To communicate in Italian and to travel with ease, there are practical questions in Italian (or any language for that matter) that you'll use daily and have to know:
Parla inglese? (pahr-lah een-gleh-zeh) (Do you speak English?)
Chi? (kee) (Who?)
Cosa? (koh-sah) (What?)
Quando? (kwahn-doh) (When?)
Dove? (doh-veh) (Where?)
Perché? (pehr-keh) (Why?)
Come? (koh-meh) (How?)
Quanto? (kwanh-toh) (How much?)
Try these helpful phrases:
Dov'è la stazione? (doh-veh lah stah-tsyoh-neh) (Where is the station?)
Scusi, dov'è il bagno? (skooh-zee doh-veh eel bahn-yoh) (Where is the bathroom?)
Quanto dista il Colosseo? (kwahn-toh dees-tah eel koh-lohs-seh-oh) (How far is the Coloseum?)
Dove si mangia il miglior gelato? (doh-veh see mahn-jah eel meel-yohr geh-lah-toh) (Where can you get the best ice cream?)
Come si arriva in Piazza della Repubblica? (koh-meh see ahr-ree-vah een pyahts-sah dehl-lah reh-pooh-blee-kah) (How do you get to Piazza della Repubblica?)