USEFUL INFORMATION

Emergency phone numbers Emergency calls Fire service (Vigili del fuoco): 115 Emergency doctor and ambulance: 118 Police: 113 ACI (road emergency service): 116 American Phones Some American mobile phones work in Europe. Calling from Europe on an American phone is pricey (figure about $1 per minute from most European countries), but it can be a good option if you use it very sparingly. The standard phone network in Europe is called GSM. Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson all make GSM-enabled phones. If you'd like to roam with your current mobile phone, check to see if it will work internationally (it must be "GSM enabled"). If you're thinking of buying a new mobile phone and would like to use it in Europe, look for anything labeled "tri-band" or "quad-band" to get the "world phone" option. Once you have a GSM-enabled phone, you also must have a calling plan that allows for international calls. T-Mobile has a good international phone plan, charging about $1-2 per minute with no additional fees. (Cingular also has an international mobile phone rate, as do some others — ask your carrier for details.) European Phones If your American phone doesn't have an international option, consider buying a cheap European mobile phone instead. You'll usually need to get two separate components: the mobile phone itself and the card that makes it work. You can buy European phones in America (try www.world-import.com or www.telestial.com), or you can shop for a phone in Europe. The cheapest new phones run about $ 50-80 US$ and work fine. The "identity" of a GSM mobile phone — your phone number and account information — is stored on a removable fingernail-sized chip, called a SIM card, which fits into the back of the phone. The phone won't work without a SIM card. Some phones are "locked" so that you can't switch SIM cards, but this lock can be removed by the service provider (confirm that the phone is unlocked before leaving the store). Buying a locked phone — which can save you a little money — makes sense only if you will always be using the phone in a single country. Making a domestic call usually costs 10–20 cents per minute. International calls are expensive ($1 per minute or more to other European countries and the U.S.). Unlike in America, incoming domestic calls to European mobile phones cost the phone owner nothing; instead, callers pay more to reach a European mobile phone than a fixed line. Top up your credit by buying refill cards at newsstands, tobacco shops, supermarkets etc. There is no monthly fee. These prepaid SIM cards are much more convenient for travelers than being tied down to an American-style monthly contract (though contracts are available if you're planning a long stay). Europeans are really into SMSs, or short text messages, which usually cost 5–10 cents to send and nothing to receive. Any GSM phone can send and receive text messages. Communicating by SMS is much cheaper than voice calls when you're roaming outside your chip's home country — only about 35 cents per message. Telephone Tips Dialing Instructions To call home from Europe: Just dial 001, then the American area code followed by the local number. To call Europe: Start with 011 (America's international access code). Then dial the country code of the country you're calling (39 for Italy). Then dial the area code (omitting the initial zero). Finally, dial the local number. Time In Europe, the 24-hour clock is used in any official timetable, such as bus, train, museum, and tour schedules. Learn to use it quickly and easily. Everything is the same until 12:00 noon. The Europeans just keep on going: 13:00, 14:00, and so on. To translate to "our" time, subtract 12 and add "p.m." 18:00 is 6:00 p.m. Europeans write out dates and a few numbers differently than we do. In European dates, the day comes first: Christmas is 25-12-96. Look out for the handwritten numbers 1, 4, and 7. A handwritten "one" looks like an upside-down V, sevens are crossed, and fours resemble short lightning bolts. Learn the difference or miss your train. Temperature Europeans measure temperatures in degrees Celsius. Zero degrees Celsius equals 32 degrees Fahrenheit (C x 9/5 + 32 = F). Even easier and nearly as accurate, double the Celsius temperature and add 30. A memory aid: 28xC = 82xF (darn hot). Help yourself to our temperature and distance converters Just like when they're driving, Europeans keep the left lane on escalators and moving sidewalks open for passing. Stand to the right. In Europe, floors are numbered differently. The bottom floor is called the ground floor. Our second floor is a European's first floor. On the elevator, push whatever's below "1" to get to the ground floor. Tipping Tactics for Europe Tipping in Europe isn't as automatic and generous as it is in the U.S. But in