Leaving today! Any last minute tips or advice?

Great thread a few months ago, entitled "Before you head for airport, don't forget to..." https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/before-you-head-to-the-airport-don-t-forget-to. And then, relax and have a great trip!!!

Nicole, be flexible, and dont let the little things, like weather, get under your skin.

Yes, it's a foreign country but also they have stores! Except for your passport and tickets, just about anything can be bought once you're on the ground. Make that part of the fun, part of the discovery. You'll see familiar brands but you'll also see some interesting alternatives. Don't be shy about asking a clerk, or pharmacist, what the 'local favorite' is.

But my real advice: I should think you'll land fairly early in the day. Get checked into your hotel or apartment, unpack essentials only, wash your face and head out for a walk. Eat a good lunch then head back for a nap, a shower, fresh clothes and what I am sure will be a very remember-able 1st night in Italy. That daily nap (riposo in Italian) will help a lot with any jet lag. And remember: YOU deserve this!

If you haven’t checked in, do so and make sure that they didn’t change the plane configuration and seats (happened to me on my last 3 flights with United). Other than that, relax, and enjoy the flight.

Once on the ground, leave some white space in your schedule to take advantage of local events. For example, in September 2017, we went to Barcelona and fell in love with all the events surrounding Festival La Merce and went to some of the best parades and concerts instead of things on our siteseeing list.

Have a great trip!

Sandy

Taking trains? Have a smart phone? I found the Trenit app essential for figuring train schedules and real-time delays on the fly. Even platform info. Helpful especially if you are on one train connecting to another - which platform is the second train on? Is it late?

I'm also registered with Trenitalia so I can use their app to buy tickets quickly without having to re-enter my name each time. I used that a lot on my recent trip to Italy to buy train tickets as needed. Easier than trying to use the machines (which aren't so bad, just take longer and sometimes there is a line...).

Hopefully you are prepared, so I will offer this fun advice: Eat as much gelato as you can! :) We sometimes had it twice in a day, it was so good. Enjoy!

Notify your cc companies. Have the PIN codes for your main and backup credit cards and usernames and passwords for critical financial websites. Everything else can be bought in the ground. And what would be so wrong about a new Italian wardrobe?

Download the App for Google Translate, Enter English to Italian. Then download that choice so you don’t use any data on your phone. Invaluable if stuck. Got me all over Japan.

Of course, we have to empty our refrigerator of perishables before a trip (or give to sons, etc).

We have a tradition - my wife makes a salad w/ the leftover greens - adding all the misc stuff - and 'fills' two cottage cheese containers with them.
After we get through airport security, we sit and eat our salad and our vacation has officially begun. We are now in the "relaxed" mode. I take a mobile phone photo of us eating and 'text' it to our kids.

hey hey nicole
enjoy have a safe trip and have a glass of vino for us.
aloha

Aspirins or Tylenols , tum-tums,.. etc.

Be sure and checkout the appertivo situation. Typically, you are served a small amount if food or snacks for free with a beverage. This takes place pre dinner time, around 5-8. By the way, Nicole, which hotel did you end up booking in Rome?

Get an early start, enjoy a long lunch (and a rest) then enjoy the long afternoon/evening. If you suddenly find you’re not up for something or don’t want to deal with a long line, then allow yourself to bow out and do something less stressful. There’s endless possibilities. Tell yourself you’ll see it next time. Have fun!

Safe travels and have fun!! And yes be sure to enjoy plenty of gelato!

Yes.
Make sure you have:

PASSPORT
CREDIT CARDS
ATM CARD
TELECOM DEVICES (like smartphone) to access email / WiFi.

After the airline lost my entire luggage on the way to Europe (never recovered), I discovered the above are the only things you really need.

Buon Viaggio! Do not stress; as others have said, the essentials are passports, boarding pass, and credit cards/ATM cards. And make sure you turn down the water heater and lock the door on your way out.

Italy is wonderful. Enjoy and sample the wonderful gelatos along the way.