CUAbroad's Packing Tips

Rome-specific packing advice

  • Check with one's chosen airline for luggage requirements and restrictions.
  • Students who take prescription medicine, should pack what they need for the semester or plan to either have their parents bring them an extra supply or make an appointment with a local doctor to get an Italian prescription. It is nearly impossible to have prescription medicine mailed internationally. When travelling with prescription medicine, students should be sure to have a clear copy of the prescription with them, preferably translated into Italian.

Tips

Weather

  • Summer: Warm to hot in May and June (70s and 80s, also 90s are possible); hot in July and August (80s and 90s), with occasional rain. Air conditioning is not common.
  • Fall: Hot in August and September (90s, then 80s), cooler in October (70s), with possibly a lot of rain, colder in November (60s, then 50s, with possibly a lot of rain. Temperatures could be in the 40s by late November. Air conditioning is not common; heating is kept much lower than in the U.S.
  • Spring: Cold in January and February (30s and 40s), with possible rain, warmer in March (50s and 60s), with possibly a lot of rain, warmer in April (60s, then 70s), with rain possible. Heating is kept much lower than in the U.S. Air conditioning is not common.

Clothing

  • Bring layers, definitely a heavier coat in the spring, especially for travel to northern Europe.
  • Shorts, sleeveless shirts, and flip-flops are not appropriate when visiting places for class.
  • There is much walking involved, with a lot of cobblestones and steps. Therefore, previous students have strongly recommended not bringing shoes with heels.

Other Items

  • Do not bring electrical appliances that need a converter (hair dryer, hair straightener, etc.). Self-converting appliances (laptop computers, phones, cameras, travel hair dryers) require only an adaptor that basically allows the plug to fit in an Italian outlet.
  • Toiletries are less expensive in the U.S. than in Rome, but they are easily available in Rome, with the exception, perhaps, of antiperspirant deodorant. Students have found it helpful to bring a supply of toiletries. This not only saves money but gives extra space in luggage for the return trip.
  • School supplies are less expensive in the U.S. than in Rome. Students have recommended bringing notebooks and pens for convenience's sake.

Necessary Items