5 things I would do differently if I went to Italy a second time.

Mikhaila Friel, from Scotland, said she would rent a cheap room, stay for more days, and visit more beautiful Italian cities if she had the chance to visit a second time.

Mikhaila Friel visited Sicily in April. She spent four days exploring the cities of Taormina and Catania. It was her first time in Italy, so she had many wonderful moments. Friel learned a lot. But there are a few important things I would do differently on my next trip, the Scottish traveler shared. Here are five things Friel would do differently if she visited Italy a second time. — Mikhaila Friel. Photo: *Insider*

Mikhaila Friel arrived in Sicily in April and spent four days exploring the cities of Taormina and Catania. It was her first time in Italy, so she had many wonderful moments and learned a lot. "But there are a few important things I would do differently on my next trip," the Scottish traveler shared.

Here are five things Friel would do differently if he came to Italy a second time.

Rent a cheaper room.

During this trip , the female traveler stayed at the San Domenico Palace, which cost over $2,200. "The food was good, the views were beautiful, but it wasn't worth spending thousands of dollars on," she said about the hotel.

Instead, she suggested staying at UnaHotels Capotaormina, priced at $260, which is cheaper than San Domenico Palace while still offering similar amenities such as free breakfast, an infinity pool (pictured), a restaurant, a bar, and a private beach. Photo: Booking — The infinity pool at UnaHotels Capotaormina. Photo: *Booking*

Instead, she suggested staying at the UnaHotels Capotaormina, priced at $260, which is cheaper than the San Domenico Palace while still offering similar amenities such as free breakfast, an infinity pool, a restaurant, a bar, and a private beach.

Buy bus tickets at the counter.

From Catania airport in the city of the same name, the female tourist took a bus to Taormina for $7.50. A bus departs every hour. Friel didn't buy tickets online because she found the website slow and the interface difficult to use, so she decided to buy tickets at the counter instead.

In her haste to board the bus, she didn't buy a ticket at the counter, thinking the conductor could sell tickets like in Scotland. But in Sicily, that wasn't possible. Therefore, she had to get off, buy a ticket at the counter, and wait for hours for the next bus. This small incident taught her a lesson: always be prepared and observant when traveling because it's different from being at home.

Skip the local cooking class.

The female traveler felt that spending five hours learning how to make pizza and pasta was "not ideal" for someone traveling alone like her.

She joined the class thinking there would be many other tourists like herself, a chance to make friends. Baking was also a fun activity to learn more about Italian cuisine . Upon arrival, Friel quickly realized everyone else had a friend, except her. Everyone else was there to learn to cook, not to make friends. They came in pairs, so they had someone to take souvenir photos with while they learned to cook, but Friel didn't. Next time, she'll go to a cooking class with a friend.

Visit more

On this trip, she only visited two cities. If given the chance, Friel would like to visit more places on the island, such as the capital Palermo and the city of Noto. She would also go to the mainland, take a train to visit Rome, Venice, or Florence and stay longer.

Choose a more suitable time.

Friel arrived in Sicily in April. The first few days were warm enough to wear dresses. But towards the end, she had to wear jeans and a sweater because of the gloomy, rainy weather. It was too cold to swim. "When I was in Catania, I ate gelato in the rain," she said. If she goes again, she will choose July or August, which is also peak season there.

( According to Insider )

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