T-ZERO DAYS until Italy, final logistics to-do list

Enjoy Italy. Wonderful, wonderful place- very normal but with the coolest vibe.Don't expect ice, trains are listed by their final destination, doors open in, you don't need an international drivers license, you can get euros easily anywhere ( a bit expensive at airport but convenient), water is fizzy, tipping is optional but accepted, cooks want to know how you meal was, croissants and gelato galore. Pisa overrated, Cinque Terre is close and a must. Rome is Rome, Venice might be coolest spot on earth. Early morning in particular as the merchants set up for the day. Saw not one car accident despite reputation, and felt very safe entire time there. Just random input- love that place.

Although my first trip to Europe is in a month, I wanna say not many men wear shorts over there. I recall reading that somewhere. Also, it might be a little chilly I'd imagine right now so you may not want to wear shorts and flip-flops? anyway.

You will not, generally speaking, see Italian grownup males wearing shorts in a city center. Jeans, yes...but shorts on adult men will not be a common sight. And certainly no shorts in a sit down restaurant. On balance, Italians still care about "Bella figura" and you will see lots of men in suits & great shoes. Sure, you'll see plenty of euro styled athleisure shoes, but they love loafers & cashmere. On an average day in Rome, if you see a guy in shorts & hiking sandals, he's a German tourist. LOL.

RE: traveling from FCO to Trastevere...follow the "Treno" signs in the terminal to the train station at the airport. Take the F1 train (listed as "Fara Sabina" for its end station)...departs about every 1/2 hour. You can buy a ticket from a machine or from a person (machine is easy enough)...stamp your ticket at the machine before you get on the train. While you wait for the train, get an espresso at the train station coffee bar and wonder why every hole in the wall in Italy can turn out a decent espresso at 1.50 euro but Starbucks can't manage it at twice the price.....

Get off the train at Trastevere station....exit the station (a couple flights of stairs, IIRC). Depending on where you are staying in Trastevere, you will probably need to walk through the drop off area in front of the station and go out to the middle of the street opposite the station to catch the #8 tram line (going toward the right if you stand w/your back toward the station). A tram ticket is 1 euro; you can buy one from the little store at the train station. Validate the tram ticket once you board the tram...the machine might be at front, or it might be midway down the tram car. Definitely stamp your ticket--the fine for riding w/o a validated ticket is fat (like 100 Eu). To determine which stop is closest to your lodging, use the ATAC website in English: you can look up your destination and plot the best stop: LINK . If you stay on until the Tiber river, you've gone too far.

If you like ancient ruins, consider a trip out to Ostia Antica...easy train ride, sprawling Roman era ruins with some preserved floor mosaics, small museum of artifacts, nicely preserved amphitheater. It was the ancient seaport of Rome.

Enjoy your trip....Trastevere is still a real neighborhood, unlike so much of Rome's city center.

Forgot to mention: on many trips thru FCO, I've found cashless ATMs. Perhaps I've just had bad luck to arrive after long holiday weekends when the cash machines don't get refilled, but I always land w/some euros in my pocket. I wanna be able to stagger over to the Taza d'Oro coffee bar & get caffeinated without having to find an ATM.

Your local bank can get euros with a few days' notice.

Hell, I once got to FCO for a 9 am departure and EVERY SINGLE restroom (men's & women's) was closed for cleaning. There literally was not a single available toilet in the entire terminal for 1.5 hours.

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Hitting Rome->Pisa->Florence->Venice

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you should skip Pisa and Venice.

One other tour we did in Rome that I highly recommend to everyone going was Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini. It's two old villas underground that were discovered during a renovation. They put glass floors and walls throughout the whole thing and use modern projection to enhance the areas that were destroyed over time. It was a nice, relaxing time and an awesome way to see preserved architecture that you would have to use your imagination for otherwise.

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Cash:

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Just get cash once you're there. It's easiest. As mentioned, the busier points in Rome and Florence (airports, train stations, markets, etc.) are notorious for pickpockets. Keep your wallet in your front pocket.

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Clothes

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Just dress like you normally dress. Don't wear flipflops in Rome or Florence. You're going to be walking A LOT. Plan your footwear accordingly.

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International driving permit:

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If you're driving, you'll need one. It only took me about 30 minutes to get mine at AAA.

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Toiletries

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Won't be a problem to get.

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Pisa

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Just show up as early as possible at the tower. There will be a line.

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Florence

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I'd stay in the city the full two days. You won't be able to see everything in a day. It's a great city, and you can get some beautiful views of the countryside from the top of the hill in the Medici garden behind the Palazzo Pitti (must see).

I went to Rome for the second time last month. Trastevere is a great neighborhood. Check out Bir and Fud, great pizza. And if you get sick of pizza and pasta, Open Baladin has a great craft beer selection and one of the best burgers I've ever had.

Enjoy the food. Drink the house wine (trust me). Take in the sights.

Here right now.. it's very warm. Didn't need a coat at all, just bring a light jacket

I've travelled to Europe for 25+ years and have been to Italy probably 15 times. I'll throw my two cents in.

Cash and payments: Put everything you can on a credit card, especially one that does not charge the usual 3% foreign conversion fee on purchases. In recent years, Visa and MC have come to be accepted by most businesses, just as in America. You likely will only need to hit up an ATM (with your debit card, not credit card) once or twice. Don't take out too much money near the end of the trip. It will cost you dearly to re-exchange back to dollars at a currency exchange!

Transportation: I always use the buses and subways in Rome. There are only two subway lines, so it's an easy system to navigate. I usually get a multi-day pass. The system is known as "ATAC" and below is a link (you don't need to buy the tickets until you get there, but this gives you an idea). Currently, a 48 hour unlimited use ticket is only 12½ euro. Pretty cheap if you ask me. Just make sure you keep your wallet in a front pants pocket if you're in a crowded bus or subway.

Rome Transportation System

When I arrive at the Rome airport, I just head for the taxi stand and take an offical cab to my hotel. No big deal. All licensed taxis have "Comune di Roma" decals (with the license number) on the doors. As others have said, the current official flat rate from the airport to central Rome (including Trastevere) is euro 48. Unless you have a lot of luggage, taxis should be able to accomodate 4 people. During the stay, only use these official metered cabs.

Safety: leave your passport, one credit card and any excess cash in a room safe if you have one. In fact, even if you don't have a room safe, your passport is probably safer at the hotel, than with you all day. Do make copies of your passport (ID photo page) and carry that with you, and only one credit card and money for the day. Your driver's license will be a handy official ID for renting those self-tour audio guides at museums. Never give them your passport to hold. Avoid crowds who are watching an argument or fight. IME, a lot of commotion means pick pockets are busy with naive tourists!

Trastevere is one of my favorite areas of Rome to stay! I also really like the Prati near the Vatican. Many, many small local inexpensive restaurants, trattoria, tavola calda and snack bars.