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Travel TIPS
ITALY
Some security measures are taken to ensure the safety and security of travellers who make visits to this captivating country (Il Bel paese) as they call it, among these measures, the Italian tourist board recommends highly that tourists do not under any circumstances , purchase any counterfeit articles as this may end up costing them well more than an authentic product ,the latest legislation in this sense traces back to 2005 for anyone caught selling counterfeit goods ,pays heavy fines of up to 10,000 euros for persons caught purchasing counterfeit items and products such as purses ,watches or belts ……etc bearing de luxe trademarks such as Prada, Gucci and others .Luggage is checked on entering and leaving Italy. Free entry is allowed for personal effects: clothing (new and used), books, camping and household equipment, fishing tackle, 1 pair of skis, 2 tennis racquets, computer, CD player with 10 CD's, tape recorder or Dictaphone, baby carriage, 2 still cameras with 10 rolls of film for each camera, 1 movie camera, binoculars, personal jewelry, portable radio set (subject to a small license fee), 400 cigarettes and a quantity of cigars or pipe tobacco not exceeding 500 grams (1.1 lb). All items mentioned above may be imported duty-free only on condition that they are for personal use and are not be sold, given away or traded
There are no restrictions on gifts purchased in Italy except for antiques and works of art,These require the authorization of the Ministero dei Beni Culturali e Ambientali
Registration for Tourists
Overseas tourists arriving in Italyare required to go through the formalities of registering with the police within 3 days of a tourist's arrival in Italy is attended to by the hotels one stays with. If staying with friends or in a private home, the visitor has to register in person at the nearest police station within a 3-day period..
Vaccination Certificate
No vaccinations are required to enter Italy.
Emergency Telephone Number
For Medical Emergency dial 118
Healthcare and Medical Assistance
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the treatments in progress or that may be necessary.
Pharmacies (Farmacia), generally follow shops times (approx. from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, but in large cities many are open no-stop. Night-time service is provided on a shift basis. Business hours and night shifts are displayed outside of each chemist's (they are also published in local News papers). Before departure, it is advisable to procure a document certifying coverage by the national health-care service.
Health Services and Insurance Policy
Italy has no medical program covering U.S. and Canada citizens. Therefore, U.S. and Canadian tourists are advised to take out an insurance policy before traveling. First Aid Service (Pronto Soccorso) with a doctor on hand is found at airports, ports, railway stations and in all hospitals. Medicines can be obtained only from the pharmacy, whether they are on prescription or over the counter
In accordance with the Italian law, grounded on the European Community provisions, as a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax paid for goods intended for personal or familiar use purchased in Italy. For more information see:
Agenzia delle Dogane [Italian Customs Agency] official web site or the specialised companies in refunding sales tax :
www.agenziadogane.it
www.premiertaxfree.com
www.globalrefund.com
In most of the Italian towns and cities ,travel cheques are accepted as a mode of payment, still, it is less popular and less used in comparison with credit cards like visa card MasterCard American express ,dinners club….
It’s accepted in most hotels and big stores and renting car agencies.
Yes. The ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) in Italy are known as Bancomat. There are many to be found in the large cities and even in small towns. The machines operate just as they do here; at the beginning of the transaction, it prompts the user for the preferred language such as French or English.
Banks in Italy are open Monday through Friday from 8:35 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. and from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.; in many tourist areas they are open no-stop from 8.30 a.m. to 4p.m. and closed all day on Saturday and Sunday and on national holidays. The afternoon one hour opening may vary from city to city. Travellers' checks can be exchanged for Italian currency at most hotels and shops and at the foreign exchange offices in main railway stations and at the airports.
Tourists arriving in Italy without foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM machines, or exchange office (Ufficio di Cambio) at airports, seaports and railway stations in the main cities.
Telephone and Internet
1240 Phone Directory Assistance
112 for Carabinieri's service
113 for Emergency Police Help
115 for the Fire Department
116 for the A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club)
for road side assistance
118 for Medical Emergencies
176 International Inquires
Public telephones are available throughout Italy. Either local or international calls require the use of a phone card (Carta Telefonica) which may be purchased at any newsstand, tobacco shop or "bar"(coffee shop).
