2025 Italy 14-Day Trip for Two: Unexpected Surprises!

There are already many articles online sharing experiences about Italy, so I’ll focus on the unexpected surprises during our trip for your reference.

Table of Contents:
　0. Basic Information (Dates, Duration, Type, Number of People, Airports, Cities...)
　1. Transportation (Locked Restrooms, Platform Numbers, ApplePay, Bus Breakdowns, Train Strikes, Wrong Boat, Car Rentals...)
　2. Food & Restaurants (Taiwan No.1, Google Review Cards, Gelato, Utensils, McDonald's, KFC...)
　3. Attractions (Vatican - Sistine Chapel, Scary Naples, Milan Coke Incident...)
　4. Tech (Apps, VPN, SMS Verification Codes, Data Usage...)
　5. Expenses (Lost Credit Cards, Euros, Costs...)
　6. Daily Life (Tazza D’oro Coffee Beans, Toilets, Weather, Temperature, Step Count, Music...)

Basic Information (Dates, Duration, Type, Number of People, Airports, Cities...)

0. Basic Information
Dates: January 16 (Thu) to January 30 (Thu), 2025 (Chinese New Year, Day 2). Excluding flight days, the actual trip duration was about 12 days.
Type: Self-guided tour, with 1 day of self-driving.
Number of People: 2
Entry Airport: Rome Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" International Airport (FCO), Terminal 3.
Exit Airport: Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Terminal 1.
Cities Visited:
　A. Rome (4 days, including 1 day in Vatican City).
　B. Pompeii and Amalfi Coast (1 day).
　C. Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio (1 day, self-driving).
　D. Florence (3 days).
　E. Venice (2 days).
　F. Milan (1 day).
Other Notes: 2025 is a Jubilee Year, a special religious event that occurs once every 25 years.

1. Transportation

[1.1 Leonardo Express: Locked Restroom]
While riding the Leonardo Express (Rome Airport Train), we saw a passenger enter the restroom. Shortly after, the ticket inspector knocked on the door, and when there was no response (likely due to the train noise), they quickly locked the door from the outside, presumably to prevent fare evasion.

Soon after, a loud alarm sounded—probably the passenger pressing the emergency button. He started banging on the door, and others tried to help but couldn’t open it. The emergency call button didn’t work, and no one answered their calls. The passenger was locked in for about 15 minutes before the inspector finally returned to unlock the door.

This incident highlighted how challenging it can be for foreign travelers to navigate such situations, even when trying to help.

[1.2 Shared Train Stations]
Several stations we used were shared by Trenitalia (National Railway), Italo (Ferrari High-Speed Train), and Malpensa Express (Milan Airport Train). These include:
　(A) Rome Termini
　(B) Napoli Centrale
　(C) Florence Santa Maria Novella
　(D) Venice Santa Lucia
　(E) Milan Centrale

At Milan Centrale, the Malpensa Express usually departs from Platform 1.

[1.3 Platform Numbers]
In large stations like Rome Termini, which has 29 platforms, it can take time to walk from one end to the other, especially with luggage. Platform numbers are typically announced only 10 minutes before departure, so patience is key.

[1.4 Luggage Security]
Online tips warned about thieves targeting large luggage on trains. While some train cars have built-in locks, not all do. I brought a bike chain lock, but sometimes there was nothing to secure it to. Be prepared for inconsistent facilities.

[1.5 ApplePay on Public Transport]
Before my trip, I read a story about someone using Apple Pay on the bus but being unable to show proof of payment to a ticket inspector. I tried it myself once, and the transaction didn't appear in my Apple Pay records until a full day later, likely due to a faulty bus terminal. (This can happen in Taiwan too.) While theoretically, this should pass inspection, I wasn't willing to risk the hefty fine for fare evasion, especially given the unreliable equipment. I ended up using a physical credit card with tap & go ®"

[1.6 Metro Queues]
To avoid pickpockets in crowded metro stations, I stood against the wall while waiting and avoided boarding through the nearest door, instead choosing a door farther away to distance myself from potential risks.

[1.7 Bus Breakdown]
After a long day of sightseeing, I was finally waiting for the bus back to my hotel. When it arrived, I got on, only to find that the "tap & go ®" machine for credit card payments was completely out of order – it looked like it wasn't even turned on! I noticed other passengers trying to use regular tickets at a different machine, but it wasn't working either.

