1. As November races toward December, soon it will be time to start packing for our February trip. A few updates and FAQ’s

2. Phones !?!

3. You folks are accustomed to staying in touch constantly, so I am assuming that you want regular phone access. There are three options

4. A. SIM card for your phone in Europe. Ask your service provider. Alternately, you can purchase the SIM card from NETC. Flyer attached

5. B. Purchase or rent a phone from NETC. Another flyer attached

6. C. Buy a phone card to be used on any phone in Europe. While there are fewer and fewer telephone booths, the hotel room will always have a phone that you can use. NETC sells them. 3rd flyer attached

7. Money

8. A. The tip On any organized trip, the people who take care of us get a tip. $52 will cover the guide, the bus drivers and the luggage transfers. Of course, if we are not satisfied, they don’t get the money. Thank money should be given to Mr. Hayes in dollars before we leave.

9. B. Not included in price!! The tour includes everything but lunch and personal purchases. Personal purchases include all drinks except tap water (which is perfectly safe). Rome is like Manhattan so that the lunch you crave (pizza + salad, + drink) could cost close to $20. Then there is the $4 coke in the afternoon, the $3.50 gelato during the evening stroll, etc. And there may things that you want to bring home for yourselves and your dear ones.

10. NETC suggests that you budget about $50 a day for all of those things. If you don’t plan on buying souvenirs, and you don’t crave snacks during the day, then $25 a day will be more than ample.

11. Money: How do we get it?

12. ATM machines Have an ATM card? You can use it at ATMs in Italy just like here in the US. If you would like to get an ATM card just for this trip, NETC can set up an account for you. See this flyer.

13. Cash?? It’s probably better to get Euros before you go. It may cost slightly more, but you don’t want to stand in line at a bank teller’s window while a busload of people are waiting to go see the Roman Forum. Your local bank can order it for you, but you need to give them a little time.

14. Any more money matters?

15. Two more things A. Everybody should give another $20 to Mr. Hayes before we leave Since we will have two afternoons free in Rome, we can probably take in another museum or site and we need bus fare and entrance fees. Whatever we don’t use from that amount will be refunded to you.

16. B. Getting to the airport There are only nine of us are coming from Long Island (We will join a group from upstate, and another from Massachusetts.) I am assuming that all we will all get to JFK on our own, but if enough people are interested, we could rent a van, and then split the cost.

17. To recap Decide -what you want in terms of phone access -how you are going to deal with the money that you need. Plan to give Mr. Hayes $72 (of which up to $20 may be refunded) before the trip. You can even send a check (22 Bluetop Rd., East Setauket, 11733)

18. Warning!!! Do not ask for a huge suitcase as a holiday gift for your trip. 20” by 28” is the limit, and wheels are an essential. Smaller is better. More on that later. Contact Mr. Hayes if you have any questions Pede Fausto!!