đŽđš Letâs Save You Time & Money When Visiting Italy!
Weâve got all the tips and tricks you need to vacation smarter, including unlocking airline miles, loyalty points, credit card bonuses, verified traveler programs â more
Travel Like a Pro When You Need to Save Some Doughđ°!
Anyone reading an Italian-specific weekly newsletter is clearly the type of person who, in their ideal world, would be traveling to Italy as often as possible. But itâs not cheap. So today, letâs save you some time, money and hassle with tips and tricks to travel smarter.
Right out of the gate, it needs to be said: This list is not exhaustive! And everyone travels differently, so adapt to meet your preferences. And once youâve read our tips, send us yours!
Miles for Smiles
Take it from some of our Per Te readers whoâve played this game for decades: if you havenât already, itâs time to jump into the airline âď¸ miles game.
First, if thereâs a specific part of Italy you like to return to, find out which airlines serve the nearest airport (and your home airport â and donât forget to check partner airlines, too), and sign up for their loyalty programs. If youâre going to be making the trip often enough, the miles will add up. Once they do, youâll be in line for whatâs called an âaward ticket,â where you spend your earned miles rather than all cash. (Remember, you will still need to pay taxes and fees, which can vary wildly based on airline/transfer points.)
If your preferred program is North American-based, youâll also earn miles on local flights that you can pool up to use for a big international trip. While itâs good to be loyal to one airline for faster earnings, itâs always good to be signed up for many so that ANY flight you take is earning you miles for when you find a good trip to spend them on.
Give Credit Where Due â and Take it!
Hereâs another way to earn miles: Watch credit card deals. This one should only be considered if you have a good handle on your finances, because credit cards can quickly spiral out of control and lead to fees if one is not careful. But if you are diligent, youâll see cards offering as much as 100,000 points/miles for signing up and hitting target spends over a certain period of time. That many miles can take you back and forth to Europe easily â and under the right circumstances, twice. American Express, Chase, Capital One, and Citi offer their own loyalty programs as well, where you earn on every purchase, and you can book travel using their points or transfer them to partner airlines and hotels.
Stay Alert, and Be Flexible
Sometimes, our work schedules limit when we can get away. Other times, itâs up to us. When thatâs the case, let the calendar be your guide. Midweek flights often offer good deals. Fares will almost always be better in shoulder or off-seasons (check out when those are for where youâre going). Combine the two, and you could crack the code on an excellent deal. When youâve got a general time frame in mind, set an alert on Google Flights or your search engine of choice. Keep it flexible. Thereâs nothing better than a supersaver email alert landing in your inbox!
Membership Has Its Privileges: Verified Traveler Programs
Okay, weâve talked about airline and miles tips. Now letâs get down to the journey itself.
Who here likes security at the airport⌠No? How about customs re-entry? Yeahhh⌠we didnât think so! Want to skip a lot of the theatrics that go into those? Sign up for U.S. Global Entry and ditch almost all of that noise! Global Entry costs $100 for five years and comes with TSA Precheck domestically. That means faster security lines with fewer requirements (leave those shoes on and laptop in your bag!). When returning to the U.S., Global Entry will almost always zip you through customs with a less-than-one-minute scan at a kiosk and a check by an agent â no more hour-long waits for you! It will take you a few months to get through the application process, which will require an in-person interview, so keep that in mind as you plan your next trip. But is that minor hassle worth it for five years of less stressed travel and a simple renewal process after that? You bet.
Not in the U.S.? Canada (NEXUS/CANPASS) and other nations have their own versions of verified traveler programs. Check out whatâs possible in your neck of the woods.
When youâre someone who takes multiple international trips a year, any recouped time is something to savor.
Pack It Up, Pack It In⌠Letâs Begin
One last thing weâll mention today on traveling: How should you pack?
You should pack comfortably! Thatâs the biggest tip. You will be lugging around luggage no matter where you go, so the advice here is to keep it to a minimum. For one, your back will thank you! Whether carrying the weight of your luggage on your back, or stooping over and awkwardly twisting to roll it behind you, baggage takes a physical toll on you. This is true even more so on the kinds of streets and sidewalks youâll find in Italy (think cobblestones and narrow paths). Second, luggage costs money nowadays. The fewer bags you pack, the less you'll have to pay at the counter. By keeping it minimal, youâre also keeping costs down.