most countries, tips for good service are appreciated, if not expected. Like here, the proper amount depends on your resources, tipping philosophy, and the circumstance. There are big tippers and misers the world around. So what do you do? Here are some tips to help you tip. In restaurants, scope out the service charges. Tipping is an issue only at restaurants that have waiters and waitresses. If you order your food at a counter, don't tip. At restaurants with table service, menus usually state (at the bottom) if service is included. If so, you don't need to tip, although if you're pleased with the service, you can round up a few euros. If the menu states that the service is not included, tip about 10 percent by rounding up or leaving the change from your bill. Typically, it's better to hand the cash to the waiter than to leave it on the table, particularly in busy places where the wrong party might pocket the change. In some places, such as Italy, you'll want to tip in cash even if you pay with your credit card. Otherwise, the tip may never reach your waiter. Round up for taxis. When you're paying, round up to the next euro on the fare (maximum 10 percent). Use common sense: If you feel like you're being driven in circles or otherwise ripped off, skip the tip. Tip for special service if you want. It's thoughtful to tip a couple of euros to someone who shows you a special sight (such as the Etruscan tomb in his backyard). Tour guides at public sites sometimes hold out their hands for tips after they give their spiel; if I've already paid for the tour, I don't tip extra, though many tourists do give a euro or two, particularly for a job well done. At a hotel, tippers hand the porter a euro for carrying bags and leave a couple of euros in their room at the end of their stay for the maid. Carry some change. If you stop at a public WC, you may have to tip the attendant anywhere from a bit of change to _1. Some of these "tips" are more optional than others. Often you clink your coins in a dish. Sometimes a woman is stationed at the door and you have to pay to enter. In some cases, you pay if you use the TP or towel that the attendant provides. Renting a Car Rates: European cars are rented for a 24-hour day with a 30-minute grace period (for most companies). Cars are economical when rented by the week with unlimited mileage through your travel agent or directly with the rental company in the United States. Daily rates are usually quite high, but there are a few decent 3-day deals. There is no way to chart the best car rental deals. Rates vary from company to company, month to month, and country to country. The cheapest company for rental in one country might be the most expensive in the next. Companies vs. consolidators: Note that big-name companies (like Avis, Hertz, and Budget) generally charge more than consolidators such as Auto Europe (www.autoeurope.com, our recommended favorite) and Europe by Car (www.europebycar.com). Consolidators compare rates among various companies (including the big-name firms), find the best deal, and — because they're wholesalers — pass the savings on to you. You pay the consolidator, and they issue you a voucher to pick up your car in Europe (don't forget to bring the voucher with you). Because consolidators work with several different big companies, they also tend to be more knowledgeable about the practical ins and outs of European car rental. Age restrictions: While ages vary from country to country and company to company, those who are at least 25 years old should have no trouble renting a car. (Younger renters can get stuck with extra costs, like being required to buy CDW insurance or pay a “young driver's surcharge.”) Most companies will not rent a car to someone under 21. Airport vs. downtown pick-up: You'll generally pay more to pick up a car at the airport than in the center (10–20 percent extra, or a flat fee of $20-100, depending on the destination and the company). When you're calling about prices, rental agents usually quote you this pricier airport pickup rate. Ask if they have a cheaper, downtown-pickup price. Some companies deliver the car to your hotel for free. Weigh this convenience or savings against the extra time and stress of navigating out of big cities like Milano or Rome. Walk around: When picking up your car, always check the entire vehicle for scratches, dings, and the gas level. If anything is not noted on the rental agreement, return to the counter to make adjustments. When you drop off the car, walk around the car again with the attendant to be sure there are no new problems. Otherwise, unexpected charges might show up on your credit card statement. This is easier to dispute when the information is documented. On that same note, avoid dropping your car off after hours (at a drop box); it's best to finalize