Hello from Italy

I am returning today from a week-long business trip from Italy. Our management team at Executive Travel held a week-long strategic planning retreat in the historic walled medieval village of Montone, Umbria, Italy.  Our stay was at the stunning Villa Destino which is located in Montone in the heart of Italy. This central location allowed our team to explore not only Rome but also the beautiful small villages of Gubbio, Siena, Citta di Castello, Perugia, as well as wineries, cheese shops, and so much more. If you are looking for a great format for a business planning retreat having a half day of work in the morning followed by the afternoon of exploring the sites and bites of Italy in the afternoon is a perfect format. 

Here are my top ten observations of traveling to Italy in March ….

Your money does not go as far as it did a year ago – A little over a year ago the Euro to the US dollar reached parity (one Euro equals one dollar). Today it takes $1.09 USD to buy 1 Euro. For Americans that means their dollar has suffered 9% inflation when traveling in Europe this year. CLICK HERE to hear more. 

Great airfares continue to Europe – Last week I was shocked to see coach airfares to Europe were as low as $500 to $600 RT around Easter week. Checking prices during the month of April continue to see $5-600 airfares. In early May those prices started stair stepping higher above $1000 RT. It looks like the highest airfares to Europe this year will be during the months of June and July and range from $1300 to $1800RT. Prices in mid August fall pretty far with some being 40% less than the summer. CLICK HERE to hear more.

Business Class airfares to Europe have actually dropped from anticipated levels – All the major airlines have added a lot of new flights to Europe in 2023 and 2024. I think that perhaps the airlines are having a more difficult time filling their planes up front than they anticipated as I am seeing business class prices ranging in the $3500 to $4500 RT in June, July and August when earlier this year they were double that price. CLICK HERE to see a sample of business class fare prices during the summer months. CLICK HERE to hear more.

Pleasant weather – March is a shoulder season in Italy, meaning you’ll experience comfortable temperatures without the summer crowds. Expect highs in the upper 50s to low 60s and lows in the mid-40s. Sometimes there will be an occasional rain shower, so be sure to pack a light raincoat or umbrella. CLICK HERE to hear more.

Fewer crowds – Travel between October and March offers a more relaxed travel experience. Enjoy short or no lines. CLICK HERE to hear more.

Great Hotel and Villa prices – Save 50% or more when you travel to Italy in the shoulder and low seasons (October – April). CLICK HERE to hear more.

Spring brings the wildflower season –  Spring starts to bloom in March. You might be lucky enough to see wildflowers carpeting meadows and hillsides, especially in regions like Umbria, Tuscany and Sicily. CLICK HERE to hear more.

Enjoy hiking, biking, and exploring the outdoors – The mild weather you find in Italy in March makes it the perfect time to explore the outdoors. When you beat the heat of summer it makes exploring so much easier and fun. CLICK HERE to hear more.

Sample fresh seasonal Italian cuisine – Spring brings fresh, seasonal produce to Italy’s tables. Enjoy dishes made with asparagus, artichokes, and beans to compliment the famous pork that is served as roasted pork, pork chops, and sausages. Chicken is widely available. You also might be surprised that some areas also offer great beef as well. (although nothing tastes as good as Nebraska Beef)  CLICK HERE to hear more.

Here are a few limitations when you travel in the off-season: 

Limited hours at some attractions –  The major attractions are usually open year around, however, some historical sites shorten their hours or are closed on certain days. Be sure to check in advance when building your itinerary. CLICK HERE to hear more.

It is too cold to swim – Many people want to swim when in Italy. The beaches are too cold to swim. You might be able to swim at a private villa if they have heated pools. CLICK HERE for more.

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