Although it’s hard to believe, my first trip to Italy was more than 20 years ago. And a lot has changed since then that makes travel to Italy easier and more enjoyable.
In the 1980s, Italy was still using the lira as their currency. So you had to keep track of the exchange rate, and change your money often. Since ATMs weren’t around, you carried travelers’ checks. And when you wanted to exchange money, you went to a bank or the American Express office. Compared to getting local currency from a cash machine, it was a hassle.
Before the Internet, making hotel reservations was a challenge – especially if you didn’t want to stay in a chain hotel with an 800 number. Most of the smaller properties didn’t speak English, so you had to learn enough Italian to request a room on the phone. And you had to call when someone would answer the phone – very early in the morning if you live on the west coast. The other alternative was to write a letter requesting a room, which was a slow process. By the time you learned that the hotel you were interested in was unavailable, your second and third choices could be full too.
Tags: american express, chain hotel, easy language, express office, first trip, hotels in italy, independent travel, language channels, satellite tv, travelers checks