WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.600 The custo of experiences and tours, Allison's in Florence, getting 2 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:07.040 to your accommodation in Venice, Sicily at Christmas time, and 3 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:11.480 itinery ideas for Northern Italy, plus even some questions about 4 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:15.000 Untold Italy itself. We are covering a lot of ground 5 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.160 on this Q and a episode that will be useful 6 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.000 for first times and regular visitors to Italy. 7 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:31.440 Tawatuti and Benvenuti too. One Told Italy. The travel podcast 8 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:34.479 to where you go to the towns and villages, mountains 9 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:38.799 and lakes, hills and coastlines of Belli, Italia. Each week, 10 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.960 your host Katie Clark takes you on a journey in 11 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:47.439 a search of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, gelato, and 12 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:50.759 of course a whole lot of pasta. If you're dreaming 13 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.399 of Italy and planning future adventures there, you've come to 14 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:55.280 the right place. 15 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:08.760 Jao Bonjiono ben Venuti and welcome to the Untold Italy 16 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:12.359 Travel podcast, where we help curious travelers like you open 17 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:15.159 the door to the Italy that they have been searching for. 18 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.480 I'm Katie, the founder of Untold Italy and I've been 19 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:23.560 recording weekly podcast episodes since twenty twenty. This is episode 20 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:27.120 number three hundred and thirty three, and if you're new here, 21 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:30.599 you might want to download our podcast episode guide so 22 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:33.159 you can choose the episodes that are best for you 23 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:36.159 and where you're at in your Italy planning journey. Because 24 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:39.480 there is rather a lot of content, we'll put a 25 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:41.920 link to how you can get that in the episode 26 00:01:41.959 --> 00:01:45.480 show notes on our website, on your podcast app two, 27 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:48.480 or you can go straight to Untold Italy dot com 28 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.959 forward slash podcast and you'll find it there. On today's episode, 29 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.120 I'm answering listener questions and there are quite a few 30 00:01:56.120 --> 00:01:58.120 to cover, So what I'm going to do for this 31 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:00.400 one is break it down into groups because we have 32 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:03.959 some questions from first time listeners or from people going 33 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.280 back to Italy after many years. We have quite a 34 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:10.879 few about Untold Italy and also some curly questions which 35 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:13.719 I love from our more frequent travelers to Italy. 36 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:16.360 Our goal, as always is to help. 37 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:18.520 You plan your trip wherever you are in your trip 38 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:21.639 planning journey. We have hundreds of free resources on this 39 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.759 podcast and on our website if you are a dedicated 40 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:27.639 DIY planner, but if you do want some help planning 41 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:29.759 your trip, or you'd simply like everything. 42 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:30.159 Done for you. 43 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:34.520 We are here for you too, So let's kick things 44 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:37.560 off with some questions for first timers. I'll answer these 45 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.120 briefly and then point you to episodes where we have 46 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:43.479 taken a deeper dive into some of these topics, ANDIAMO, 47 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:48.120 let's get started. Our first question came through from deb 48 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:51.879 on Instagram. She wanted to know how to safely use 49 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:55.919 an airport ATM to withdraw cash, and how to tip 50 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.599 taxis when you arrive, and then how to tip taxi 51 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:02.080 drivers when you're there. These are some great questions that 52 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.360 we have answered in depth on some other episodes that 53 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:06.919 I'll mention in a minute, but the short answer here 54 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:10.919 is please do not use the airport ATMs. They are 55 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:13.680 a complete ripoff in terms of the exchange rate and 56 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:17.319 the charges that they put on. The extra charges, plus 57 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:21.159 there's slightly dicey in terms of security. Either get your 58 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.719 cash out at a bank in your town or city 59 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:27.479 before you leave, or use a bank ATM only. It's 60 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.199 best if it's inside and not facing out into the. 61 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.240 Street when you get to Italy. But you know the. 62 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.159 Reality is that you do not need much cash when 63 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:39.159 you are there. I usually take out around two hundred 64 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:41.680 euros and I may not use all of it, depending 65 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:45.800 on where I am going. Cards are really accepted everywhere, 66 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:49.800 and actually by law places need to take card payment. 67 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:52.080 In terms of taxis. 