Camping Isuledda near Golfo Aranci in Sardinia

This campsite next to the shimmering blue Mediterranean waters of the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia had spectacular views.

The Dream

Many people dream of a vacation in Europe, the "once in a lifetime" adventure that they can always refer to at cocktail parties or weddings. The reality is often much different, a whirlwind ten days spent in the capitals of all the countries, a trip where more time is spent yarding suitcases around than enjoying the sights and cultures that are so rewarding. The key to successful travel is to simplify things and slow down. Soak up the atmosphere of little towns, enjoy meeting people and setting off on your own adventure.

Camping allows you both the freedom to explore and takes you to places you otherwise would never see. Where hotels usually put you in the center of busy towns, campgrounds are often found near rivers or lakes and can have views that are second to none. Many campgrounds have services like stores, restaurants and sometimes even bars, discos, and live entertainment. Bus service is usually convenient and after a long day of seeing sights and walking on cobblestone streets return home to a cool dip in the pool or just lounge around enjoying a nice bottle of local wine. In the morning wake up to the sound of birds chirping instead of honking horns and passing trucks. Best of all, every night you climb into your own bed with your own things around you and there’s no more worrying about when the last time the blanket was washed or what caused that stain in the carpet.

We have been traveling this way for the last several years and find it not only economical but in many ways easier that traditional hotel stays.Though prices of campgrounds vary, we have paid anywhere from $8 a night for a tent spot in the Loire Valley in France to $30 a night for a resort campground on the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia. Generally, you can expect to pay according to the services offered and proximity to popular attractions. Unlike American campgrounds that usually charge a flat fee, European campgrounds charge for the car, the number of tents, the number of people and whether you will be using electricity or not. Though it sounds like it will end up costing a lot, in the end it is usually about what you might spend at home or even less. For families the savings can be tremendous as European hotels often require more than one room for parents with children, doubling costs. Campgrounds, by contrast, are very family friendly and often offer discounts for children and sometimes don’t charge for them at all. Even by the time you factor in other costs like the rental car, restaurants, and miscelaneous, you may find that you are still paying less than you would have for just one room in a moderate hotel.

Camping does require certain compromises and can have its moments. The key to making it a successful way to travel is to not be in too much of a hurry and to have some flexibility. Some of the best memories will be the ice cream you ate in some little town or the old couple that you met while buying a bottle of water. The best advice is to be organized and spend a lot of time planning before you go. Know what to expect and be able to improvise if you have to. Most of all, make sure everyone gets a good night’s rest. Traveling is tiring enough without adding in the crankiness that lack of sleep can create. Avoid the drill sargeant routine of waking up at the crack of dawn so you can make it to Florence before the Uffizi opens. Instead, enjoy some coffee and a pastry and then ask your significant other, “Shall we drive into Florence today?”

Planning

The most crucial aspect of a good trip is good planning. Researching the areas you plan to visit, knowing how things work, having an idea of where you are going and what to do will all save you countless hours of frustration or the terrible experience of wasting a valuable day of vacation. Besides, planning a trip and learning about other areas can be a very rewarding activity. Cold winter days pass much quicker when you spend them dreaming about warm French baguettes or Italian gelato. We’ve logged hundreds of hours on the Internet or sitting at Barnes & Nobles pouring over information and possibilities. Did it pay off? Absolutely! Often, it’s information that you don’t think will be important that turns up being the gem you needed. You could find yourself driving by some little town and then remember, “Hey, isn’t there a chocolate factory here?”

Guidebooks

Fodors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, and others all make comprehensive guidebooks on Europe and its individual countries. Each one offers a different approach and has slightly different information. Depending on your interests one book may be better than another but I would suggest you look them all over and read as much as you can. Pick the one you like best to purchase and save the others for while you drink a cup of coffee at Borders or Barnes & Nobles. Before you purchase, read a chapter or two to see if it has what you want. Some, like Fodors or DK, offer information and lots of glossy color pictures which can be very helpful in giving you an idea of what to expect and to see. Lonely Planet can have some good budget information as well as usable maps and plenty of contacts. I have a preference for the DK or Eyewitness books in spite of their heft as they are easy to use and the pictures and maps are really quite good. Though they look like they are more show than go they have been spot on when it comes to recommending restaurants, often matching opinions of knowledgeable locals. As tempting as it may be to just buy a general European guidebook there is really no substitute to country or even region-specific knowledge. You may want to pick up some for the home library and then others for taking along.