It was already 9:30 PM, I'd walked about 17,000 steps that day, and with the limited evening bus schedule, I really didn't want to transfer to another bus. So, I took a gamble, figuring that ticket inspectors would probably be off enjoying their dinners by now, given the Italian way of life.

However, after just one stop, the bus's back door suddenly refused to close! The driver spent ages trying to fix it, but no luck. Eventually, everyone on board was asked to get off the bus. And wouldn't you know it, as soon as we were all off, the door closed perfectly fine! Then, the driver just left us there and drove off with an empty bus..."

[1.8 Train Strikes]
Train strikes in Italy often occur on weekends after 9:00 PM, based on the train’s final destination arrival time. Guaranteed service schedules are usually announced in advance.

[1.9 Florence’s Cobblestone Streets]
Staying in Florence’s ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) meant dragging luggage over uneven cobblestones, which was quite challenging. Plan your route carefully.

[1.10 Walking in Florence]
Florence’s tourist area is compact, and we managed to walk to all the major attractions.

[1.11 Wrong Boat in Venice]
I booked a 7.5-hour day trip to Venice through GetYourGuide, which included a tour assistant and transportation from Venice train station to Murano (glass factory), Burano, and St. Mark's Square, before returning to the station.

When I was initially browsing GetYourGuide, I had a feeling it would be a combined tour based on the meeting location and time. When we gathered at Venice train station that day, there were only about 12 people. The guide didn't have a list, didn't take attendance, didn't say anything, wasn't wearing a tour company uniform, and didn't carry a flag. I only recognized him because he was wearing what looked like an ID badge, so I approached him myself.

We first took a small boat from the station to St. Mark's Square, and then transferred to a large boat (which wasn't mentioned in the itinerary). It turned out to be a combined tour with about 120 people! There were so many people that I couldn't even tell who the guides were in the large group. In the chaos, we all just got on the large boat and headed straight to Murano to visit the glass factory, and then went to Burano, which was all relatively smooth.

After visiting Burano, we returned to the boat on time, and I saw our original guide getting on board with us. However, we then got on the wrong boat! We were supposed to go to St. Mark's Square, but we ended up in Torcello (which was actually an itinerary I had considered on GetYourGuide).

Luckily, we eventually made it back to St. Mark's Square, and then took a small boat back to the station. The whole trip felt like there was no one in charge. People just got on and off the boats as they pleased, and no one checked our names or confirmed our day trip booking.

[1.12 Wrong Stop on Milan Express]
I accidentally got off at the wrong stop. It was around 8:30 PM, and there were only two groups of people (four people in total) on the entire platform.

The other group, like me, had also gotten off at the wrong stop. They originally planned to take a taxi, but it seemed too late to get one, so they came back to the platform to wait for the bus with us in this desolate place.

And then the bus was delayed...

[1.13 租車]
I rented a car for 11.5 hours, originally booking a Volkswagen T-Cross. However, I ended up with a SEAT Arona instead. The rental company told me I didn't need to refuel before returning the car, as they would take care of it and at a lower price. The highway was easy to drive, although I accidentally reached 159 km/h despite the heavy rain.

On the same day I rented the car, I lost my credit card. I'm still unsure how they will charge me for the fuel since I've already reported the card as lost. I haven't heard anything yet.

After returning Taiwan, I finally checked my online banking and found that the actual amount charged by the rental company (excluding the pre-authorization) didn't match the information they provided. I'll need to contact them about this when I have time.

Before my trip, I did some research and discovered that all the rental companies near Rome Termini station, big or small, including Hertz, AVIS, Sixt, Budget, etc., have a lot of negative reviews, and the content is quite shocking. It seems I've fallen victim to this as well.

Despite having full insurance and renting the car for less than 12 hours, I ended up paying an exorbitant fee. The total amount, in addition to the rental fee I already paid online, was several times higher! The total cost of the car rental (excluding fuel) is almost enough for me to buy 5 full-fare high-speed rail tickets from Taipei to Kaohsiung!

