Venice, with Untour apartment stay-NEWBIE HERE!

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Permalink Reply by Henry Helvie on January 20, 2009 at 12:24pm

Hi Amanda, You cannot avoid money changing fees. I find that the best way to get local currency is to use your bank ATM card. Making purchases is easiest done with a credit card. Their use is as widespread overseas as here.
To avoid problems, call your credit card companies to let them know that you will be in Italy and the dates you will be there. Visit your bank and adjust your daily ATM withdrawal limit. Also let them know where you are going.
That said, relax and enjoy your trip. In Europe, many of the younger people speak English. You can get by in Italy with a few words and phrases and sign language. Read all the postings in Untours Cafe on Italy and general travel.
Have fun.
Hank H

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Vaden on February 15, 2009 at 7:53pm

Ciao Amanda-
I went to Venice alone from October 21-November 5, 2008. I loved it. I had a fabulous time. If you are interested; my trip reporte "Come un Sogno" which means like a dream in Italian is posted here.
I never felt unwelcome. Venice is used to tourists...they have been dealing with them for a very long time.
I had no trouble using my debit card from my credit union at ATM's which seem to be everywhere. I also used it as a Visa credit card at a store. You'll want to check with your bank to see what kind of fees they charge. Mine had a minimal coversion fee and a better exchange rate than if I had used an exchange service on arrival.
Everyone in the stores and restaurants spoke a basic English. I say that because when I attempted to engage some of them in conversation they admitted to not understanding. The one lady in a chocolate shop knew enough for basic transactions with customers but not to have a conversation. I speak only a few words of Italian that I learned from listening to Italian language CD's that I put on my iPod. The phrase I used most was "Mi dispiache, non parlo Italiano" which is "I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian". How much you will be interacting with locals in a city like Venice depends on what time of year you go as summer is really busy and it's really packed in Venice at the moment due to Carnivale....like our Mardi Gras...sort of.
Sorry I didn't answer you sooner as I haven't been to the Cafe in a little while.
Hope this helps and I'll be happy to answer any questions if I can. Oh, I enjoyed my Untours experience in Venice so much that I've prebooked for October of 2010.
One concern a lot of people have when traveling abroad...is it safe? I have never felt safer anywhere in the world than I felt in Venice. Even a woman walking alone late at night...never a problem. Like everywhere else be aware for your surroundings and if you are approached a polite but firm "no, grazzie" should do the trick. Unless of course you are interested in what they are offering. There are the usual pickpockets in crowded areas but since I travelled in a shoulder season I was never bothered. But I did keep my valuables where they weren't reachable.
Go, enjoy yourself whether you go alone, with friends or someone special.
Michelle

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Palmer on February 16, 2009 at 1:35pm

Michelle,

Thank you so much for responding! Over the last few weeks I have been combing over my Untours catalog trying to decide when I want to go. I appreciate you sharing your experience with me-it makes the whole process seem much less intimidating to hear stories such as yours. Thank you again!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Vaden on February 16, 2009 at 2:19pm

Enjoy your trip no matter where you decide to go. I suggest also checking out the forums on www.tripadvisor.com for your destinations. Lots of people asking questions and getting answers...sometimes good, sometimes not but it's a real traveling community. I met a woman on the Venice forum that led me to another group and I now have this delightful sisterhood of traveling women from all over the world and several of them plan to meet up with me in Venice next year.
Enjoy your planning as it is half the fun. You can start a blog here on your adventures in planning...that's what I did and I got all kinds of suggestions and helpful information.
Take care,
Michelle

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Permalink Reply by Lynanne Guynn on February 17, 2009 at 12:04am

Hi Amanda,

You probably read my blog - www.lynanneg.blogspot.com. I've been to Venice three times with Untours, and three times alone for two and three months at a time - always in June or July. Once I was there with Elderhostel seven days in October and there was acqua alta (high tides with flooding waters) for five of those days :-( No fun at all.

I'll get back with more later, but it's time for bed now.

Lynanne

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Permalink Reply by A. Key on March 7, 2009 at 10:57pm

Hi, we spent 3 nights in Venice in early October 2007. To comment on your specific questions: better to use credit cards and ATM cards than take a lot of currency. I taught myself a bit of Italian and was very glad of it. Even in Venice, inundated with tourists, when I phoned to try to book a water taxi the next morning, I first asked if we could speak in English, but he said 'no' (we were staying in a place with no front desk to help with this kind of thing). But usually you will find someone to speak English, especially in the tourist areas. But it is just polite when you're visiting someone else's country to at least learn their courtesy phrases. As for how you will be treated, again even in Venice which is swamped by tourists, everyone was helpful when needed. As general advice when traveling overseas, Americans are considered loud and brash and rude and people who, so to speak, take up too much space and wave too much money around. If your behavior is none of these, you are very unlikely to encounter any difficulty, especially in Italy. And maybe especially now with our new President, who is adored in Europe. May I suggest you read a Rick Steves guidebook; he talks a lot about how to be a respectful guest and how to have a meaningful travel experience. And if you want to contact me directly at cdaslick@hotmail.com, I can send you the portion of my trip log that concerned our long weekend in Venice. Happy travels!

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