Internet cafés: it is an economic method to get in touch/contact with your relatives and your significant other. E-mail may be an alternative and less expensive mean of communication. It is getting easier and easier to find Internet cafes and clubs in Italy. Some, among many:
Directory of the Italian Internet Cafes
http://www.ecs.net/cafe/
Cybercafes Guide
http://www.netcafeguide.it
TheNetGate
http://www.thenetgate.it
Postal service:
Postal stamps can be bought either from tobacco shops or post offices, Always check at the counter for the exact fare..post offices are open from 08:00 to 14:00 from Monday to Friday and Saturday from 08:00 to 11:45 stamps are called Francobolli in Italian .
Miscellaneous
The electrical current in Italy is AC - the cycle is 50Hz 220 V. A tourist carrying electrical appliances to Italy should have a transformer, either obtained before leaving your country or bought at an electrical appliance shop in Italy. Plugs have round prongs, not flat, therefore an adapter plug is needed..
Laundry and Dry Cleaners :. Most hotels have laundry and dry cleaning facilities. If the hotel does not provide these services, the desk clerk can direct you to the nearest shop ( tintoria ) or you can look in the Classified Telephone directory under Tintorie ( cleaning and pressing ) and Lavanderie ( laundry )
Although normally shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30/4 p.m. to 7:30/ 8 p.m., in large cities and tourist areas there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. with possible variations from town to town. Department stores such asLa Rinascente, Coin, Upim are found in many Italian cities and towns and are open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
SWITZERLAND BASIC
Area 41,290 sq km
Population 7,523,934
Government Federal Republic
Time Zone GMT+1
Daylight Saving last Sunday in March-last Sunday in October
Official languages German, French, Italian, and Romansch
Other languages
Religion 41.8% Roman Catholic, 35.3% Protestants
Country Dialing Code +41
Country TLD .ch
Currency Swiss franc (CHF)
Customs
visitors arriving form Europe may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of pipe Tobacco.
Instead visitors non-European may import twice as much, tobacco and alcohol may only be brought in by people aged over 17 years.
Electricity 230V 50Hz
Electric Plug Europlug
The current used throughout Switzerland is 230 Volts(AC) , 50 Cycles, most power
Sockets are designed for three pin round plugs.
The standard continental type plug with two round pins applied for many electrical travel products can be used without problem, and adaptors are available in most hotels.
VAT
There is a Value Added Tax of 3.6% on accommodation and breakfast, 7.6% on meals and beverages.
Tipping
Service charge is included in prices of hotels, restaurants, hairdressers and taxis. For extraordinary quality of service small tips are certainly well appreciated.
Time Zone
GMT + 1 hr, EST + 6 hrs. Daylight savings time (+ 1 hr) end of March until end of Oktober.
Money
The Safest form of maney are traveler’s checks and credit cards, the most used are Visa , American Express, Master card , Diners, many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATM machines with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system.
Other swiss banks offer ATM machines for cash advances with your credit card.
It is better to have a small amount of cash on hand when you arrive here for immediate expenses (bus, taxi,….)
Coins : 5. 10. 20. 50 Cents and 1. 2. . 5 francs
Bank Notes : 10. 20. 50 .100 .200. 1000franks.
Shopping
Switzerland ’s superb products make it a shooper’s paradise, English is spoken in most shops and stores, fine watches come in an infinite variety and are generally less expensive than in others countries, chocolates come in a variety of sizes, shapes and falvors.
Excellent buys are ; Textiles, linen, drafting sets ,multiblade pocket knives, music boxes ,embroideries……ceramics and other handmade items.
You may ask at the shops for your tax- free shopping cheque and reclaim VAT.
Banking Hours
Business Hours are weekdays from 08..00 AM to 12.00 Noon and from 02.00 PM
Till 05.00 PM, banks are usually open from Monday to Friday(08.30 AM To 04.30 PM).
They are closed Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays.