Question for a first-time traveller.

[Azbubu]

If you want to rent a car, you definitely need to. And for Italy, you probably do want to rent one so you can travel the countryside there, it's really quite nice.

Like I said, I didn’t. But perhaps ymmv.

Edit: actually no, it doesn’t.

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/reviewmodifycancel/templates/rentalTerms.jsp?KEYWORD=LICENSE&EOAG=FCO

An International Driver's Permit (IDP) is also mandatory by law for non-European Union renters except for customers from the following countries who can rent with their national driver's licence and passport: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and United States.

 

[TimeTravelNinja]

Get a letter from your mate saying you're coming to visit

I'll only be visiting but not staying with him. So I assume he needs to state clearly that he won't be responsible for me financially or provide accommodation?

 

[Azbubu]

I'll only be visiting but not staying with him. So I assume he needs to state clearly that he won't be responsible for me financially or provide accommodation?

Don’t bother getting an invitation letter if you’re not staying with him. What for? If anything, it could be riskier knowing someone there since it increases your chances of not returning.

 

[TimeTravelNinja]

I may be exaggerating because I don't know much about these, but a Visa sounds like a hassle.

 

[The Voice]

Point of all the supporting documentation when applying for a visa is to demonstrate that a) you're entering the country for the reasons you claim you are and that you don't intend on being a burden to the state while you're there and b) that you actually have a reason to go back home once your trip is over (job, house, family, etc).

Annoying yes (I've applied for long-term visas 3 times already - the amount of documentation I had to provide was insane), but it's a necessary evil.

 

[Sepeng]

I may be exaggerating because I don't know much about these, but a Visa sounds like a hassle.

Don't sweat it too much; it is a hassle most definitely but nothing thaat hectic. They'll give you the list of things you need, have them ready and you'll be OK. You'll see, you're going to go there with stacks of papers, the place will seem scary and intimidating, they might take all of your docs, they might only take a few, they'll shout at you for not having the docs in the correct order and sigh while you shuffle through 300 pages to find those flight details, you'll get fingerprinted, they'll tell you to go back in two weeks to pick the thing up.
I've honestly never heard of someone having a tourism visa application declined. I mean it happens I'm sure, just never heard of it.
Enjoy it all, enjoy the planning, the visa application, travelling is great and you're lucky if you can!

 

[TimeTravelNinja]

Thanks for all the help guys. If I have any more questions. I won't hesitate to ask.

 

[sandwitch]

Let's say the the daily per-day minimum in Italy is 50€/R1K. If I'm planning to stay a week, I'll need to show I have at least R15k in my active bank account? Also taking into account that I'm not including return flights, accommodation and Visa application money in that balance.

Your flights should have already been booked and paid for so that money shouldn't be counted: the tickets serve as evidence that you're going to leave which visa control considers more important than you entering the country.

Your accommodation should definitely be included in that balance even if you've prepaid it because the visa check is to make sure you can feed yourself daily and you can afford a place to sleep. I try to make sure I've a minimum of R25 000 in my account because I know people who've been turned down for a visa for not having enough.
They glance at how much you make (as in are you making peanuts and planning to flee to Italy to live under a bridge somewhere and work illegally) but they're far more concerned that you have money in your active account and you have proof you're leaving.

I haven't travelled with Corona but I'd take Pinball's advice and double that to make sure you've got enough for quarantine.

And as travel tips > take plenty of cash & a credit card (NOT a "travel wallet." I've heard Capitec's credit card is really good for overseas use) and make sure that the credit card has been activated for overseas use & double check it at another branch. Triple checking is even better. Don't rely solely on cash or solely on a card.
> I've found exchange rates better overseas rather than locally. If you're worried about exchanging the rand at your destination you can do it at your stopover.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Sounds so much messier than when me and a friend went to Europe. Glad I never went on holiday from SA, damn. But yeah OP, get a car if you drive .... so much better than Uber and the like because you can go where you want and stop where you want at your pace. Those daily limits will be frustrating but just plan ahead a bit and you'll be fine. And have fun, most important.