October is an excellent time to travel to Italy. The summer crowds have faded and the winter temperatures, especially in the Alps, have not yet kicked into freezing mode. And, with increased airline competition and Internet travel information, planning a trip to Italy is easier than ever

Trip Preparations

Apply for a passport if you haven't got one already. If you are planning on traveling to Italy in October, you should submit a passport application no later than early August to ensure it arrives on time without having to pay fees to expedite it. If you are traveling to Italy from outside the European Union, you will need a passport.

Buy a guidebook on Italy. Although there is lots of travel information on the Internet, a good guidebook is still a must for travel. There is still nothing like flipping through pages of information on activities and attractions and reviewing maps on the spot for reference. Lonely Planet Italy is recommended for budget and off-the-beaten-path travel. Frommer's Italy is a great choice if you want a more by-the-book type trip with slightly more information on the mid-range to upscale hotels and restaurants.

Create a budget. Decide how many nights you can spend in Italy and how much you can money you can afford to spend. As of 2010, you can expect to spend about $110 per day in Italy (based on double occupancy in a budget pensione and meals in cafes or take-away counters), according to Lonely Planet.

Planning a Trip to Italy

Make a list of attractions you would like to see and any special activities you would like to do. Decide which are must-dos and determine which areas you need to visit in order to see them. Italy is packed with attractions for history buffs like Rome and Pompeii, and amazing architecture and sculpture for the art fans in places like Florence. Venice is an attraction in its own right with its canal streets. Tuscany is famous for its vineyards and don't forget the dramatic scenery along the Amalfi Coast in the South.

Pick a couple of places to base yourself and then plan day trips to nearby attractions. For example, if you would like to visit the Tuscany region, Shakespeare's Verona and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can visit all of them as day trips from Florence. The Alps are within easy reach of Venice. Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast could probably be made as a long day trip from Rome.

Check local tourism websites for festival calendars. Although there are no major holidays in Italy in October; it is grape harvesting season in a typical year. This means lots of wine and harvest festivals. Individual towns or regions may also celebrate a saint day or local holiday making for colorful festivities, but increased room rates. Here is a list of a few happenings in October, but visit regional tourism websites for more information