68 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:55.479 Personally, I prefer to book a transfer direct to my 69 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:57.000 accommodation from the airport. 70 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.000 Taxis not just initially, but all over the world. 71 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:02.599 I don't know why, but they can be pretty dodgy 72 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:05.800 and they often refuse to take card even though they're 73 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:09.159 not supposed to, and they can charge you too much 74 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:12.360 if you are not really paying attention, which after a 75 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.360 long flight many of us are pretty exhausted and not 76 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:16.360 paying that much attention. 77 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.839 For me, it's simply easier to pay. 78 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.920 A little more, maybe ten euros more, and go straight 79 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:23.279 to where I want to go with someone who's going 80 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.800 to pick me up at the arrivals area and take 81 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:30.040 me buy car in a nice car that doesn't smell 82 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:36.160 to my hotel. Myself and our team we use welcome pickups. 83 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:39.600 You can book, pay and confirm online. It's really easy 84 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:41.839 and will put a link to them in the show notes. 85 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:45.959 If you want to use taxis, it is best to 86 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:49.560 book online with the taxi apps that work like Uber, 87 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.920 because Uber isn't really available in Italy that's a whole 88 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:56.519 nother story. So you can book track the taxi and 89 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.040 pay online, which takes a lot of stress out of 90 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:02.600 trying to work out you've been understood and what you 91 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:05.600 need to pay. This being Italy, there is of course 92 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:08.600 a different taxi app for most cities and we put 93 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:11.600 those into the Untold Italy app that covers most of Italy. 94 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:13.839 And if you're looking for the. 95 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:17.160 Specific taxi app for Rome, that's called app Taxi. 96 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.519 It's the same. 97 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:21.560 Actually here in Australia we have different taxi apps, so 98 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:25.480 frustrating anyway. As far as the tipping goes, this can 99 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:27.720 be a huge topic. But the short answer is that 100 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.639 tipping is not expected in Italy, but it is of 101 00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:34.639 course appreciated. You can use the taxi apps to tip 102 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:37.519 as well. It really does work just like Uber. So 103 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:41.279 I really would encourage anyone who is thinking about getting 104 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.680 a taxi hero or there to download those apps. That's 105 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:48.079 really easy and straightforward. We do have relevant deeper dive 106 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:52.879 episodes that go into these topics. Episode number seven is 107 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:57.759 about tipping in Italy. Episode number five is about taxis 108 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:58.319 in Rome. 109 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.240 Two forty is. 110 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.360 About handling money and all of those things, and one 111 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.920 hundred and seventy two is arriving in Rome. We also 112 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:12.000 have a big article about Rome airport transfers on our website. Again, 113 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:14.000 these will be in the show notes, so you can 114 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:17.360 go and look into that a little bit further. Laurie 115 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:20.600 also asked about bringing euros and Laurie, I hope my 116 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:24.360 answer to deb helped you too to reiterate you do 117 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:25.800 not need to bring a lot of cash. 118 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:26.920 Use your card. 119 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.120 I have a travel one and a backup credit card 120 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:32.279 and it works perfectly, and it has for many, many, 121 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:37.160 many years. Laurie also asked about cell phone reception and 122 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.759 purchasing cards to assist with this, Laurie, unless you're going 123 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:43.879 to be very remote, you're going up into the mountains 124 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:47.240 or some really non touristy areas, I wouldn't worry about 125 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:51.000 reception at all. I use my phone from home here 126 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:54.279 in Australia throughout Italy and have never had any problems, 127 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:56.240 except if I'm somewhere really out of. 128 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:58.319 The way, and in that situation we just go to 129 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.040 the nearest village. 130 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:05.160 I use the International Roaming Plan from my telecommunications company 131 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:08.480 and it's around five dollars a day, and it's similar 132 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:11.639 across most operators globally. You just need to watch how 133 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:14.319 much data you are using each day, but these days 134 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:15.199 it's pretty. 135 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.439 Generous allowance, you know, at least a gigabyte. 