I would also highly recommend you take a look at Rick Steve’s books, especially Europe Through the Back Door. His information and attitude about European travel is excellent and he can say in a page or two while the others take a whole chapter. The other books, for obvious reasons, maintain their objectiveness while Rick doesn’t hesitate to tell give you the skinny on whether to see something or not. You don’t have to do exactly as he says but it’s nice to know that you could.
Those traveling with kids may want to read, Taking Your Kids to Europe which is a pretty good guide on some of the nuts and bolts even down to forms to help you calculate costs as well as a section on camping.

Getting Around

Buy Michelin maps. Period. Be sure to get country-specific ones and if you are going to spend an extended time in one region you may want to consider the yellow ones that are very specific. We’ve used both the ones that require lots of folding and the spiral bound books. For planning and mapping out driving routes the fold-up ones have a bit of an edge but for daily use I would really suggest you buy the spiral-bound books. These offer greater detail and are easy to use once you figure out the numbering system. The best thing about these maps are the little triangles you’ll find dotting the different areas. Each one of these is a campground that may or may not be in one of your guidebooks but exists nonetheless. We’ve often just driven to an area and started checking out the different campgrounds until we found one to our liking. It’s not a sure-fire technique as some regions like the Ligurian coast on the Italian Riviera is dotted with a large number of rather poor campgrounds but you could survive an entire trip using this technique and not do too bad. Where these maps really shine is that they can give you the confidence to escape from the rather bleak scenery surrounding the freeways and onto the backroads where you will find the treasures and hidden treasures that cover the European countryside. There is no substitute for a good map and getting lost not only can cause problems with schedules but can wreak havoc between drivers and navigators.

There are some camping books that you would be well advised to purchase. Traveler’s Guide to European Camping by Frank and Terri Church is a good resource that not only goes over the basics but also has many recommendations on campgrounds that they have personally visited. Their directions on how to arrive are excellent as are their descriptions of what to find. Europe by Van and Motorhome is also a good resource. It goes over such things as buying or renting a motorhome abroad as well as nuts and bolts on such topics as shipping cars, email, driving, and more.

Though you won’t find them on the shelf at your corner bookstore European campground books do exist and are very helpful in planning and while you travel. English language books are available from AA, Great Britain’s autoclub as well as a popular series by Alan Rogers that is less comprehensive but benefits from personal reviews and experience. As these books are updated annually you may want to wait for the most recent editions which usually go on sale after the first of the year. Purchasing them is as easy as going to Amazon.co.uk and shipping and mail time are comprable to ordering from their US-based outfit though these have the benefit of traveling via Royal Mail. You may also want to consider books from other auto clubs, like Touring Club Italiano. Though not available in English you can quickly learn the vocabulary of campgrounds and they have the advantage of local information.

In spite of the fact that English is rapidly becoming the semi-official second language it is highly advised that you at least learn some basic words and phrases for the countries you plan to visit. At the very least, learn such polite things as please, good morning, thankyou, excuse me and a few phrases, especially, I would like which can often be followed by a point in most bakeries and meat counters. See and Speak is an old series of inexpensive and simple books that I’ve used for years with excellent success. They can be difficult to find but their size and use of similar language really speed up the learning process. Whichever book you choose it’s a good idea to study a bit every day. I would just carry one with me and study it during those otherwise lost moments during the day like waiting in dentists offices or slow times at work. There are also some excellent CD ROMs available for learnging with your computer. They can be interactive and fun and will build vocabulary relitively fast. Though you probably won’t become fluent in a short period of time you can easily learn enough to deal with simple communication in stores and campgrounds and may even enough for limited conversations usually accompanied by gestures and gyrations.

The Internet

The single largest collection of information for your trip can be found on the Internet. Not only is there information about sights and cities there is a huge deposit of info to help you plan and even carry out your trip. Everything from booking flights to making reservations in restaurants can be done over the web and it is often easier than any other way. Many European campgrounds have information online where you can find such things as prices, services, and pictures. Some campgrounds, like the French chain Castel Camping, have well-organized websites where picking a campground is as easy as clicking on a map. Find some of the campgrounds near areas where you are sure to visit and send them an email letting know you may visit. Though this is hardly a requirement you’d be surprised at the welcome you get when you show up and they are expecting you. It’s usually worth at least a warm greeting, always nice on a trip far from home, and sometimes it can mean a little nicer spot or preferential treatment.
Other online resources vary from map and itinerary planners that will calculate distances, fuel costs, and road tolls.

