Vatican City is surrounded by the city of Rome. Since 1870 the Pope has now resided in the Papal Apartments. Before the Pope lived in the Quirinal Palace which has now become the residence of the president of Italy. The Pope lives in the official residence of the Papal Apartments from the months October to June and then has a separate residence in the summer months July to September at the Castel Gandolfo.

The Papal Apartments include 10 rooms. Including the Pope’s bedroom and the private study. From the Pope’s private study is where the Pope blesses the pilgrims that visit Saint Peter’s Square every Sunday. With each incoming Pope the Papal Apartments are renovated with a design that the new Pope requests. The last time the Papal Apartments had renovation was in 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. There apparently had been large drums that where placed in the ceilings to catch the water leaks before the renovation. It took three months to finish the last renovations.

One of the benefits of this though is airlines are trying to scramble to fill their planes at the last minute. Using websites such as ours can find you great deals at the last minute. Also looking at other places to fly into with in Europe can help save you money. Combing a cheap flight and trip to Italy on the EuroRail can save you hundreds of dollars.

Once you have arrived in Italy the second best bet to save money is in hotel accommodations. The easiest options are the more expensive so stay away from the bigger hotels in the heart of the bigger cities such as Rome and Florence. A better bet is to look ahead for apartment rentals. These can hold more people and can be rented out for different lengths of time giving a better discount. Also look just outside the major cities for better deals. For example if you are looking to spend time in Florence look into staying in Tuscany. You can find better deals and Tuscany is minutes outside Florence.

The Europrail is on of the best options for one to take when crossing Europe. When planning their trips many decide to include Germany, Austria and Italy in there travels. Luckily one Europrail pass covers these countries along with 17 other countries under one price. The price will vary for how many days of travel one is looking to go on. The passes can also be broken down into regions for a cheaper price.

When looking to travel from Germany to Austria you are given over 20 different train locations inside of Austria to pick from. This allows you to have many options to visit. The travel lengths will vary quite a bit to the different locations in Austria. Then when you are ready you can jump back on another train and hop on over it Italy. A great way to travel is using night trains. These night trains have rooms that you are able to use for the night. Depending on your travel party the size of the rooms vary. Many times you can get a room to yourself though. Instead of spending money on a hotel now you can travel while sleeping and arrive refreshed in a new location.

Throughout Italy in major cities there are train stations that allow you to travel from the northern most point to the southern. You can easily get on but avoid rush hours as many of these trains are used for business travel for the locals. I recommend staying away from the roads if you are not familiar with the area either in Italy or Greece as the roads can be worn down and directions can be skeptical.

When traveling between the two countries there a variety of options. Trains can be great if you are either trying to get to Venice from Greece or leaving from Venice to Greece. When you are at the southern part of Italy though it can take up to two days. If your are around Rome it is quicker to take a train to Bari then ferry to Patras. This will allow you to enter the train station at Patras and be able to access all of Greece. These trips do take time though. For the business traveler it is better to access Rome and catch a flight into Athens. This takes about two hours. The rest of the other options take up at least a whole day but can provide a unique experience for tourists.

It is impossible for one to be able to see all of these landmarks in one trip. They range from the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Colosseum of Rome. Lets take a look at some of the more popular landmarks in the country.

For most first time travelers to Italy, Rome is the place to go first. The Roman Empire might be the most famous empire of all time and their culture left a mark all over Italy and especially in Rome.

Besides The Colosseum many are in awe of the Pantheon because of is history in ancient Roman culture. The Forum in Rome is also a must see as it once was the center of ancient Rome. This is just the start of Rome. There are many other places to visit such as Florence to see the resting places of Galileo and Michelangelo and much more. With the numerous amounts of landmarks in Italy, a trip is an experience you will never forget.

It was reported over one weekend last year that there was 1,500 accidents that included 80 deaths around the country. Then the next weekend followed with 40 more deaths. The death total in Rome alone makes it fifty times more likely that you will die there instead of places such as London and Los Angeles. Make sure when driving that you are always aware as it can be dangerous at times in Italy.

Unfortunately even in cities such as Rome the roads are poor and you can face large delays when driving by car. Add on to the fact that a fourteen year old will be able ride a moped legally there you find a variety of different things you need to worry about when driving. Luckily the train service across Italy can get you around these crazy times. The trains are very reliable in Italy but because of this they are very busy during rush hours as many locals use them. Every major city in Italy has a train station and they are all interconnected.

Driving in Italy on vacation is not recommended but luckily the trains can get you around.

Controversy over pets on the trains has been at a boil since 2007 in Italy where a women complained that an insect that came off of a dog bite her. This has led to changes over the rules over and over again over the past view years. At first they decided that all dogs either needed to be in a container or be on a leash with a muzzle.

Then late 2008 what came a new law that outlawed our furry friends on the trains. Out lash from dog owners quickly followed. It was estimated that 170,000 people traveled with pets last year in Italy. In November the laws changed once again. First no animals would be allowed on the high speed Eurostar. Secondly dogs have been banned during rush hour time in the morning 7-9. The rest of the day they can travel on the rest of the trains as long as they are in a case or muzzled with a leash.

There are actually a large amount of companies offering Single Travel packages. They will help you get together with other singles your own age that are looking to escape their reality. You can make a friend for life on a single travel vacation.

Italy actually has a variety of different options when looking for single travel. There is a company called Singles Travel that specializes in this field. They put on a trip to Italy at least once a year and it is considered one of the best experiences in the field. The trip is a seven night adventure that takes you through the cities of Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terra, Sienna, and San Gimignano. With this travel as in many of other single tours throughout Italy they split your time in between guided tours and free time on your own. This way you can enjoy both and spend time in Italy at the parts you prefer.

With these tour guides you are able to get a package that can outlay all of the expenses you are going to have. This will shield you from the unexpected charge that can happen on some vacations. Also with these tour guides you have a variety of different options. You will be able to judge tours by costs, length and sites to be seen.

When choosing a guided tour make sure you look to see what each trip entails. Many times people are upset in the fact they do not get enough time to spend at each event while other want to hit more locations in a day’s time. Looking for the correct balance for your family can be key between a great trip instead of just a good one. Also when looking for tours see which ones include meals. Many times they will leave you on your own for a lunch or dinner. Using a guided tour can be a great way to explore Italy. Just do your research before signing up.

One option that can easy your mind is to use a travel consultant. Because of the high level of tourism in Italy there are plenty of options when looking for a consultant. Let us take a look at what these consultants can do for you. The best of these consultants will help with your arrival and departure times, plan your trip itinerary, provide transportation and find places for you to stay during your trip. This will allow many to step back and just enjoy their trip.

Using a consultant lets you have them cater the trip to your needs making it better than relying on a tour group. With a group you will have to stick on their schedule with a consultant, you give them the parameters. One of the better companies in Italy is Unusual Italy to get a personalize itineraries for you and your family. They have a network of different places to stay and when you talk to them they will explain how they can make the best trip for you.