Italy Travel News

Alitalia and Travelport Renew Agreement

2011-05-04T21:37:00.001+03:00

Travelport and Alitalia jointly announced the renewal of their global, full-content agreement for Galileo and Worldspan-connected travel agencies. The new multi-year deal ensures that all travel agents connected to Travelport’s GDS platforms are guaranteed access to the full fares and inventory of Alitalia, including its online fares.

“As one of Europe’s leading airlines, Alitalia is an important and longstanding partner for Travelport and we are delighted to have secured their full content for all our travel agency users worldwide,” said Robin Ranken, Travelport’s head of supplier for Europe.

Marco Sansavini, Alitalia’s executive vice president of sales, distribution and customer care said: “The extensive distribution network that Travelport offers through its Galileo and Worldspan platforms, and the fact that they are the GDS of choice amongst travel agents in Italy, gives us very valuable access to the travel industry and strengthens our cooperation with the travel agency network which is an essential part of our distribution strategy.”

Rome never goes out of style

2009-09-06T08:36:00.000+03:00

ROME — On the centuries-old cobblestone streets, in the busy cafes, in church pews, Rome is much more inviting than people imagine. And any love you show to the Eternal City will be paid back tenfold.

Romans say you’d need more than a lifetime to fully discover their city, and that’s its charm — with so much to see it’s impossible to get bored. As a comparison, there’s definitely more to see here than in Paris.

Everywhere you look there’s a swirling mix of styles from every conceivable era. At any given time you can find a 2,000-year-old Roman temple supported by huge white columns, and around every corner there will likely be a church where you can admire frescoes from the Middle Ages that are not listed in guide books; then it’s off to a trattoria to savour the best spaghetti carbonara you’ve ever tasted.

Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Trieste, Italy

2009-06-20T17:37:00.000+03:00

TRIESTE, Italy (Reuters Life!) - Got 48 hours to explore the central European melting pot which is the Italian port city of Trieste?

A Reuters correspondent with local knowledge helps visitors to get the most out of a visit to the city that only became definitively part of Italy in 1954 and where James Joyce wrote part of "Ulysses."

FRIDAY

8 p.m. - Drive down past cliffs and trees into the city of 200,000 people, a northeastern outpost of Italy with the Slovenian and Croatian borders not far away.

Drive past the rail station and just beyond the city center to L'Albero Nascosto. The small homely hotel, not from the seafront, boasts large rooms and breakfasts of cheese, bread and jams.

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2009-06-06T20:32:00.001+03:00

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Italy for Under $300 Per Day

2009-05-22T19:49:00.000+03:00

The Deal Detective is SmarterTravel.com's resident bargain hunter, Kate Hamman. She's always on the lookout for new travel deals and invites you, dear reader, to submit your own questions.

Marion writes "I was just informed that I must take one week without pay before the end of the year. I'd like to combine my one week of paid vacation with this one week of unpaid to go somewhere interesting with my husband. I'd like to keep the budget to less than $300 per day for two middle-aged folks who like art, food, and magnificent scenery."

Map of Rome Showing Tourist Destinations

2009-05-11T01:47:00.000+03:00

The map of Rome below will show you the major tourist destinations. Zoom in or out and move the map around by using the buttons.

Metro. The map shows the two metro lines. The red line is Metro A (linea A) and the blue is Metro B (linea B). They cross at Rome's central station, Termini. They run from 5:30am to 11:30pm. A ticket costs €1 and is good for a single metro ride or 75 minutes on the busses. Tickets for both the bus system and Metro can be purchased from a tabacchi (tobacco shop), a bar, or vending machines at metro stations and major bus stops.

Travel agent to offer a taste of Italy

2009-04-23T20:46:00.001+03:00

A SCARBOROUGH travel agents will be celebrating all things Italian on Saturday.
First Choice Travel, in Westborough, is having an Italy themed day and is inviting people to go and join in the celebrations.

It will also be offering special deals for holidays or and short breaks to Italy.

Manager Laura Laycock said: "The staff will be dressing up and there will be lots of nice nibbles including bread, olives and cheese.

"We have lots of special offers available so anyone is welcome to come along at any time during the day on Saturday."