the rental and receive the paperwork in person. Very important for car rentals: take photos before and after drop-off. It only takes up a few seconds of tape and lets the rental guy know that you are on the ball. Driver's license: Your American driver's license is all you need in most European countries. An international driving permit (IDP) provides a translation of your American license — making it easier for the cop to write out the ticket. Exactly where you need a permit depends on whom you talk to. People who sell them say you should have them almost everywhere. People who rent cars say you need them almost nowhere. People who drive rental cars say the permit is overrated (but it comes in handy as a substitute for a passport at places such as campgrounds and bike rental shops that require some kind of photo ID as a security deposit until you pay). Police can get mad — their concern is in finding the expiration date — and fine you if you don't have an international permit. Those driving in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Greece, and Eastern Europe are likely to be fined if found without an international driving permit, and should probably get one (at your local AAA office — $10 plus the cost of 2 passport-type photos). Note that you have to carry your American driver's license as well as your international permit. Automatic vs. stick: Note that most rental cars in Europe have manual transmissions. Renting an automatic can tack on an extra $100 per week — or, worse, is available only if you upgrade to a bigger, more expensive car. Since supplies are limited, if you must have an automatic, you'll need to arrange it farther in advance. Ideally, skip the automatic and brush up on your shifting skills. It's better to lurch through your hometown parking lot than grind your gears over the Alps. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is a way to minimize the considerable financial risks of traveling. These risks include accidents, illness, missed flights, cancelled tours, lost baggage etc. Each traveler's risk and potential loss varies, depending on how much of the trip is prepaid, the kind of air ticket purchased, your state of health, the value of your luggage, where you're traveling, what medical coverage you already have and the financial health of the tour company or airline. For some, insurance is a good deal; for others, it's not. Travel agents recommend travel insurance because they make a commission on it, they can be held liable for your losses if they don't explain insurance options to you and sometimes because it's right for you. But the final decision is yours. What are the chances of needing it, how able are you to take the risks and what's the peace of mind worth to you? Consider the package deals sold by Travel Guard (www.travelguard.com, tel. 800-826-4919), Access America (www.accessamerica.com, tel. 866-807-3982) and Travel Insured International (www.travelinsured.com, tel. 800-243-3174). Insuremytrip.com allows you to compare insurance policies and costs among various providers (they also sell insurance; www.insuremytrip.com, tel. 800-487-4722). The insurance menu includes four courses: trip cancellation, medical, baggage and flight insurance. The full-meal deal is comprehensive travel insurance. Choose the package that includes the coverage that matters to you. Note that most travel-insurance rates are based on age -- the older you are, the more you'll pay. Cash Machines Throughout Italy, cash machines are the standard way to change money. Italian ATMs (BANCOMAT) work like your hometown machine and usually have English-language instructions. A Bancomat withdrawal takes dollars directly from your bank account at home and gives you euro cash. You'll pay a fee, but you'll get a better rate than you would for traveler's checks. Know your personal identification number (PIN). Since Italian keypads have only numbers, you'll need a four-digit PIN with numbers and no letters. Confirm with your home bank that your card will work in Europe. Bringing two different cards provides a backup if one is demagnetized or eaten by a machine. Make sure the validity period of your card won't expire before your trip ends. It's smart to inform your credit card company of your travel plans. Some companies have started tracking "abnormal use" activity; for example if purchases are rung up on your card in Rome instead of New York, they may deny payment and even freeze your account if they can't reach you to confirm that the charge are legitimate. You don't have to give them specific dates you'll be away. Just saying you'll be in Italy in July is sufficient Highways The speed limits are: on highways 130 km/h, on four lane roads 110 km/h and in built-up areas 50 km/h. To convert kms/h to miles/h please use our conversion calculator (opens in