Frequently asked questions
Traveling to a foreign country can raise questions that range from practical to legal. Click here to check the web page that might answer questions you have that have been asked by pilgrims before you.
CASA PAPA GIOVANNI IN ASSISI HAS HAIR DRYERS IN ROOMS. RESIDENZA (Rome) DOES NOT. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH CONVERTERS FOR HAIR DRYERS WITH FUSES BLOWING OUT.
YES, BUT ONE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL. SOME AMERICAN CONVERTERS DO NOT WORK WELL. CONERTERS CHANGE FROM 220 VOLTAGE (ITALY) TO 110 VOLTAGE (USA) SO THAT AMERICAN APLLICANCES CAN WORK. THERE ARE ADAPTERS – THESE ARE PLUGS THAT YOU PLUG YOUR TYPICAL AMERICAN PLUG - TWO PRONGED PLUG INTO SO THAT YOU CAN PLUG YOUR AMERICAN PLUG INTO THE ITALIAN PLUG (THICKER TWO PRONGED PLUGS) INTO THE SOCKET. MOST ELECTRIC RAZORS ARE DUAL VOLTAGE AND YOU JUST NEED AN ADAPTER AND NOT A CONVERTER. HAIR DRYERS ARE ANOTHER THING. THEY COULD BE PROBLEMATIC. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
Do you need multiple Italian converters?
THERE IS ONLY THE 220/110 CONVERTERS THAT CAN BE USED. RADIO SHACK AND MOST TRAVEL STORES HAVE THE CONVERTER (USUALLY WITH AN ADAPTER AS WELL).
RAZORS, LATOPS, SOME RADIOS AND CLOCKS USE THE 220 VOLTAGE AND YOU JUST NEED THE ADAPTOR. OTHERS, YOU WOULD NEED BOTH A CONVERTER AND AN ADAPTOR. AGAIN, RADIO SHACK WOULD HAVE BOTH.
I THINK THERE IS ONLY ONE US CELL PHONE COMPANY THAT WORKS IN ITALY BUT THE ROAMING CHARGES ARE VERY HIGH. WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE PHONE CARDS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE CALLS TO THE US. ALSO, ON YOUR SCHEDULE, THERE IS A PHONE NUMBER FOR ALL THE PLACES YOU WILL BE STAYING AT. IT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE THERE FROM SOMEONE HOME.
IN ASSISI, THERE IS NO PHONE IN THE ROOMS. AT RESIDENZA IN ROME, THERE ARE PHONES IN THE ROOMS BUT WE DON'T RECOMMEND USING THEM BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE.
THERE ARE PICKPOCKETS IN ANY LARGE CITY (MORE SO ROME THAN ASSISI). BE CAREFUL, BE STREET SMART, ONLY CARRY A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT AND ONLY ENOUGH MONEY YOU WILL NEED WHEN YOU ARE WALKING AROUND OR IN THE CITIES. DON'T CARRY JEWELRY OR A LOT OF CREDIT CARDS ON YOU AS YOU WALK AROUND THE CITIES. WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR ROOM, LOCK UP YOUR PASSPORT/AIRLINE TICKET (IF NOT ELECTRONIC), VALUABLES, IN A SUITCASE THAT CAN BE LOCKED. THERE IS NO NEED TO TAKE ALONG EXPENSIVE JEWELRY. THE MORE YOU TAKE WITH YOU ON THE STREETS, THE EASIER IT IS TO LOSE SOMETHING.
What type of security are in the hotels we will be staying in at night?
OUR PLACES OF LODGING ARE VERY GOOD AND WE TRUST THE PEOPLE VERY MUCH. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE CASH OR RINGS OR ANYTHING VALUABLE ON THE DESK OR BED. YOU DON'T WANT TO TEMPT ANYONE.
YES, WE HAVE LOCAL CONTACTS FOR DOCTORS, DENTISTS AND HOSPITALS IN THE CITIES WE WILL VISIT. PLEASE TAKE ENOUGH MEDICATION WITH YOU. ALSO, THERE IS ALWAYS A SLIGHT CHANCE THAT YOUR LUGGAGE MAY GET TEMPORARILY DELAYED, SO TAKE ENOUGH MEDICATION WITH YOU ON YOUR PERSON WHEN YOU BOARD THE PLANES. MEDICAL CARE IN ITALY IS VERY SOPHISTICATED.
