Rome New Year’s Day 2019

1. Rome New Year’s Day 2019 Trip Information Parent & Student Meeting November 13, 2017

2. Travel Details Depart Wednesday December 26, 2018 Return Sunday January 4, 2019 Times will be afternoon and evening using multiple airlines including Delta, British Airways, and United Valid Passports and Visa’s are required Includes 1 Checked Bag up to 50 pounds and Shipping of Instrument Economy Travel Also includes transfers to and from Airports. Arrival Airports to include Rome, Florence, and Pisa… possible connections in New York and Paris.

3. Tour, Travel, & Hotel Groups Students will be broken up into tour groups. These tour groups can be across disciplines Tour groups are based on a 2 chaperone per 7-8 student ratio (give or take) based on performance group sizes. Can be co-ed. For the most part, we will be together for the big items with students moving in tour groups to ease congestion. During free periods, tour groups will be allowed to move on their own to sight-see and will be required to report back at a certain time. Students will need to be in hotel rooms with people in their tour groups (there will be some exceptions for odd numbers and Male / Female) Chaperones & Student Sign-ups (be understanding… 5 students who have chaperones on the trip won’t be able to be in the same group)

4. Packing for Travel Everyone is allowed 1 personal sized carry-on and one small roll-aboard carry on, plus 1 checked bag. In some cases, instruments are one of these carry-on items. Flutes, Oboes, & Clarinets: can fit your instruments into your carry-on items, or your instrument counts as your personal item Trumpets, Alto Saxes, Violins, & Violas: your instruments count as your “roll-aboard” carry-on. All other instruments will be packed and shipped prior to travel. This includes sticks and mallets. Cellos, Bass, and non-marching percussion will be provided.

5. Who can travel and how will planes be divided? To every extent as possible, we will travel by tour groups. This way the chaperone(s) responsible for your children on the trip are not having to switch students. We will put family members on the same planes with their students, but are limited to seat availability. We don’t get extra seats, so each seat they give us must be filled. We can’t negotiate for different numbers of seats on flights. Every adult traveling with our group is expected to be a chaperone. There are no “friends and family” going, but not part of our trip. Younger siblings are allowed to travel as well, but are the responsibility of the chaperone / family adult. Please note that, depending on groups, husbands / wives may be split.

6. Travel Extensions & Land-Only Packages There is the possibility for booking your own travel using reward points or extending your trip. Anyone who is booking their own flight is considered Land-Only. There will be a reduced cost (taking the airfare out of your fee… remember we get deeply discounted airfare due to volume of people traveling) Trip extensions occurring prior to the travel dates must be considered Land-Only because all flight itineraries must have the same departure day. Trip extensions occurring after the travel dates can be booked as full packages. You will need to send me your desired return date and the travel providers will book the return flight and charge any additional money based on increased fares. Land Only Package people are responsible for transfers to and from airports.

7. Getting Around Italy Travel by Motor Coach most of the time. At all other times, travel is by walking (at certain free times as indicated by itinerary. When having free time, there will be a meeting location to load the coach and travel back to hotel. Florence is a walking city… there is no traffic allowed in the center of the city. 80% of what we do will be walking. Maps will be provided of each location.

8. Hotel Information We will be staying at a 4 Star Hotels Rooms in Europe are double occupancy This also includes Chaperones. There are some allowances for children of chaperones to be in a larger room (4 person accommodations.) Possibility of being at 2 hotels due to group size (in Florence). Each hotel will be comparable to one another. Again, Chaperones and tour groups rooms will be at the same hotel (along with family) All Hotels have free WiFi and will provide a full buffet breakfast each morning including coffee (Cappuccino / Espresso)

9. Itinerary – Day of Departure December 26 Drop off will be at Atlanta Airport International Terminal 3:30 hours before first flight. We will have a group meeting, 3:00 hours prior to first flight. All people will go thru check-in and security together based on flight schedule by groups. Those with later departing flights will be able to relax in the airport. Dinner and Breakfast will be provided on the plane flight

10. Itinerary – Day 2, December 27 Arrive in Italy (Florence, Pisa, or Rome) and travel by motor coach to hotel If arriving in Florence or Pisa (within an hour of Florence), you will go to hotel, then have the day sight-seeing on your on in your group If arriving in Rome, travel by motor coach to Florence with a stop en route in Sienna, Orvieto, or another Tuscan hill town. Evening meeting and orientation at the hotel. Dinner Included

11. Itinerary – Day 3, December 28 Sight-seeing in Florence. 2 Fixed Tours: Duomo, Baptistery, and Bell Tower (with climbing of the Duomo or Bell Tower included) The Accademia (Featuring “David” and the Music Instrument Museum. 1 Optional tour / sightseeing as tour group Uffizi Art Gallery, Gallelio Museum, Medici Homes and Chapel, Piazza Michelangelo, Oltrarno, etc. Dinner at a Florentine Restaurant