136 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:22.000 So unless you're downloading videos or you know, doing a 137 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:25.360 lot of social media or constantly have your maps on, 138 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:27.759 you're not going to use that data. 139 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:29.120 You can also buy. 140 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:32.920 An international SIM if you're concerned about the cost, and 141 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.959 I would do that before you leave home. 142 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:37.600 You can buy an e SIM online. 143 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:40.240 As the process to get a physical SIM is a 144 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:42.560 bit of an die Mary in Italy. We have a 145 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:46.120 full breakdown of your options on our website article how 146 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.480 to use your cell Phone in Italy, and the link 147 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:52.519 will be in the show notes too. The next question 148 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:56.040 is from Kathleen, who is visiting Italy in September. She's 149 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:59.560 worried about train strikes and alternatives if she runs into one. 150 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:04.240 She has a very long train journey from Florence to Solano. Kathleen, 151 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:06.879 this is a great question because yes, one feature of 152 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.199 traveling in Italy is that you may need to deal 153 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:12.759 with train strikes. The good news is that these are 154 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.319 announced well in advance, and of course we keep our 155 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:19.319 untold Italy app users notified as they come up. Usually 156 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:23.160 the main high speed train routes are okay for travel, 157 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:25.839 but should you need a backup plan then the best 158 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:29.079 and most effective option is flicksbus. 159 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:30.240 This is not the. 160 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:34.519 Old Greyhound services of your nightmares. These are really comfortable 161 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.200 services with on board WiFi that get you from A 162 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:37.559 to B. 163 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:41.519 In this case, you would likely need to go to Rome. 164 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:45.559 And change bus from Florence, so you go from Florence 165 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.559 to Rome and then get off the bus and go 166 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:50.480 from Rome to Solano. But it is an option and 167 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.639 it would be from thirty euros. It's a pretty good 168 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.240 deal actually, but you would need to keep an eye 169 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:58.600 on it if you thought that there was going to 170 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:00.720 be a strike, because there may be other people with 171 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:04.559 this idea. The other is that you could use a 172 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:07.200 private driving service to get you there, but you are 173 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:11.240 looking at around twelve hundred to fifteen hundred euros and 174 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.480 so yeah, there's a bit of. 175 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.919 A price differential there, but it's worth. 176 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:18.639 Knowing that there are multiple options. So we have more 177 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:21.200 information on strikes and how to manage them on our 178 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:24.480 website in an article that's called train strikes in Italy, 179 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:27.679 and the reason we have this article is it's quite common. 180 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:30.240 Now we're coming to a question. 181 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.639 Of pricing and the value of experiences, which I thought 182 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:37.120 was really interesting and worth sharing. ANAKA ask about the 183 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.519 pricing and value of private tours and group tours in 184 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:44.559 Rome and other cities in Europe and whether tipping was expected. 185 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:49.519 If you've done any research about experiences in Italy like 186 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:54.679 Colisseum tours, Vatican tours, you Fitzy tours, vesper tours and whatnot, 187 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:58.320 and all over the major cities of Europe and Italy, 188 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:02.399 you'll know that they're are literally tens of thousands of options, 189 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:05.240 and it really can be quite overwhelming, even before you 190 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:07.000 get to the pricing and what's included. 191 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:10.440 So here is a good general rule of thumb. 192 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:14.200 If a tour or experiences is around fifty to seventy 193 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.159 euros per person, it's going to be a large group, 194 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.320 which is say over twenty people, and you'll be walking 195 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:25.159 around with headsets on and it's largely a logistics exercise. 196 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:28.120 You will get some information and things, but it won't 197 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.159 be very personal. People may not like that, but don't 198 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:36.600 underestimate how useful some logistics help is in a country 199 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:41.679 where nothing is particularly well marked or signposted. The next 200 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:44.759 pricing bracket takes you from around eighty to one hundred 201 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.679 and twenty euros per person, and that will be a 202 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:51.320 smaller group, perhaps as many as twelve to fifteen, but 203 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:55.120 it can be smaller and therefore it's more personal and 204 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:56.799 you can ask questions. 