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Fall 2011

Additional Information Related to Your Semester in Rome

 

Travel Related

Flight
The College does not offer a group flight to/from Rome.  All Rome Program students are required to organize and pay for their own flight to/from Rome.  If a student needs assistance with purchasing a flight, the College can direct the student to a travel agent.  See the Rome Program Coordinator for this contact and more information relating to this. 

Ground Transportation Between the Airport and the Hotel in Rome
Students are completely responsible for arranging and paying for all ground transportation service (at the time the service is rendered) relating to their arrival to and departure from the airport and hotel at the beginning and end of the Rome Program.  A staff member will be available for a set period of time to meet students at Rome Fiumicino Airport in Rome upon the student’s arrival for the Program’s commencement.  A staff member will not be accompanying students to the airport from the hotel for the departure from Rome.

Your Arrival in Rome 
Remember that the Rome Program begins at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011.  This means that you must be ready to begin orientation at this time – you should not be just arriving at the hotel at 3:00 p.m.  Further, this means that you need to plan your flight arrival time and commute accordingly. 

Here are some guidelines you need to consider when purchasing your flight and planning your commute to the hotel:

  • Time it takes to arrive at your gate upon landing, de-plane, retrieve baggage and go through customs = 1 hour to 1.5 hours
  • Time it takes to get a taxi = 15 minutes
  • Time it takes to ride in the taxi from Rome FCO airport to Residence Candia = 1/2 hr to 1 hr depending on traffic.
  • In conclusion, you will want to add between 1 ¾ to 2 ¾ hours to the time your plane lands as an estimated arrival time at the Residence Candia, the hotel you will be staying at.

*Considering the above guidelines, it is suggested that you do not book a flight that lands in Rome after 12:30 or 1:00 p.m. CEST to be on the safe side *

Student are not permitted to arrive at the hotel after 3:00 p.m. CEST 
(A substantial fine is in place for late arrivals to the Program.)

Students can begin checking in to the hotel at 12noon CEST

The Rome Program ends on the night (after 11:30 p.m.) of Thursday, November 24, 2011.  Students may not depart the Program prior to this time.  To accommodate travel arrangements for the morning of Friday, November 25, 2011, we understand that most students will need to stay the night on Thursday, November 24, 2011 thus your housing accommodations will cover this night.  All students must depart/check out of the Residence Candia by 12 noon on Friday, November 25, 2011.

At the Airport

Paying for your Taxi
All students are required to pay for their own taxi to/from the hotel from/to the airport (and all other ground transportation costs involved with getting to/from the airport for arrival and departure to/from Rome).

Remember that you need to have Euro already exchanged and ready for you to use to pay for your taxi ride to the hotel upon your arrival in Rome.

Remember to take only the official Roman Taxi—do not accept invitations from other taxi services or unmarked taxis.  The official Roman taxi is easily located by exiting the airport terminal and looking for signs directing you to the taxi stand—which is an area where you literally stand to get in the Roman taxi.  Here is a link you may find useful in learning more about the taxi system; the website even has a picture of an official Roman taxi.  Remember to decline anyone who approaches you about a taxi service when you are in the airport.  Just go to the taxi stand outside.  
http://www.rometoolkit.com/airport/fiumicino_airport_taxi.htm

Meeting Our Staff at the Airport
A Rome Program staff member will be available at Rome FCO airport to meet any students who feel they would like assistance with getting a taxi to the hotel after their arrival in Rome.   It is the responsibility of the student to book a flight that corresponds with the time when the Rome Program Staff member will be available to greet students and assist them.   

The staff member will be available outside of the Customs area beginning at 8:30 a.m. CEST until 12:00 noon CEST.  If you arrive prior to 8:30 a.m., you are certainly free to either go ahead and get a taxi to the hotel (knowing that check-in is not until 12 noon) or wait for the Rome Program staff member to arrive if you feel you need assistance.  If you arrive outside of the customs area after 12:00 noon you will be responsible for navigating your way to the taxi stand and getting your taxi to the hotel on your own.

