Answers
May 27, 2012 - 02:18 AM
For the Euro exchange situation, I always tell people the same thing. Plan ahead and exchange your money at your own bank in the US BEFORE YOU LEAVE. If you are a member, most banks will order you foreign currency(so allow 3-5 days because the don't keep foreign currency on site) and there is no spread, they give you the exact exchange rate for that day(unlike most exchange centers in airports and train stations). I was able to get British Pounds, Euros, and Rubels from Wells Fargo at no additional cost. They even overnight delivered them so they were ready the next day.
I would not recommend relying on credit cards and ATM's if you plan to travel out of major cities, as they are less accepted and you risk racking up foreign transaction fees from your carrier unless they specify some other policy.
Also, travelers checks in Italy are worthless. Most banks there won't deal with non-members. It can be frustrating. I did that once and had to go to an American Express location in Rome where they were going to charge me a huge spread and a transaction fee to change their own checks into cash. I waited until I was in Switzerland and they handled it fine with no insane fees.
I would not recommend relying on credit cards and ATM's if you plan to travel out of major cities, as they are less accepted and you risk racking up foreign transaction fees from your carrier unless they specify some other policy.
Also, travelers checks in Italy are worthless. Most banks there won't deal with non-members. It can be frustrating. I did that once and had to go to an American Express location in Rome where they were going to charge me a huge spread and a transaction fee to change their own checks into cash. I waited until I was in Switzerland and they handled it fine with no insane fees.
May 27, 2012 - 10:19 PM
Wow Gerry! Quite the committed student. Bravo! I'd love to know how you decided upon this particular school---I've heard of programs in Perugia and Milan, but not this one. As a fellow enthusiastic Fluenz student, I value your recommendation very highly. Thank you!
May 28, 2012 - 05:50 AM
Rosemarie,
I decided on Il Sasso based on numerous positive comments from the following website: http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums
Once you get to that site, navigate to the "Italy" section, and do a search on Italian language schools. SlowTalk contains a wealth of information for anyone considering a trip to Italy. I found it invaluable when I was planning my trip.
Gerry
I decided on Il Sasso based on numerous positive comments from the following website: http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums
Once you get to that site, navigate to the "Italy" section, and do a search on Italian language schools. SlowTalk contains a wealth of information for anyone considering a trip to Italy. I found it invaluable when I was planning my trip.
Gerry
Jun 04, 2012 - 02:18 PM
Congratulations Gerry, sounds like a great experience. I did a language school in Rome a few years ago. It was very helpful, but it also made me realize how much I didn't know yet. We leave tomorrow for Rome and the surrounding area for site and relative visits. Another chance to practice parlare in italiano.
Jul 04, 2012 - 10:43 AM
I, too, recently returned from a trip to Italy - we stayed at La Foce (an estate, not a town) which is about 15 minutes from Montepulciano. We flew into Rome, rented a car and, using La Foce as our base of operations, drove all over Tuscany and Umbria - no problems at all except for the occasional difficulty interpreting Italian road signs (You will need to know the verb "rallentare" when driving on Tuscany's winding roads.) ! I cannot say enough good things about La Foce - you can rent a small apartment or an entire house. You do have to stay for a minimum of one week (not a hardship!). We stayed in a one bedroom apartment in a building called Chiarentana.. The setting is beautiful - you'll see the famous winding road with the cypress trees from the formal gardens that are part of the owner's villa at La Foce. We found out from the hostess at La Foce that Iris Origo (who, with her husband, bought La Foce in the 1930s, I believe) worked with an English garden designer to build the exquisite formal gardens at La Foce and had that winding road built specifically to bee seen from the gardens. I would highly recommend Iris Origo's books "Images and Shadows" and "War in Val d' Orcia." She was an exceptional writer. The books are available in English (Mrs. Origo was an American heiress). Gerry -- I was thrilled to read your review of Il Sasso because I've been seriously considering taking a class there in the fall but was concerned about "flying blind." Your positive review has helped make my decision. Grazie!