12. Itinerary – Day 4, December 29 Travel by Motor Coach from Florence to Rome Stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower, Church, and Baptistery Arrival in Rome, Night Driving around the city. Dinner at a Roman Restaurant

13. Itinerary – Day 5, December 30 Tour of the Appian Way and Catacombs under Rome Travel to Frescatti Italy, Lunch included Marching Band Performance in town Square Choir & Orchestra Performance in Duomo di Frescatti / Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle Dinner in the town of Frescatti (4 course Italian Feast)

14. Itinerary – Day 6, December 31 Walking Tour of Ancient Rome Guided tour of the Coloseum Audio walking tours of The Roman Forum and Parade Route including: Palatine Hill, Capitol Hill, Circus Maximus, The Pantheon, Via del Corso, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Campo de Fiori, and the “Angels and Demons” churches. Performance by either the Orchestra in one of several churches (most likely Santa Maria della Vitoria) or by the Choir in St. Peter’s Basilica. Dinner in Rome

15. Itinerary – Day 7, January 1, 2019 Parade Day Band Performs in St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s Day of Peace celebration Twilight and Night parade in Downtown Rome including square performances. Lunch included between events. Non-participants will be given seats in VIP areas along parade route (depending on number of grandstands).

16. Itinerary – Day 8, January 2 Vatican City Day Guided tour of Vatican Museum including the Sistine Chapel Admission to St. Peter’s Bascilica Walking tour opportunity to other sights in Vatican City including Castel St. Angelo, Climbing to the top of St. Peters, Scavi Tour, etc. Performance by either the Orchestra in one of several churches (most likely Santa Maria della Vitoria) or by the Choir in St. Peter’s Basilica.

17. Itinerary – Day 9, January 3 Travel from Rome to Pompeii for a guided tour. Lunch is included Possible tour group time in the afternoon and evening in Rome depending on arrival time back in Rome.

18. Itinerary – Day 10, January 4 Depart for Airport based on Flight Schedule. All will travel from Rome back to Atlanta Lunch and Snack served in-flight All will arrive in Atlanta in the late afternoon / evening. Upon arrival in Atlanta, parents will pick-up their child at the Airport in the International Terminal. Parents will sign for their child from the chaperone in charge of their group. Once you have signed, you are free to go.

19. Spending Money & Cell Phones Check with your bank for fees and exchange rates Most are 3% and $5.00 per transaction Varies by carrier Charles Schwab – NO FEES Phone must be global ready to accept phone calls TURN DATA OFF! USE WIFI which is available many places SKYPE, FACETIME, GOOGLE HANGOUT, ETC. Chaperones must have global ready cell phones

20. Code of Conduct ALL FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RULES APPLY TO STUDENTS AND CHAPERONS We are invited guests by the Government of Italy Higher Standard… I don’t care what everyone else does! Chaperons are the “law” of their group Returning Seniors are in High School Again! Worst Case Scenarios… RESPECT AT ALL TIMES! NO ALCOHOL!!! Even if it is offered or on the table

21. Inclusions All Breakfasts and Dinners Lunch on Frescatti, Parade, and Pompeii days. MP3 player and ear-buds and loaded audio tours Free Admission to Parade and Concerts Airfare & Hotel with 2 meals on each flight All Local Travel Hotel Security New Year’s Party in hotel and adjacent area Group Pictures in Performance Venues Admissions to: Florence – Duomo, Accademia Pisa – Tower, Church, Baptistry Rome – Coliseum, Catacombs with tour Vatican City – Museum, Sistine Chapel Pompeii – Guided Tour Shipping of Large Instruments / Rental Travel Insurance Policy

22. Cost Cost for London was $3,280 6 Day trip Total cost for Italy (further away) 10 Day trip (4 days longer) Range between $3,550 - $3,850 Just Rome portion was $3,350 - $3,600 Most “Bang for our Buck”: Extra $200 - $250 gives us 3 more days for the stops in Florence, Pisa, and Pompeii ($83.33 per extra day) Total cost does depend on exchange rates, fuel costs, number traveling Brexit has helped tremendously 2014 – 1.29 USD = 1 Euro Today – 1.17 USD = 1 Euro Savings of around $500

23. Payments Payments due the 2nd Monday of each month 12 Payments (December 2017 – November 2018) First 11 Payments will be $300 per month per person The final payment will be whatever the final cost is minus whatever is left on your payment. First $200 is non-refundable. The rest is refundable per the travel insurance. Only guaranteed +/- 5% of the total number of deposits There is a little wiggle room based on when payments are due into the Italian Government’s Vendor… you can talk with the Band Booster Treasurers & Mr. McCloy for more information.

24. Questions Passports & Visas Frequent Flier Miles Fundraising Donations Redistricting – If districted for another school next year, stay after the meeting for a brief discussion on out-of-district requests Other Fees & Current / Active fees and membership Other Questions

25. Thank you for Coming!