Visas U.S. citizens do not need visas for travel to Italy for stays up to 90 days. International students will probably need a visa for traveling abroad (ask for a tourist rather than a student visa). You should check with the Italian embassy or consulate to determine whether a visa is required for residents of your country. If you need a letter from our office to verify your participation in our program, we will be happy to provide that.
Packing Pack light! Experienced travelers suggest that you bring half as much luggage as you think you need. Check with your airline for specifics on baggage allowance. Remember to leave space in your suitcase for items that you will inevitably purchase overseas. Also do not forget that you are sharing a room with two other students. In other words, be considerate and limit your luggage to one large suitcase and a backpack for daytrips. Also, do not pack your passport in your suitcase! This should be kept on your person at all times during travel for safety and easy access. Returned students highly recommend purchasing a money belt or other similar device to keep money, passport, etc. close to the body and secure during travel. Make photocopies of the opening page of your passport and all of your credit cards and carry them separately from the passport and credit cards. Carry essentials onboard occasionally luggage gets misplaced.
Clothing Versatile wash-and-wear clothing is recommended since dry cleaning is very expensive and ironing facilities may be limited. The weather in Italy can be hot and humid in June. In addition to casual everyday clothes, students from previous summer programs suggest that you pack a nicer set of clothing for wearing to finer restuarants, theater performances, concerts, receptions, and other events outside of the classroom setting. Also keep in mind that you should dress appropriately when visiting churches, i.e. no shorts, halter tops, etc.
Shoes Be sure to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking on tours and while traveling. A pair of nice sandals or casual shoes may also be useful to bring along. If you plan on wearing new shoes, break them in before you leave for Italy or you will have plenty of blisters!
Misc. Items to Bring
Suggestions:
- backpack to use on excursions and weekend trips
- small locks for your backpack and suitcase
- toileties for use during the trip over, when you first arrive and for weekend traveling (best to pack in your carry on in case your luggage is lost or delayed)
- compact umbrella
- generic prescriptions for medicines you take
- eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- towel/washcloth to take on weekend trips or to the beach
- camera, film, and batteries(film is more expensive abroad)
- wind-up or battery-operated alarm clock
- guidebook (for example: Berkeley Guides or Let's Go Italy)
- Immodium or other medecine for upset stomach
- pocket flashlight
- Swiss Army knife (but do not pack it in your carry-on luggage)
- sunscreen
- ear plugs
- shower shoes/thongs
- mosquito repellent
Items Not To Pack
1) Don't take electrical appliances they don't work well, even with converters and outlet adapters. It's better to buy them there and then sell them before coming home. Many hotel rooms come with a built-in hair dryer.
2) Don't bring pillows and other bedding linens since they are provided in the hotel.
Travel outside of class
Some students on the Italy program may choose to stay after the end of the program to travel further around Italy and even other countries in Europe. Purchase of a Eurail pass (must be purchased in the U.S.) will enable students to conveniently visit numerous countries in Europe or cities in Italy, but it is important to estimate how extensively you will travel before purchasing the card. For some students the card is not economical. For those students who wish to limit travel expenditures, there are many fascinating sites within Lazio. Some of the most fascinating (and cheap) excursion sites are the medieval towns outside of the major cities. Former participants recommend purchasing a good guidebook before going abroad.
Traveling by Train Traveling by train is the best way to see Europe. In most countries the trains are punctual, clean, comfortable, inexpensive, and go nearly everywhere. There are various rail passes available. The Eurail pass provides unlimited second-class travel throughout Western Europe (except Britain and Northern Ireland) within a specific period of time. Eurail passes must be purchased in the U.S. and are sold at travel agencies. In addition, each European country offers its own passes. National rail passes (which offer discounted rates) and kilometric rail passes (which allow you to travel a certain number of kilometers whenever you choose) must be purchased in Europe. Consult a travel agency or one of the suggested travel guides or WWW sites for more information about travel in Italy and Europe.
Web Sites: Two web sites may help you plan for traveling by train.
This site provides Eurail information.
http://www.raileurope.com
For general trains information and schedules.
http://www.trenitalia.it
Hitchhiking Hitchhiking in Europe can be dangerous and is NOT recommended. Hazards include road accidents, frequent thefts, and personal assaults.
Taxis Use only official taxis and always make sure you are given the code name of the driver. This code name is either a city or the name of an artist, followed by a number (for instance Napoli 24). This code is also displayed on the taxi itself. Always take a seat in the back of a taxi.