Notes about this service:                 

  • If you wish to be met by the Rome staff member you are REQUIRED to request this in writing and to also provide an e-copy of your itinerary to the Rome Program staff between five and  three weeks prior to your arrival in Rome.  Also include the names of any other fellow students who are traveling with you.    
  • After your request is completed, email instructions will be sent to you to provide any further information.
  • Students should still be prepared in advance to make their way from customs to the taxi stand on their own in case the Rome staff member is not able to be present at the airport.  We have provided some of the resources to do this in the Rome guide (p. 13-15).  In addition to the guide, we also encourage you to do your own advanced research on navigating the airports (talk to other travelers who have been through the airports you are using, search the web, etc.).   This is explained further in the following bullet.
  • This service is NOT guaranteed.  While we will make every possible effort to provide this service, there are certainly situations that could occur which would legitimately prevent our staff member from being available (just think things like crazy volcanic eruptions or severe traffic jams and you will understand why we have this clause).  Remember, if this situation happens, you won’t necessarily know about it in advance so plan ahead by:
    •  knowing how to navigate the airport on your own via research you should do in advance of your trip and your Rome guide which you should carry on you
    • carrying a phone card that will work with Italian pay phones
    • carrying the contact information for the Rome Program staff member on you
    • having pre-exchanged Euro on you to pay for the taxi (this is required anyway)
    • considering using a pay phone to call the Rome staff if you do not see them at the airport meeting location, which is just immediately outside of the Customs area
  • The Rome program staff member will NOT be riding with you from the airport to the hotel, they will simply assist you with getting you and your stuff to the Official Roman Taxi stand/service. 

For All Rome Program Students:

  • Learn how to navigate the airport prior to your departure by referencing the Rome Guide (p. 13-15), the website listed in this document, talking to other travelers, doing your own research, etc.
  • Be sure you carry the contact information for the Rome Program on you.  This information will have the cell phone numbers of our Rome staff so if you encounter issues, you can give them a call.
  • Do research and purchase a pre-paid calling card that can be used in the Rome airport if needed. 
  • Be sure you have Euro on you ready to use to pay the taxi – this is still necessary even if you plan on meeting the Rome staff member. 

 

Weekend Travel

You are going to receive a list of free weekends when you can plan for independent travel outside of Rome at least 8 weeks before the Program begins.  It is suggested that you use the time until you receive the specific free weekends to plan your budget, possible destinations, etc.  That list will be sent via email, so please prepare for that and save it once you receive it (as is the case with all email information sent to you).

Book List

Students traveling to Rome are expected to purchase any necessary books for their studies and bring those books with them to Rome.  Do not send books to Rome—your likelihood of not receiving them is great.  Further, you will receive a fine on the first day of class for each book that you do not have. 

Know that the College does its best to reduce the number of books that you will have to bring over to Rome by providing books in Rome if possible. For example, this is the case with your Italian book. Where possible, we will be using photocopied handouts that you purchase once in Rome or sending you e-copies of chapter/books. You will receive more information on this in the weeks prior to your departure.  Again, we ask your understanding as we cannot provide this with every class and there will be some books you will just have to purchase in the States and bring with you to Rome.

A complete list of books will be emailed to you at least 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the Rome Program.   You should be prepared to order any books necessary immediately upon receipt of the book list to ensure their arrival prior to your departure from the U.S. 

Program Trips


Currently, we have tentatively planned the following trips as a part of your Rome Program Experience.  Please know that due to the circumstances pertaining to international travel, these trips may change.  You will be notified later (at least several weeks prior to your departure) of all confirmed group trips and through the “Free Weekends” or spring semester calendar document that is distributed.   We may also update you on this information via email if necessary  - so please be aware of both your email and the forthcoming “Free Weekends” or spring semester calendar document for more information on Program group trips and tours.    

  • Assisi
  • Siena
  • Florence
  • Orvieto (optional trip that students will pay for if they choose to attend — around 20 Euro per person)
  • Subiaco (optional trip that students will pay for if they choose to attend — around 20 Euro per person)