PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR PASSPORT TODAY. KEEP IT IN THE SAME PLACE ALL THE TIME. (Prepare ahead for where you will keep it while on the trip. Always put it in the exact same place. We have had several lose their passport on trips. It can cause us to lose an entire day of sightseeing because of one person misplacing their passport.) PACKING: You are allowed ONE checked bag weighing no more than 50 lbs. (This is not just for the airlines, but also for the Bus. We do not have room for more than one bag per person.) Remember YOU must handle your own bag. Make sure it has FOUR rolling wheels so it’s easy to manage. And you will need ONE carry-on bag such as a backpack. You will use the backpack on the plane and also daily bus rides for essentials.  CARRY-ON (Backpack): Make sure you put all MEDICATION in your carry-on ONLY. And anything expensive, such as an IPAD, Laptop, Cell phone, Jewelry. If you have room, put one change of shirt/underwear in case your luggage is lost and arrives a day late. After a very long flight you might also want to have your toothbrush. (just sayin) ARRIVAL: If you are arriving in Rome before the rest of the group, make sure you communicate exactly where you are waiting. We suggest the baggage claim area for the Atlanta Delta flight 66. WALKING: We will be walking daily on cobbled and uneven streets. START NOW walking every single day. Work your way up to several miles each day. And always wear the shoes you will take for this trip. We suggest taking only two pairs of shoes, both tennis shoes (sneakers, whatever you call them.) Do not bring brand new shoes that are not already broken in. Also, Duomos and Temples require knees, shoulders, and midriffs to be covered.  POWER ADAPTER: A power adapter will be provided by Signature Tours but extras are recommended if you have multiple items such as CPAP, phones, hearing aids, laptops, etc. I always bring an extension cord as well because there sometimes is only one outlet and it’s across the room. (The hotels will provide hairdryers.)  CELL PHONE DATA: Contact your cell phone company to arrange an international plan so you do not return home with a huge bill. (We recommend everyone get a plan so you are not always searching for free Wi-Fi, and in case of an emergency – like getting lost from the group.) CREDIT CARDS: Contact your credit card company to notify them of travel to Italy October 5-15. Use a card that does not charge a conversion fee from dollars to Euros.  TAP-TO-PAY: Load your credit cards on your smartphone’s “wallet app” so you can use “tap-to-pay.”  Tap-to-pay is much more secure because you are not pulling out a wallet and handing over your card to a stranger. Start practicing using Tap-to-Pay now so you are proficient with it on the trip. We do not recommend any physical wallets or cell phones in your back pocket. Carry in a front zipper pocket or in a cross-body type bag. ID: Add photos of your Passport, Driver’s License, and Insurance cards to your smartphone. WEATHER: Add Rome and Venice to your weather app so you can plan clothing accordingly the week before the trip. And remember, LESS IS MORE. You personally have to carry your own luggage. (We suggest wearing layers and bringing a wind/rain jacket and a hat for sun protection.) JOURNALING: We suggest journaling your trip or at the very least turn on “locations” for your photos so when you look back it will give you the date, time, and location of each photo. EXPECTATIONS:  In-Room Expectations Italy is thousands of years old, expect older but updated hotels. Room size: Expect roughly half the square footage of a US chain hotel. Bed setup: Couples may get two twin beds pushed together. Bed firmness: Italian mattresses are traditionally very firm. Key cards: Keep your key card in the wall slot to power the room. Bathroom & Amenities Showers: Expect tight stalls and handheld shower wands. Washcloths not provided. Bring a pack of disposable cleansing towels. Ice: Ask the hotel bar for ice; hallways do not typically have machines. AC limits: Government laws restrict AC usage outside peak summer months, so bring a small fan just in case. (Both Fred and I each have this little POWERFUL FAN.) IMPORTANT NOTES: Be on time for all group meetings and departures. The bus and “entry times” for museums are not flexible. The group cannot wait if you are late. Don’t just trust your phone to wake you, also have a wake-up call each morning from the front desk.  Refrain from discussing politics or religious pet peeves. Be cordial and considerate of everyone’s thoughts, opinions, and ideas.  We will create a “WhatsApp” group so we can communicate with each other during the trip. If you do not have a “WhatsApp” account, please go ahead and make one. I (Shirley) will be adding you to the group in the next few days so we can go ahead and send communications as needed. WhatsApp is encrypted, universal, and free, so data rates won’t apply. As a reminder, you are going to be in Italy, the food will mostly be “Italian.”  However, the breakfasts are going to be mostly American, from what I am told.  Remember, things can change that we have no control over. So remember Dr. Fred’s favorite saying, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.”