Travel Smart It is highly recommended that students team up with other LHUP students who are interested in traveling to similar areas. As a traveler, be well organized. Keep your documents safe but readily available when on the move. Study local maps to become familiar with your destinations, noting which areas are considered safe. While much of the pleasure of studying abroad on a summer program is getting to know people and sharing adventures, always be prepared to rely on yourself for things such as money, access to transit, transit schedules, etc.
Travel safety/security An updated consular information sheet for Italy can be found at http://travel.state.gov/italy.html
The US Embassy in Rome is located at: Via V. Veneto 119/A. Tel.011 39-06-46741
http://www.usembassy.it
One of the most valuable and exciting aspects of the summer program in Italy is that students are able to gain firsthand experience of living in another culture. There are plenty of differences between American and Italian culture, and much benefit is gained from discovering and appreciating these differences. A returned student commented, studying abroad is about taking risks, meeting new people, and visiting unfamiliar places. It's about stepping out of your comfort zone. Students shouldn't go if they are closed-minded or only see the world from their Lock Haven glasses. Therefore, we encourage you to gather as much information as possible about Italian culture prior to departure. Take some time out of your busy spring semester to read about world affairs and current issues around Europe. Not only will your preparation greatly enhance the quality of your experience, but it will also demonstrate your goodwill as an American ambassador to another country. While in Italy, keep your eyes and ears open to learn about the local lifestyle. Read a local newspaper to learn what is going on in the city (festivals, exhibits, concerts). Your study abroad adventure will be one of the most meaningful and treasured experiences of your life; however, you may not realize it until you return. Of course everything will be different if you had wanted familiar surroundings, you would have remained at home, right? Don't get upset by minor inconveniences (even though they may seem major at the time). Your time abroad is less than six weeks, so try to make the most of it. Finally, be flexible! There will be many new experiences, and the more open-minded you are, the more exciting and wonderful your summer will be!
Italian Soccer Players
Health & Safety
Walking Travel in Italy, like in most of Europe is done primarily with public transportation. Europeans walk much more than most Americans. While in Italy we will walk on our tours, in museums, and to and from public transportation. Students must be in good health and capable of extended periods of walking.
Immunizations Students traveling to Italy do not need to have immunizations prior to departure, but hepatitis A and tetanus are a good idea. However, if you plan to travel to other countries during the summer, you should check the requirements and precautions for those countries to determine if additional immunizations are needed.
Prescription Medications Students should plan ahead and pack enough of their prescription medications to cover the time they will be abroad. While there is a chance that a prescription can be filled in Italy, it is generally much more convenient and less expensive to take care of this at a pharmacy in the U.S.
Insurance All Italy study abroad students must purchase insurance through the LHUP Office of International Studies. The cost of this insurance has been included in your overall cost for the program.
Protecting Valuables Most crime in Italy, as in Europe generally, is directed against property. Students should keep all valuables, especially wallets, passports, credit cards and the like, in buttoned or zippered inside pockets or in money belts or fastened bags while walking about major cities.(The hotel rooms have safe deposit boxes). Pickpockets are frequent in Italy and other European cities. Never leave bags, backpacks, and cases unattended, or even in locked cars. Room doors should be kept locked and valuable items in locked suitcases, drawers or closets. Always lock your room door, even if you're just going to the lobby for a minute. Use the same precautions you would in any other metropolitan area: don't carry valuables, don't wear expensive clothing or jewelry, and avoid questionable parts of the city, especially at night and when alone. Try to minimize your foreignness through your actions and appearance.
San Marco and the Doge's Palace. Photo by M. Porcenaluk
Student Conduct
Although abroad, you are a LHUP student and therefore subject to LHUP's rules and regulations. Generally, misconduct abroad may be defined as any situation in which participants have jeopardized their own welfare, that of their fellow participants or of the program, or have willfully violated regulations governing the hotel in Italy. You are a guest in someone else's country; it is both polite and practical to observe your host's laws and customs. It is your responsibility, and in fact one of the objectives of a study abroad experience, to understand these different laws and customs as well as to observe them. In criminal matters (which may be defined differently than in the U.S.) neither the program nor the U.S. Consulate can intercede efficiently. In some countries the burden of proof rests with the defense and not with the prosecution.
Illegal Drugs It is imperative that students stay away from illegal drugs, no matter how innocent they may seem to you. Drug laws abroad are much stricter than in the U.S. and are vigorously enforced (sometimes more so against foreigners). Possession of even small amounts can mean imprisonment, with no possibility for appeal. If you get caught, neither LHUP nor the U.S. government can intervene. Be smart don't take chances.