Weâve found that you can get almost anything you need once you arrive. Unless you are going to a really small town up in the mountains (in which case, cool!) youâll probably find that your hotel or short-term rental has that hair dryer you think you must pack! This is true of most things, especially in bigger towns and cities.
A handy and inexpensive item to buy for yourself as a frequent traveler is a handheld digital luggage scale. These little guys can help you stay under an airlineâs allotted weight limit for checked bags, as well as measure the weight of whatâs going on your back for carry-ons. If thatâs over 20 pounds, you might want to shed a few things!
Podcast Corner đď¸ Which Visa is For YOU?
Last week, we discussed renting property based on a visa. This week, letâs dig deeper into one of the biggest challenges of relocating to Italy: figuring out that visa maze.
If youâre not an Italian or European citizen, choosing the right visa is absolutely key for living in Italy longer than 90 days. It can feel overwhelming with so many visa types out there, each with its own rules, so we focus on the three most popular options: the Elective Residency Visa, the Student Visa, and the Digital Nomad Visa.
Letâs start with the basics â what exactly is a visa, and why is it so important? Think of a visa as your entry ticket; itâs what lets you apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno, or permit of stay, which youâll need to actually live here long-term.
First there is the Elective Residency Visa, sometimes known as the retirement visa. This oneâs ideal if you have a stable, passive income and dream of retiring in Italy. Then, there is the Student Visa, which is fantastic for younger folks or anyone looking to study in Italy. Finally, there is the brand-new Digital Nomad Visa â perfect for remote workers who want to live in Italy without needing a local job.
Throughout the episode, there are practical tips and insights to make the application process as smooth as possible. Preparation and a deep understanding of each visa type can make all the difference. As always, think carefully about your options, and know that SmartMoveItaly.com has resources to help with every step of your visa journey.
Ask Samantha Anything (ASA): What Are Musts for Guests in My Rental Property?
Ciao, Samantha! Weâre trying to get our property ready to rent out on various websites when we are not there. Do you have any must-haves for guests that might not be obvious. What do you look for when youâre a guest?! Grazie! â Erica
Ciao, Erica! Congrats on starting your little rental business in Italy. Turning your vacation home into a tourist rental can be a great way to cover costs, and pay for your vacations, too! Remember that if you earn money on your rental in Italy, then you must declare the income on a tax return to Italy, even if you do not live here. There are also a lot of registrations that you must go through including the new CIN number. If you donât have this number, and it is not displayed on your booking and outside the front door, the fines are quite big. Also, you will need to register with the Questura, and submit identity documents of guests within 24 hours of their arrival. Penalties for not doing this are very serious. If you are not familiar with the above, it is best to get a property manager who can take care of these things for you.
As far as things you need inside, if you are marketing to North Americans, it is a good idea to buy a regular drip coffee maker and a toaster. These things are not normally found in Italian properties, but after having tourist rentals myself for over a decade, I can tell you⌠North Americans LOVE their toast!!
Also, be sure to create a little booklet with all of the passwords, how-toâs for appliances, and, of course, encourage your guests to use WhatsApp for communication. Have fun!
*Please send your questions to richard@smartmoveitaly.com.
Location SpotlightđOrvieto
Travel guru Rick Steves calls Orvieto âwhat an Italian hill town should be.â Who are we to argue? Less than 90 minutes from Rome, the historic center is up, up, up and away from where you will alight from the train or park your car. Then you can take a funicular, elevator or escalator up to the action. (You can drive too, but you might not want your car on its ancient streets!)
Located in the historic center, this charming âŹ280,000 apartment is located in a recently and well-renovated historic building. The apartment offers a unique atmosphere that combines historic charm with modern comforts, and is partially furnished. The 900-square foot apartment has a light-filled living room, a welcoming kitchenette, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Want to see more? Subscribe to Vendita and get 30 property picks sent to you every Sunday. To subscribe via email, click here or join our Telegram channel.
And if youâre thinking about buying a property in Italy, you donât have to do it alone! Book a free 10-minute property purchase discovery call here.
PerTe è finito for this week. But donât forget â we always have lots more to share with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
As always, thanks for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto! đ