Cheap Ways to Travel to Italy

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is just one of the many famous landmarks of Italy. (Photo: pisa lean tower image by Gary from Fotolia.com )

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The famous boot-shaped country of the Mediterranean, Italy is home to some of the world's most well-known tourist destinations. The romantic canals of Venice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the ancient ruins of Sicily all sit within the borders of Italy. The cost of travel to Italy can be quite expensive, especially if you're coming from across the Atlantic. But with a little flexibility you can make the trip to this Mediterranean country on a relatively cheap budget.

Air Travel

Obviously, if you're departing from the United States, or anywhere else not connected to Italy by land, your choice of transportation is limited to either ship or airplane. However, if you're willing to be flexible with your departure times, you can significantly lower the cost of your air fare. Many travel agencies, including a number of online agencies, offer "flexible date" scheduling, which helps them fill empty seats, while helping you obtain the cheapest rate.

In addition, flexibility concerning your arrival destination can also save you a wad of cash. Europe has an extensive and interconnected public transportation system, and if you are willing to land in a city, or even country, other than your final destination, you can easily book a train, bus or connecting flight to that destination for a combined cost of much less than a direct flight.

One of the most important factors in procuring a cheap flight to Italy is booking ahead. If you're a last-minute planner, you're going to end up paying full price for that plane ticket. However, if you can book your flight a month or more in advance, you'll easily save at least a couple hundred dollars.

Cargo Ship

Departing from the Americas, your only other means of travel to Italy, other than by airplane, is by ship. Cruise ship fare can grow expensive, especially for a trip across the Atlantic. However, most cargo ships also feature passenger cabins at a much cheaper rate than cruise liners. Considering travel alone, cargo ship fare can cost two or even three times that of a flight. However, you have to consider the fact that, on a cargo ship, your room and meals are included in the price. Also, you will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of destinations, other than the just the few Italian port cities on the itinerary, as many cargo ships make stops all over the world.