Links and Resources
Getting to Campus
Below are some Taxi Services that students and parents have used to get to campus.
- Please make sure that when using a taxi that you use an official taxi. Official taxis have their license number clearly displayed and have a TAXI sign on their roof. Only take taxis from a taxi stand or by calling RADIOTAXI to make a reservation. If you want to reserve a taxi ahead of time, you must call at least 3 hours in advance. Reservations for night services must be made before 5pm.
- Another option is to arrange for private transportation with Franco Petrucci Limousine Service, which offers favorable rates to University of Dallas Students. For contact information and a detailed price listing please click here .
- Directions to Campus
Staying Near Campus
Below are recommendations from staff and past Romers for hotels that are near campus and great for accommodations the night before campus opens or for visitors during the semester.
- Fabiola Bed and Breakfast in Via Spinabella
- Hotel Excel Roma Ciampino
- Hotels in Rome check out this website
- Hotels in Castelli Romani
- Check out the Monastery Stays website
Luggage Storage Options
Luggage Storage Location: Below ground in the Termini Wing, accessible from Forum Termini via the moving walkway, or from via Giolitti or from platform 24. Rates: 3.80 Euro for the first 5 hours and .60 Euro for each additional hour from the 6th to the 12th. 0.20 Euro for each hour after the 12th hour. These are per bag charges. Open from 6am to midnight. Phone 39 06 47 82 55 43
Luggage Storage Location: You can leave your luggage at the Aeroporti di Roma "Left Luggage" facility located at terminal 3 on the ground floor of the international arrivals. Rates: 6 Euro per item for 24 hours. No advance payment. Open from 6:30am to 11:30pm. Maximum time luggage may be left in the area is 90 days. Phone 39 06 65 95 35 41
Traveling Around Italy
Below are some sites and resources that will be helpful when planning your excursions into Rome and when traveling around Italy itself.
- Places to see and eat in Rome; Msgr. Fucinaro's recommendations for places to see in Rome.
- Italian Tourism.com is the National Tourism Board's website for Italy. Every city or town in Italy lists their individual web site for visitor information here. It is a great resource.
- Lonelyplanet.com is another good site that provides a simple summary of cultural and historical sites that can be found in and around Rome and Italy.
- Spottedbylocals.com gives local perspective on the best that Rome has to offer. It also features many other European cities as well.
- The Let's Go site and traveler guides are also helpful in planning out your weekend trips to one of the 20 different Italian regions.
- Virtualtourist.com can help you plan your trip with help from reviews and photos from real travelers.
- Trains in Italy contains info on different types of trains, maps and reservation fees.
- The Eurail Italy Pass is dedicated to train travel in Italy. The pass offers discounts for the Correr Museum, National Museum of Archaeology, Saint Mark National Library Monumental halls and more.
Traveling Around Europe
Below are some sites and resources that will be helpful when planning your Fall/Spring Break trek across Europe. You will also find a list of Convents around Europe and several resources for finding hostels.
- First and foremost, past students recommend Frommer's Europe from $85 a day travel guide to help plan your trip. You could also check out the Frommer's website for more information.
- Tripadvisor.com is a great resource to use to get information on local things to see and do in just about every major European city. It is a compilation of user reviews and ratings on everything from restaurants, museums, to beaches.
- If you are thinking about purchasing a Eurail Pass you will definitely want to check out Eurail.com and raileurope.com to read about the various pass options and prices for railpasses. If you have specific questions or would like to purchase a railpass you may contact STA travel at.
- Traveling by plane around Europe is a quick and easy option but beware of the luggage limitations and the costs of doing so. Also note that most cheap airlines do not fly directly to huge city centers and that you might have to take a bus, taxi or even train from the airport to your final destination. With that in mind here is a list of a few airline websites that you might try: Ryanair.com , EasyJet.com , WizzAir.com , Lufthansa.com , Alitalia.com , or Flybe.com .
- One of the most important things to do before you set out on a trip is to make sure you have some place you can sleep. Past Romers have recommended using such sites as hostelworld.com , hostelz.com , hihostels.com , and hostels.com to research possibilities. A key thing to remember which booking a hostel is that it is close to the attractions you want to see. Reading reviews of the hotels can also be beneficial.
- The following sites are different travel services sites that may be useful during your travels: STATravel.com offers information on hostels, Eurail, Bus tours and travel insurance; MYISIC.com is the official website for the International Student Identity Card; StudentUniverse.com offers specifically offers travel information for students; Backpackers Ultimate Guide (BUG) has tips on how to pick the right Eurail Pass as well as travel necessities; and euro-backpacker.com is an extensive comprehensive guide to traveling on a budget.
- Neweuropetours.eu is a site for free walking tours offered in numerous cities throughout Europe. Free walking tours are popular among students because they are a great way to get to learn about each city and to meet other students also studying abroad.
- eupedia.com explains cultural differences in each country you plan to visit and how to "blend in" as an American.
- xe.com is a currency converter website that is useful when looking for exchange rates.
- US Department of State International Travel Information
Cell Phone Information
Students are not required to carry a cell phone while participating in the Rome Program, however they can be helpful to have when meeting up with other students, calling home, or contacting campus in case of an emergency. If you do not want to buy an international phone or plan past students suggest bringing an iPhone, smartphone, or some electronic device that can access the internet using Wifi. There are many free applications that allow you to call, text, video chat, and message by soley using your Wifi connection. No international cell plan is needed. A few of these free apps are Whatsapp, Voxer, and Textfree. With apps such as these, it is not necessary to purchase an international phone or data plan for communication. However, if you wish to do so, we do not suggest any specific carrier, but we recommend that you do your own research and decide what option will be best for you. A few such options are listed below.
- ISIC Connect
- Piccell Wireless
- Platform 3000
- Cellular Abroad
- StudentCell
- Check out your current provider to see if they have reasonable international plans
- You can also purchase an international phone in Europe on a pay as you go plan
Filing Taxes
Remember to file your taxes, leave a signed tax form for your parents to complete, or file for an extension before you leave for Rome. All tax forms may be found at http://www.irs.gov/ and should be available to you via the internet. Forms may be completed, signed and mailed back to the states if you are unable to fill out your paperwork before you leave. If you are unable to file your income tax return by the due date you may be able to get a 6 month extension of time to file. To do so, you must file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US Income Tax Return by the due date for filing your calendar year return (April 15th) or fiscal year return.
Items for Reference