I'm going to Italy

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

Don't worry, I'll take pictures.

I actually want travel advice, because I've never flown before, much less been out of the country. The trip is part of my school's study abroad program which is coming up in like a month. We're going to land in Rome and be there for a night and a day, then we're going to Florence for half out stay and Assisi for the other half, and we'll stop in Venice for a day too.

We get back right before Christmas so I was planning on buying all my Christmas gifts there, so I have to pack smart. We get 1 checked bag that has a weight limit of 50 lbs, a carry-on and a personal. The weather's supposed to be cool, 40s and 50s, so I want to be sure to have enough warm clothes though, being a Minnesota native, I have a high-tolerance for cold weather so I don't want to be TOO warm.

I'm mostly concerned about my suitcase (well actually my mom is more concerned about it than I am but yeah), the brand is "Advantage" and I'm not certain if it's sturdy enough to fly to Italy and back, and wondering if I should invest in something better. It works fine imo, but I wanted to be sure because when you're staying more than a month in a foreign country it would be terribly inconvenient to lose the majority of your luggage.

Thoughts/suggestions/derogatory comments?

[Unagineko]

You should get a pet tomato.

[HollywoodMole]

You should probably just check all the parts of the suitcase, and unless a wheel is wrong or it's falling apart it should be fine. (Also, good luck in Italy, really good cities there)

[Larfleeze]

When you arrive at the airport in Italy, there will be a woman with raven black hair. Her name does not matter, she will come to you. Once she has done this she will show you an alleyway with dead rats in a small circle. Standing in this circle there will be a black man in flaming red robes, his name is Papà Sinistro. Ask him what you will and he will answer... at a price.

[Frizan]

Watch out for guys in white cloaks.

[The Nexerus]

Either catch a cold or buy a pair of nose plugs before you get to Venice. The water in those canals is ever-so-slightly less filthy than raw sewage.

Your tour guide will stress this enough so that it's pointless for me to tell you, but regardless: watch your wallet, especially in Rome.

[Richard_III]

Larfleeze said
When you arrive at the airport in Italy, there will be a woman with raven black hair. Her name does not matter, she will come to you. Once she has done this she will show you an alleyway with dead rats in a small circle. Standing in this circle there will be a black man in flaming red robes, his name is Papà Sinistro. Ask him what you will and he will answer... at a price.

Can I ask him why you are such a dingus

[Larfleeze]

Richard_III said
Can I ask him why you are such a dingus

well yeah but it'd cost ur weewee

[Richard_III]

Larfleeze said
well yeah but it'd cost ur weewee

I only have one Nintendo Wii and it's a piece of shit, does he accept dreamcasts as currency?

[Larfleeze]

Richard_III said
I only have one Nintendo Wii and it's a piece of shit, does he accept dreamcasts as currency?

Dude, don't disrespect Papà Sinistro with trash.

[Richard_III]

Larfleeze said
Dude, don't disrespect Papà Sinistro with trash.

How can i disrespect him by giving him what he is?

[Larfleeze]

Richard_III said
How can i disrespect him by giving him what he is?

Ohhh, you'd be surprised.

[andromedene]

The Nexerus said
Either catch a cold or buy a pair of nose plugs before you get to Venice. The water in those canals is ever-so-slightly less filthy than raw sewage.Your tour guide will stress this enough so that it's pointless for me to tell you, but regardless: watch your wallet, especially in Rome.

Venice didn't smell when I went. Maybe I'm just stinky and used to it.

Buy exclusively postcards as Christmas gifts when in Rome because there will be a ton of guys walking around the colliseum selling 50 for like a buck. Postcards and rosaries. Not sure how they are related.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

HollywoodMole said
You should probably just check all the parts of the suitcase, and unless a wheel is wrong or it's falling apart it should be fine. (Also, good luck in Italy, really good cities there)

Yeah I thought it would probably be fine. It's pretty new and I've only used it a few times. Everything's in working order.

Frizan said
Watch out for guys in white cloaks.

I feel like this is a reference that I'm not getting.

The Nexerus said
Either catch a cold or buy a pair of nose plugs before you get to Venice. The water in those canals is ever-so-slightly less filthy than raw sewage.Your tour guide will stress this enough so that it's pointless for me to tell you, but regardless: watch your wallet, especially in Rome.

Yeah they've already warned us multiple times about pickpockets, especially since we'll be using public buses for transportation once we're there. On the up-side, we have unlimited-use bus passes for the time we're there. I'll be sure to stay alert.

ImANargleHunter said
Venice didn't smell when I went. Maybe I'm just stinky and used to it. Buy exclusively postcards as Christmas gifts when in Rome because there will be a ton of guys walking around the colliseum selling 50 for like a buck. Postcards and rosaries. Not sure how they are related.

Post-cards are brilliant, I get them whenever I go anywhere. Not sure I need a dead Jesus on the cross to hang around my neck though, that's more of a catholic thing.

Though my grandma did knit me 12 feet of scarf for my last Christmas gift so I think she at least deserves something in addition to a post-card.