Language
Notwithstanding the obvious strong presence of Italian, the Veneto region is characterised by a strong preservation of the spoken Venetian dialect: alomst 70% of the population use it (above all the older generation). English and German are widely understood in the coastal area of the Adriatic and in major tourist cities.
Costs
Currency: euro
Typical prices (per person):
Meals
' budget: 15-30 euro
' medium: 30-50 euro
' top range: more than 50 euro
Accommodation
' budget: 30-50 euro
' medium: 50-100 euro
' top range: more than 100 euro
Restaurant bills already include a service charge, so tips are not necessary, though it is customary to leave a small gratuity for the waiter. Many Italians also leave a tip in bars, though again it is not obligatory. Remember that in bars the prices are always higher if you sit at a table, rather than stand at the bar. Taxi drivers are not generally tipped, though hotel porters are.
Credit cards are widely accepted. Visa is the easiset for withdrawing cash from banks.
Telephone
To call to another country while in italy dial 00 followed by country code (e.g for Switzerland 41) plus area code minus 0 and finally number. To call to italy from outside dial 0039 plus number.
For operator assistance (information about international calls, finding numbers for Europe) dial 176.
To make an operator-assisted internationsl call dial 170.
Further information
Helath risks: none
Time difference: GMT +1 (+2 during summer)
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights and measures: metric and decimal