Sending Your Child Abroad (to Florence, Italy): Your Top Questions Answered
- Scarlett Uribe
- Aug 9
- 6 min read
All this time I’ve been writing blogs and creating content for the students preparing to study abroad in Florence, Italy. But I had this eureka moment the other day while scrolling through Facebook.
Who actually has the important questions and will do whatever necessary to find the answers? Parents. I don’t know about you, but my mom would move heaven and earth if it meant making my life easier and helping me in whatever way she can. So, this one is for the parents.
I studied abroad in Florence through Florence University for the Arts in 2022. And then, went back in 2025 to do a work exchange for a local tourism company called SmartTrip that specializes in trips for American study abroad students. I’ve also been back a number of other times and can say with confidence that I’ve become extremely familiar with the way Florence works and the overall Italian system. So let’s get down to business. In this blog, I’ll be covering the basics, from phone plans, visa information, how to get there and where to meet people. I will also add my personal favorite tips and tricks, resources and important information for everyone to keep in mind.
Is Florence safe?
In my personal experience, yes. While Florence is one of the safest major cities in Italy and Europe, pretty theft and pickpocketing is quite common. In the last year, there has been an increase in street robberies occurring even in broad daylight.
The best way to minimize getting pickpocketed is to make sure that your student has a purse or day bag that has a zipper. Bonus points for an anti-theft specific design. I personally bought a phone leash that allowed me to attach my phone to my person at all times.
What phone plan should my child use?
This one really depends on what your priorities are.
Most reliable & affordable: Wait until your student lands in Florence to get a local plan.
Cost:$10-$20
Their first stop after getting into the city should be TIM or Vodafone (TIM has better customer service). Foreigners get special rates when they present their passport at any physical location. Personally, I was only paying about $10 USD for 100 GB of data within Italy and 20 GB anywhere in the EU.
While my specific plan only included calls within Italy, it’s important to note that most of the EU primarily uses WhatsApp to communicate. WhatsApp is a messaging app that can be accessed over WiFi or with cellular data.
This proved to be the most reliable because you get a phone plan directly through Italian specific companies. My data never failed me and I always knew I would have a reliable connection.
**Important note: in order to use any other eSIM (or physical SIM) your phone must be completely paid off and unlocked by your provider.
Most convenient: Stay with whatever provider you currently have.
Cost: $150+
If you don’t mind the hefty price tag and spotty service here and there, I would recommend talking to your current provider and getting an international plan set up.
Lots of parents also prefer this because there is not a moment where their student is disconnected from a method of communication.
**At least with AT&T, the international plan for a study abroad student would be $120 in addition to the phone plan on file. This can add up fairly quickly.
Other option: Set up an eSIM before getting on the first plane.
Cost: Varies.
ESIMS are super convenient because all you need is a WiFi connection to buy and set up a phone plan for almost any country. While I’ve used Airalo a lot, I’ve recently come across Dings Global which has also been extremely reliable, even in remote parts of Latin America.
**Important note: Your student’s phone must also be fully paid off and unlocked by your carrier in order to install an eSIM.
What's the best way to get to Florence?
I’ve seen a lot of questions in online forums asking if it’s better to get a train to Florence from either Milan or Rome, or if a direct flight would be preferable. There’s honestly no one right answer. But speaking from experience, and especially if your student has not been to Italy yet, having a direct flight would be much more straightforward.
The train stations in Italy can be overwhelming for anyone who has not used public transportation before. Trains oftentimes run late, are affected by strikes, change platforms and can cause a headache. In contrast, landing at the Florence airport is consistent and it is pretty easy to take the street car right into the city center (the station is 30 steps from the airport doors) or to find a reliable taxi into town.
**Important note: Some programs offer airport pick up during certain windows. Make sure your student tries to book their arrival for these windows of time so you can rest assured someone will be there waiting to pick them up.
I have visa questions!
If your student is in Italy for more than 90 days, they will need a National Type D student visa. Programs under 90 days, like typical summer courses, do not require a visa.
Some universities, like Arizona State University, have special agreements with local embassies and can help facilitate visa applications. While the closest Italian embassy to ASU was in Los Angeles, my university sent a large delivery of group applications and not only were they expedited, but I also did not have to fly to LA for an in person appointment.
Italy also has an additional rule where within 8 days of arriving in Italy, your student will have to apply for the Local Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno). Consult your local embassy or student’s study abroad counselor for more information.
Will my student be able to use their debit card abroad?
Yes! Most American banks allow for international usage. There’s just a few things to keep in mind:
Most debit cards, and some credit cards have international transaction fees that can add up pretty quickly. Consult your bank to find out if this applies to your current account. If so, I would recommend opening a travel credit card. I personally used the Bank of America Student Travel Rewards Card, which did not have any foreign transaction fees. Not only that, but I bought my roundtrip flight on that card which made me eligible for the sign on bonus, giving me over $400 worth of points that I was able to redeem later. There’s a ton of really good options for students, especially if it is their first time opening a credit card.
It is also recommended that your student arrive in Florence with a decent amount of cash since ATM withdrawals usually come with a large withdrawal fee. If your student does eventually need to take out more cash, it is better to do one larger sum, than a lot of little withdrawals because of the fees.
If it’s between debit cards, credit cards and cash, I’ll recommend credit cards every single time. It’s the safest, most convenient and more reliable way of making payments in Europe. That being said, it is super important to always have some cash on hand (especially if you like shopping at the local markets).
How can I find housing for my student?
Housing scams are REAL. Especially in Florence. There are too many Facebook groups that share deals that seem too good to be true. If your student’s university offers student specific on or off campus housing, take it. It is simply not worth the headache to find and secure housing on your own. Most student housing tends to be fully furnished, has great management and is in safer areas of the city.
If you have no other option, I would look into reliable and vetting options such as long term AIrbnb rentals or finding a local and reputable company that offers short term or month to month rentals.
I have so many other questions and need recommendations.
If you want even more resources, make sure you are following me across Instagram, Tik Tok, and Youtube. I have a ton of recommendations, tips and tricks that I wish someone else had shared with me.
I hope you rest assured that this is going to be a transformation time in your student’s life. In a single semester, they will grow and expand beyond their comfort zone. And if you get the chance and opportunity, go visit!
If you have any other questions that I didn't address, please leave a comment and I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge! And if you'd like, don't hesitate to send me an email or DM me on Instagram.
But more than anything, rest assured that your child will love Florence, there are so many good people that will help them if they need it, and they will come back changed for the better.
Happy travels!
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