205 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:58.320 Easily and engage with your guide. 206 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.720 Next tours run by companies which can start at around 207 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.279 one hundred and fifty euros per person, and a great 208 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:08.200 example are our friends that live tours. They usually have 209 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:11.120 a base price that's fixed for a minimum of two people, 210 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:13.919 and it becomes more cost effective if you add more 211 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:17.720 people to your tour. The advantage here is that they 212 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.279 will have many guides that can deliver the tours to 213 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.080 the standard that they expect, and they can offer a 214 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:27.080 broader range of times. Live tours are fantastic. They offer 215 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:29.679 all sorts of options, from vesper and golf cart tours 216 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:32.480 to art history tours of the Vatican and bulgesa gallery 217 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.559 and you get five percent off with our code. Untold 218 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.080 issually too, and we put the details in the show notes. 219 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:43.720 Of course, Lastly, you have private tours run by individual 220 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.799 guides that you may have found on social media or elsewhere, 221 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:50.039 and their prices will be or they should be higher. 222 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:55.799 Why is that their prices reflect exclusivity and customization. There 223 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:58.639 are only so many tours that they can run personally, 224 00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.879 and let me tell. 225 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:03.559 You that job requires really high energy and commitment. 226 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:07.360 So when it is someone's own brand and business, they 227 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:10.879 will go above and beyond, and so you can expect 228 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:15.120 higher prices from these people because there's only a limited 229 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:18.559 number of days that they can actually offer these tours themselves. 230 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:22.039 It is worth noting and some of you might be 231 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:25.440 surprised about this, but most guides in Italy do a 232 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.840 combination of the above, and they work for several companies 233 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:32.080 as well as themselves so they can maximize their income. 234 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:35.360 I've had a few messages from people saying that they 235 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:37.840 don't want to book through companies, and all I can 236 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:40.919 say is that if you want to guarantee that you 237 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:44.480 will have a guide and tour in the major cities especially, 238 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:47.879 then go for a reputable company like Live Tours or 239 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.639 Walks of Italy. 240 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.279 As they choose. 241 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:53.879 And train their teams carefully, picking from a pool of 242 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.120 guides that are out there, and they make sure that 243 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:00.879 they're delivering their services to a standard that they want. 244 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.480 And it's a different maybe approach to some other companies 245 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.960 that just pick guides from you know, from a scheduling 246 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.679 point of view. They really do make sure that they're 247 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:14.840 working with the people that can represent Italy in the 248 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:19.080 way that they want to. If you're particularly concerned about 249 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:23.279 choosing an Italian company, Live Tours are an Italian company. 250 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:27.320 They are owned by Angelo Caratanuto and he's been on 251 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.799 the podcast several times. He's originally from Rome, but he 252 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:34.720 does speak with a little American accent twain because he 253 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.440 lived in Los Angeles for a while. But both of 254 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.799 those two companies are really worth looking at. It's a 255 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:43.559 bit different outside the major tourist areas of course, as 256 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.320 tour companies don't really operate there, but that is where 257 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:50.720 local contacts come into play, and they're like finding Hen's teeth. 258 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:55.120 To be honest, you really need to have really good 259 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:58.919 context there. We do feature some of these guides on 260 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:02.960 our podcast, and so if you're interested in a particular town, 261 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:06.000 you can go through our podcast listing and you should 262 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:09.279 find some people there. But a lot of people keep 263 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.360 those details very close to their chest because it's really 264 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:16.399 difficult to find amazing guides in some of the smaller cities. 