Study Abroad Handbook

Many of you will need to take public transportation within the city where your program is located in order to get to class or other program related activities. You may see other students who don't appear to be paying for buses or other public transportation. Be careful about copying them. Many people that you think don't pay have passes that they only show when asked by an inspector. This is especially true in Italy. If you get caught without a bus ticket or a pass, you can be taken off the bus or tram and taken to the police station. Consider a monthly pass if you choose to take the bus or subway every day. In the long run it is much cheaper than the fines which can be 50 times the cost of a ticket. Plan to return home while public transportation is available or take a taxi.

Most students walk much more while living abroad than they do while in the U.S. Housing in many locations is within walking distance of the program sites. Traffic patterns, and respect for pedestrians vary widely by locale. Be extremely cautious when walking and avoid walking alone at night.

In some program sites, students find bicycles to be the preferred method of transportation.

UNLV and USAC do not recommend taking your bicycle with you. It is difficult and expensive. In locations where bicycles are common transportation, on-site program directors may be able to assist you in purchasing a used bicycle.

Eurail passes ordinarily cannot be purchased abroad. You may buy them at travel agencies in the U.S. or through the USAC office in Reno. To obtain a Eurail pass, you will need to list your name as it appears on your passport and the date you are leaving the U.S. If you wish to wait until you are in Europe before deciding whether to buy a Eurail pass, a family member can make the purchase and send you the pass. USAC students may also contact the USAC office in Reno. Please review the types of Eurail & other travel passes carefully prior to making any purchases. Information books on Rail passes are available in the International Programs Resource Library.

Some rental companies refuse to rent cars to people under 25. Age restrictions may vary by company or by country. Read your credit card company's car rental policy. Some credit card companies provide insurance if you charge the price of the rental car on your credit card. Your credit card company may provide the same insurance for free that the car rental company will try to convince you to purchase. If you plan to rent a car abroad, it in your best interest to reserve a car before you leave, and to find out what documentation will be necessary in the country you will be using the car (i.e. if you need proof of insurance, obtain it before you leave).

The UNLV Office of International Programs does not recommend that you attempt driving in a foreign country. Traffic and residential patterns in foreign cities often present challenges to visitors from the U.S. The location of business, cultural, and entertainment activities is often much more centralized. You should expect to contend with more congestion on public transportation, in restaurants, and virtually everywhere you go. Vehicular traffic does not necessarily respect the pedestrian as it does here in the U.S. Be aware of your own traffic habits. Where traffic uses the left side of the street, be especially aware.

Familiarize yourself with parking and traffic regulations in the countries where you will be traveling. In some cases, you will be expected to pay traffic violations on the spot.

Some countries do not recognize U.S. driver's licenses. If you are planning on operating any motorized vehicle, including a motor scooter, you may find that an international driver's license is necessary. Any branch of the American Automobile Association (AAA) will issue an International Driver's License, valid for one year, on presentation of a valid U.S. license, a passport-size photo, and $10.