Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Spoleto, and what kind of area surrounds it?
How many hours ahead is Italy?
How long will the flight be?
Do Italians speak English? How easy is it to get around with very little Italian?
What is the euro-to-dollar exchange rate?
What’s the best way to pay for goods and services while there?
What’s the best way to access cash?
Is crime an issue? Will we be safe?
Should women worry about “unwanted advances”?
How much spending money should we bring?
Do we need special carrying cases or pouches for our money and passports?
How accessible is the internet in Italy?
What is the best way to call home?
Will we have phones?
What should we expect in terms of weather?
What about clothing? How much should we bring?
Do we need to be in excellent physical shape for this trip?

Where exactly is Spoleto, and what kind of area surrounds it?

Spoleto is located about eighty miles north of Rome, in the region of Umbria. Italy is comprised of twenty regions, much like our states (only much smaller and more densely populated, on average). Umbria is one of the smallest and least populous regions of Italy, which means the surrounding area is lush, verdant, and mountainous. Though less than two hours from Rome, Spoleto feels literally like another world.

How many hours ahead is Italy?

Italy is six hours ahead of Georgia (Eastern Standard Time).

How long will the flight be?

Typically, flights are not direct, though we may at times luck out. Usually, we fly to Germany, France, or Netherlands first, and then on to Italy. Total flight time is usually about ten hours, with a layover of a few hours in Europe and sometimes also in the States. Our final destination is the Fiumicino Airport in Rome.

Do Italians speak English? How easy is it to get around with very little Italian?

Italians are quite comfortable having foreigners among them. Tourism is a major industry. Subsequently, the average Italian is usually at least somewhat knowledgeable in English, while anyone dealing with tourists on a regular basis will be quite adept. In places like Rome, Florence, Venice, and the like—cities that see a great deal of tourism—English is nearly a given. In Spoleto and the smaller towns, much less so. Still, chances are very high that the average Italian knows a heck of a lot more English than you do Italian, so don’t worry.

On the other hand, be respectful. Don’t just assume that everyone speaks English. You will get a lot further with Italians if you show interest in their language, and at least put forth an effort to try some Italian. You will be given some “survival” language training as part of your program fee. Before leaving, however, try doing some preliminary work either online or with a book. Learn how to say “please,” “thank you,” “do you speak English?” “I don’t understand,” etc., and memorize useful information, such as numbers, days of the week, and typical food items. Familiarize yourself with the various personal pronouns (“I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “we,” “you (plural),” and “they”), and perhaps even a few key verbs (“to be,” “to have,” “to go,” “to want,” etc.) Know, too, that even some city names have been anglicized. (Florence is not “Florence” in Italian but “Firenze,” and Venice is “Venezia.”) Have a basis in the language before you arrive, and your lessons with our colleagues there will offer you much more.

What is the euro-to-dollar exchange rate?

As of July, 2012, the exchange rate is €1 to $1.23, which is a marked improvement. By the time we depart in May, 2013, however, that rate may change drastically. Keep informed. A simple web search will give you the current exchange rate.

What’s the best way to pay for goods and services while there?

The best way to pay in Italy is with a credit card, but one with no international transaction fees. Most credit cards will charge you a percentage each time you use them abroad, which can quickly add up. Capital One, for instance, does not charge at all. Instead they charge an annual fee. Often, you can call your credit card company and ask about a plan that allows you to use the card in Italy without any international transaction fee. Check yours now. If you have to, apply for a Capital One card for the trip. It’s worth it.

Italy has become much better about accepting credit cards in grocery stores, hotels, train station kiosks, etc. Still, you can’t use your credit card all the time. (That woman selling you the piece of pizza wants cash and cash only.) Be fair, too. Each transaction with a credit card costs the retailer a small fee, so use credit cards only for purchases above €10, ask up front if they accept credit cards, and be prepared with cash if they don’t. (Just like in the States, most businesses display the Visa and Mastercard logos on their doors and windows.) American Express and Discover are not as prevalent. I would discourage your bringing them.

What’s the best way to access cash?

