Ciao amico!!

(hi friend in Italian!) Are you about to PCS’ all the way to ITALY to go to Aviano Air Base?! This snapshot from my beautiful Insta-friend Brittany will give you some ideas of things you can expect when stationed there, the challenges you might face with an OCONUS PCS to Italy, and so many things to look forward to at Aviano! If you have questions about this duty station after reading through, Brittany is your go-to milso! You can reach her on Instagram at @brittannnnyyyy, watch her TikToks here, and check out her awesome YouTube channel here! (Brittany Campbell) Brittany shares her day to day life as a military spouse all the time on all of these platforms and she tells it like it is. I’ve loved getting to know her online the past year and I’m confident you will too. Without further ado, here is her snapshot of what it is like at Aviano Air Base!

Details Please!

is there anything you wish you knew before this pcs to aviano?

How expensive it is to get settled in, (ITS ALOT). PCSing overseas you don't have options to do a "DITY" move. You have a limited amount of luggage with you and that's what you live out of until your HHG arrives which can take 2+ months. Hence the expensive part. You'll more than likely need to be spending money on a rental car (until yours arrives) or you'll be purchasing a car here. When finding your home you'll be expected to pay 1st month rent plus a down deposit (sometimes more depending on your landlord), travel for your pets if you have any, there's many more expenses as well on top of your typical everyday necessities. Highly Recommend saving $10K+ (no exaggeration).

what did you think right off the bat when you moved to aviano?

A very small base, in the middle of the countryside with the Dolomites located to the south. Culture shock for sure coming from "city life" However the mountains are breath taking and so beautiful to look at on your drive to the base.

what is the actual base like?

This base is shared with the Italian military so on Italian holidays the base may close facilities/shorten hours. This base can be one of the more challenging bases to in/out-process of BUT It's worth it! Just breathe, It'll all get figured out. Here’s a video of Brittany’s empty house tour at Aviano!

What is the weather like in italy?

December-March: Are the winter months, its cold but doesn't get below 20F. April-May: In April it rains just about every single day, you'll learn to ALWAYS have an umbrella on you at all times. June-August: Summer are hot and humid! Highly recommend investing in metal fans for your home to help beat the heat. September-November: the most beautiful time of the year weather wise! watching all the leaves change on the trees is gorgeous

what are the facebook pages a newcomer should join to stay in the know about things?

Join these Facebook groups!

Food & Drinks

Do you have any date night recommendations for other milsos?

LOUIS is super cute modern feel, burger restaurant in Pordenone. Super yummy & casual

what is the best place for a cup of coffee?

This is going to hurt for all my coffee lovers, but there is no Starbucks here! On base you will find "Deja Brew" where they make Starbucks inspired drinks that I know a lot of people enjoy. We have a Dunkin Donuts on base, but they do not sell Iced coffee like you're used to in the states. As for local coffee shops those are referred to as "Bars" here lol I know, super weird. but you'll find "Bars" everywhere where it's common to get a cappuccino with a pastry for breakfast!

Any other restaurants we should know about?

BeFed, is a great local place that is known for their Rotisserie Chicken. A super fun and causal outing for dinner

Where is your go-to spot for brunch?

Brunch Republic is super popular here among the Americans because it serves the type of brunch we're used to. Its about an hour from Aviano!

Add it to the Bucket List

What should a milso add to their aviano bucket list?

1. Prosecco Road

2. Wine Tours

3. Tour Castles

4. Visit weekly markets in the surrounding towns

Are there any surrounding big cities you took weekend trips to?

Aviano is located in Northern Italy so the day/weekend trips are endless!!! Boardering Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia for a quick weekend trip out of the country. Staying locally; Verona, Lake Como, Venice, Milan, and Rome just to name a few surrounding cities, 4hrs and under for day trips.

Spend the Day with Brittany in VENICE, watch the VLOG here!

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