Booking flights to Italy really can leave you feeling spoiled for choice. Our favourite country in Europe is home to over 100 airports with 15 of these offering long haul flights and many more routes operating from smaller regional airports to most European countries. For this reason, booking flights can sometimes leave you feeling a little overwhelmed which is why we’ve pooled our wisdom on the subject to help make booking flights to Italy a breeze.
1. Use a Flight Comparison Site to book flights to Italy
We would always recommend booking your flights to Italy using a flight comparison site. Our partners Skyscanner and Trip.com offer an unrivalled service which can save you hours of time and often money too by doing the search work for you. These sites now offer you the option of flying in and out of different airports and have other services such as car hire and hotel booking which is a great bonus.
2. Book your flights to Italy after your accommodation
This is a question we’re often asked – what to book first, the flight or the accommodation? At Bookings for you we would usually recommend booking your perfect villa or apartment in Italy first. It’s worth checking flight options simultaneously to ensure you’re going to have affordable options to get you to your chosen destination but the accommodation is something you’re less likely to be prepared to compromise on so make sure the perfect villa is reserved for you before making any other plans. That said, if you have already booked your flights to Italy, we are always here to offer advice on finding the perfect villa.
3. Book Early
I have to confess, I have been known to set an alarm to try to snap up a bargain flight on the day they are released. While this might not be everyone’s idea of fun holiday planning, it is a reliable way to be sure to get flights to Italy to suit your family without breaking the bank. We do recommend booking your flights as early as you can. Flight prices rarely go down and once you’ve booked your flights to Italy, you can make other travel arrangements such as car hire and airport parking. These holiday add-ons have a reputation of skyrocketing in price if you leave them too late. So don’t waste any more time – go and book those flights!
4. Consider several different airports
With so many airports to choose from, do take the time to consider whether the nearest airport to your villa or apartment is always the best option. For example, if you’re staying in a villa in Tuscany the nearest airport will probably be Pisa. However, if you fly into Florence, Rome or even Milan you have the option of a city break there first and can sometimes find better deals on car rental in these bigger hubs. By traveling between regions by train or on the road you also get the benefit of seeing more of the fabulous Italian countryside. Our tip is to make a lunch stop at an agriturismo (traditional Italian farmhouse) for some truly authentic fayre, where you’ll always be greeted with a fabulous Italian welcome.
5. Fly in and out of different airports
By choosing different airports to fly in and out of you can often save some money and at the same time give yourself the opportunity to enjoy some time in another of Italy’s famed cities. If you use a flight comparison site, they make it easy to choose single fights to and from different airports and can help you make quick comparisons between the various options available. In reality, Italy is a small country and traveling between regions is super easy.
6. Budget is not always best
Flights to Italy are often advertised by budget airlines at staggeringly low prices. While you can of course sometimes get a real bargain, too often we find that there are hidden costs with these very low cost providers. If you are planning on traveling with hold luggage, the additional cost of upgrading your flight to do so can often cost more than the flight itself. If you’re traveling with children, do check that you will be seated together. Some low cost airlines can not guarantee this without once again upgrading your ticket and you’ve guessed it – at another additional cost. Our advice when booking budget flights to Italy is to always carefully read the smallprint.
7. Be realistic about flight times
There’s nothing like the buzz you get from booking flights for a holiday in Italy. Be careful though, in that dopamine-dazed moment, when you’re already dreaming of the warm Italian sunshine on your skin, we have all been known to make slightly ambitious travel plans! Remember to be realistic when considering the times of your flights to and from Italy. If you are a 3 hour journey from your home airport, do you really want to start your holiday with a 6am flight? Likewise, when traveling with small children, is arriving at 11.30pm a good idea? We often find tagging on a city break to the beginning or end of your holiday in Italy can help with very early or late arrivals and can add another dimension to your holiday too.
8. Luggage on flights to Italy
We’ve talked about this before. Lugging huge cases around Italy’s quaint cobbled streets is not our idea of a holiday! The obvious answer is to pack light but we realise that if you’re traveling long haul to Italy or on an extended trip, this is not always an option. As a solution, when you’re in a city, we highly recommend using a secure luggage storage service such as Stasher. If you’re staying in a hotel you will often find this service is part of your package. Large cases can also be troublesome at the airport so our top tip is to always travel with a euro coin. This way you can grab a trolley to take the load off your hands. Check your luggage allowance carefully when booking your flights to Italy and remember that it’s always cheaper to add additional bags online before you get to the airport.
9. Travel on weekdays
This tip is true to flights pretty much from anywhere in the world. Italy is a popular year round destination so flights at the weekend do often come at a premium price along with having to battle busy airports and travel hubs. Many travellers are put off by traveling on weekdays, as accommodation (especially in high season) is only bookable from Saturday to Saturday. But we have a great travel hack to solve this problem. Opt to fly out on a Thursday and enjoy a couple of days in the city, before heading off to your villa or apartment. This way you get a bonus city break, benefit from being able to hire a car not directly at the airport (you will always pay a premium for this) and you arrive at your final destination already in the holiday mood and far more refreshed than if you’ve attempted all your travel in one day.
10. Ask us at Bookings for You about your flights to Italy
You might not be surprised to hear that between us we have flown to Italy A LOT. Having used airports across the country for all kinds of trips over the years, we are always happy to answer your questions and give advice on how to book the best flights to Italy.