Getting to Italy |
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Cinque Terre, Italy |
Traveling Early
Many students decide to arrive in Europe before the program begins. If planning to arrive early, be mindful of luggage. Many airports and train stations have large lockers for storage which can be utilized to avoid carrying every piece of luggage when arriving early. Shipping luggage also is an option, but it can be costly. Students should not ship items to arrive on campus prior to their arrival, as staff may not be available to receive it. Shipping by ground is cheaper than shipping items by air, but delivery time varies. Ground shipping can take four to six weeks whereas shipping by air takes approximately one week.
The campus in Italy cannot accommodate the early arrival of students. Therefore, students planning to arrive in Italy before the arrival date specified on the program calendar must secure their own accommodations off campus. There are several hotels near the campuses. Venice, being the closest large city, also has many hotel and hostel options. Before purchasing your plane ticket, read the section on air travel in the Travel and Living Guide (T&LG), which provides more information and suggestions about tickets. There is a link to the T&LG at the bottom of this page.
Arriving on Campus
Venice is the most convenient starting point for traveling to the campuses, and many students decide to fly direct. However, cheaper flights may be available into Rome, Milan or other European destinations. There are several things to consider when deciding where to land in Europe:
- Travel Time to Final Destination. If flying to a destination other than Venice, it is recommended to check the train schedule. It provides departure and arrival times as well as costs and potential transportation strike information. See the Traveling by Train section for more information.
- Ease of Travel. Many people experience jet lag when arriving in Europe which can affect alertness and increase stress. Factor in carrying your luggage and deciphering the train system, and many students find it more worthwhile to fly directly to Venice. We encourage and help students find travel partners to fly and make their way to campus with. This can help with any anxiety that the travel may cause. If the choice comes down to saving a little money and flying into Venice directly - fly into Venice.
- Discount Airlines. There are several discount airlines within Europe that usually offer incredible deals, but many travel to remote airports. Some students, often those who travel early, fly to a cheaper European destination and then utilize one of the discount airlines for flights to Italy. See the Discount Airlines section for more information.
Upon landing, students should make their way to the program’s campus. Detailed directions can be found in the Travel and Living Guide given to each student. Bringing the guide to Italy is recommended.
Buying Plane Tickets Before you make your flight arrangements, take the time to get a rough idea of your travel plans. Get yourself a map of Europe and start to plan where you might want to go besides the program site. If you plan to arrive just in time for the program, Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is the closest airport. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the second closest. Many people experience jet lag when arriving in which can affect alertness and increase stress. Factor in carrying your luggage and deciphering the train system, and many students find it more worthwhile to fly directly to Venice. If the choice comes down to saving a little money and flying into directly - fly into Venice. Make sure to take into account your final exams when planning your return. You will not be allowed to take your final exams early, and you will need to allow yourself several hours after your last exam to get to an airport. The calendar for your program has important information concerning arrival and departure times and dates. If you fly out of a different airport, you have to consider what you will do with your luggage - carry it with you or send it home. This can be inconvenient and/or costly. You may store your luggage at the Paderno campus for a short time after the program, and may also store it at many major train stations in Europe for a small fee per day.
Helpful Tips
Open Jaw Tickets: An open jaw is a ticket that arrives in one city and departs from another. If you are going to travel before or after the program, an open jaw ticket allows you not to have to backtrack to a place you’ve already been – this can save travel money and time. Open jaw tickets may cost a bit more, but may work out to be the best way to travel, so ask about them when you buy your ticket.
Pre-Paid Change Fee: Sometimes it is possible to arrange in advance for a ticket that allows you to change the return date or city if space is available – ask if you can do this when you buy the ticket and how much it costs. This gives you more flexibility which comes in handy as students do seem to change their minds.
Look & Compare: There are travel agencies such as STA Travel that specialize in student travel. Often they have very good rates and are used to working with students that may want to be more flexible in their plans. However, we have heard stories of all kinds of places that students got great deals on tickets. Sometimes websites such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia are great, sometimes they are not. Even airline websites can have great deals if you look around. Sometimes travel agents can find better deals and do the work for you. The best advice we have is to shop around and compare before purchasing. Often the deals you find will largely depend on your departure and arrival dates as well as the airports you are using. The more flexible you can be the better deals you can usually get.
Customs in Europe
Arrival in Europe requires a pass through customs. Students will first pass through a booth where passports will be inspected and stamped. Travelers should proceed to baggage claim and collect their luggage. When leaving the baggage claim area, individuals may be stopped and their luggage inspected. |
