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Travel Advice

 Veteran Travel Advice from Student Life Assistants

Money

  • Travel with two credit cards. Keep them in different places in case one gets lost or becomes de-magnetized.
  • Keep a photocopy of the front and back of your credit cards at the Rome Center and/or with your parents. If your credit card is lost or stolen, you can call the company immediately.
  • One of your credit cards should function as an ATM card so that you have ready access to the currency of the country in which you are traveling. ATMs always dispense cash in local currency.
  • Make copies of the photo page of your passport.  Leave a copy with your parents or other responsible party and keep one separate from your passport in Rome. 
  • When traveling on weekend trips, bring snacks (e.g., granola bars, fruit) to avoid spending on food.
  • Research the exchange rate of the currency.

Attitude

  • Come with an idea of what you'd like to do, educate yourself about it, but don't expect it to happen exactly the way it does in your head. Be spontaneous and willing to go with the flow when traveling.
  • Optimism and flexibility are key factors in having a fun trip.
  • Research a personal interest (e.g., old maps, cultural music) so you know where to find what you like.

Hosteling/Train Rides

  • Lock everything. Travel wariness is okay, and others should not be offended if you lock your bags onto your bed.
  • Call ahead to determine if you need to bring a towel and/or sheets.
  • Give your itinerary to family and friends before you leave so you can be contacted.

Online Travel Resources

Low-Cost Travel Resources

Booking hostels or hotels:

Arranging train travel:

Scheduling flights:

Rome's transportation system:

Weekend Travel Packing

Bring a small backpack for clothing and toiletries and an even smaller day-pack for your water bottle, snacks and travel guides.

Wear to Destination

Wear the bulkiest, warmest clothing that you plan to bring on the trip to avoid taking up space in your backpack.

  • Jeans
  • Tank-top & long-sleeve shirt
  • Sweater
  • Very comfortable walking shoes

Clothing

Clothing should be rolled to take up less space.

  • Two long-sleeve shirts
  • Pajamas
  • Two pairs of underwear & socks
  • One or two other personal pieces (e.g., undershirt, skirt)

Toiletries

Put your toiletries in a zip-lock bag to keep your other belongings dry.

  • Small containers of shampoo & conditioner
  • Deodorant
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Other personal items (e.g., lotion, body spray)

Extras

  • Camera
  • Cell phone
  • Chargers for camera & cell phone
  • Journal & pen or pencil
  • Snacks
  • Water

Check out the following Websites for more information on what/how to pack:

General Travel Advice by City

Weekend in Florence

Pre-Departure Tips

  • Check out a guidebook from the Rome Center Library. There are great walking tours of Florence that you can do with just a walking tour guidebook.
  • Research restaurants before leaving the Rome Center. Florence has delightful family-owned restaurants, but it also has tourist traps. If you want to eat out, it is best to ask Rick Steves so you don't waste money. I Fratellini, between the Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery, serves the best panini in town. Order from the window and enjoy a glass of wine and a panini while you watch passersby. No seating available.

Transportation to and around Florence
Go to www.trenitalia.it to look up the train schedule. A train to Florence leaves almost every hour, therefore it isn't usually necessary to buy the tickets ahead of time online. You can buy them at Termini Station either using the machine or at the counter.

Tickets prices are: €14.00 for a second-class Regional (R) train (the slowest train), €25.00 for a second-class Intercity (IC) train, and €30.00 for a second-class EuroStar (ES) train (the fastest one). The R train takes about 4 hours, the IC train takes about 2 ½ hours, and the ES takes about 2.

There are two stops in Florence, you should take the second stop which is called Firenze Santa Maria Novella (FI.SMN).

While in Florence, you can travel easily by foot.

Lodging Suggestions

Ostello Archi Rossi, Via Faenza
http://www.hostelarchirossi.com
€24.00
Free breakfast & quiet atmosphere.

Instituto Gould, Oltrarno
V. Di Serragli, 49
49(055 21 25 76)
Clean hostel at low price.

Useful Websites:

Weekend in Venice

Pre-Departure Tips

  • Copy a vaporetto (boat transportation) map from a Rome Center Library guidebook.
  • Research restaurants before leaving the Rome Center. Venice is an expensive city, if you want to eat out, it is best to ask Rick so you don't waste money.