265 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:19.279 In summary, what you were prepared to pay for your 266 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:22.679 experiences is completely up to you, but hopefully this gives 267 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:24.879 you an idea of what you can expect for the 268 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:28.720 price that you are wanting to pay. Next, we headed 269 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:31.679 to Venice and Tamora or Tamra, I don't know. We 270 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:34.559 say Tomora in Australia, so if it's Tamra, I'm sorry 271 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:37.840 about that. She asked how she could get from the 272 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:42.519 cruise terminal to her hotel near Piazza San Marco, noting 273 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.759 that Tamora is on a Windstar cruise, which is a 274 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:49.080 small boat trip that's able to dock in the Venice 275 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:52.559 cruise terminal, which is quite rare these days, and that's 276 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:55.120 because the bigger ships are no longer able to go there. 277 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.840 Arriving in Venice is something you do really want to 278 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.039 have a think about, as if is a city built 279 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:04.919 on watar Of course, if you're arriving at the cruise terminal, 280 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.559 it's about a ten minute walk to the Vaporaretto stops 281 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.799 at Piazzale Roma or the cruise company may put on 282 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:15.480 a shuttle. Vaparido one is the slow ride and Vaporoto 283 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:18.639 two is the express down on the Grand Canal and 284 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:23.399 the riot stop for Piazza San Marco is Sanzakaraya. You 285 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.200 could also it's blurge on a water taxi straight to 286 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:29.559 your hotel if it has a private doc and if 287 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:33.399 you want more information about arriving in Venice. So it 288 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:36.519 can be a little bit complicated, it's definitely worth looking into. 289 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.960 You can check the Untold Italy app, the premium version 290 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.600 where we have a rival info for many places in 291 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:46.360 Italy like Venice, or there is an article on our 292 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.720 website specifically for Venice that I will link. 293 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.879 To in the show notes. 294 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:54.960 Okay, next up, we have some questions about Untold Italy, 295 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:57.399 and I'm going to start off with the question that 296 00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:00.759 comes from some of our Australian listener who often ask 297 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.799 Katie why, as an Australian, why you often address American 298 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:08.320 listeners and why are your services and tool pricing in 299 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:13.120 US dollars. Well, dear friends, over eighty five percent of 300 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:16.399 our listeners and followers are from North America, so it's 301 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:20.559 nice to include their logistical challenges and cultural differences in 302 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:25.159 our discussions. Actually, we cover so many countries in the world, 303 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:31.279 from Chile to places in Africa to Egypt, I think, 304 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:37.600 and South Africa. Definitely Hello to everyone listening their Thailand, Japan. 305 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.519 I love it. 306 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.320 Everyone is here and it's a big world, but it's 307 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.399 also a small world, and I like to think everyone 308 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:47.039 joining us here is united by a love for Italy. 309 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:52.279 With the respect to pricing, we do mainly post primarily 310 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:55.799 USD for the reason that so many of our listeners 311 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:59.720 are in North America, and it's also for technical reasons. 312 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:03.360 So honestly, in these days of globalization, you would think 313 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.880 it would be quite easy to quote in multiple currencies 314 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:09.480 up front, but it's actually easier said than done, especially 315 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.559 if you are like us and do not want the 316 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.839 platform added fees and charges passed on to our clients 317 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:23.519 back in a flash right after these messages for on 318 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.319 the go curated travel tips, restaurant recommendations and fun things 319 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:30.799 to do in classic and hidden spots across Italy, download 320 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:37.039 the Untold Italy app link in the show notes. But 321 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.519 of course I am Australian. I love being an Aussie 322 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:44.400 and we support many Australian clients, and we're always happy 323 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.720 to give you a quote in Australian dollars using the 324 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:50.759 mid market rate, no commission applied. Just reach out and 325 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:55.160 we will help. And that also goes for our Canadian, British, 326 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:58.759 European and Kiwi E friends too. If you are from 327 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:03.839 somewhere else, Sorry, unfortunately my accountant will not let us 328 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.720 open any more currency accounts. 329 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:07.839 He's already furious. 