Before traveling, I researched several car-sharing services like Enjoy and Share Now (Car2Go), which are similar to iRent/GoSmart in Taiwan, allowing for flexible pick-up and drop-off. I even monitored the availability of cars at my desired location for several days, but I kept encountering issues with the mobile phone SMS verification code, which I couldn't get to work. So, I had to give up on car sharing and opt for a regular car rental instead.

2.Food & Restaurants

[2.1 Taiwan No.1]
At an Italian restaurant, the staff asked where I was from and said, “Taiwan No.1, Italy No.2, America No.3.” They even knew the meme!<source>

[2.2 Google Review Cards]
In Venice, a restaurant handed me a Google Tap to Review card, which uses NFC technology to direct your phone to their Google review page.

[2.3 Gelato Mishap]
My gelato fell on the ground... heartbreaking.

[2.4 Instant Noodles Without Utensils]
I bought cup noodles at a supermarket, but they didn’t provide forks or chopsticks. I had to borrow one from the hotel.

[2.5 McDonald’s and KFC in Milan]
"At McDonald's, restroom access was restricted to paying customers. At KFC, staff cleared trays, so customers didn't have to. In Taiwan, customers are expected to clear their own tables after finishing their meals."

3. Attractions

[3.1 Vatican - Sistine Chapel]
Michelangelo’s famous “Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgment” are in the Sistine Chapel, but photography is prohibited.

[3.2 Scary Naples]
It was getting late, almost 9 PM, and I'd trekked about two kilometers to and from the Naples train station, hoping to try the famous pizza at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Along the way, I encountered numerous small groups of men, mostly of African descent, loitering on the streets. The atmosphere felt a little intimidating.

[3.3 Milan Cathedral Elevator Incident]
We bought tickets to take the elevator to the top of Milan Cathedral, but it was under maintenance. At the alternative elevator, security made me throw away an unopened 600ml Coke bottle.

[3.4 The Last Supper (Milan)]
The viewing time for “The Last Supper” was only 15 minutes, with strict entry and exit procedures. Photography was allowed without flash or video.

4. Tech

[4.1 iPhone APPs]
Some apps required changing my Apple ID country to Italy to download, as they were not available for download in Taiwan.

[4.2 VPN and SMS Verification Codes]
Starting around December 2024, many Italian ticketing websites have required a VPN to complete online reservations and ticket purchases from Taiwan.

Unfortunately, Taiwanese mobile phone numbers have been unable to receive SMS verification codes on these websites. I've tried registering on several sites and haven't received a single code. I contacted my mobile carrier, checked my phone settings, tried my partner's Taiwanese mobile number (with a different carrier), used online SMS verification code services, changed my phone's country settings, tried using a VPN, and even contacted customer service to see if they could manually bypass the verification code process. However, customer service representatives often gave irrelevant responses and couldn't resolve or work around my issue. I even tried again when I arrived in Italy, but it still didn't work with a Taiwanese number.

Once we arrived, my partner used a European mobile number (a temporary number provided with a data SIM card, which was stated to be able to receive SMS messages), and we successfully received the verification code.

However, most ticket purchases don't require SMS verification codes; they usually only require email verification. (I had other specific needs that required SMS verification).

[4.3 Data Usage]
User 1: 7.76 GB
User 2: 7.11 GB
Both phones are iPhones, with photo iCloud sync and Line auto-backup disabled. Facebook, Line, and Google Maps are all functioning normally.

Signal reception is generally poor indoors (especially in restaurants). Most restaurants display their menus at the entrance, so it's advisable to review and translate them before entering to dine.

We also encountered a hotel where the room's Wi-Fi signal was unusable.

5. Expense

[5.1 Lost Credit Cards]
I lost two credit cards and some cash (around 20-30 euros). I'm not sure if I simply misplaced them or if they were stolen. In any case, I've lost two of my credit cards, leaving me with only one JCB card, which isn't widely accepted in Europe. I'm currently relying on a credit card borrowed from my partner.

The replacement fee is NT$200 per card. One bank mentioned that I could cancel the lost card report before midnight Taiwan time, but the other bank doesn't offer that option. Regardless, I had to report them as lost immediately, but that was just the beginning of my problems.

After reporting the cards as lost, my Apple Pay was de-authorized. Furthermore, I have several hotel reservations that are booked but not yet paid for, and there's a high risk that the hotels will cancel my reservations due to failed payment attempts when the time comes for check-in. So, on the same day I lost the cards, I immediately emailed those hotels, but I haven't received any response yet.