Italy is thoroughly modernized, which means banks and ATMs (called “Bancomat”) are everywhere. No need to bring traveler’s checks (a pain) or actual U.S. currency (also a pain). Also no need to grab early euros at the money-changing kiosks in the Atlanta airport (whose rates are horrible). A simple ATM card is all you need. Once in Europe (or even when you finally arrive in Spoleto), simply withdraw euros from one of the many ATMs. Check with your bank, however, before leaving. That way, you can 1) let them know that you’ll be traveling to Italy (and anywhere else you think you might go), since they can and will block your card if they feel the location of the transaction is out of your normal pattern; and 2) see if they have an affiliated bank in Italy. Bank of America, for example, is affiliated with BNL Bank in Italy. If you have an account with them and you use a BNL ATM machine, you are not charged any fee. If you simply use just any ATM you see in Italy, you will be charged about $5 per withdrawal. Even if your bank does not have a partner in Italy, the $5 fee is worth the convenience. Just withdraw the maximum (€400-500), and stash it in your room. Try never to carry more than €50 on you, particularly in major urban centers, most notably Rome.

Is crime an issue? Will we be safe?

For the most part, Italy feels (and is) a lot safer than the U.S. Particularly in Spoleto and the other smaller towns we will visit, crime rates are very low, and violent crime is extremely rare. In larger cities like Rome, violent crime is still rare, though petty crime—like pickpocketing and purse-snatching—does happen. I’ve never once had any problem, and I have spent a great deal of time in Rome, on crowed buses, in the metro, in packed piazzas, etc. My father, though, had his wallet stolen out of his front pocket on the metro, and he didn’t even realize it until he arrived at the Vatican. Just be smart in the big cities, as you would in Atlanta or New York. Don’t look like a tourist, don’t carry lots of cash, keep your purses and cameras tight, and stay in groups.

In any case, even in Rome, only a few situations demand any sort of vigilance: crowded subways and buses, and the main piazzas at peak times. Other than that, Rome in particular and Italy in general pose no particular threat in terms of pickpocketing. Other “dangerous” cities (like Naples and Palermo) probably will not factor into your itineraries, and just about any city north of Rome is quite safe.

Should women worry about “unwanted advances”?

Many of the guide books to Italy caution women against traveling alone at night in big cities, and that’s good advice—no matter the sex of the person in question or the country. Again, none of this really pertains to Spoleto, since it’s more the size of Carrollton. In Rome, and particularly at night, however, you would always want to travel in groups, and never down dark, untraveled streets. Most of this is just common sense, and is the same advice whether you’re in Atlanta or Rome. There is nothing especially dangerous about Italy in general or Italian men in particular. If someone does, however, make unwanted advances, simply ignore him. If that doesn’t work, find an Italian woman close by, and ask her for help. That will put an end to it.

How much spending money should we bring?

This all depends on how much you plan to do while in Italy. If you stay in Spoleto each weekend, don’t travel anywhere other than where we go for field trips, and don’t buy any goods or gifts, then you can plan to spend very little. The program covers all of your lodging in Spoleto, all field trips, and dinner four nights each week. You are on your own the other three nights, since many of you will take the weekends to travel to other cities. The bare minimum you should bring, then, would have to cover your breakfast and lunch each day (about €10 for both if you eat out, €5 or less if you prepare your own food in your apartment), and then your dinners during the weekend. If you really wanted to do this on a shoestring budget, you could survive fairly well on $400-500 for the entire trip. You would not do much traveling on your own, though, and you would not come home with many purchases.

We encourage you, instead, to take advantage of the fact that you’re in Italy with weekends free. If you want to go, say, to Florence for the weekend, stay two nights, eat out, and go to a few museums, then you will obviously need more money. A typical hostel in Italy runs anywhere from €10 to €40 per night (with varying degrees of habitability), while cheap hotels usually start around €70 per night. Trains are not cheap anymore, so, for example, you can expect to pay probably around €30-40 round trip from Spoleto to Florence. You can choose to stay for one, two, or even three nights on the weekend. We are finished for the week after our Thursday field trip, late afternoon. You then have until Sunday night to travel and return to Spoleto. My best guess is to plan on bringing more like $1000-1500 (at least have that ready in your account). You have to be the judge, however, of how much you plan to do, how much you are liable to buy, how you would like to live. If you want some travel ideas and their relative costs, just post to our Facebook site.

Do we need special carrying cases or pouches for our money and passports?

Chances are, some well-meaning relative will get wind of your trip and buy you a special money pouch or belt. That’s fine. You don’t need one, however, and they’re usually a dead giveaway for tourists—that bulky pouch around the neck, under the shirt. Best advice is this: don’t do anything different over there. If you carry your wallet or a purse here, carry it over there. (It’s not like you're going to some remote village in the Amazon.) In terms of the passport, when I have to carry it, I simply keep it in my front pocket. Keep things simple. No need to buy all manner of new bags and carrying cases. Save your money for Italy.