ATMS ARE GOOD BUT MAKE SURE YOUR PIN WILL WORK IN FOREIGN ATM MACHINES. TRAVELER CHECKS ARE OKAY. WE WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCHANGE DOLLARS AND TRAVELER CHECKS INTO EUROS. THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR IS WEAK THESE DAYS SO MAKE SURE TO BRING ENOUGH MONEY FOR GIFTS, ETC. CREDIT CARDS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ACCEPTED ESPECIALLY IN PLACES WHERE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SMALL GIFTS OR GELATO.
PLEASE TALK TO THE STAFF TO INFORM THEM OF THE SITUATION. PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO BE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DO THE WALKING, STAIRS, ETC. BUT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, LET THE STAFF KNOW AND THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN. WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHY AND ABLE TO DO PILGRIMAGE.
THE WEATHER CAN BE VERY COLD, PARTICULARLY IN ASSISI (WHICH IS ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN) WHERE NONE OF THE CHURCHES ARE HEATED. I WOULD SUGGEST LAYERS, LONG SLEEVED SHIRTS, SWEATERS AND COATS. SCARVES AND GLOVES WOULD BE NECESSARY AS WELL, THOUGH TEMPS IN THE DAYTIME CAN BE MILD. NOT A BAD IDEA TO BRING ALONG AN UMBRELLA EITHER. OUR PROGRAM SPANS THE NEW YEAR AND WE USUALLY VISIT THE PIAZZA TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THE LOCAL ASSISIANS; IT'S USUALLY QUITE COLD AT THAT HOUR OF THE NIGHT. ROME TEMPERATURES HAVE USUALLY BEEN WARMER, SOMETIMES INTO THE 60'S. SO, THE LAYERING PRINCIPLE IS MOST USEFUL HERE.
Are there ATMs readily available in areas of Assisi and Rome that we will travel through?
YES, THERE WILL BE MANY ATMS IN ROME AND SOME IN ASSISI.
ON THE BUS TRIP TO ROME AND ASSISI, THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE BUS WILL STOP FOR A BATHROOM BREAK AND PILGRIMS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET SOME WATER,ETC. OTHERWISE, THERE ARE NO SERVICES ON THE BUSES THEMSELVES. YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY SOME WATER AND CARRY IT AROUND WITH YOU.
NO, ALL GRATUITIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF. YOU WILL ONLY NEED MONEY FOR MEALS THAT ARE TAKEN ON FREE TIMES, FOR BATHROOM BREAKS, FOR SOUVENIRS AND PERSONAL ITEMS.
YES, THERE IS USUALLY A COIN CHARGE FOR BATHROOM USE. THE STAFF WILL EXPLAIN THIS.
5 MILES A DAY IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT TAXIS WILL BE USED, SOME TIME TO USE THE LOCAL BUS SERVICE. THERE ARE STEPS TO CLIMB THOUGH AND SMALL HILLS. IT IS NOT A MARATHON BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A HARD TIME WALKING
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SNEAKERS ARE NOT PRETTY BUT ARE PROBABLY THE MOST COMFORTABLE. HIKING SHOES ALTHOUGH RATHER HEAVY ARE OKAY.
IN ROME, THE PEOPLE AT THE FRONT DESK SPEAK ENGLISH. IN ASSISI, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST ASK THE STAFF.
What type of plane will we be in?
USUALLY AIRBUS 330 BUT THAT CAN CHANGE.
USUALLY 2 - 4- 2.
YOU CAN TRY TO CHANGE OR UPGRADE YOUR STATUS. ONCE YOU GET YOUR TICKET, YOU SHOULD CALL THE AIRLINES AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.
TALK TO SR. LIZ AT THE OFFICE IF YOU WANT TO EXTEND YOUR TRAVEL. SHE WILL HELP YOU.
USUALLY, BREAKFAST IS AT 8 DEPENDING ON THE DAY.
PRANZO (LUNCH) IS AT 1 PM.
SIESTA FROM 2 - 4 AND
CENA DINNER IS AT 7:30 PM.
DURING THE DAY, DEPENDING ON THE SCHEDULE, YOU MAY HAVE A CLASS, MAYBE VISITING A SHRINE, OR HAVING A PRAYER SERVICE.
THE SCHEDULE WILL BE PROVIDED TO EACH PILGRIM BEFORE THEY LEAVE HOME.