I sent the emails to the official email addresses that I had previously used to inquire about some details before my trip, and they had replied to those emails. I'm staying in four-star hotels, but some of them aren't even responding to my emails...

Fortunately, I lost the cards after picking up my rental car. Otherwise, without the credit card I used to book the car, I wouldn't have been able to pick it up even if I had already paid for it (unlike hotel bookings).

Some netizens suggested that I ask the credit card companies to urgently issue replacement cards, have them sent to my family in Taiwan, and then have my family send me the card numbers so I could activate the cards through the app and re-link them to Apple Pay.

Unfortunately, the reality is that my two cards were sent to different addresses. My family could have taken a picture of the card number for one of them, but that card can't be linked to Apple Pay anyway (I tried the new card number, but it still didn't work).

The other card, the one that can be used with Apple Pay, was sent to an address where I'm not currently staying. I asked customer service if they could email me the card information, but they refused. So, the bottom line is that I won't be able to activate or use either card during my trip.

[5.2 Euros]
The two of us brought a total of €300 (€10 bills x10, €5 bills x40). We primarily used credit cards for our expenses. By the end of the trip, we still had quite a bit of cash left over, so we started paying for meals in cash to use it up. In my opinion, €100 would have been sufficient for two people.

[5.3 City Tax Increase]
We booked our hotel rooms in 2024 for a stay in January 2025. When we checked in, we encountered an increase in the local city tax for 2025. This meant that even though we had booked our rooms in advance in 2024, we still had to pay the updated city tax rate upon arrival.

The city tax is payable on-site, and while it's generally expected to be paid in cash, the hotels I stayed at (all four-star hotels) accepted credit card payments.

[5.4 Total Costs]
The following expenses are for two people:
Transportation: NT$94,000 / USD $3,050 / EUR €2,800 (including car rental and related costs)
Attractions: NT$29,000 / USD $940 / EUR €870 (including day trips)
Accommodation: NT$62,000 / USD $2,000 / EUR €1,850 (including breakfast)
Dining: NT$26,000 / USD $840 / EUR €780
Miscellaneous: NT$9,000 / USD $290 / EUR €270
Subtotal: NT$220,000 / USD $7,120 / EUR €6,600 (excluding souvenirs)

Average per person: NT$110,000 / USD $3,560 / EUR €3,300

6. Life

[6.1 Tazza D’oro Coffee Beans]
While in Rome, I came across the famous Tazza D’oro coffee beans at a local supermarket (similar to a Costco or Carrefour). Interestingly, I found the exact same product at a hypermarket (retail warehouse) in Taiwan after I returned.
Rome: 250g, €6.5 (NT$222 / USD $7.20 / EUR €6.50 per bag)
Taiwan: 250g, NT$560 for 2 bags (approximately NT$280 / USD $9.10 / EUR €8.20 per bag)

[6.2 Toilets Without Seats]
Many public restrooms, especially free ones, lacked toilet seats, which was inconvenient.

[6.3 Weather]
Our trip was from Thursday, January 16th to Thursday, January 30th, 2025. After accounting for travel days, we had approximately 12 days in our destination. The weather breakdown was as follows:
A. Sunny days: 2
B. Partly cloudy days (with some sun visible): 1
C. Cloudy days (no sun visible): 3
D. Rainy days: 6
In other words, half of our trip was spent in rainy weather. It seems winter is a particularly rainy season there.

[6.4 Temperature]
Indoor and vehicle heating kept us warm. Milan was the coldest, with temperatures around 2-8°C.

[6.5 Step Count]
We averaged about 20,000 steps per day. My friend averaged about 1,500 steps more than me daily.

[6.6 Music]
These three songs were common to hear in Italy. The first one was already on my playlist, and it seems to be a popular song that Italians love to sing along to. It was nice to hear a familiar tune while I was there.

I happened upon a group of people doing an impromptu performance. The music in my video is the first song on my list below.




Singer: Traditional Italian folk song
Song name: Bella Ciao




Singer: Karol G
Song name: Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido
It is not an Italian song. It's a Spanish-language song.



Singer: Biagio Antonacci
Song name: Iris (Tra Le Tue Poesie)