In 2023, Italy experienced a significant surge in travel costs, often referred to as "inflationary travel" or "revenge tourism." After the global pandemic, a massive influx of tourists met with rising energy costs and food inflation, causing hotel prices in hubs like Rome, Florence, and Venice to spike by 20% to 40% compared to pre-2020 levels. A standard mid-range meal that might have cost 15€ in 2019 often reached 20€ to 25€ in 2023. However, Italy remained "expensive" only if travelers stuck to the "Big Three" cities during the peak summer months of June through August. Budget-conscious travelers found that visiting "shoulder seasons" (April/May or September/October) or exploring less-trafficked regions like Puglia, Calabria, or the Abruzzo mountains offered a much more affordable experience. While the "Tourist Tax" (tassa di soggiorno) also increased in several cities, the high cost was often balanced by the relatively stable price of public transport and the abundance of free historic sites, making it a "high-cost" destination that could still be managed with careful planning.