Traveling Abroad. How to have fun and be safe!

Transcription

1 Traveling Abroad How to have fun and be safe!

2 What to bring in your carry-on bag: - Your passport!!! AND a color photocopy of your passport to 500 euro (and $50 cash for US airport) - Bank card to make cash withdrawals - Eyeglasses, contacts, extra pair and prescription in case you lose them - Clothes for 2 days: one dark bottom that goes with different tops - Change of underwear and sleeping attire in case bag is late - Prescription medication in the original bottle. - A prescription for medication (in case the medication is lost/damaged) - Toothbrush/toothpaste in mini tube and toiletries (3 ounces each bottle) - Feminine products (traveling can sometimes change your cycle) - Airplane socks - A hat to block the sun (trust me on this!) - Other meds? for upset stomach, seasick/car sick, aspirin, allergies, inhaler...

3 Packing your check-in bag - Do not pack more than you can carry up/down stairs by yourself. - Assume that you will buy things and that your bag will weigh more on the return, so do not pack more than 30 to 40 pounds. 50 pounds is the max. - Roll your clothes up tight when you pack so that they do not wrinkle. - Interchangeable tops and bottoms. - NO flip-flops! 1 pair of super-cushioned sandals (no thong sandals) - 1 pair of comfy, breathable sneakers (wear this on the plane) and socks! - Travel Diary - A portable (non-glass) travel water bottle to refill at hotel and carry on tour. - A wrap (large scarf or shawl) to cover shoulders in churches. - At least one bottom that covers your knees (a long skirt or capris) - Raincoat or plastic rain poncho just in case - Swimsuit and sun-block

4 SAFETY - Protect your money and belongings! - Do NOT carry ANYTHING in your backpocket. No phones or wallets in back pockets. Beware of pick-pocketers! - DO bring a money belt for around your waist or a money pouch that goes around your neck and falls in the front (with space for cell phone in it). - Use the ATM for cash withdrawals. Make sure it works before you go! - Bring cash (NO checks, NO money-orders, NO travelers checks); some places may take credit cards for large purchases, but don t rely on it. - Call your bank and credit card companies to let them know the dates that you will be travelling. - Do not leave your bags unattended. - TSA locks for suitcases (only use these airport approved luggage locks) - you may also want it to keep valuables locked up in your room with this lock.

5 Check list 1: what to give to Ms. Lobosco prior to departure 1. A color photocopy of passport. Make 3 copies: keep one, leave one at home with a parent or guardian, give one to Ms. Lobosco. 2. Health and Medical profile form. 3. An Alcohol Prohibition form signed by a parent/guardian. 4. $40 for bus ($20 each way) - for this price, all must participate. 5. $115 for tips (tour director in Italy, bus driver in Italy, local guides in Italy). Please bring cash in dollars : $155 total. DUE: at meeting.

6 Check List 2: What to DO prior to departure 1. Call bank and credit card companies to let them know travel dates. 2. Change some money at your bank prior to departure so that you have euro when you arrive. Suggested: 100 to 500 euro and $50 dollars. 3. Make three COLOR copies of your passport: (1 to bring with you, 1 to give to Ms. Lobosco, 1 to leave with someone at home in case of an emergency). 4. Double check your name on your passport and be sure that the name on your tour registration (and therefore airline ticket) matches it EXACTLY; ie. if your middle name is Marie but your passport says M., then you must register with your middle initial, not the full middle name. 5. Call EF Customer Service to let them know of any diet restrictions for the tour. 6. For special meals/diet restrictions on airplane, you must contact airline directly at least 2 days prior to travel: Lufthansa Airlines: Or do it online:

7 Check list 3: Suggested items to buy before the trip: 1. Money belt or travel pouch for under your clothes with space for your phone. 2. Very cushiony walking shoes/sandals with NO toe thong (wear them in NOW!) 3. Travel water bottle 4. Water bag holder (or a clip holder for your bag) 5. Converter for Italy (for device chargers or other plugable items you may bring) 6. Calling plan with your cell phone company if you plan to talk by phone.* The hotels should have Wifi, so you can try to skype/facetime; but do not expect daily communication. * Speak with your cell phone company for the best plan for Italy. Pay attention to start and end dates of your billing cycle. I will be letting all parents know via the registered with EF tours that we arrived safely, so phone communication is not necessary.

8 Don t wait until the last minute to get what you need!

9 Some things to expect (or not): - Expect some strange and not-so-modern bathroom facilities, especially in eateries or public bathrooms. - Sometimes to turn on the water, you may need to step on a pedal. - Do NOT expect ice at restaurants, cafes and hotels. - When you look at your restaurant bill for meals (lunches) on your own, there will be a cover charge for sitting down; this is NOT a tip for your server. You still must leave a tip, but not 20%. - When you go out for lunch leave about a 1 or 2 euro tip per person, more if the server made many trips to your table. - Note that if you sit down to order a coffee or an ice cream (gelato), it will cost a little bit more than if you stand at the counter; they are not ripping you off. - At most coffee shops you must pay first at the cashier and then bring your receipt to the barista to get your order (like at Starbucks).

