 Strasbourg Cathedral |
- Travel light. You will have to carry the luggage with you!
Clothes can be washed; things can be bought. Refer to a good travel guide for hints on what to take with you, etc. Keep in mind that things such as irons and hair dryers will not work in Europe since Europe uses 220-W electricity instead of 110-W. You may destroy such electrical appliances by attempting to use them with higher voltage electricity. Dual voltage electrical appliances can be found in some department stores, or stores that specialize in travel items.
- Shoes: do not bring brand new shoes. Break them in before leaving for Europe. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
- Temperature: It can still be cool! Bring something warm and something to keep you dry, just in case. The average temperature in the area where we will be traveling can at that time still be in the 60s and even the 50s in the evenings. Make sure to bring some really warm clothes & an umbrella. Plan to dress in layers to adjust to varying temperatures while on the road.
- Medicine: bring what you need. Make a little "first aid kit" (e.g. aspirin or tylenol, alka-seltzer, Band-Aids, antibiotic for cuts etc., medication for colds or congestion, intestinal disorders etc.). If you have a large supply of medicines, bring copies of the prescriptions with you in case you need to refill and/or to explain to customs why you have drugs with you and what they are.
- Glasses: Bring sunglasses. If you wear glasses, bring an extra pair if you can or at least the prescription. This is particularly true of contact lenses which are more easily lost.
- Medical insurance: International health and accident insurance coverage is provided by the program at no extra charge. The insurance coverage is offered through American University for the official program dates only.. Note that although coverage is offered, you may be required to pay the doctor/hospital/emergency room and save receipts for later reimbursement. It is the student’s sole responsibility to contact the insurance carrier directly to make such claims. Please save all receipts for medical expenses. For more info, see material in the course packet or go to www.worldcuerpo.com
We also encourage you to acquire the International Student I.D. card which, in addition to student airfares and discounts in Europe, provides some additional insurance. For AU students, the I.D. card can be acquired on AU’s campus, tel. 202-885-1320. Other Universities’ students: call 1-888-Council or 1-800-226-8624, or consult:www.sta.com or www.ciee.org. You can also download an application from: http://www.ciee.org.
For additional insurance, and if you are an American Express Card member, you can call the American Express Global Assist hotline for emergency medical and legal assistance. Overseas, call collect: 202-554-2639. Certain VISA cards may also offer this service. Please, check with your issuing bank.
- Useful Medical Organizations: If you have a chronic illness or medical problem or you want to make sure you have covered yourself well, you may be interested in contacting the following organizations for information on their services:
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Access America P.O. Box 90315 Richmond, Virginia 23286 Tel: (800) 284-8300
Assist Card International 1001 South Bayshore Drive Suite 2302 Miami, FL 33131 Tel: (305) 381-9959
Carefree P.O. Box 9366 100 Garden City Plaza Garden City, NY 11530 Tel: (800) 645-2424
International Association of Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) 417 Center Street Lewiston, NY 14092 Tel: (716) 754-4883 |
International SOS Assistance Inc. 8 Neshaminy Interplex Suite 207 Trevose, PA 19053 (mailing address): P.O. Box 11568 Philadelphia, PA 19116 Tel: (800) 523-8930 (215) 244-1500
Medic Alert Foundation P.O. Box 1009 Turlock, CA 95381 Tel: (800) 344-3226
TravMed P.O. Box 10623 Baltimore, MD 21285 Tel: (800) 732-5309
Worldwide Assistance Services 1133 15th Street N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20005 Tel: (800) 800-2828 |
- Jewelry, watch, camera: Leave expensive jewelry at home. Bring the cheapest watch and camera you can use and lose without getting upset. Do not wear or carry anything that is expensive to replace or that you will miss if lost or stolen.
- Money: The introduction of the Euro has made things much easier, as all the countries we will visit are among the 12 “Eurozone” members. The UK maintains the British Pound and Switzerland the Swiss Frank. To check current exchange rates, log on to: or
Do not bring much cash. Use travelers' checks and/or ATM machines abroad. You may wish to exchange a little amount before you leave for Europe to meet immediate necessities upon arrival particularly if you arrive at night or must make quick connections. Travelex (1-800-287 7362; in the Washington area: 1800 K Street N.W., Dulles International Airport, National Airport, Union Station) and Ruesch (202-408-1200; 700 11th St. N.W.) offer change services. Otherwise, you can easily exchange money at the airport/train station upon arrival. Most Airports have ATMs available at the luggage carousel halls, so that you can get some local money while waiting for you luggage to be delivered.
Generally, you can also use ATMs with your Visa or Master Card. Be sure to bring with you the needed information (e.g. PIN etc.). On the average, plan to spend around $40 a day. Credit cards are widely used and will be useful for special needs, large purchases, or emergencies.
- A money belt or pouch is highly recommended, particularly when we travel from city to city.
- Copies of passport/documents/airline tickets: Make copies of the front pages of the passport, of the airline tickets, of any important documents; leave one copy at home and tell people where it is; bring one copy with you but carry it in a different area than the originals. This will make replacement easier if there is a loss. Treat airline tickets like cash! Another idea is to email this important info to your own e-mail account.
- A combination lock may be useful to lock luggage, backpacks etc. (while on the program only; when you check luggage with an airline, do not use locks). Also useful: a flashlight, a sewing kit, an alarm clock. Do not pack a knife or anything resembling a weapon in your carry-on luggage. They should go in your checked luggage.
-Illegal drugs, weapons etc: Leave them at home. Penalties can be very stiff in European countries. There, you have no American constitutional rights. You will be treated and judged according to local laws and standards. Although the consumption of alcohol is legal to those over 18, we discourage you from any form of excessive drinking that may lead to intoxication.
- Electricity: In Europe it is 220/240 AC. To use U.S. made appliances, bring a wattage converter and also plug adapters since the configuration of electrical outlets can vary from country to country. Radio Shack, travel stores, STA Travel, the Youth Hostels store (202-783-4943), good hardware stores and catalogs may carry these items (Magellan, 1-800-962-4943; Franzus, 203-723-6664). To avoid having to bring a converter (generally quite heavy) look for appliances that can use both types of current.
For any questions or issues not addressed here, please contact:
Prof. Emilio Viano, Department of Justice, Law and
Society, School of Public Affairs, The American University,
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20016-8043
Office: Ward Circle Bldg. #244 (enter through #270); Phone: (202) 885-6228 or (202) 885-2953
Fax: (202) 885-2907; E-Mail: eviano@american.edu