Italian Riviera Great for Spring Travel

2009-04-18T21:36:00.000+03:00

Le Cinque Terre, the five lands, are a group of five picturesque villages along the coast surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and woods. The villages can be reached on the train that runs between La Spezia and Genoa or by ferry from La Spezia, Portovenere, Levanto (the next village up the coast toward Genoa where there's also a train station), or other Italian Riviera villages.

There are popular hiking trails between the villages as well as in the scenic hills above them. You'll have to pay for entrance to the trails. Europe for Visitors has a good Cinque Terre hiking guide and map with pictures so you'll know what to expect when you go.

The Cinque Terre region is very popular with Americans and is very crowded in summer. Spending the night in one of the villages is a good way to experience the charm without the huge crowds since they aren't packed with hotels. My friends recommend staying in Manarola at A Casa Rooms and Apartments. Vernazza would be another good choice.

Italy Travel: Discovering Calabria / Calabria, Italy

2009-04-15T19:10:00.000+03:00

Religious tourists keep Italy on must-see lists

2009-04-11T23:15:00.000+03:00

ROME — While the world economic crisis forces many consumers to change spending habits, at least one of Italy's economic sectors has so far been barely touched: religious tourism.

Italy, which surrounds Vatican City, the spiritual home to the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, boasts more than 30,000 churches and sanctuaries, according to the country's Ministry of Culture. That's more churches per capita than any other major country. And according to United Nations' World Tourism Organization statistics, seven of the world's 10 most visited Christian sanctuaries are in Italy.

Official figures are hard to come by because visitors to Italy are not required to indicate whether or not their vacation is religious in nature.

Italy's Ministry of Tourism reports that overall tourism over the first two months of the year is down by a fifth over the same period last year.

Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Turin, Italy

2009-04-03T19:54:00.000+03:00

One of the greatest joys of being a foreign expat is ditching the guide book and experiencing life as the locals do.

No longer a tourist, you are a part of the community, and privy to information and places that tourists who are only passing through rarely get to enjoy.

Turin, Italy, is the cosmopolitan capital of Piedmont where foodies, fashionistas, filmophiles and fun-seekers enjoy a city in the midst of a cultural Renaissance.

The revitalization process began with the 2006 Winter Olympics but hasn’t ceased since, and today signs of progress emerge from each portico-covered street and grand riverfront piazza.

Alitalia Discount Flights: Travel to Italy from $349 RT

2009-03-25T13:16:00.000+02:00

Alitalia is spreading the love – or, should we say 'amore' – with spring flights to Italy from $349 round-trip, including taxes and fees.

In a search for flights to Rome using dates April 21 and April 27 for round-trip travel from New York City, fares started at $392 round-trip on other airlines. The same route with the same dates on Alitalia: $349 round-trip, including all fees.

Several routes between the U.S. and Italy start at $400 round-trip, or less. Book your flight by March 27 and travel between April 1 and May 25.

One Cheapflights tip: Don’t wait until summer when the fares go up. These cheap flights are almost too good to pass up. Book your Italy flights with Alitalia online.

Boston to Rome: $400
Boston to Milan: $389
Chicago to Milan: $389
Chicago to Bologna: $389
Miami to Milan: $389

What's the best way to spend 14 nights in Italy?

2009-03-23T10:47:00.000+02:00

I'm not sure if you're traveling by train or car, but let's assume you're going by train since all of these destinations are easily reachable. Leaving Rome, you could take the train to Florence, and base yourself there for three nights, spending the afternoon you arrive and the next day exploring the city and the next taking a day trip to Siena. You could certainly also add an extra day in Florence, depending on your interests.

The Cinque Terre (five villages) are about 2 ½ hours from Florence by train via Pisa. I've spent several days in the Cinque Terre, but I also visited the villages on a day trip from Florence a few years ago with relatives.

We were able to squeeze in a brief stop in Pisa, and arrive in the Cinque Terre in time for lunch and a walk before catching the train back in the early evening. It was a long day, and if you're really interested in exploring all of the villages, I'd recommend more time.

In the off-season, a trip to Siena, Italy, brings shivers of delight

2009-03-21T21:00:00.000+02:00

I was feeling lucky. That was my excuse for going to Siena in winter, when Tuscany is generally cold and rainy.

