This page does not pretend to be exclusive with respect to Italy, because many rules are valid in other countries, especially European ones. Nevertheless, Italy accepts hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists a year, and it will be superfluous to know some norms to feel comfortable.

There are some differences in how to behave with a group tour (sightseeing bus) and with individual travel (primarily in the beach hotel, as well as in the city hotel during a private trip).

In group sightseeing tours it is impossible to collect whole buses of tourists, for whom an expensive hotel is important, and who is ready to pay extra for it .Therefore, such tours are based on hotels, where minimum requirements are observed .Breakfast in Italy (prima colazione) and so traditionally not rich, in the hotels of hotels and at all is minimal .Therefore, the special irritation of both tourists and staff triggers the behavior of tourists, when everything that is on a common tray, someone picks up $ ±​​$ 3..I once heard the humorous reproach of one of the waiters: "Someone will make a Pisan tower of cheese and ham on his plate ... And we only had this allocated for breakfast" .A few too hungry, unfortunately, are in each group .

What should I do in this case? If you want something that is no longer on trays, calmly ask the waiter. As a rule, if it is in the kitchen, you will be brought directly to your table. However, in most hotels intended for sightseeing groups, just gradually deliver new portions.

In respectable hotels for individual holidays or business visits, there are no such "stories". But in either case, my advice is not to worry, not to wind yourself and others, but just ask the staff what you want.

In hotels they dine rarely. But just in case: dinner is called "il pranzo". Timetables for restaurants are always at the reception, and often in elevators.

The "la cena" dinner usually starts at seven or seven thirty. As a rule, snacks, salads and various seasonings are offered from the general table "il buffe". In addition to your table will bring either pasta - pasta, spaghetti, lasagne, tagliatelle ..., or, less often, soup. As the main dish will be meat "la carne" (la carne) or fish "il pesce" (il peshe). Well, dessert. Drinks are bought separately, even if dinner is included in the cost of the tour.

In good hotels after dinner can put a bottle of lemonella. Russians usually understand this as offering all of it and having a drink. Italians usually pour on a glass of this strong liquor after eating, and the rest is left. But if you want to drink everything - no problem: leave more tips. The cost of a half-liter bottle for a hotel is about five EUR.

When buying a ticket to a beach hotel, please note whether the price includes a place on the beach. A beach worker will need to find out: "Do you have an e-mi mio posto in spiaja?" "(Where is my place on the beach). Borrow sun beds, putting even before breakfast beach towels, it is not forbidden. However, you do not need to be a "dog in the manger" and close them to use on those days when you are on an excursion or stay in the room.

In many beach hotels there is an opportunity to rent a bicycle: "Vorrei Nollejare la bicicletta". As a rule, this service is paid.

Italians are accepted to communicate "on you." Even a young waitress can calmly ask a fifty-year-old gentleman "what will you order for dinner?" ". This is not a sign of disrespect - this is part of Italian culture.

Tipping

Leave one EUR near the TV cleaner - a rule of good taste. But in many hotels, staff are not allowed to take any money from the room. In this case, at the end of the week, leave a few coins or a five-penny piece of paper in a conspicuous place. In the restaurant after dinner, especially if you order wine, you can leave a couple of EUR for the waiters. Very large tips (like in America) are not accepted, but small amounts will improve your relations with the staff: your gestures of invitation or issue will pay attention first of all.

Out of curiosity

In each bathroom there is a rope near the shower. We Russians are curious. If you do not know why it is, then you definitely want to pull it. At the bottom of the reception signal is heard: in such a room, a person needs urgent help in the bathroom. I must say that, as a rule, they will call you immediately, but if you do not pick up the phone, wait for help. So, the rope in each bathroom is a signal for prompt (and possibly emergency) help.

Last thing. The quality of the holiday depends to a large extent on your mood. Be calm, friendly, not scandalous, solving your problems, and your memories of rest in Italy will be the best.