Helpful Tips & Accommodations
Planning & Packing
- Check your debit/credit card to see if there are foreign transaction fees. If there are, you will be charged each time you utilize that card while oversees. Most cards, however, do not charge any fees other than the conversion rate from dollar to euro. Cash is nice to have just in case. Take Euros out from your local bank or from an ATM when you arrive in Italy. Use your bank's conversion rate, not the ATM's
- Add travel plans to your credit/debit cards to prevent your bank from freezing your card when you use it unexpectedly overseas. Most cards are getting rid of the requirement for travel plans, but it is worth it to check and see.
- Be sure to pack a US to EU plug adapter or purchase one if you don't already have one. Europe has completely different plugs than the US so your iPhone charger won't go in ANYWHERE. Many adapters can be purchased on Amazon for $10 or less.
- August in Italy is... toasty. Think Charlotte in August. Pack accordingly!
Accommodations
Hotels & Airbnbs
If you need a list of recommended hotels nearby, please reach out, and we will share a bunch of them personally!
PRO TIP
Important!
At any point during your travels if you find yourself carrying luggage because you're in between check-ins or check-outs, there are luggage storage locations throughout Florence that will cheaply and securely store your luggage for that period of time. Here's a website for a place we've used in the past: https://www.stowyourbags.com/en/shop/florence/luggage-storage-florence-city-center-train-station/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiaC-BhBEEiwAjY99qFYl54lqpyjH1qbDHw1IQO72jrlIw0POxCrKszaWbv-uThRDg-QzohoCj8EQAvD_BwE
For all the days along the way