Tips and Facts to Remember If You Are Traveling to London or Italy

I just got back from my trip to London and Italy a few days ago and it was great! I had more fun than any other vacation! Check out the photo gallery by clicking on the link above the slideshow! I learned a lot while I was abroad, so I wanted to share with everyone some useful tips and facts that I discovered.

1) Don't ask for cream in your coffee in London. Not only do they not use cream, but unless you ask for black coffee, it comes standard with steamed milk already inside. I made myself look like a fool walking around the cafe and looking for cream. haha
2) Don't plan anything after dinner time in Italy and be prepared to eat late! Restaurants in Italy don't open usually until 7:30 and dinner typically takes at least 2 hours!
3) Do some reading before you go to all the museums, it will make you appreciate the experience a lot more. Almost all of the museums have book shops also that you can stop in to get a better idea of the history behind all of the artifacts.
4) Be careful if you are using sarcasm or even joking when in Italy. People in Italy take things very literally and are easily offended. My dad encountered this when making a joke with a the Gondolier man, who looked like he was ready to slap him when he made a simple joke.
5) Act gracious at the dinner table and complement the owner and the chef, it may earn you earn you a free wine or dessert! We were so in love with the food that we made sure to send lots of complements and our waiter was so pleased that he decided to give us free dessert and wine on more than one occasion!
6) Don't ask for an iced latte in Italy, you will get a blank stare and some funny looks. Most people only drink cappuccinos and espressos in Italy, I was unable to find one place that brewed coffee or served it cold.
7) Make sure you go to the Tower of London when you travel to England! It is by far one of the most fascinating historical landmarks I have ever been to.
8) Tip is already included in the majority of places you eat at, and it is a lot less than in the US (only 10-12%). Also, you are not expected to tip cab drivers.
9) Bargain you way through Italy and beware of scams and liars. You can bargain at almost any store in Italy, especially in Venice. Don't pay what you see on the price tag! Also, a lot of stores will appear to carry lots of nice designer apparel, but it is more than likely fake, so keep your eyes peeled!
10) Bring a great pair of walking shoes and buy a top 10 book to guide your adventures! We walked on average, about 8 miles a day and my feet were killing me by the end of the trip! We had a ton of fun though, and a lot of it was because of the great recommendations we received from the "Eyewitness Travel Top 10 book (Italy and London edition). It lists the top 10 of everything from dining to sightseeing attractions.