Italy: Land of the Rich and Famous?

World-famous sights, five-star dining and chic waterfronts with stylish marinas and sleek, gleaming yachts. You’d be forgiven for thinking that holidays to Italy were only for the rich and famous - but this glorious slice of land has so much more to offer, and you might be surprised to learn that Italy does luxury holidays just as easily as it does bargain breaks.

Whether it’s exploring the ancient sights of Rome, gazing across the shimmering Lake Garda or sunning yourself on the sandy shores of the Neapolitan Riviera, Italy is a wonderfully diverse holiday destination that can suit every taste and preference under the sun.

One of the best ways to stick to a budget when visiting this gorgeous corner of the world is on a package holiday. Travelling with an established tour operator like Thomas Cook will give you the chance to explore the sights and sounds of Italy safe in the knowledge that all the essentials such as flights, accommodation and transfers are all covered.

As well as typically offering a good deal on travelling and staying in Italy, you can often secure some welcome discounts on top of the package price with incentives such as hotel or room upgrades. If you’ve got the kids in tow, you can usually bag free child places or great deals on family-friendly hotels too.

You should also consider when you go, and where you plan to fly from. Trying alternative departure airports - especially the bigger and more mainstream options - is likely to keep costs down, as is travelling outside of school holidays or at the start or end of the Summer season. Plus, booking well in advance - anything up to nine months or a year - is a great way of bagging a serious bargain. On a package holiday you’ll also be able to pay the cost of your holiday off in installments.