Airfare

The first and most obvious thing you’ll need is airfare. Now, there’s a lot of information out there on this topic so I’ll keep it short. Bear in mind that airfare will likely be your single biggest expense so it also can save you the most money. Shop around at sites like Lowest Fares or Travelocity and play with departure dates and destinations. I don’t know if airlines are influenced by the tides but sometimes you’ll find a different price for Tuesday at 11:00 than for Wednesday at 12:00. Generally speaking, cities like London and Paris are usually among the least expensive flights but you may want to consider Benelux countries as they can have similar prices and often lower lodging costs. Car arrangements may influence your decision and you may have to choose between the ease of communication in England with the ease of driving in France. If you rent a car in London chances are good you will be on the wrong side of the road for the rest of your journey.

Arranging a Car

Many European travelers opt for the ease and availability of trains and buses when they travel. Though it is true that riding on a train is easier than driving it also forces you to someone else’s schedule and more often than not you will spend a fair proportion of your valuable time admiring the scenery inside train stations all around the continent. Contrast that with driving yourself and the flexibility it provides and you will quickly find that driving offers many advantages whether you camp or not. In spite of what you might think, car rentals can actually end up being less expensive then traveling by trains or buses depending on the number of people in your party and the kind of car you get. Besides, some of our best memories were found along the side of the road when we stopped to see something spectacular or just to enjoy a picnic using the fresh tomatoes and baguette along the road.
Even though you may be used to a larger car or SUV as a camping rig keep in mind that cars in Europe are much smaller than you may be used to. You may find that scaling back on your needs may be preferable to spending more on a bigger model. Though it may mean you’ll have to leave some things behind you will be glad to have a smaller car whenever you try to find a parking spot or when you pull up to the pump for a tank of gas. Many models are also available in diesel or turbo diesel trim which not only costs less to fill up but also tend to get better gas mileage without sacrificing power or comfort. If your clutch skills are a bit rusty you may want to brush up as manual transmissions are the norm here and automatics are usually only available in more expensive models. What you will want to get will depend on the number of people you have with you. For just a couple most of the small cars would suffice but if you are taking your family you may want to consider something a bit roomier. A good idea is to take a look at what models are being offered and then going to the companies websites to find out more. I have even gone so far as to mark out the storage area on the floor and pile my stuff to see if it will fit. This is far from being a perfect technique but will prevent you from making such mistakes as how long your tent poles can be. If you are really concerened about storage ask about the availability of a roof rack or just plan on getting one at the nearest car parts store. Carrying camping gear this way is pretty much the norm and in prime months along the south of France we’ve seen lines of cars piled high with bikes, strollers, stoves, and a menagerie of other things usually tied down and covered in sheets of blue plastic. Maybe not a pretty way to travel but a possibility. The best advice I can give is take less - lot’s less than you think you’ll need and get a comfortable car, preferably with air conditioning as even in June some parts can be rather warm.

Traditional Rentals

The most common method people use when traveling is renting a car from traditional sources. Names like Hertz, National, and Avis are all big players in European car rentals. You can easily make arrangements before you go either through a travel agent, by calling the companies or by using their websites. You will often find a price advantage by making arrangements stateside as discounts are hard to come by once you arrive. You’d be well advised to shop around and inquire about any promotions or special rates as your car will be a major expense. Keep in mind that picking a specific model may be more difficult as most rental agencies specify a group as opposed to a particular model. Where a group C in Italy may be a small Fiat it will most likely be a small Renault in France or an Opel in Germany. If you want to know for sure you can call a rental center at the airport where you will be arriving and ask what cars they have in their fleet. You can pretty much expect most major car rental offices will speak English, at least enough to get the information you’ll need. If you do call you may also want to ask if the cars have tape players or CD players. Our first trip we brought a bag of useless tapes as it was a CD player and our second trip we packed around CDs when we needed tapes. You can always play it safe and just buy music when you arrive or listen to the radio. I will say the book on tape I listened to during a long drive from Arles to Paris kept me awake and aware even though I never listened to the last side and I still don’t know if the evil exec of that company was ever found out.