a new window). Don't forget your seat belts! The use of cellulars without car-mounting kit with microphone and speaker is forbidden. Gasoline prices in Italy are relatively high (more than 1 EURO per litre). Both regular grade fuel with lead addition (red) and lead free (green) are available. Gas stations are open on Monday through Saturday from 7:30 - 12:30 and 3:00 - 6:00 , on Sundays only on highways and toll roads. On a highway in Italy: you take your destination's exit ramp and you come to a line of toll gates - it's time to pay for the ride. The question arises: which one should I use? The gate marked Telepass is reserved for frequent travellers whose cars are equipped with a special gadget that allows the charge to be automatically added to their account. After a little beep the gate will automatically open and off they go. If by mistake you take the Telepass exit know that the only way out is by backing out! Make sure you avoid that gate. As an occasional traveller you should select the gate for cash or card payment, marked with a stylized line of coins. Most of the gates now have automatic machines that make change up to 20,00 Euro so the search for the lost coins in your purse is not required anymore. Holidays Holidays in Italy are 1st and 6th January, 25th April, 1st May, 15th August, 1st November, 8th, 25th and 26th December, as well as Easter Monday. First Sundays in June and in September are national holidays. Stamps (francobolli) You can buy stamps at the post office, tobacconists and bars, which are marked by a large T. Most of the public telephones work with telephone cards which you can buy at the telephone exchange or in the above-mentioned tobacconists and bars. Electricity The voltage normally amounts to 220 V. Protective contact plugs are not usable, often even the so-called euro plugs do not fit. Adapters are best bought in your own country, as they are often not available in Italy. Books about travel and cuisine in Tuscany Berlitz Tuscany and Umbria (Berlitz Pocket Guides) by Berlitz (Editor). Paperback (September 1999) Blue Guide Tuscany (Blue Guides) by Alta MacAdam. Paperback (October 1999) Cadogan Tuscany (Italy: Tuscany, 2nd Ed) by Dana Facaros, Michael Pauls. Paperback (July 1, 2000) Central Italy : Tuscany and Umbria : The Collected Traveler by Barrie Kerper (Compiler). Paperback (September 26, 2000) Central Italy Trip Planner & Guide : Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, the Marches, Northern Lazio (Central Italy Trip Planner & Guide 1999) by Fiona Duncan, Peter Greene. Paperback (November 1999) Chianti Family Cooking : Classic Recipes from the Heart of Tuscany by Giovanna Folonari Ruffino (Introduction), Michele Evans. Hardcover (April 1999) Corruption : Ethics and Power in Florence, 1600-1770 by Jean-Claude Waquet, Linda McCall (Translator). Hardcover (March 1992) Country Houses of Tuscany by Barbara Stoeltie, et al. Hardcover (May 2000) Dolci Toscani : The Book of Tuscan Desserts by Anne Bianchi(Introduction), Sandra Lotti. Hardcover (October 1998) Eyewitness Travel Guides: Florence and Tuscany by Christopher Catling (Contributor). Paperback (May 1994) Faith, Reason, and the Plague in Seventeenth-Century Tuscany by Carlo M. Cipolla. Paperback (June 1981) Flavor of Tuscany by Vivienne Gonley, Susie Ward. Hardcover (April 1996) Flavors of Tuscany : Traditional Recipes from the Tuscan Countryside by Nancy Harmon Jenkins. Hardcover (June 1998) Florence & Tuscany (Passport's Regional Guides of Italy) by Laura Raison. Paperback (April 1994) Fodor's Florence, Tuscany and Umbria (2002 edition) by Mathew Lombardi. Paperback Fodor's Escape to Tuscany (Fodor's Escape to Tuscany) by Candice Gianetti, et al. Hardcover (Spring 200) Fodor's Exploring Tuscany (Fodor's Exploring Tuscany) by Tim Jepson, Fodor's (Editor). Paperback (March 14, 2000) A Food Lover's Companion to Tuscany by Carla Capalbo, Carla Caplbo. Paperback (March 1998) From the Tables of Tuscan Women : Recipes and Traditions by Anne Bianchi, Douglas Hatschek (Photographer). Hardcover (October 1995) Giuliano Bugialli's Foods of Tuscany by Giuliano Bugialli, et al. Hardcover (September 1992) The Hill Towns of Italy by Richard Kauffman (Photographer), Carol Field. Paperback (February 1997) The Hills of Tuscany : A New Life in an Old Land by Ferenc Mate. Paperback (October 12, 1999) Hugh Johnson's Tuscany and Its Wine by Hugh Johnson, Andy Katz (Photographer). Hardcover (September 1, 2000) Insight Compact Guides Tuscany (Serial) Paperback (January 1, 1996) Private Tuscany by Elizabeth Helman-Minchilli, et al (Hardcover - May 1999) The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany by James Bentley, Hugh Palmer (Photographer) (Hardcover - September 1997) Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria by James Ladsun, et al (Paperback - April 1997)