I go to Italy almost every year. Here are the 5 biggest mistakes I see first-time visitors make — and how to avoid them.

There's no "perfect" itinerary for a trip to Italy, but first-time visitors should look beyond just Venice, Florence, and Rome.

I often see travelers sticking to the tried-and-true itinerary of Italy's most popular destinations, but I recommend exploring lesser-visited cities and towns, too.

If you're staying in Venice, why not take a day trip to Padua's stunning Scrovegni Chapel or visit Verona's 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater?

Going beyond the most popular spots means you may get to navigate fewer crowds while getting a more in-depth look into what Italy has to offer.

I find Italy's public transportation options are excellent and can be easy to navigate, especially for American travelers.

Signage is often in both English and Italian, and apps like Google Maps and Trainline make it easy to plan in-country travel.

Even still, I often see first-time visitors forgetting to validate their train tickets. Tickets for select transportation methods, such as regional trains without assigned seats, must be validated before boarding.

Luckily, validating tickets is straightforward. Digital tickets can be validated online, and paper tickets can be inserted into a small machine on the train platform.

The process only takes a few seconds, but forgetting to do so may lead to unwanted fines.

There's no denying that Italy is a foodie's paradise, but not all restaurants in the country are created equally.

Many eateries near the busiest attractions, such as the Trevi Fountain in Rome, feature high prices and (sometimes) lower-quality cuisine because they're catering to tired and desperately hungry tourists.

Unfortunately, I frequently see first-time visitors falling for tourist-trap restaurants. More often than not, they end up disappointed.

Instead, try eating at restaurants at least a few blocks away from busy attractions. This way, I've found, you're more likely to find higher-quality, more authentic dining options.

Stay alert in Italy's tourist areas as you would in any other busy city.

One common trick I see many tourists fall for involves being approached by someone holding a small item, such as a rose or bracelet. The seller hands it to a tourist, and once they grab it, they'll be pressured to purchase the item.

The sellers' sales tactics can seem intimidating, but it's important to remember that there's no need to actually grab the item from the seller.

A stern "no" usually steers the seller away, but if they throw the item in your direction, just let it drop to the floor and walk away.

Without fail, I can spot first-time visitors in Italy by the size of their luggage. Many pack huge, bulky suitcases and look totally miserable when going from place to place throughout the country.

Italy's cobblestone streets and lack of consistent elevators can make traveling with heavy suitcases a nightmare. Plus, most trains have limited luggage space, so bigger suitcases may not fit above the seats.

To avoid stressful travel days, I recommend traveling with a carry-on suitcase and small backpack instead. Even though you'll have to pack more lightly, it's well worth the saved stress.

If you're struggling to fit all your belongings into a smaller bag, try using compression packing cubes.