For program costs, please visit the Costs page. How Much Money Do I Need To Take With Me? Expenses vary greatly by individual, depending on personal habits, needs, tastes, variety of items acquired like clothing and souvenirs, and the addition of any travel planned at the beginning and/or end of the Rome Program. Use the following estimates of costs not covered by the program as a guideline: Airfare ($1200 - $1800) All of your lunches ($5 - $10 each) $320-$640 Beverages (varies) Passport ($135 - $165) Books: You will be able to borrow most of the books from the program. You will have to buy only a Blue Guide to Rome and one or two more books (about $50.00 or less in all) Laundry Any excursions taken while away from the group It is recommended to bring small denominations of Euros with you for use immediately upon arrival. After that you'll have easy access to ATMs. Currency and Banking ATM cards are the best way to obtain money when needed. You are allowed to withdraw the equivalent of up to $250.00 per day. You might consider pre-arranging for parents or relatives to deposit money in your ATM checking account in the US as you need it so you can easily access the money while abroad. It is not recommended that you bring large amounts of cash. It is increasingly difficult to exchange dollars and traveler's checks at banks and you would have to rely on exchange offices that are notoriously expensive. You will not need many euros when you arrive in Rome, if you have a debit or credit card. Expect to pay cash for all small transactions. For larger transactions, you may use a credit card. When choosing a credit card, select one that does not charge foreign transaction fees. Another word of caution: many stores do not accept American Express. In most instances Visa and Master Card will be your only options since no one accepts Discover Card.