Travel Anxiety in Italy, What Has You Quaking in The Boot?
Many of the questions we get here on ALOR Italy deal with one thing, travel anxiety triggered by visiting Italy for the first time. So in order to help you prepare for your trip to Italy, we thought we’d open the floor and ask. What do you fear most about traveling to Italy?
Travel Anxiety in Italy
Instead, you will find first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to travel in Italy from professional travelers who live in Italy. We focus on the most common cultural quirks about Italy that tend to unnerve first-time tourists in the hopes that it will help you prepare for your first trip to Italy.
This site does not contain medical advice. In case of an emergency while traveling in Italy, for immediate medical attention or to call an ambulance dial 112 from any telephone in Italy.
Since Paolo and I are both introverts, we have a lot of empathy for our follower travelers coming to Italy for the first time. We might be Italians, but as dual citizens, we’re also Americans.
That just means it’s easy for us to see why travelers can have travel anxiety triggered in Italy. Consequently, we always have you in mind when we approach topics for our articles about traveling and living in Italy.
One thing we know from your comments and questions is that travel anxiety hits early. Many of the questions we get about traveling to Italy are asked in the planning stages for a trip.
Today, we’re asking you about the most triggering parts of traveling to Italy from the beginning. We’ll start with planning and end with questions about your experience traveling in Italy.
As always, we’ll do our best to answer all of your questions either directly or in upcoming posts! So be to subscribe below to get all our tips to prepare for and travel in Italy, in your inbox.
Travel Anxiety in Italy Questionnaire
Look for information about common worries people have about traveling in Italy below the questionnaire.
Driving in Italy as an American
The single most important thing we can tell you about driving in Italy as an American is that there is a legal way to do so with an international driver’s permit. If you have the permit but still have fear about taking the wheel here are a few things to know about driving in Italy.
- Most highways in Italy are similar to those in North America and the rest of Europe. So getting from city to city is usually not too hard.
- Driving in small towns in Italy, along the coast, or through historic city centers requires a bit more confidence. Our recommendation is to find a parking lot outside the city center and walk in.
- Italians do drive more fluidly than Americans are used to. So don’t expect a rigid driving experience in Italy. Instead, try to go with the flow, but continue to follow the same traffic rules you would at home. For example, stop at red lights, don’t speed, and never drive drunk.
- Northern Italy tends to have more developed infrastructure than southern Italy and the same goes for roads. So if you’re nervous about driving in Italy, a trip in the north might be easier for you.
Not Speaking Italian in Italy
If you’re wondering if you can visit Italy without speaking Italian, the answer is yes. It just makes a trip easier if you do because many Italians outside of tourist hotspots don’t.
It doesn’t help travelers’ anxiety that recent news articles spun failing attempts by a few extreme politicians to make it illegal to speak English in Italy out of proportion. The truth is, even those politicians were talking about Italian officials working and speaking in an official capacity, not tourists.
That said, there are occasions when speaking Italian in Italy goes a long way with locals. The following videos will help!
Video Playlist to Prepare for Your Trip to Italy
Some people love the thrill of discovering something new. For others, being outside our comfort zone is unnerving. No matter what camp you fall into, our list is here to help. It focuses on common things that unnerve travelers in Italy.
As does our curated video playlist below featuring high-quality videos about traveling to Italy as a tourist.
Final Thoughts on Travel Anxiety in Italy
Knowing about cultural quirks ahead of time helps you prepare for your first trip to Italy. Thus ensuring you’re ready to relax and connect to the feeling of la dolce vita in Italy.
We hope talking about those jitters we all get when visiting a new country for the first time helps you feel more confident about your first trip to Italy.
Why You Can Trust Our Advice About Traveling in Italy
Since many of our readers are repeat visitors, our why you can trust us section is at the bottom.
There is a reason we are confident in the information we share about traveling in Italy. It is not just what we do for a living or who we are that counts. Our professional experience is what matters most.
We are Paolo and Brandy, co-owners of ALOR Italy and dual Italian American citizens.
Brandy and Paolo in Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Born and raised in Italy, Paolo received a degree in Business and Economics from the University of Torino and studied cinematography in Rome before becoming a professional photographer and published author.
Born in Iowa, Brandy received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications from The Ohio State University before becoming an Executive Producer in New York City, working for brands like Food Network, Discovery, InStyle, and HBO.
Together, we’ve traveled extensively throughout Italy since 2011. We also have almost 100 years of combined experience eating pizza in Italy, but who’s counting?
We co-founded ALOR Consulting in 2013. Since then, we have worked in the hospitality, food, and beverage industry. Our clients have included Hilton Hotels, Provenance Hotels, and dozens of restaurants, spirits, and brewery clients.
2019 marked the beginning of our journey toward early retirement when we moved to Italy. Now, we travel to Italy’s popular destinations and off-the-beaten-path gems from our home base in the Italian Alps.
What You’ll Find on ALOR Italy
Our motto is Live Italian because the secret to la dolce vita is having an Italian lifestyle mindset. Once you experience a slower pace of life in Italy, you can connect to that feeling and live Italian anywhere in the world.
ALOR Italy is Two Introverts Guide to Italy. We share tips to help you avoid crowds and save money on your next trip to Italy. Subscribe via email for a taste of la Dolce Vita in your inbox.
Medical Disclaimer
This site does not contain medical advice. The content of ALOR Italy including photos, text, infographics, maps, and references, are for informational purposes only. None of the content on ALOR Italy is intended to replace professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis.
Seek the advice of a physician or a qualified health provider with any questions about medical conditions including travel-related anxiety. If you or anyone close to you is experiencing a medical emergency call a doctor or 911 immediately. If you need immediate medical attention or an ambulance in Italy dial 112 from any telephone. Medical Assistance, Official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy
When I first traveled in Italy, what spun me out most were things being inconsistent; train information being wrong; things always in a state of flux. In my experience, now having been to Italy countless times in all sorts of places and situations, the best answer is to always ask yourself “what could possibly go wrong?” and then think, and prepare and make your plan around that thesis. Do not assume you are in Germany or Switzerland–things function differently here. Of course you can luck out and have everything operate like a clock, but be at the ready–always. You assume the train will be at this platform? Double check it, then triple check it. You assumed your ticket was stamped in the machine? Be sure–look carefully, did it do it? Because, it doesn’t always work. Most times it does, but “do not assume.” The ticket seller in the train station told you the train would transfer in this town on Sunday? Because of that assumption and believing that ticket seller, I make it a policy to NOT travel by train on Sunday. You can only imagine. Ask, check, double check. Have a back up plan.
Sounds like you definitely have plenty of experience and yes the trains (palm forehead!) Great ideas for fellow travelers.