TRAVEL

Flight Suggestions

For those flying out of Austin, Texas, we suggest the non-stop British Airways flight from Austin to London Heathrow International Airport (LHR). These flights are offered twice a day to/from London. Flying round trip through London Heathrow allows easy access to the rest of Europe.

Example 1:

• Fly out of Austin (AUS) Friday, June 13 at 6:05PM, arriving in London (LHR) at 9:35AM Saturday, June 14.

• Take a 1-way flight out of London (LHR) on Saturday, June 14 at 12:10PM, arriving in Rome (FCO) at 3:34PM.

• Take a 1-way flight out of Florence (FLR) Friday, June 20 at 12:20PM, arriving in London (LHR) at 1:45PM.

• Fly out of London (LHR) Friday, June 27 at 4:05PM, arriving in Austin (AUS) at 9:20PM.

If you’d like to spend some time touring London, could fly back to Austin the next day instead of same day.

Example 2:

If you don’t want to come into Rome before the wedding, take a 1-way flight from London into Florence or Pisa regional airports, which are within an hour of the wedding venue. If you’d like to travel to other European cities before or after the wedding, British Airways and other regional airlines fly between all major cities and London (LHR). When looking for flights between Rome, Florence, Pisa or other local airports and London, make sure you connect through London Heathrow....not London Gatwick or another airport. (There are 3-4 airports in London area). Expect the best time to buy long-haul flights to Europe to be January 2025. British Airways has historically put their summer flights on sale immediately after the holidays. British Airways offers several class options:

Economy

○ Includes: Seat-back power, on-demand entertainment, meals & drinks

○ Excludes: checked bag fees

Economy Standard

○ Includes: Seat-back power, on-demand entertainment, meals & drinks, 1 checked bag allowance

Premium Economy

○Includes: Seat-back power, on-demand entertainment, meals & drinks, 2 checked bag allowance

○ Separate, smaller cabin with wider seats, 38” legroom, plus head/foot rest

○ Flight amenity kit

○ Priority boarding

Business Class

○ Includes: Same amenities as Premium Economy, but seats convert to fully-flat beds

○ Access to airport lounge

Transportation within Italy

Trains

Trains are a reliable and cost-effective way to get around Europe. There are some railways that pass across several countries, as well some Italian national & regional lines. The more direct and high-speed trains require buying tickets in advance and cost a little more, while the regional lines don’t have reserved seating... you could end up standing and there are multiple stops. If you’re planning to stop in several countries while in Europe, it’s worth comparing the cost of a multi-day/country Eurail Pass vs. individual tickets.

Rental Cars

Since parking is nearly impossible inside the cities, and heavily restricted when you’re not a resident, avoid driving into the Italian cities. The rental car comes in handy when exploring the Italian countryside and hill towns. Most major cities, such as Florence, have parking areas (P) outside the city with taxis, bus, or tram services to the city center. If you plan on renting a car, you’ll need to get a temporary International Drivers License before you leave the US, which is available from a AAA office for $20. We suggest reserving rental cars before you leave the US, which will save some money. You’ll also need to make sure you check “automatic” if you can’t drive a manual stick-shift. When renting in the US, your private car insurance or credit card insurance can cover any unforeseen accidents. In Europe, most countries require Liability insurance anyway. In order to limit your financial risk, it’s suggested you also buy a CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) ...sometimes known as a LDW (Loss Damage Waiver)...rather than relying on your credit card to cover the insurance risk. If not, the rental company can place a hold on your credit card to cover the entire deductible. In Italy, most companies automatically include CDW coverage. If you’re going to rent a car, arrange for pickup at a location on the city outskirts so it’s easier to navigate. For instance, picking up a car at the Florence airport is ideal since it’s outside of town and close to the autostrada (main Italian highway).

Uber & Taxis

Most taxis are reliable and cheap in Italy. Uber is also available in Europe and works exactly like it does in the US. But beware that in Italy Uber has been facing some legal challenges, and may not be available everywhere, which is why Uber isn’t allowed to operate inside Florence.

Buses

You can usually get anywhere you want in Italy by bus, as long as you’re not in a hurry and plan ahead using the bus schedules. For reaching small towns, buses are sometimes the only option if you don’t have a car. When visiting hill towns, it’s common for trains to drop you at the base of the hill or in the valley, while the buses will take you into the town center.

Bus Transfer to/from Villa di Ulignano

Check-in at the Villa di Ulignano is at 5:00PM on Tuesday, June 17. A bus will be scheduled to bring wedding attendees and their bags from the main Florence train station (Santa Maria Novella) at 4:00PM. If you’d like to spend Tuesday touring Florence, there is daily bag storage available at the train station for a small fee...you’ll need to show your passport. Check-out from Villa di Ulignano is at 11:00AM on Friday, June 20. Transportation will be scheduled as needed to take those flying out of Pisa and/or Florence to the airports....or to the train stations if you’ll be extending trip around Italy/Europe.

Accommodations

There are a variety of choices in accommodations in Italy and around Europe. Cost varies by location and level/amenities desired. June is high-season in Italy and Europe, so booking as far as possible in advance of your trip is important.

Monastery Stays

If you’re traveling in a country with a strong Catholic presence, such as Italy, Spain, and France, monasteries are a wonderful place to stay. They tend to offer more reasonable prices, locations in prime city neighborhoods, and provide a unique travel experience. The following site is a good resource. They show all of the amenities available by location and can be booked directly on the site. Be sure to note if the site has a curfew or not, which may or may not matter, depending on how late you intend to stay out at night. In my experience in Rome, the person at the desk holds your key while off-site and you ask for it when returning.

www.monasterystays.com

VRBO

VRBO and Airbnb rentals can be booked in Europe, just like you do in the US. If you have a rental car, pay attention to the available parking, and if you can bring a non-resident car to the rental. If you do have a rental car, suggest finding a place that is outside the city but near public transportation, like a train or bus station, where you can walk to or park your car.

Hotels

There are every type and size of hotels available across Europe. There are large chain hotels, but you might want to try more local boutique hotels to get a more personal experience. It’s always better to book directly with the hotel, rather than going through a booking website. Most require a credit card to hold the reservation, and cancellation policies can be strict, so read the fine print. Always email or call to confirm your reservation a few days in advance, and let them know an approximate check-in time.

Travel Insurance

It may seem like a waste of money, but considering how far in advance you need to buy plane tickets and put down rental deposits, please consider buying some level of travel insurance. Unfortunately, I’ve had to use my travel insurance, and was very thankful to have it. Because of my experience, I won’t book a vacation without it. There are a several good companies out there to compare rates/packages, such as AIG, World Trips, Travel Safe, and Seven Corners. You’ll need to purchase the insurance soon after making your first major purchases. The rate is based on length of travel, age of travelers, expected travel costs requiring advance purchase and/or cancellation fees (flights, accommodations, car rental, etc...). Don’t wait until you’ve purchased everything, total cost doesn’t have to be exact, just an educated guess.