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sml06d
Joined: 25 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Location: miami, fl
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 Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: studying abroad in florence |
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hi everyone...
i'm studying abroad in florence next semester (spring) with my school (FSU) and i'm getting a little nervous. i have so many questions but i dont know what to ask first...
-should i bring a laptop?
-what is easier (and cheaper): cash or credit cards?
-can i buy city to city rail tickets while i'm in europe?
-what should i pack (clothes-wise) for "spring" weather in florence?
-should i buy my books here and take them with me or should i buy them there?
-are websites like ryanair and easyjet a reliable source for air travel?
-how much should money should i plan on spending a day?
-is travel from florence to other cities in italy (like milan and rome) easy by train or bus or is it just better to fly?
if you have any advice about studying abroad in florence or any advice about traveling in europe at all... please help me!!!
thanks!! |
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wilson49332
Travel Guru
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 582
Location: usa
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| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject: wow lol |
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Well let me attempt to answer some of those questions.
1. Laptop- depends- if you dont mind bringing it through numerous security and customs swabs and scans, and buy one of those locks to tie it to a desk or what not then go for it. Make sure you buy the plug adapter for the wall socket.
2. Credit Cards!!
3. Yes you sure can, and they'll give you a student discount if you find one that speaks decent english.
4. Well pack for hot weather (shorts) and cold weather (Heavier jacket but not a winter one). You may not have problems with the first part, but you will need a jacket- not a spring one but not a down one either- one in between. A hoodie will do fine as well.
5. Buy them here!!!! I dont even know if you can get them in English there, and if you can you will pay an arm and a leg.
6. Yes for sure. Europe is just as safe as the USA as far as I am concerned for those airlines.
7. Hmm- 2 meals a day, a snack, and a miscellaneous beer or souvenir I would plan on around 25-40 bucks a day (assuming you wont need lodging). You can get away with around 25 buying cheap food or eating fast food twice with no other stuff on the side, but if you add beers and stuff then itll be more.
8. Haha you are a first timer!!!! Train is even easier then driving. They have a fast train there called ICE that goes between cities very fast. Trenitalia is like our Amtrak, and it isnt bad at all. (If you dont look down the toilet to see the open hole on the older trains lol).
If you plan to travel a lot in italy, purchase a eurail italy pass youth for $300- itll get you 10 days of travel on any train within Italy free. (Or other days gets cheaper).
Let me know if you need anything further as you go. Ill be here or on aim. |
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sml06d
Joined: 25 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Location: miami, fl
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| Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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thanks so much!!
i was also wondering if there are other websites that are dedicated to inter-european air travel... not just ryanair and easyjet.... because im planning on spending some time in london and i cant seem to find any trains from florence to london.
thanks so much!! |
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wilson49332
Travel Guru
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 582
Location: usa
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| Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject: ok |
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Yea thats not a train route- I mean its possible but not. Go to [link]
will do all that cheap airline stuff. This will do your budget travel needs in europe by plane.
Looks like Meridiana is the only one with that route-
[link]
Nope- not heard of them. |
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sml06d
Joined: 25 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Location: miami, fl
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:18 am Post subject: |
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thanks again!
i am planning to traveling throughout most of the western european countries while im studying abroad. do you have any suggestions as to which cities are the most popular (but still do-able on a budget) with students? I am panning on going to France, England, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Monaco, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. All of those aren't set in stone but i would like to get to as many as i can! Maybe a couple of days in Prague.
if anyone has any advice or inter-european traveling tips... please help me!! |
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wilson49332
Travel Guru
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 582
Location: usa
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject: well... |
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| Ok, how long will you have to travel? I know with me all I had was Fri-Sunday. If that is the case, many of those will not be within train range for you, and hence you will HAVE to fly. [/b] |
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sml06d
Joined: 25 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Location: miami, fl
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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| i will be in florence from jan. - apr. doing school... so during those months i will probably be traveling on weekends only, but i will be staying 3 extra weeks from mid apr. to early may. i plan to do spring break in london(early to mid march) and then go to the further places in the 3 weeks after i finish school. |
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studiedinflorence
Silver Member
Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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yay, study abroad in florence!
Last edited by studiedinflorence on Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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politicslovr
Platinum Member
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 68
Location: in a french train schedule
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| Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| sml06d wrote: | thanks again!
i am planning to traveling throughout most of the western european countries while im studying abroad. do you have any suggestions as to which cities are the most popular (but still do-able on a budget) with students? I am panning on going to France, England, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Monaco, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. All of those aren't set in stone but i would like to get to as many as i can! Maybe a couple of days in Prague.
if anyone has any advice or inter-european traveling tips... please help me!! |
first of all, congratulations! you are one of the lucky ones. i really believe studying abroad is the best way to see europe (for the first time, anyway.) you get the benefits of remaining a student while observing a foreign culture 
traveling during breaks: don't do as much as you can! it's like overeating at a buffet! do as much as you can ENJOY. you probably won't be able to see all those countries, but...if you can select a few destinations that truly interest you, i guarantee your excursions will be 10x more pleasant. you'll spend less time "going" from A to B and more time LIVING.
i know how it is: you want to see everything all at once  it's not possible. i realized that when i studied abroad in france. i was fortunate enough to visit some large cities and villages. i even spend 21 hours in london (NOT the recommended allotted time, but i still enjoyed myself).
just try to remember: it's not about "seeing"; it's about allowing europe to show itself to YOU.
traveling on weekends: i recommend visiting towns or any nearby cities. that way, you get to see a different place without going too far from your new home. for example, when i studied in aix, i visited avignon, which is only 40 minutes away. save the more distant destinations for those 3 extra weeks. transportation is so delightfully easy in europe; you won't have much difficulty going where you want to go - especially if you have a Rail Pass.
recommended destinations? since i studied in france, this recommendation is HEAVILY biased, but i think you can't visit europe without going to gay Paree. it's difficult because that town is NOT for people on a budget, but it can be done
list of inexpensive things to do in paris, along with general commendations:
[link]
check out the "places to stay" thread for lodging info. the only time france is cheap is when you're away from the tourists. caen (in normandy) wasn't too pricey, but it's rather far from florence. lyon, a handsomely sized city, is closer to you. provence is beautiful, but again, tourists = $$$$. if you can afford to see it, lucky you
you already said you were going to be in london for spring break. that's great, too, but remember the exchange rate and the weather aren't very nice 
others on this forum can give you tips on the countries on your list. bon voyage! |
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supermtt37
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| i'm so psyched! I'll be in florence in the spring as well! |
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precious_dreamer_gurl
Silver Member
Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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One thing that's really helpful to know is that the American Express place in Florence doesn't charge students that are studying there a fee so whether it's converting cash or euros it's fee-free.
Be sure to check out the bus2alps trips, they were a blast. You're gonna have an amazing time in Florence, I know I did.
_________________
"Girls have an unfair advantage over men: if they can't get what they want by being smart, they can get it by being dumb."
~Yul Brynner |
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aamc4628
Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 1
Location: NY
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:58 pm Post subject: Florence |
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OMG me too i'm sooo excited to be in florence for the spring semester!!!!!
Is anyone going to be there from April til July??? |
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Italian Stallion
Joined: 25 Mar 2008
Posts: 1
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject: summer in florence |
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| yuuuuup ill be living in an apartment in Florence May 21st-July 26th, taking a few classes at the Lorenzo De' Medici school soooo excited! |
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