Eurolease Programs

These programs, which I learned of from a friend who had used them, are a terrific way to travel if your travels will go beyond 17 days. What you get is a brand-new car with no miles and for the time you are there it is yours. The programs include insurance and roadside assistance and there’s no limit on the miles you can put on. Renault’s version, found at http://www.eurodrive.renault.com or http://www.renaultusa.com, is the most developed and offers quality cars that you can pick up or drop off in a variety of European cities. Prices vary depending on your stay but for us it has usually worked out to be something like $30 - $40 a day for a car capable of hauling our family of four and our gear. Smaller cars will run less and larger cars more but it should put you in the ballpark. Most of the major centers for their service are in France but you can make arrangements to arrive or depart in many other locations for a fee. Picking up and dropping off are relatively simple tasks. When you arrive you call the number they give you and they send someone to pick you up. If it’s at an airport where they have a lot they’ll take you there with all your stuff and show you to your car. If you’ve made arrangements for another location they will probably just send someone with the car right to the airport. Either way, allow about an hour or so for the process and don’t make the mistake I did by planning to be somewhere several hours away right when you arrive. Unlike rental cars, lease cars come with a minimum amount of fuel in the tank so make sure you ask where the nearest gas station is.

Buying a New Car: European Delivery

You’ve probably heard at one time or another that it’s possible to pick up a new Mercedes or BMW in Europe, drive it around and have it shipped to you back home. If you’re on the market for a new car this may be a great way to not only save the money you’d spend on a rental but the sticker price is usually much less meaning you can almost pay for your vacation with the money you’d save. Other manufacturers that offer this service include Porsche, Volvo and Saab and many include not only the car but some may even offer other incentives like free tickets and personal factory tours. Imagine driving your new Porsche or BMW accross the German Autobahns or the reflection of Tuscan sunflowers on the new paint of your Volvo wagon. Arrangements are about as easy as buying a new car and in most instances you can even trade in your old one. When you are finished traveling you merely drive to one of the pre-arranged ports and drop off your car and it will arrive four to five weeks after you get back. A doctor friend of mine always buys his BMWs this way and has had the chance to enjoy many adventures in his new cars.

Used and Classic Cars

When many people picture the perfect vehicle for camping in Europe the one that comes to mind is invariably the venerable Volkswagen Camper. There are many companies that specialize in just this model for just this reason and they can make all the arrangements for you to purchase a used VW camper conversion for you travels in Europe. They usually go through them making sure they run properly and many feature rebuilt motors and running gear to help insure their reliability. Keep in mind that as these vehicles are still highly desired they command a bit higher price than many other choices but their practicality may outweigh any penalty you may incur in price.
If you are considering buying just some other car for use while you are here I would really advise against it. Registration and insurance issues are often not only time-consuming but also can be prohibitively expensive meaning that any money you save on initial purchase could be offset by fees and red-tape that would almost ensure that your memory of your European vacation would be an unpleasant one.
Imagine touring the French countryside in a Citroen 2CV or Italy in a Fiat Cinquecento, slowly watching the land go by. While you can’t import just any car you wish you can bring back classic cars from the sixties and seventies that were made before the US government required such things as big bumpers, side impact reinforcement and catalytic converters. This option is not for the feint of heart as old cars have a tendency to break down but it could provide for some very interesting memories. You can shop for one online from a variety of websites or ads or buy a copy of Hemmings Motor News or Classic Cars magazine which both offer listings for international buyers and sellers. When you are done you can have your car shipped home for somewhere around a thousand dollars depending on where you live and where you ship from. Generally speaking, rates are less expensive in the main harbors of Northern Europe and you’ll probably want to consolidate your car with others in a container to save money. Find a shipping agent that will do the paperwork for you and be sure to ask for a complete breakdown of fees on both ends. You can, in fact, ship your own car which may be cost-effective depending on your length of stay or your interest in having your own car here. Many classic car buffs routinely enjoy rallies in Europe in their own cars and there’s no reason you can’t as well. Arranging for insurance can be done by contacting companies that specialize in classic car insurance like Hagerty which offers policies for overseas touring and shipping.

Choosing a Camground

Finding campgrounds is pretty easy as most areas have them. Often, you can choose from a site that is near where you will be visiting offering easy access to sites or one that is farther out that may be a nice break from busy areas and can offer some spectacular scenery. Locations can be found using a guidebook or map or by driving until you find one of the many camping signs along the road. Whichever method you choose it’s a good idea to check out the campground before you commit yourself to spending the night. Park near the office and ask permission to look around. Most places will glady agree to this and if they don’t you may want to consider it as a bad sign. Be sure to check out things that may be most important to you like bathrooms and showers and examine the overall cleanliness. The most important thing is to start looking for a campground early enough so you have time to change your mind if you wish. The few times we left settling down to too late in the day we either ended up in campgrounds we wish we had avoided or in a hotel costing four times as much. A good campground can make your stay a memorable one and chances are good you’ll never forget a bad one. I will add, however, that the majority of campgrounds we’ve seen have been very nice and more than met our needs. Some of the more crowded and popular areas such as the Italian Riviera have a large number of mediocre campgrounds that you are probably better off avoiding. This is where good guidebooks can make a big difference and save you a lot of time driving around.

