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Il Chiostro
241 W. 97th St., 13N
NY, NY 10025
800-990-3506
fax: 858-712-3329

Hints for Getting to Italy: most airlines have regular flights to Rome or Milan. Some have direct flights to Venice (Delta) but most other cities in Italy do not have intercontinental airports. That means that to fly into Florence you will need to stop over in some other European city first. Here are some suggestions for finding reasonable airfares to Italy:

• Euro Fly - is a seasonal carrier (May to October) that flies from New York-JFK to Rome, Bologna or Naples.
• Vayama - a new site for international flights that is easy and fun to use.
• Delta Airlines now flies direct to Pisa and Venice as well as Rome and Milan. They frequently offer competitive fares.
• Travel People is an air consolidator that we use. Agnes Warburton is good at finding the best deals. You can contact her at 212 675 6566; or info@travelpeople.org Mention that you are participating in an Il Chiostro workshop. If Agnes isn't in you can speak with her associate, Linda Fiedler.
• Orbitz, Expedia or Kayak are internet based airfare locators
• TAP, the airline of Portugal, often has special rates on flights to Italy, with a stop in Lisbon, of course

Passports: this is essential for travel to Europe. The easiest way to renew is by mail or at a designated post office, as long as you have enough lead time. The current processing time is 4-6 weeks, expedited processing takes 3 weeks. Whether you are applying for a new passport or renewing your expired passport, this site has all the information you need. http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html Remember you will need 2 small passport photos to accompany your application.

Accommodations: If you plan to spend some time in Italy before or after your time with Il Chiostro, you will need to book your hotel or pensione in advance. There are many options beyond the large chains and the places recommended by all of the popular tour guide books. Click on one of the links below to get a list of accommodations recommended by previous Il Chiostro participants. And if you have a good experience at a place not on our lists, we are always pleased to add new locations:

However you get to Italy, there are several internal travel options, from trains and buses to car rentals. Below are some suggestions, collected over the years from many of our Il Chiostro alumni. We hope these help you and if you have any suggestions for information to add to this page, we would be happy to hear from you.

Trains: a wonderful thing about Italy - and Europe in general - is that almost every city and town can be reached by the fairly efficient system of trains that traverse the country. Some important notes about train travel:

• For up-to-date fares and schedules check the following web site: http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html or try the North American web site dedicated to train travel in Italy: www.italiarail.com
• When arriving at the airport in Rome (Leonardo da Vinci, or Fiumicino) there is a train that connects directly to the center of the city. Just follow signs for Treni/Trains when you clear customs and enter into the terminal. The trip takes about 40 minutes and trains leave about every half hour. Only two trains leave from this station: one for Termini, the main station in the center of Rome, the other for Tiburtina, a secondary station a bit outside of the center. (If you are connecting directly to the SENA bus to Siena, you will want to go to Tiburtina.)
• Many smaller stations (like Siena) do not have elevators or escalators so be prepared to haul your luggage up and down stairs to get to your track
• you must validate your ticket in one of the yellow machines before getting on the train. Failure to do so will result in a heavy fine, payable on the spot. If you find that you have boarded a train without stamping your ticket, you should go immediately to the conductor, tell him/her that you forgot to validate your ticket and have them hand cancel it
• It is no longer possible to buy a ticket on the train. You must board a train with a ticket or incur heavy fines
• Refrain from putting your feet on the seat opposite you. Italians frown on this behavior. You risk being scolded by the conductor.
• Reservations (prenotazioni) are not required, but recommended for many of the more popular routes. This will at least insure that you get a seat.
• In more and more stations there are automatic ticket machines, with instructions in English. They take cash or credit cards. They will also tell you the schedule for your train. Use these to avoid the long lines at the ticket counter (biglietteria)

Buses: this is a viable alternative to trains. Intercity buses are comfortable and often faster than the trains. Some important notes about traveling by bus (pullman):

• There is a quick and efficient system serving Florence and Siena called SITA. We recommend taking the RAPIDA between these cities. For fares and schedules: www.sitabus.it
• There is also a convenient bus between Rome and Siena. This is a 3hour, non-stop trip. In Siena the bus stops at either the train station or the center of the city. In Rome the bus stops at the Tiburtina train station, a bit outside of the center, but convenient for connecting to the airport.
• For fares and schedules for buses between Rome and Siena (and some other major Italian cities): www.sena.it
• From the Florence airport there is a frequent shuttle called Volainbus that takes you into the center of Florence. Tickets cost 4 euros and can be purchased on board.

Car Rentals: there are many options, but most rental cars are standard transmission. There are a few automatic cars available, but you must reserve these ahead of time and they are more expensive. If you are traveling to Siena, we recommend you rent from either Hertz or Avis, both of which have convenient drop off locations not far from the train station. Europecar is another company that often has competitive rates.