10 Having fun and making the most of your holiday! - Be POSITIVE! - You will be tired, especially the first couple of days. Don t be the drag! Encourage others to make the most of their experience by being upbeat! - If you are having an issue about something, do not bring others down by complaining to your roommate or friends. See Ms. Lobosco immediately. - Be ON TIME! - If you are late, you will hold up the entire group and we will miss out on scheduled events. - When we are on tour, do not stop to buy something as you will again hold up the group (and possibly get lost). We will have plenty of free time for shopping! - You can make or break your trip by having A GOOD ATTITUDE!

11 Earn credit while in Italy! For students and teachers! Students have the opportunity to receive one high school credit (for free) or 3 college credits (for $300). Teachers have the opportunity to receive 45 Professional Development hours (for free). How? Follow the links on the next slide (or on my school website). You also received an about this. For more information, call Customer Service. Don t delay. You can do most of the work before we take off. We can also make it a school project to get the work done before we go! But you must sign up!

12 Credit and weshare links: How to Earn Credit with EF (both students and educators): com/credit Info about our digital learning space, weshare, which is available for every tour: weshare Teacher s Guide: Grading rubric:

13 Let s get matching t-shirts for airport days! Needed: - Volunteers to design the shirts - Volunteer to find a company, price out and order the shirts An idea: Front side: The NJ state flag design on yellow shirts since yellow is the flag color and bright and easy to spot in the airport. Back side: Andiamo in Italia! OR Bell Italia!

14 FYI: NJ state flag emblem

15 Let s review our Itinerary! Day 1: Bus from Pt Beach High School to Newark airport. Travel overnight to Milano. Day 2: Arrive at the Milan Airport; Drive to Venice with a stop in Verona along the way! Have lunch money and your camera handy as we will be seeing Juliette s balcony! Romeo, Romeo, dove sei, Romeo? Enjoy Lido island in the evening. Day 3: Walking tour of Venice to include St. Mark s Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. Go to a glass making demonstration. Visit Doge s Palace. Afternoon free to explore. Day 4: Travel to Florence. Free time for lunch before a guided walking tour and visit to the Duomo.

16 Day 5: You have a Choice: Day trip to Pisa ($60 prepaid with EF). Travel time is 1.5 hours each way. Visit is 2 hours. You will still have 3 hours of free time before we meet for dinner. You may still add or cancel this option with EF. OR Stay in Florence. I will organize those who remain into groups; you may visit the open markets for street shopping (great leather!), visit the Pitti Palace (the new Medici palace) or the Boboli Gardens behind the palace; walk over Ponte Vecchio (the old bridge) which takes us to the Pitti palace and gardens (this bridge is famous for shopping for gold); visit the Uffizzi Museum and/or see the David at the Galleria (advance tickets recommended for these two as well as the Pitti Palace); or explore Florence on your own in small groups. Note that entrance fees to these extra places are not included in our tour price.

17 Links to buying entrance tickets online: Avoid lines by purchasing tickets online: All Florence Museums The Uffizzi Museum The Galleria to see the David Pitti Palace (Medici Palace) Tour The Boboli Gardens cost 7 euro and advance tickets are not necessary. Ponte Vecchio (the old bidge) with gold jewerly is free (if you don t buy anything!)

18 Day 6: Travel to Rome with full day trip to the quaint hilltop town of Assisi. Guided tour of Assisi to include La Basilica di San Francesco (St. Francis of Assisi) to view the famous paintings by Giotti that tell the story of the life of St. Francis. Evening walking tour of Rome. Day 7: Guided visit to Vatican City, Saint Peter s Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo s ceiling as well as the work of many famous artists. After lunch we will have a guided visit of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Day 8: I will be organizing those who would like to visit Borghese Museum and Gardens as well as other possible itineraries. Entrance fees on this day are not included in our price, but our tour Director will help to organize us. Read about the Borghese Museum and Gardens

19 Day 9: Transfer to Pompeii (4 hrs). Possible cameo demonstration. Visit the ruins of Pompeii. Transfer to Sorrento (on the Amalfi Coast). Free time in Sorrento before dinner. Day 10: Ferry ride to the island of Capri. Boat tour with guided commentary. Great photo opportunities! Once on the island, we will take a funicular to another part of the island as well as do a short walking tour to the Gardens of Augustus in order to see some amazing views of the Faraglioni Rocks and the sea! After some free time to explore the island, we will take a ferry directly from the island of Capri to the port of Naples; there, our bus will be waiting to take us to Rome for our last night. Day 11: Early morning departure from Rome airport. Arrival in Newark. Bus to Point Pleasant will be waiting for us.

20 Video of a Bell Italia tour: