Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Go to Transportation | Housing | Cultural | Money
Communication | General

Transportation

Do I have to take the AIFS flight?
No. However, bear in mind that if you purchase the AIFS transportation package, the transatlantic flight will be provided with round-trip airport transfers. You will be met at the airport on arrival and taken to your residence. At the end of the program if you leave on the group flight on the group departure date, you will be picked up from your residence and taken to the airport.

Can I make changes to my AIFS flight request after I have sent in my application form?
Possibly, but a penalty applies. Once your application form is received, AIFS will book and confirm your flight. It may be possible to make changes after your application has been accepted, and before the ticket has been issued, but a $50 change fee will be levied. It is not possible to change the outward portion of your ticket after it has been issued by the airline.

Can I change my return flight once I am in Florence?
Maybe. For a fee and subject to airline approval and availability, you may try to change your return flight. You must contact the airline's ticketing office directly, but please note that most airlines do not have a ticketing office in Florence. Only date changes are allowed; there can be no changes to the routing, and there will be an airline-imposed fee which could be as high as $150. If you have a connecting flight in the US, you must check whether you are able to change that , as some cannot be changed. Please note that once you receive your ticket, it is your property and therefore AIFS staff cannot make the changes for you.

Housing

Where will I live?
You will live in an apartment with other AIFS students. The apartments will be scattered throughout the historical center of the city and will be varied in size and style. An average of four AIFS students will share a two-bedroom apartment.

Can I have a single room?
We have limited availability on single rooms and they can only be guaranteed upon payment of a supplement. Contact the Connecticut office with individual requests which will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I move into my accommodations before the program starts if I am arriving in Florence early?
AIFS cannot supply you with accommodation until the official start date of the program. However, if you arrive early we can recommend local hotels.

Can I choose my own roommate?
Yes. Simply write the name of the person on your AIFS program application form, and make sure your friend does the same. If you decide to room with someone after your application has been submitted, write a letter to the AIFS Connecticut office stating your roommate choice. Be sure your roommate does the same.

How is my roommate chosen?
We allocate roommates based on the information provided on the AIFS program application forms completed by every student. First we look to see if a student has requested a particular roommate and if they have, we house them with that person. We then put students with similar routines together, similar likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc., taking care not to room smokers and non-smokers together. This is why students should always fill out the housing section of the application form honestly and with as much information as possible.

When will I find out who my roommate is?
Rooming assignments will be handed out upon arrival in Florence.

How many people are there per room?
In the apartments there will be an average of four people, two per bedroom. Single rooms are very rare in apartments but can occasionally be found. Again students should request these and be prepared to pay a supplement.

Are the rooms/apartments coed?
No, apartments are all same sex.

What is provided in apartments?
No towels are provided but you do receive linen and a spare change of linen. Your apartment will be cleaned once a week but you will be responsible for washing and changing your own linen. Kitchen facilities include stove, storage, refrigerators, pans and dishes. Some apartments may have washing machines but this cannot be guaranteed. There are no phones in the apartments.

How far is the housing from school?
The apartments are all located in the historical center and can be up to a 30-minute walk from the school.

What are the meal arrangements?
There are kitchens in the apartments, but no meals are supplied. AIFS offers a meal voucher option which gives you 30 vouchers to use in various restaurants around the center of town. We have about eight to chose from at present where you get a high quality and substantial meal in exchange for your voucher.

What are the laundry facilities?
There are usually none in the apartments. However, laundromats are available all over Florence. The cost is approximately 7,000 lira to wash, 7,000L to dry. They are open seven days a week. There are also many reasonably priced dry cleaners, but you will find it more expensive than in the U.S.

What are the apartment restrictions?

• Quiet hours are as above—11 p.m. to 7 a.m. If you break these rules, you will not have an AIFS staff member there to tell you. Instead, it may well be the police you end up talking to after your neighbors have called them.
• No overnight guests are to stay in the apartments at all. This is the law because of police registration of people at that address.
• No posters or photos are permitted on walls. This can seriously damage the paint.

Can I choose to make my own living arrangements instead of living in AIFS accommodations?
This is possible only if you have close friends or relatives living in Florence. There is a reduced fee for arranging your own housing, but the money saved will not be adequate to pay for housing you would find on your own in the short-term rental market. If choose this option, you must first provide details of your relatives to the program coordinator at your school. You must also notify AIFS on your program application that you do not require housing and provide a contact address in Florence to enable us to reach you in an emergency.

Can I change my housing option after I have sent my application to AIFS?
No. We have to book accommodations far in advance, and it is not possible to make changes after applications have been accepted.

Cultural

What events will be on the cultural calendar?
There will be a large variety of events on offer which make the most of what Florence has to offer. Included will be opera, ballet, cooking classes, wine tasting, symphonies, walking tours, soccer matches to name but a few!

Are these events good value for the money?
Yes. Not only are the ticket prices subsidized by your program fees, but the original price is lower than you could find on your own. AIFS is able to get group discounts through our contacts in Florence.

Will there be trips?
Yes. Day trips to Siena and Pisa will be included in the program, plus we plan to go possibly to Amalfi, Venice and elsewhere at student/budget prices. Look out for details once the program starts and sign up in our office.

Money

How much money will I need?
This very much depends on individual tastes. However, AIFS recommends that students budget $600-$800 per month for day-to-day needs. This would allow for some theater visits and excursions but not extensive overseas travel or expensive purchases.

How can I get money in Florence?
Before departure make sure you get PIN numbers for credit cards (Visa and MasterCard, not American Express). If you do not already have a credit card, we suggest you get one before you leave.

For checking accounts, try and get the CIRRUS or STAR system on your card. You can ask your bank for a list of banks which will except your cards. Do not take their word that it will be accepted everywhere—this is often not the case. Also double-check what their charges are for withdrawing cash abroad.

It is also advisable to bring travelers' checks with you in case your card becomes demagnetized or is lost. Accessing your money with a combination of all three options mentioned above is the best way.

If you run short of money or in the unfortunate event you have your wallet stolen, AIFS on-site staff can give you details of how to have money wired to you in an emergency situation from friends and family.

Communication

Will I have access to e-mail?
Internet centers are situated around Florence. AIFS students will have preferential rates arranged with some of these near the school. You will be entitled to 50 hours free access and can purchase additional time at reduced rates.

How can people contact me when I am in Florence?
Once you have sent in your application, you will receive details of your mailing address at the school. You can receive all your mail and packages at that address. The AIFS office will also have a fax machine where family can send faxes to you. If you wish to call home, we suggest you bring a calling card like AT&T's. Whichever one you choose, please make sure you find out the correct access number to dial from Italy to connect to an operator. Also make sure you bring the number for other countries where you may be traveling. The number you dial in the U.S. will not work in Europe.

If you are in apartments you do not have phones. This is normal for Italian student accommodations. Instead, most people use a cell phone. They are inexpensive in Italy and you can even buy one, chipping in with other students to have one per apartment. You do not pay anything to receive calls or for voice mail messages. Details of local prices will be available on arrival.

General

Do I need a visa?
If you are stay less than 90 days, no. If you plan on staying longer, you should get a tourist visa before coming. If you are not a US citizen, please talk to the nearest embassy or consulate for requirements. Do not forget to obtain visas for other countries you may wish to visit. It is not possible to do this once you are in Italy.

What should I take with me?
Not too much! Every quarter students find that they bring clothing that they never wear and toiletries that they could have easily bought in Florence.

If you are on medication, you should bring enough to last you for the program as well as a copy of the prescription in case you need a refill.
The weather can be unpredictable so bring warm clothes. It is best to bring clothes that you can layer to be appropriate for all kinds of weather. You should also bring a weatherproof coat. You will do a lot more walking than you are used to, so bring comfortable shoes.

You will not need much "dressy" clothing, but bring an outfit for the opera or ballet. Full evening dress is not required, but it is nice for women to wear a dress and men casual slacks (not jeans). Florentines are smart dressers, and many of you will purchase the same style clothes when you are there as well as classic Italian leather shoes. Remember to leave space in your suitcase for souvenirs you will buy.

What happens if I get ill abroad?
There is a 24-hour doctor service available that has English-speaking doctors if needed. They are available for appointments or home visits. You will have to pay for everything up front including the doctor's visit and medication, and then you may make a claim on your AIFS medical insurance. For this you must make sure you have filled in all the medical forms correctly and have all receipts. You will receive a refund back in the US for all costs exceeding $50. No pre-existing conditions are covered. Please read your insurance information for conditions that may be excluded.

Will my hairdryer/iron work in Florence?
Yes, if you bring the correct adapter and transformer for voltage. Appliances designed to operate in the US may not operate in Florence unless they are fitted with a dual voltage switch or used with a transformer. Electrical sockets are different in Europe, so you will need an adapter plug to fit in the appliance. To save space, inexpensive hairdryers can be purchased upon arrival for approximately $25 and you can share the cost with your roommate.

Can I buy textbooks and course-related materials in Florence?
You can buy paper and other materials in Florence, but we advise you to purchase textbooks in the US and bring them with you. Florence has some English language bookstores, but it is doubtful that they will have the exact edition your professors require. They will also be more expensive than your campus bookstore. Your campus store may also buy back your books when you return. Inquire when you make your purchases.

What sports facilities are available?
Florence does not have as many sports facilities as you may be used to back at college in the US. There are, however, gyms all over town, swimming pools and outdoor soccer fields in parks.

Can I work when I am in Florence?
It is illegal to work for money in Italy unless you have a work permit. If you do want to stay and work after the program, you will need to apply for a work permit before you leave the US. It cannot be done once you are in Italy.