Checking In

One thing that will immediately confuse most campers used to traveling in the US is that prices for European campgrounds are determined by calculating the number of adults, children, tents, cars, etc. that there are and then multiplying by the number of nights. Though it seems at first that all this will add up to some astronomical number it usually works out to be a similar cost and many times less than comparable accommodations in an American campground. Electricity also adds to the cost and don’t expect to find an outlet next to your site. Many campgrounds have people that speak English but if not usually a mix of English and handsigns should suffice. You will be asked for your passports and they will usually keep these for you during your stay but take them with you when you go into town and don’t forget them when you leave. Most campgrounds prefer cash to credit cards though this trend is changing some. In some campgrounds you will be issued a particular spot but in others they will give you a number sign or sticker and you can pick what you like.

campgrounds - what to expect

First, European campgrounds tend to be different from most American campgrounds. Where Americans often view camping as a way to get away from things and get out in the woods Europeans see it as an alternative to hotels and a place to relax and see sights. Part of this is due to the main camping season which is the end of July and the month of August when campgrounds are full of people many of whom will spend an entire month camped with family for vacation. Campgrounds tend to be near or actually in cities and walking or public transportation will usually get you where you want to go eliminating many fears about parking or crime. Campgrounds are very safe and crime is almost unheard of though I wouldn’t take this as a license to leave valuables unattended. Often, campgrounds will have such things as stores, bars, and restaurants and may even offer discos and live entertainment. In France you can usually order some fresh baked goods for the morning and Italian campgrounds will usually offer up a cafe or cappuccino.

bathrooms

The most obvious drawback, as with camping anywhere, is the lack of a private restroom. Midnight walks up the hill are never pleasant nor is waiting in line for a shower. Fortunately, Europeans are usually very particular about restroom cleanliness and many times you will encounter a worker, hose in hand, scrubbing down the facilities. Showers are usually very nice and many times you’ll be surrounded by nice tile work. Some campgrounds have such ammenities as private wash basins and even wall-mounted hair dryers which can more than make up for having to share. Most campgrounds have restrooms where there is a combination of regular toilets or turkish or squatter toilets. In our family there is still much discussion as to the merits of each my wife preferring the comfort of a traditional throne and I preferring the sanitary nature of not sharing a seat with others. Whichever you prefer it is probably advised to at least try out a squatter in calm circumstances so that when the time comes you have no choice in a public place you’ll know what to do. A small tip would be for each camper to have their own toiletry bag which tends to speed up things in the morning.

camping - eating shopping and meals

Eating is probably one of the single sources where you can improve the quality of your trip while at the same time greatly reducing the costs. Now, I’m a big fan of eating in restaurants but when every meal is out you not only suffer the obvious setback to your finances but also spend more time being frustrated reading menus, trying to order and ending up with mediocre food. Add in the lost time which is very valuable when you calculate such things as airfare and car rentals and eating out all the time becomes a less attractive option. Besides, European stores are full of some wonderful foods that are a pleasure to enjoy. Aisles of cheeses, meats, and wines all will entice you and you will be surprised to find that for the most part prices are less than you would pay at home. Shop sometime in the morning so you will have food for lunch and don’t wait too long or you may find they are closed only to reopen much later in the afternoon. Ice is harder to find so you should plan on buying fresh food each day. You may wish to purchase some freezer packs as some campgrounds will freeze them for you and in a pinch frozen peas will do. Spread your blanket in front of some medieval castle and enjoy a lunch featuring a fresh baguette, some mozzerella and a bottle of wine. Wine, you’ll find, is probably the biggest bargain as a good bottle can be found for three to four dollars and it is really hard to go wrong. A small butane (no propane here) stove can be used back at camp to cook up some spaghetti or pasta with some preprepared sauce. For breakfast a pastry and some coffee either brewed in an espresso style (Bialletti or similar) or French press style coffeemaker goes well and can take a chill away. Kids usually like cereal or maybe some fresh eggs. It may also be a good idea to have some emergency food like some pasta and a jar of Barilla or some sandwich bread and jelly or Nutella to take care of those times that you don’t make it to the store because you were enjoying the museum so much. Most of all, take time to enjoy eating and make it relaxing. A nice break where you can close your eyes for a bit will make the day go a lot nicer than going like the Energizer Bunny all day long.