330 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:09.359 With me and says I have the most amount of 331 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:13.319 accounts of anyone he knows. The next question a lot 332 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:17.559 of our listeners and customers ask is why can't I 333 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:21.359 book my trip planning directly with Katie? Why doesn't Katie 334 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:24.319 lead the small group tours? And here's the honest truth, 335 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:28.720 and it's something of a philosophical and I guess values 336 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:33.039 based answer. I would say, because I never wanted Untold 337 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:36.400 Italy to be about me. I know I'm the voice 338 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.079 in the face of this podcast and our company, and 339 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:43.319 I'm going to say something now that's really very unfashionable 340 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:46.359 in this age of personal branding. But I build the 341 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:49.559 Untold Italy podcast and our company out of a love 342 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:53.480 for traveling in Italy, and I want our company to 343 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:56.000 be about Italy and Italians, not. 344 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.599 About Katie Clark, and so it's no accident. 345 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:03.759 I love to include my team and you know, so 346 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:08.680 many different people, colleagues, partners on everything that I do, 347 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:13.160 and it's no accident that we have Italian voices, mostly female, 348 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.799 on this podcast as much as possible. This is quite unique, 349 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:21.279 as you might notice on most social and other media 350 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.519 that you come across talking about Italy, even if it's 351 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.519 in English, it's mostly native English speakers that are talking 352 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:33.319 about Italy and Italian culture. So call me crazy, but 353 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:36.079 I want to hear from locals about their own country. 354 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:40.839 And yes, I absolutely enjoy hearing from expats and migrants 355 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:43.640 and travelers, but I really think to get to the 356 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:46.519 heart of a place, it's also very important to hear 357 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:50.000 from people who grew up there. So I'm always searching 358 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.880 for Italians to talk to you here on the pod, 359 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:55.039 but they are very shy. If you know any Italians 360 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:57.400 who will make a great guest, please let me know. 361 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:01.880 I'd love to hear from them. As for leading the tours, well, 362 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:04.519 one day I would really love to and you will 363 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.640 be the first to know. But for now, as I 364 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:09.400 have a young family who needs their mom at home. 365 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.960 Most of the year. 366 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:12.640 I leave it to the experts and the hosts, whose energy, 367 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:16.359 passion and care for our guests is absolutely incredible to me, 368 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.519 and I'm so very very proud of them. They are 369 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:23.599 truly special people and if you've spent any time with them, 370 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:26.680 you will know that, and it's reflected in the feedback 371 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:29.559 and the reviews that we get each season that we. 372 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:33.319 Travel on tour. Lastly, the only. 373 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:36.160 Way Untold Italy is able to help you with this podcast, 374 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:39.240 our website and cover the whole of Italy is because 375 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:39.880 of our team. 376 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.039 Take it from me. 377 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:44.079 They know so much more about many parts of Italy 378 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:47.960 than I could ever know. Sarah is the oracle on Umbria, 379 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.279 Olivia knows Piedmont and Rome like the back of her hand. 380 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:55.640 Cassandra is the expert on Abruzzo, Pulia, the Dolomites in 381 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:58.480 southern Italy, and Hannah is our fond of all knowledge 382 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:02.680 on Sicily, Liguria and the Each of our team have 383 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:06.160 deep knowledge and contacts from living in Italy or traveling 384 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:10.119 there many many times. They are the glue, the library 385 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:13.920 and your access path to Italy, and honestly, Untold Italy 386 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:18.480 would not exist without them. And the last question that 387 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:21.960 we have about Untold Italy is with regard to the 388 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:24.680 pricing of our small group tools, and I'll be up 389 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.799 front we're definitely not a budget option, so we may 390 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:30.559 not be the best fit for everyone. But what you 391 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:34.200 might not know is that absolutely everything is included in 392 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:38.720 our trip price. Beautiful family run hotels, all the activities 393 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:42.680 that we do on tour, almost every meal, including hands, 394 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:46.240 selected local wines and even tips for local guides, as 395 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.480 well as the transport. 396 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.559 Everything is included. 397 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.519 And this is quite different from many other small group 398 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:55.920 tool companies where activities and other items are used as 399 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.440 an upsell opportunity or you're left to sort out meals 400 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.839 on your own. Our philosophy is that you join us 401 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.440