Tickets and timing

A plane ticket to Italy would cost you around $1,000, and is even more during the summer when the demand is highest. Just now, I did a search on Expedia.com to find a ticket to leave in October from New Jersey and arrive in Rome, and I found one for only $700! Some really great sites where you can find low fares include Priceline, Cheaptickets, Travelocity, and Expedia. Most airlines will promote "specials" that offer discounts if you book the flight within a certain time, so the trick to getting the lowest fare is to check back with the sites everyday. Also, I've learned that it's usually cheaper to leave and return on a weekday, and you might even have a greater chance of getting a seat.

The online services listed above also offer package deals that let you book a hotel along with your flight, making the whole traveling process a lot less stressful!