ITALY TRAVEL TIPS

PASSPORT:

Participants that hold a valid U.S. passport do not require visas.  If you hold a passport of a foreign country, contact the Italian Consulate in your area for information on whether or not you need a visa.

CURRENCY:

The unit of currency is the Euro.  Coinage is available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents with 1 and 2 Euros.  Bank notes come in units of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros.  We suggest you exchange your money in a bank, as opposed to the hotel, in order to get the best exchange rate.  Banks are open from 8am to 1:30pm and 3:00-4:00pm from Monday to Friday.

ELECTRICAL CURRENT:

The voltage may vary from 125 to 220 in the cities.  It is best to travel with dual current appliances with plug adapters.

TIME:

Italy is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.  Daylight Savings Time is in effect from the end of March to the end of September.

TELEPHONES:

Public telephones are plentiful and are considerably less costly than hotel telephones.  They use coins or a phone card purchasable in values of 5,000 or 10,000 lire at the post office, bars, tobacco shops and some kiosks.  Direct dialing is also possible for continental and intercontinental communications.  You may also access AT&T by dialing 721011, MCI by dialing 1721022 or US Sprint by dialing 1721877.

MUSEUMS:

Museums are generally open 9am-1:00-2:00pm and closed on Mondays, although hours vary.

TIPPING:

A service charge of 15% is added to all restaurant bills.  It is customary to leave a small tip for good service as follows: Waiters: 5-10% of check;  Cafes/Bars:  15% at a table, if not included on bill; 200 Lire at a counter or espresso bar;  500 Lire at a counter or alcoholic bar;  Taxis:  10%;  Guides/Drivers:  15% of cost of tour.