How accessible is the internet in Italy?

Wifi is more prevalent in Italy than it is here. Just look for the signs in the windows of cafés and such, order a coffee or something small, and then ask an employee for the password. Because of the density of Italian city centers, wifi is a constant. There are also internet cafés for those of you who do not plan to bring laptops, smart phones, or iPads.

What is the best way to call home?

Most likely, the cheapest way is not to call at all but to use Skype or some other internet service. Some U.S. phone plans will allow you to receive and make calls from Europe on smart phones, but the rates are often sky high. It’s best to use the internet and perhaps have your phone to use only in emergency. Check with your carrier for deals.

Will we have phones?

In Italy, as in the States, pay phones and land lines are going the way of the dodo. Cell phones are king. They are also quite cheap. I would highly recommend that you purchase your own phone while there. Simply bring your passport and a credit card into any of the major cell phone providers in Italy (Vodaphone, Tim, Wind, etc.). Even in Spoleto, they have stores. A no-frills phone will cost you about (€20), and a basic plan—with your own number and €5 credit—is about €10. Then you pay as you go. The rates are not terrible, and it’s very convenient. If you plan to travel over the weekend, I would strongly encourage you to have at least one cell phone among your group. I will want to know that you’re safe and having fun. For more information about cell phones, just post a question to our Facebook group.

What should we expect in terms of weather?

This is a hard question these days, with climate change. We just don’t know. Usually, the weather is quite lovely in May, though there can be heavy rains. Umbria is extremely verdant, and it receives a great deal of rain each year. Still, it can also be quite hot. We always hope to have perfect weather, and mostly it is quite good. You should plan for lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s, but also bring a sturdy umbrella and/or rain gear, a fleece, and a jacket. Nights are often chilly on the side of the mountain, particularly at the beginning of our trip. Anything you forget, however, is easily purchasable in Italy. Spoleto has a wide array of clothing shops, and Rome is not far away.

What about clothing? How much should we bring?

Best advice: assemble all the clothing you think you need to take, and cut it in half. Add up all the money you think you need, and double it. Though a slight exaggeration, this bit of wisdom can help you out. Don’t bring huge, unwieldy suitcases full of clothing you will only wear once (or not at all). Be picky in your clothing choices. Select clothing that won’t easily show stains or wrinkle (though you will have access to irons and ironing boards). Bring enough clothing for about a week’s worth of wear, plus a few pairs of shoes, and specialized gear like a rain jacket and umbrella. You will either have a washer in your apartment or a Laundromat close by. You will also probably want to purchase some clothing while there, so keep that in mind.

In terms of what kind of clothing you should bring, conservative choices are best. No loud t-shirts with silly slogans, baseball jerseys, concert shirts, sweatpants, holey jeans. Italy, for the most part, is a much more “dressed up” culture. That means you will see fewer shorts, flip-flops, and neon t-shirts. When you do see them, you’re usually looking at American tourists. If you want to stand out as a tourist and reaffirm stereotypes, then go right ahead. If you want to blend in a bit, then dress the part. That doesn’t mean women need heels and dresses, and guys need coats and ties. Just dress a notch or two above what you would usually wear at home. For guys, a simple collared shirt and a pair of jeans (without a bunch of holes) is fine. For women, simple dresses and skirts, slacks and jeans, etc. You don’t need to be fancy, just smart.

Do we need to be in excellent physical shape for this trip?

We will be doing a great deal of walking, probably more than you’re used to. On top of that, Spoleto is a city built into the side of a sizable hill. Anywhere you go means a change of elevation (often a drastic one). Apartments and classrooms will require stairs. Basically, you do a lot of walking everyday. During our field trips, you’ll do even more, and most of it will be on slightly uneven cobblestones and in Roman ruins. No, you don’t need to be a paragon of health to handle it, but it certainly helps if you’re ready and conditioned to walk and be on your feet for hours.

What's more, Spoleto is a mecca for outdoor sports. Whitewater rafting, hiking, even canyoneering and rappelling are affordable and easy to set up. These are by no means mandatory events. (Not everyone enjoys strapping on a harness and rappelling down ninety feet of waterfall.) Still, if you are interested in outdoor activities, Spoleto is a great place in which to spend the summer.