Yep. The exchange rate is getting much better.

Marche, have a great trip! Don't stress the food issues.

(sarge56, 5 year olds are very popular in Italy.)

nytraveler

I have been on 2 tours - neither in Italy - but know people who have taken them. Food is NOT a highlight - versus what you can get in even a modest restaurant on your own (definitely true of Perillo and somewhat of Tauck). Very few tours - and then only specializd ones - offer more than very basic meals IMHO and that of friends.

Marche

We will be taking a Globus tour. The hotels are as follows--Rome: Visconti Palace, Tuscany: Settentrionale Esplade at Montecantini, Venice: Principe or Boscolo Bellini Residenza, and back to Rome: Villa Pamhili.
Dukey, she eats very little, and I eat too much.
Thanks for the thread about restaurants, adrienne. That is a new one to me. We'll start looking there.
Sarge, this is the first of 4. The next will be in 2 years. I am trying to take them wherever they want to go so long as I can physically do it. My knees don't like to climb very well. That 5 year old will grow up in a hurry.
zeppole, I have a couple of DK books, and a couple of Fodors, but I will certainly look at Lets Go and Lonely Planet.
Thanks to all of you for the info. We don't go until May so have a little time to look into all of this.

Marche

suec1

I think the tour I was on years ago stayed at the Visconti Palace - I think it is on the Vatican side of the Tiber - in that case you may want to head to the Trastevere part of the city for an eveing meal - very lively, lots of restaurants, great atmosphere. We ate there one night and had a most interesting experience. The restaurant owner came out with his guitar and started singing (as I suspect he did every night) but then from an apartment across the street came the sound of some modern rock music - loud. The old man strummed and sang, louder - the rock music was cranked up LOUDER and so it went for quite a while. Amusing battle of the bands and generations too, I suspect.

LSky

When we went to Italy I had read in a guide book, "you'll never find a bad meal in Italy." This seemed to be true but only if you didn't eat on a tour. Unfortunately, we took a tour.

When we broke away from the tour and found little places on our own, it was great. It's not much help but imo, after eating on the tour, everything tasted wonderful.

1Ready2Go

Have a wonderful time with your granddaughter. My first (and only) trip was a Globus tour with my 16 granddaughter the summer of 2008. It included Italy, Switzerland, Paris and London. It was a very on the go tour, but we had a wonderful time, and it sure made it easy to have someone to get you to all the must sees, and have the admission paid for. Any free time we picked up things at a pizzeria, bakery, etc. so did not spend a lot on food. The dinners provided weren't world renowned, but they were bearable. We were so busy eating seemed to be the last thing on our minds.