A new website dedicated to renting is: www.carrentals.com They are showing some very competitive prices for cars in Italy using major rental companies.

There is an Italian car rental company associated with National Car Rental called Maggiore. They often have competitive rates as long as you are picking up your car in a major Italian city like Rome, Milan or Florence. Please note: There is no Maggiore location in Siena so you will not be able to pick up or drop off there.

For driving directions to Il Chiostro's Tuscan locations outside of Siena, click a link below:

Driving directions to Il Chiostro's spring workshops in Vagliagli

Driving directions to the Autumn Arts Festival at Dievole

Car Services: if you would like to arrange for a private car service to pick you up at the airport or your hotel and take you to your workshop at Il Chiostro we can arrange this for you. These cars are professional and reliable. Payment can be made directly to the driver in Euros in either cash or by credit card. A sample of estimated prices are:

• From Florence airport - 165 euros for 1-2 passengers
• From Rome airport - 395 euros for 1-2 passengers
• From Pisa airport - 245 euros for 1-2 passengers

Staying in Rome: If you are planning to stay in Rome for a few days either before or after your workshop, click below for some of our suggestions for things to do and places to eat.

Personal Travel Insurance : is strongly recommended whenever you travel. It protects you against costly penalties in the event that you need to cancel your trip at the last minute. Two reputable companies are: Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599 [Note: for full coverage you must take out a policy soon after paying for your trip.]

A vacation to Europe can still be affordable, even if you don't find bargain prices for leather jackets and designer clothes this year. An unfavorable exchange rate and threats of a recession shouldn't keep you from enjoying Italy and all the treasures it has to offer. Making a few adjustments in how you travel can keep the cost of your vacation within your budget. One strategy is to travel with a package like Il Chiostro where the price includes accommodations and meals. That price will prove to be much cheaper than if you have to negotiate and pay for all of these items separately.

The second thing is to pay for as much of your trip in dollars before you leave for Europe. That way the shifting exchange rate will not affect you. You will know the real cost to you of everything upfront and you won't get surprising credit card bills upon return that reflect not only the exchange rate but also the hidden fees that the credit card companies now impose on international purchases.

Here are more suggestions for saving money in some of the major areas where you will be spending money on your trip:

Transportation:
Airfare - you can usually find the lowest fares online (Expedia, etc.), but it requires some hunting and can be hit or miss depending on what the airlines are offering at that instant. But there are some things you can do to improve the available prices:

• Try to vary your departure days to travel off peak and see how that affects the price.
• Don't insist on flying direct. Many national airlines like TAP of Portugal offer lower fares when you stop in their hub city first

Car rentals - gas in Europe is very expensive. Ask for diesel - it is cheaper than regular gas and goes a longer way between fill ups.

Buses between cities are comfortable and often cheaper than trains. Trains can have hidden supplements for Inter City or seat reservations.

Accommodations:
Apartments - if you are staying in one city for at least 3 days, consider renting an apartment rather than spending the money on hotel rooms, especially if you will be sharing with a couple of people. There are a host of rental sites on the internet. Here are just a few:

• www.RomeSweetHome.it
• www.italyrentals.com
• www.rentinginitaly.com/.

Getting Cash:
ATM's (Bancomat in Italy) - these are better than travelers checks or cash. They give the best exchange rate of the moment and you don't need to wait in lines at the bank.

Credit Cards - beware of charging too much on your credit card because there are lots of hidden fees that your bank can charge that you won't notice until you get home and see your bill.

Food:
You still get good value for your money when eating in Italy, but if you can save a few Euros on every meal it can really add up.

• Breakfast - don't insist on a big American breakfast, eat the way Italians do: go to a corner café and order a cappuccino and a sweet roll. Coffee is subsidized in Italy so this can cost less than $2. Remember that if you sit down at a café, they will charge you higher prices for waiter service. Notice how most Italians eat their breakfast at the bar standing up.
• Lunch - if you make your big meal at lunch you can save a lot. Good pasta dishes with meat and vegetables can be a full meal.
• Wine - order a carafe of the house wine instead of a commercial bottle. It's always cheaper and will usually be of good quality.
• Markets - buy food and wine in grocery stores or outdoor markets and make your own meals. Try a picnic in some of the beautiful outdoor and public spaces that Italy is famous for.
  

Seeing Art:
Churches - some of the best art in Italy was commissioned by its churches and that's where is hangs today. Many of those are free or charge a nominal entrance fee or lighting donation. Michelangelo's Pieta is on display for free at the Vatican, several Caravaggios are in minor chapels in Rome. Skip the long wait and ticket price at the Uffizzi or the Accademia and search out the less publicized treasures waiting inside just about any open church doors.