Transportation to and around Venice
Go to www.trenitalia.it to look up the train schedule. A train to Venice leaves almost every hour, therefore it isn't usually necessary to buy the tickets ahead of time online. You can buy them at Termini Station either using the machine or at the counter.

Tickets prices range from €40.00 for a second-class Intercity (IC) train (the slower one) to €45.00 for a second-class EuroStar (ES) train (the faster one). The IC train takes about 6 hours and the ES takes about 4 ½.

There are two stops in Venice: Mestre and S. Lucia (Venezia S.L.). You should get off at the second stop, which is Santa Lucia. This will lead you directly to the canal.

The most useful boats on the canal are the #1 and #82. Number 1 goes very slowly and makes every stop along the Grand Canal. If you want a full view of Venice's main street, past all of the opulent palaces, take this boat and enjoy the pace. The number 82 moves more quickly and makes only crucial stops - the car park, the train station, mid-island, Rialto, mid-island and San Marco. For those wishing to visit the islands of Murano, Burano or Torcello, consult www.actv.it.

Boat tickets are absurdly expensive. A one-way ticket is €3.50 and a round-trip is €6.00. Buy the 24-hour ticket for €10.50, date stamp it at the yellow box at the boat stop where you intend to activate it, and use it for the longer lagoon rides. For future trips, there is also a 3-day pass for €22.00.

Gondola rides are very pricey (usually about €80.00 per group). If you just want a quick gondola ride, Venicians use I traghetti to get from one side of the canal to another. There are traghetto stops scattered around the canal and they are marked on most vaporetto maps of the city. A traghetto ride usually costs about €2.00, but you may have to stand.

Arrival Suggestion
Head to the tourist office in the Venice S.L. train station immediately upon arrival. Pick up their list of current cultural events and see if they can give you a map of the city.

Lodging Suggestions

Ostello Santa Fosca in Venice
€16.00 with an ISIC card, otherwise €18.00
Bunk Beds, no breakfast
39 041 715733
www.santafosca.com/statiche/ostello/servizi.asp

Plus Alba D'Oro Camping
15 minutes outside Venice city center
Take a bus from campsite to get to Venice.
€13.50 for a cabin
No breakfast
www.ecvacanze.it

B&B Venezia
Starts at €64.00 per room.
Breakfast included, private bathroom
www.bbvenezia.com

Useful Websites:

EuRail Passes

If you plan to travel extensively or to distant locations during major holiday breaks, one option for travel throughout Europe is with a EuRail pass. Several passes with flexible choices are available. The latest information about these passes as well as other kinds of local passes can be provided by Advantage Travel or found at: www.eurailpass.com.

EuRail Passes cannot be purchased in Europe. Keep in mind, though, that nowadays with discounted airlines like Jet Blue and Ryan Air in service, flying between destinations may be even more economical and time-saving. The train is ideal for a traveler wishing to visit some or all of the stops between destinations or one who enjoys a leisurely or scenic journey.

Guidebooks

The Rome Center Library is well stocked with travel guidebooks and maps to aid in preparing trips. A good travel guidebook should be purchased to help prepare trips while traveling. The Let's Go series, Lonely Planet and Street Wise Rome have been favorites of past Rome Center students, but many other useful guidebooks on Italy and Europe, such as Italy - The Rough Guide, can be found in U.S. bookstores or bought in Rome.

World War II Sites in Rome and Italy

A distinguished and dedicated alumnus of the Rome Center, Philip R. O'Connor, Ph.D., Rome Center class of 1968-1969, has compiled a guidebook specifically for Rome Center students about many battle sites and war-time incidents in Rome and Italy. As the author himself notes in his introduction to his guide, "The World War II Guide for Loyola Rome Students has the modest intent to help make the unique Loyola Rome experience more memorable. It can help connect students not merely to the broader past of Italy in world history but also to the experiences of relatives who lived through World War II."

A complete copy of A Loyola Rome Student's Guide to World War II in Rome & Italy can be found at: http://www.nprg.com/ItalyGuide.pdf.