Travel: Planning & Guidance

Travel Note

How early should I arrive?

For all guests, the wedding events will begin the evening of September 8th and conclude around midday on September 10th. The wedding party and immediate family will have additional event prior on September 7th. If your schedule and/or work PTO allow, you could arrive before the wedding events to adjust to the time difference, avoid travel delays, and enjoy Italy during prime season! Please coordinate travel accordingly.

Flight

General Flight Information

The wedding events will be held near Florence, Italy. The closest airport to our wedding venue is Florence Airport (Aeroporto di Firenze – Amerigo Vespucci, code: FLR). Florence Aiport is approximately 20-25 minutes from our venue. If you plan to arrive early or extend your travel after the wedding, you may also consider flying into or out of the Pisa International Airport (PSA) or Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and take a train or drive a rental car to Florence, but these will have longer travel times.

Flight

Are there direct flights to Florence?

There are not always direct flights from US aiports to Florence. You may have to fly with a layover/connection through a major European hub such as Paris (CDG), Amsterdam (AMS), or Frankfurt (FRA). From there, it’s a short connecting flight to Florence.

Travel Note

When should I book my flights?

Please book your flights well in advance of the wedding. We ask you not to wait to the last minute - we would hate for high costs to be the reason you can't join us; September travel in Italy is prime time and very busy. If it were us, Kaitlyn would book at least 6 months out for a stress free experience, while Christian's research suggests around 2 months out is the sweet spot for pricing - do with that what you will :) Tips: We always purchase our tickets on Tuesday nights (tickets are typically the cheapest), and always browse flights before we purchase them in an "Incognito Tab" within our browser - this prevents the airlines from tracking your search history and jacking up the prices as a result. You can also use apps to track reductions in price, like Hopper, or track on Google Flights.

Travel Note

Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?

U.S. citizens do NOT need a visa for stays under 90 days. You WILL need a valid passport that won’t expire within 3 months of your return date.

Travel Note

General Passport Information

All guests traveling from the U.S. to Italy will need a valid passport, so if you don’t have one yet, please apply ASAP —processing times can take months depending on demand. If you already have a passport, double-check the expiration date ASAP: most airlines and international authorities recommend that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond your return date to the U.S. If your passport will expire within that six-month window, it’s safest to renew it well before you travel to avoid any issues with check-in or entry. For renewals or updates, you can visit travel.state.gov Check that the name on your flight booking exactly matches the name printed on your passport, including middle names—airlines are very strict about this, and mismatches can prevent you from boarding. Do not pack your IDs in checked luggage, and store it in a secure pocket/bag while in transit. Once you arrive in Italy, you’ll need it for hotel check-ins, car rentals, and any internal flights or train rides that cross borders. Before traveling, it’s smart to make copies of your passport: take a clear photo, email it to yourself, and print a copy to keep separately from the original. If your passport is lost or stolen while in IT, report it to the local police and the U.S. Consulate General in Florence (Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38, +39 055 266 951), which can issue an emergency replacement passport. Consider travel insurance or credit card travel protection, which often covers assistance with lost passports, document replacement, and emergency travel arrangements. To keep things organized, we recommend creating a small travel folder or online itinerary that includes your passport copy, flight information, hotel details, and important contact numbers. And finally, don’t wait until the last minute: if you or anyone in your party doesn’t have a passport, start the process right away, since every traveler—including infants—must have their own individual passport to enter Italy.

Travel Note

How do I get from the airport to the venue or hotel?

Because of varying arrival times for our guests, we will not be providing shuttle transportation to the hotel or venue. From Florence Airport (FLR), you can: 1) Take a taxi or private driver (Uber exists in Italy). 2) Rent a car (most major rental companies like Hertz, Budget, Avis, etc. are available near the FLR airport - there is a free shuttle that can take you there once you land. We do not recommend boutique rental firms - they could result in scams or shady business practices). Many corporate jobs will provide you with a discount code for car rentals - we recommend you coordinate with friends and family who are also attending for carpooling and discounts. 3) Use the tram to reach Florence city center, then a taxi from there. If you are staying in the Florence city center before or after the wedding, we strongly discourage car rental or car use within the city. It is incredibly busy with extraordinary narrow streets and very high tolls. We made that mistake for you so you don't have to :)

Travel Note

Rental Car Considerations

If you work for a corporate company, you likely have access to discounted car rentals. We encourage you to work with your friends and family to share a rental and discounts. PLEASE NOTE: You will need an International Driving Permit to drive legally in Italy. They are quick and easy to get at AAA offices in the U.S - please just look up requirements of what to bring to your AAA appointment.

Train

How reliable is the train system?

Italy’s trains are efficient and scenic! The high-speed lines (Trenitalia or Italo) connect Florence, Pisa, and Rome. Tickets can be booked at www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.it - We have used Tren Italia in the passed and our trips have gone smoothly and efficiently; it operates similarly to Amtrak and all employees we spoke with spoke english fluently.

Travel Note

Where should I stay/Hotel information?

We have an entire hotel reserved for the wedding party, immediate family, and will have some additional room for others. Please check back in shortly for further hotel information; We are still working with the hotel to allow guests to book their own rooms directly. We may also send an email update. Thank you for your patience.

Travel Note

Is there transportation between the hotels and the wedding venue?

The main hotel is walking distance (next door) to the wedding venue. For those staying outside of the main hotel, we may not be able to provide shuttles to and from the venue on the wedding day. More details will be shared closer to the date.

Travel Note

Wedding Weekend Contact

Our wedding planner may be able to assist with issues that arise during the wedding weekend. We will provide her contact closer to the wedding date.

Travel Note

Kaitlyn & Christian's Travel Tips!

1) Call your bank in advance to alert them of your travel, if necessary and to learn if your credit card has international fees. Florence accepts card in most places, but some shops still prefer euros. We recommend getting euros at an ATM once you land in Italy (not at the airport though - the exchange rates are extremely high). The ATM will ask you if you want to use their conversion rate - decline this if you use an established bank like Chase - your bank will likely provide better rates. If you want to get Euros while still in the US, you will likely end up paying a little more because Euros are not as readily available. Another thing to be aware of: your debit card has an ATM limit per day (typically $200-$1000), so plan accordingly. 2) Call your data service provider to set up international data before you leave the country, if necessary. Kaitlyn has Verizon and it's about $12/day for limited data. Christian has T-Mobile and international data is included in his plan for reference; check with your service provider. 3) Bring a charging adapter (the plugs are different in the EU than in the US). 4) Tipping isn’t expected the same way as in the U.S. A few euros for great service is appreciated, but not mandatory... More to come!