[Note: These tips have been provided by former students and others. As we cannot keep prices & places updated, inflationary increases and closures should be expected.]
Before you go:
It is strongly recommended that you purchase a budget travel guide. This guide will help you in many ways: possibly finding your way to where you will be staying, finding your way around once you get there; where to eat, etc.. Also, buying your 'Let's Go Italy', 'Let's Go Europe', Frommer's, Fordor's or Michelin Guides will be cheaper in the US than in Italy. While most students want their materials unbound so they only need carry what is necessary to class, it is cheaper to have them bound here than in Italy.
If you do not speak Italian, bring an English/Italian dictionary with you.
Getting There:
There are NO direct flights to Florence. You would fly into either Paris, London, Rome, Milan, etc. and then change planes to continue on to Florence.
Housing:
See Florence Housing for more in depth information.
Currence Exchange:
Contact your bank before you leave to see if your ATM card needs a special European pin number to access your account!
Banks have the best rates for exchanging money. Open Mon-Fri, 8:20am - 1:20pm and 2:45-3:45pm. Banks open on Saturday mornings close by 11:20am.
Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze now has ATMs to change money at Via de Bardi, 73r; Via de Tornabuoni, 23r; Via degli Speziali, 16r; and Via dei Servi, 40r. These ATMs are open 24 hours.
American Express Office: Via Dante Alighieri, 20-22r (tel. 509-81). From the Duomo, walk down Via dei Calzaiuoli; turn left onto Via dei Tavolini. AmEx is on the little piazza at its end. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-12:30pm.
Budget Travel In Florence:
STS (Student Travel Services), Via Zanetti, 18r (tel. 28 41 83). Student discounts on rail, bus, and plane tickets. Open Mon-Fri, 9:30am-12:30pm and 3:30-6:30pm, Sat 9:30am-12:30pm.
Getting Around:
It is strongly recommended that students purchase maps of Florence BEFORE they leave! Check with your travel agent, go to a store (i.e. Barnes & Noble; Borders; B Dalton, etc.)that sells these types of maps, check out the internet or call the Italian Tourist Board for FREE info at: 310-820-0098 or fax them at 310-820-6357. Sometimes they will send you a map of Florence.
Florence has TWO entirely independent sequences of street numbers; red indicates a commercial building (noted with an "r"), and blue and black a residential one (including most pensioni and most sights); always note which color you are after.
For guidance through Florence's tangled center, pick up a FREE map (ask for the one with the street index) from inside the train station in Florence or from one of the tourist offices in Florence.
The Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) is the Italian State Railway, runs more or less on time and its network is comprehensive. A local train stops at nearly every station, the diretto is more direct, while the expresso stops only at major stations. The rapido zips along but costs a bit more (Eurailpass and BTLC holders exempt). The Biglietto Chilometrico (Kilometric Ticket) is good for 20 trips or 3000km, whichever comes first, and can be used for 2 months by as many as 5 people. (1st class US$264 est., 2nd class US$156 est., plus US$10 est. per pass). If you have no railpass and are under 26, the cartaverde (21 Euros est., good for 3 years) should be your first purchase. Showing this card entitles you to a 20% discount on all rail tickets.
To reach the city center by train, go to the SMN Firenze stop (Santa Maria Novella-Florence). This is the END of the line so you cannot miss the stop. Intercity buses are often more convenient for shorter hauls off the main rail lines, and they serve the countryside points inaccessible by train. For city buses, buy tickets in tabacchi (tabac) stores or most newsstands, and validate them onboard. The relatively uncrowded autostrade (super-highways) are gorgeous celebrations of engineering, but gas and tolls are very expensive, and Italian drivers are often crazed speed demons!
Tickets To Shows:
Purchase tickets in the U.S. for shows in Florence 1-800-223-6108 - EST
Food:
Students should be aware that restaurants are very expensive and you do not receive a lot of food at one time. Italians have a 4+ course meal, so if you go to a restaurant and order pasta, it will be a small amount, not what your used to at home! Everything is al a carte, meaning that you pay a separate price for your meat, pasta, veggies, etc.. Supermarkets are scarce (but they are around), but are the best place to purchase your food if you are not going to be eating out a lot. Some supermarkets do not accept credit cards, so ask before you pay if you want to use your credit card.
Mandatory International Health Insurance Coverage:
U.S. STUDENTS ONLY: All U.S. attending students must show proof of international medical insurance, to USD-San Diego, within 10 days of being semi-accepted, that covers your entire stay from at least May 28 - June 24, before they can be fully accepted into their selected program(s). We strongly suggest that you keep any health insurance you have current. Students should either bring in their proof of insurance, mail a copy or fax a copy to 1-619-260-2230, or send as an e-mail attachment to either cking@sandiego.edu or darlenes@sandiego.edu, or mail to: USD, Attn: Ms Cindy King, 5998 Alcala Pk LS 310, San Diego, CA 92110-2492. When faxing, your name and program must be written on this "proof of foreign medical insurance". If not, you can be delayed in being totally accepted into your chosen program(s).
If you do not have health insurance, the International Students I.D. Card, which is good for 1 year and also provides some discount entrance fees, discount air fares and rail transport to many European places, comes with some health insurance. (USD students can buy these cards at the UC box office). Cost: $25. Bring a passport-sized photo to avoid extra cost. The USD Campus Card Services office in the Bookstore (Loma Hall) now offers passport pictures - $10 for 2 pictures. Otherwise you can purchase commercially. For more general travel info contact: STA Travel or call 1-858-544-9632, or 1-800-226-8624. Students who purchase this ISIC card should either bring this card in to our office, if you are in San Diego so we can copy it, mail a readable copy or send as an e-mail attachment to either cking@sandiego.edu or darlenes@sandiego.edu, or mail to: USD, Attn: Ms Cindy King, 5998 Alcala Pk LS 310, San Diego, CA 92110-2492. This ISIC card is very difficult to fax. When it comes through on our end, it is not readable. That is why we request you either bring it in to us or mail a readable copy with your name and program on this "proof of foreign medical insurance" copy. If we do not receive this "proof of foreign medical insurance" within 10 days of payment to be enrolled, you can be delayed in being accepted into your chosen program(s) until we have this.
Try to keep your regular health insurance current while in Florence and traveling before or after the program. Check to ensure that you are covered in Europe. Ask if they will reimburse your out-of-pocket expense for doctor, prescriptions, etc. when you return to the U.S., if you provide them with receipts. A doctor's visit can cost $50 plus whatever medications you may need. Our USD-Florence office will have the names of English speaking doctors if you need one. The ISIC card can also provide you with doctor's names and addresses, etc..
Medications/Glasses: What about my medications/glasses?
We strongly suggest that you bring with you at least an extra months supply of whatever medications you take along with an extra pair of glasses or a prescription for your glasses. You also should bring a letter and a prescription from your doctor giving facts about your medications. Also, remember, Florence is high in pollen content. So bring over the counter allergy medicine, even if you do not have any allergies in this area. Students in the past who generally do not have this type of problem, encountered it in Florence.
Allergy Medication And Insect Repellant
Since Florence is pollen heavy when we are there, some students suffer allergic reactions or are bothered by insects. You are strongly advised to bring allergy medications and repellants from home.
Lighting
Most of the rooms in houses are NOT very well lit. You generally will not find a 60 watt bulb in the light socket. If this causes you any problems, you may go to the supermarket and purchase a higher wattage bulb to help you study.