Italy is an amazing country! From Rome to Venice to Florence, there is an array of places to visit that will blow your mind. One such attraction that you might not be aware of at this time are the Italian Lakes. The Lakes are unbelievably beautiful and known as some of the most glamorous and luxurious places in the whole of Europe. In fact, people from Sofia Loren to today’s Hollywood A-listers call the Lakes their residence.
Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Como
Naturally, you now want to visit the Italian Lakes! But, there is a problem – the cost. When movie stars, musicians and sporting icons call the place home, it is not going to be cheap. So, how do you visit the area without spending a fortune?
Travel Outside The Peak Season
The Italian Lakes, although glamorous and exclusive, are still subject to peak seasons and off seasons. During the European summer when the weather is at its best, the Lakes are ridiculously expensive. But, during the off-season (September to March) the prices start to lower. Okay, they are never going to be cheap in the strictest sense of the word, yet they do become more affordable. And, the beautiful Italian Lakes are just as beautiful in the autumn and winter as they are in the spring and summer. The only difference is the price.
Find Cheap Sleeps
The majority of your budget will go on accommodation, and accommodation is quite expensive. The key is to find a way to lower the price, but how can you do that? The first thing you can do is stay away from the high-end hotels. Also, you can find better bargains away from the action, so look outside of the center or the hub of the area. Don’t worry because there is plenty of public transport to get you from A to B regardless of your location. Finally, you can go off the beaten track. People in the area may be willing to lease out their homes, apartments or villas, but they may not advertise the fact. To find budget homes, head to AirBNB.com. AirBNB is a site that specializes in alternative accommodation options.
Don’t Eat Out
Again, a major expenditure is food. As you are on holiday, you succumb to the temptation to eat out for every meal. The problem is that eating out is expensive, even if you find a restaurant that is cheaper than the rest. What you can do, if you have a kitchen, is prepare your meals instead of paying a chef to do it for you. All you have to do is head to the supermarket and pick up a tin of tomatoes and a bag of pasta. Or, you can find a street vendor that sells pizzas and pastries for a couple of Euros.
Sightseeing
The urge to hit up all the sights and tourist attractions is going to be strong, but it is going to be expensive too. Try and limit the most expensive sites to a minimum, and only experience the ones that you want to see the most. To fill the rest of your day, you should head to the free attractions that litter the lakes.
From museums to galleries and monuments, there are plenty of them to visit!
Disclaimer: This post has been contributed by Beth Jones and may contain affiliate links
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