But rules were made to be broken in Italy, I've found. In Rome, you can wake up on a winter morning with rain beating on the window, bundle up and go outside and find yourself wishing you had sunglasses instead of an umbrella.

So my sister Martha and I took a gamble by planning a driving tour through southern Tuscany in the low season. Neither of us had been to Siena, about 150 miles north of Rome. And I wanted to see the Tuscan countryside, the model for paradise in paintings by 14th- and 15th-century Sienese masters.

It's Not Too Late to Sign Up to Go to Italy and Greece in 2010

2009-03-17T09:20:00.000+02:00

There is still time to sign up for the 13 day trip to Italy and Greece at the reduced price. If you sign up before March 31, the price will be $100 less due to early enrollment. Seventeen people have already taken advantage of this opportunity. We would love to take a group of 25-35, so there is still plenty of space available. After March 31, the price will increase by $100.

This exciting trip will take participants to many historical landmarks as well as Greek Island cruise. The group leader of the trip is Bob Wallace who is assisted by Suzanne Camp and Bob Blanton. Although geared toward high school and college students, teachers or other adults with an interest in cultural and educational experiences through international travel are welcome to participate. Middle school aged students be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Southern Italy Travel

2009-03-13T14:10:00.000+02:00

Rome is the most popular travel destination in Italy but while many tourists travel north of Rome, far fewer venture south. Naples and the Amalfi Coast are the most popular southern Italy destinations but Southern Italy has unusual sights that you won't find in the north like the well-preserved Greek temples at Paestum, the sassi or cave city of Matera (where you can stay in a cave hotel), and the cone-shaped houses called truilli in Puglia.

If you're interested in southern Italy check out South of Rome, an interesting blog created by an American woman living outside Naples. Today's post is about a restaurant she recommends in Paestum right by the temples.

Studying gastronomy in Italy

2009-03-03T14:29:00.000+02:00

OK, you have to admit: Could anything sound better than studying gastronomy in Italy, traveling to farms and artisan operations tasting olive oils and cured meats and cheeses? Eating the sort of salad pictured at right?

David Szanto recalls the moment he decided to take the plunge: He was at Highland Avenue and Olympic Boulevard, contemplating the end of a relationship and listening to NPR when he heard about the University of Gastronomic Sciences.

That was 2004, and he now teaches writing and communication at the university. On Friday night, he stopped by UCLA to talk about it. About 60 people came to the meeting.

Italy cracks down on transport strikes

2009-03-01T17:45:00.000+02:00

The Italian government on Friday proposed new rules to limit rampant strikes in the transport sector that each year cripple air, rail and road travel.

The measures approved at a Cabinet meeting would toughen sanctions for wildcat strikes and make it harder for small unions to call a walkout and paralyze transportation with the backing of just a handful of workers.

Frequent strikes by small groups have been particularly damaging for air travel in Italy. Last year, repeated protests by just a few dozen employees over the privatization of the failed national carrier Alitalia forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights over the Christmas period.

Spring in Italy

2009-02-27T00:19:00.000+02:00

Visiting Italy's Cities in Spring
Spring is a good time to visit most Italian cities. The heat and tourist crowds of summer have not arrived and more daylight hours give more time for touring and visiting outdoor sites which sometimes close at dusk. Although you'll still find hotel and accommodation bargains in spring, Holy Week and May 1 may be considered high season in many cities.

If you're away from major tourist areas, you'll find museums and attractions have shorter hours than in summer. Some things may only be open on weekends. Seaside resorts and camping areas are just opening and hotel swimming pools may still be closed in early spring. Beaches will be less crowded and swimming in the sea may be possible in late spring. Spring is a good time for hiking and viewing wildflowers. You'll find many small fairs and festivals, especially food festivals or sagre, and outdoor performances start in late spring.

Italy travel advice: regions and sites of Italy

2009-02-20T01:22:00.000+02:00

In the Northern portion of Italy, the most populous, you find the cities of Bologna, Milan, Turin, Venice and Verona. For natural beauty you find the amazing Lake Como area and the mountains of the Dolomites and the Alps. Skiing is popular in the at such resorts as Cortina dmpezzo. Milan, along with Paris, France, is the fashion capital of the world.