What to pack

Perhaps it is our frontier nature or our fear of the unknown but so many times we pack so many things that are unnessesary or “just in case” and then move them around for the entire time of the trip, hating them more and more. Our first trip I was so concerned about finding things at stores and what they would cost that I took extra batteries, plastic tarps, a bulky blanket and more that I really wish I had left behind. It is much easier to buy something after you arrive when you know you really need it than to pack it accross the ocean only to jetison it due to its bulk. And yes, Europe has stores where you should be able to find almost anything you may need. Not everything is the same but knowing this can make it easier to leave some of the bulk back. Some things, in fact, are better to purchase when you arrive as they are inexpensive and hard to ship. This also gives you flexibility to change your mind about some items. Though every list will vary and I will doubtlessly leave something out, here’s my list of what to take:
Good sleeping bags - probably the single most important item. Don’t scrimp and look for something that packs small. Figure out the lowest temperature you will encounter and buy a bag rated 10 to 20 degrees lower or bring a blanket to throw over just in case. Pajamas or long underwear can make a huge difference. Some new bags use materials that make them just as effective while reducing their size by about half. Just figure a night or two of motel rooms as a budget and you should be fine.

• Mats - not all the world is made of soft grass! Go with a self-inflating variety for backpacking and know yourself well enough to know how much cushion you need.
• Pillows - you don’t need much but find one that compresses well.
  
• Tent - get something easy to set up with room for everyone. You may wish to use to smaller tents but it will add a little to the cost and can double setup time.
  
• Towels - real terrycloth only for me, please. White towels take less time to dry and absorb more. Take only the length you need to dry off as bulk can greatly reduce drying time. I would also recommend a black mesh bag to put them in which is handy to put near a back window while you drive which helps them to dry out.
  
• Clothes line - just the simple small rope type works well.
  
• Butane stove - look at the backpacking variety that uses the little blue canisters (Camping Gas is a common name). These are the kind you’ll find for sale in Europe. You can always wait until you arrive as there is a wider variety to choose from but prices are pretty much the same on either side of the pond. DO NOT TAKE FUEL ON A PLANE!
  
• Backpacking cookset - we bought a nice set with teflon for about $40 and have even used it in the house at times. It’s a bunch of pans which all pack together and we love it.
  can opener - corkscrew - simple things that are easy to forget. A leatherman or swiss army knife are also good to have.
  
• First aid kit - you may also want to throw in some basic medications and ask your doctor for prescriptions for common traveler ailments like diarhea.
  
• Emergency ponchos - though I may have been tempting fate I have left my jacket behind the last two trips and instead packed a small emergency poncho which I have never needed. The first trip I took the coat and it rained heavily for several days. This advice would change depending on where and when you are going.
  
• Clothes - just the minimum for a few days change. Plan on doing laundry regularly using facilities at campgrounds. Washing machines can be found in some locations but there are almost always sinks for just this purpose. You probably won’t find dryers so just hang things out in the morning, take in some sights and return to clothes that are clean and dry. If you wan’t to fit in make sure you throw in some black as it hides dirt well and is always in style. Do make sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes and clothes that would be acceptable for visiting churches. A pair of flip-flops are also handy when using showers or going to the beach.
  
• Flashlight - it might be dark at times.
  
• Books and maps - essential for the confidence to just get lost.
  
• Discretionary items - these might be things like walkmans, or other personal things. Do weigh their value carefully as anything you take you will be moving around day in and day out.
  
• Extra money - Rain and emergencies will probably force you into a hotel once or twice. Just plan for it and it won’t be so bad. Don’t do what some have done and take camping stuff just in case you don’t stay in hotels. I will add that if you are careful about such things as restaurants, gifts, and hotels you can squeeze two trips into the normal price of one. Just plan on coming back as 80% of people do. I still haven’t done Naples and Amalfi but they’re still there.

Conclusion

The most important element in making a successful trip is being sure to take the right attitude. Don’t be one of the many rushing their way through the sights, instead plan on taking it slow and easy with a general plan and lots of flexibility. A friend of mine who took my advice put it this way, “ We just didn’t let stuff bother us. Consequently, driving, for example, was much less frustrating and intimidating than I feared. We just figured we were never lost - we’d figure out where we were eventually, and wherever it was it was OK.” The bottom line is it is not only possible it can be a rewarding and life-changing vacation.