The larger
cities and towns are connected by flights provided by the national
airline, Alitalia. Smaller airlines include ATI, Alisarda and Aligiulia.
Flying in Italy is expensive compared to the train but it can save
you a lot of time. If you are prepared to arrive and return on certain
days, airlines will often give you a discounted fare, but your reservation
will only be accepted if you are booking the flights from Italy.
For more details on flights you should contact the Alitalia office
(www.alitalia.com) or your nearest travel agent.
Note that infants under the age of two, accompanied
by an adult, can get a ninety percent discount on internal flights;
children over two years old but under twelve can receive a fifty
percent discount; and travellers between the ages of twelve and
twenty-one can get a twenty-five percent discount.
The fastest, cheapest and most convenient way
to travel around Italy is by train. Train information is available
from the Uffici Informazioni at most of the major railway stations,
or listed in the telephone directory under Ferrovie dello Stato.
The official railway website is www.trenitalia.com. You can also
telephone 147 888 088 which is a local call from anywhere in Italy,
has English speaking operators, and is usually open between 8am
to 9pm.
Local trains are called Locale, Diretto, Interregionale
and Espresso. The fastest and most comfortable trains however are
InterCity, EuroCity and Eurostar, but they are also more expensive.
The fastest of all is the Pendolino, but this requires seat reservation,
as do the IC/EC/ES, which can be done at any travel agency or at
the train station. Like the airlines, good fare reductions are available
for groups and young travellers. Tickets are valid for two months.
You must always remember to get your ticket stamped in the station
before boarding your train.
Each area, or province, in Italy has its own inter-city
bus company, and each company has its own lines. Coaches are a good
way to travel, especially though mountainous areas where they are
generally faster than trains.
There are a lot of private companies that operate
ferry (traghetto) and hydrofoil (aliscafo) services between the
mainland and Italy's many large and small islands. Hydrofoils
are faster and more expensive than the ferry, but they are subject
to choppy and high seas, which force them to reduce their speed
to that of a ferry. You can purchase your tickets from travel agents
and ticket offices at the port, and it is advisable to purchase
them in advance. For up to date information on times and prices
for ferries and hydrofoils you should visit www.gruppotirrenia.it.
Taxis are found at taxi ranks or contacted by
phone. They are not hailed in the street. Extra charges will be
incurred for night rides, luggage, Sundays and public holidays.
The general rule is to leave a small tip, rounding off the fare
to the nearest Euro.
Car rental
is expensive in Italy, as is petrol. Ensure the price you are quoted
for the rental includes VAT (IVA), which is 19%. You must be over
18 to rent a car and have a full drivers licence. A deposit equal
to the cost of hiring the car is usually required or the imprint
of a credit card.
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