Venice is a city built on water where you will find only canal travel and no roads! Saint Mark Piazza is in Venice and is one of the most romantic places in Europe. Turin is home to one of the premier skiing parks in Europe and was host to the 2006 Olympic Games.

2009 Italy Travel Hot Spots

2009-02-06T13:51:00.001+02:00

Monte Argentario, part of Tuscany's Maremma Coast, is a hidden gem. Once an island, Monte Argentario is connected to Italy's mainland by sandbars. It's completely different from the popular hill towns of central Tuscany. Visitors will be rewarded with rugged coastline dotted with beaches, wildlife, hiking areas, and natural beauty. A highlight of a Maremma coast vacation is a boat trip to the Tuscan archipelago. Find out more with our Monte Argentario Travel Guide.

Rome has long been one of Italy's cities for travelers. Today's Rome is a vibrant and lively city with many fine restaurants and cafes, good nightlife, and lively streets and squares. Top Rome sites include ancient monuments, medieval and Renaissance buildings and fountains, churches, and great museums. Find out more about what to see and do with our Rome 3-Day Suggested Itinerary.

Luxury spa hotels in Italy & the islands

2009-01-21T16:42:00.001+02:00

Italy is the home of beauty, taste and style, so where better to go to pamper yourself? If you are looking for something really special – look no further. Southern Italy specialist Long Travel has a portfolio of spa hotels chosen not just for their fantastic facilities, but also because they offer something extra – maybe the general ambience and the superb location or the food and the friendly staff. Whatever the reason, they all offer something in addition to good spa facilities.

Both the Five Star Il Melograno in Puglia, and the Four Star Villa Maria d’Abruzzo in Abruzzo have recently completed their state-of-the-art spa and beauty facilities. The recently opened Petra Segreta in Sardinia is a small and exclusive hotel in an idyllic position with a fantastic spa and one of the world’s top therapists! Many other hotels including the Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento, and Santa Caterina in Amalfi, who offer a very unusual, special lemon massage, have excellent spa facilities.

Best of Italy

2009-01-13T20:48:00.000+02:00

Italy has many beautiful and historic destinations well worth a visit. Our Best of Italy has top Italy travel destinations, from famous cities to picturesque hill towns and seaside villages. Use these travel suggestions to help plan your ideal Italy vacation.

If you've already been to Italy's best cities and towns, why not consider an off the beaten track destination? Here are a few places in Italy to get off the beaten track. You might spend less money in these Italian budget destinations, too.

Air France-KLM May Have Italian Bargain

2009-01-10T21:04:00.000+02:00

Alitalia is a very different and more attractive investment proposition to the one Air France-KLM and others snubbed in recent years when Alitalia couldn't service its borrowings. The Italian government is taking on most of the €1.2 billion in accumulated net debt. The final amount is yet to be decided.

Meanwhile, Alitalia has emerged as a bigger and potentially much more efficient business thanks to its merger with profitable, no-frills rival Air One. Thousands of jobs have been cut and new more flexible contracts agreed with labor unions. Plus Alitalia now operates a fleet of younger, more economical aircraft. The government has taken on older aircraft that it's selling off.

The Alitalia-Air One combination should have pricing power in the Italian market, Europe's fourth largest for business travel, where it has a 55% share compared with the old Alitalia's diminished share of 30%. The new company has a monopoly on the lucrative Milan-Rome route.

High-speed train to cut Rome-Milan travel time

2008-12-18T20:16:00.001+02:00

ROME, Dec 11 (Reuters) - A high-speed train service between Rome and Milan will cut travel time by 25 percent to three hours next year, allowing it to steal airline passengers on the busy route, the head of Italy's state railways said on Thursday.

The railways aims to corner 60 percent of the market for travel by any method over the route over the next two years, Ferrovie dello Stato CEO Mauro Moretti told Italian television.

The quicker train service comes as a group of Italian businessmen embark on an ambitious project to relaunch bankrupt national airline Alitalia (AZPIa.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), whose main attraction is its dominance of the Rome-Milan air route.