Trip Life: What to Expect

Practical details on daily life during your ClassicalTrips experience, from what's in your suitcase to what's on your plate.

Packing & Personal Care

Clothing Guidelines

Dress modestly throughout the trip. Choose clothing that covers the essentials, avoids excessive skin exposure, and is free of offensive language, inappropriate graphics, or references to alcohol, drugs, or illegal products. Comfortable and casual is the goal, but keep it respectful for an educational setting. Appropriate undergarments are required.

Holy site requirements (Vatican sites, churches, mosques, etc.): Some days include visits to holy sites, and these locations enforce a stricter dress code than the rest of the trip. Your Trip Leader will tell you in advance which days these are.

Knees and upper arms must be covered (both men and women)
No shorts or skirts above the knee, no sleeveless tops, no low-cut shirts
Men must remove hats before entering; women may keep theirs on
Pants are your safest bet. Long shorts or skirts below the knee also work.

If you don't follow these guidelines, you'll either be turned away at the door or required to buy a shawl to cover up, at a price bumped up for tourists. Pack accordingly and you'll avoid both problems.

Weather: Expect 70-105°F and sunny across Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Sunscreen is a must.

Laundry

Pack for 5-6 days only. You'll have the chance to do laundry at least once per country during the trip, so you don't need to pack for the entire trip length.

Hand-washable, quick-dry items let you pack lighter and wash in your bathroom sink when a washing machine isn't available
We use laundromats periodically
Laundry is at your own expense
Do NOT bring laundry detergent. It's available locally.

See our [Travel Tips] page for a full packing guide.

Sleeping Arrangements

Sleeping arrangements vary by location. You will always have a bed, but it may be a fold-out couch, rollaway, hideaway, or futon rather than a standard bed frame.

If your bed is a double or larger, you will most likely share it with another trip participant.
Bed sizes you may share: King, Queen, Full, or Double. You'll have your own bed only if sleeping on a single.
Sheets will always be clean and bug-free, though we won't promise Four Seasons-level luxury.

Food & Water

Our Food Philosophy

You are not expected to like everything, but you are asked to try everything. You may discover a new favorite.

We rarely take you to an American chain restaurant overseas (occasional travel schedules may require it, and we apologize in advance if so). You're welcome to find one and eat there on your own time and expense, but the whole point of traveling to the other side of the world is not eating like you're still at home.

If you have stringent dietary needs, plan to bring extra money for your own food supply. It isn't feasible for the group to accommodate one person's specific needs while traveling and eating together. See our [Food Allergy Considerations] page if this applies to you.

How Meals Work: "Family Style"

Most meals are served family style, meaning the Trip Leader orders a variety of dishes for the group to share around the table. Sometimes each table pools its cash allotment for that meal to order shared dishes instead. This is how you get to try dishes you'd never have picked on your own.

On 2-3 meals during the trip, at the Trip Leader's discretion, you'll be given cash to eat at the establishment of your choosing.

Restaurant rule: Don't order extra food expecting reimbursement. If you want something beyond the group order, put it on a separate ticket after everyone else has ordered. This will be rare, since most meals are family style.

Typical Daily Meal Schedule

Meal times run later than typical American schedules, which is standard for Europe. Plan on a snack between meals if needed.

MealTimingWhat to Expect

BreakfastMorning, almost always at our lodgingYogurt, fruit, coffee, tea, milk, cereal, bread, butter, jam, boiled eggs, bakery items

Lunch1:00-3:00 PM, our largest mealHighly-rated local restaurants known for authentic, quality meals

Dinner8:00-10:00 PM, smaller than lunchGood food, smaller portions

SnacksYour own expenseCoffee shops, gelaterias, bakeries

All three main meals are included in your trip cost. Snacks, soda, coffee, and tea outside of meals are at your own expense.

Water

Water is our beverage of choice about 99.9% of the time. Meals include water but not soda, pop, coffee, or tea, so consider this a good excuse to break your soda habit.

Every place we stay has drinkable, potable tap water
Bring a reusable water bottle. Fill it before heading out each day and refill it often.
We rarely buy bottled water. We drink what the locals drink, and it will not make you sick.
Plan on drinking a couple of liters per day given the typical level of daily activity.

Group Culture & Conduct

Chaperones & Parents

Adult sponsors accompany the group for safety, Christian behavior, and to help maximize the international experience. That said, part of our goal is for students to explore safe sections of each city in approved groups without a chaperone or parent hovering nearby.

Students consistently bond and grow more when parents give them room to experience the culture apart from direct supervision. "Helicopter" parenting on a trip like this creates a negative environment for others and limits the learning experience for the student.

Alcohol, Smoking & Substances

Decisions about alcohol, wine, smoking, e-cigarettes, and medical marijuana are personal, and Christian convictions on these vary widely. It isn't our goal to impose one interpretation on every participant. However, group travel requires shared guidelines, and ClassicalTrips.org has chosen to follow a strict standard of "avoiding the appearance of evil" and "doing nothing that would cause a brother to fall" among fellow believers.

Policy: No alcohol, no wine, no smoking, no illegal drugs, on all ClassicalTrips experiences.

By registering for the trip, every participant, whether adult or student, agrees to abstain from these for the full duration of the trip, from USA departure to USA return. This applies whether you're with the group or on your own time, during scheduled events or free time. Even if your personal convictions differ, joining the trip means agreeing to this standard for its duration.

Our goal is to maintain a clear Christian witness in all behavior, at all times.

Getting Around the City

City travel overseas runs differently than in the US. A few habits will make it much smoother:

Stand right, walk left. This applies to escalators, moving sidewalks, and stairs in airports, Metro stations, subways, and train stations.
Use the "group wedge" to board buses and the Metro together. Your Trip Leader will explain and demonstrate this on the trip.
Leave American personal space habits at home. Keeping a polite distance will get you left behind at the station when the group is boarding. Squeeze in.

Travel motto: there's always room for one more.

Before You Go

[ ] Notify your bank and/or credit card company that you'll be using your card overseas, so they don't flag or freeze it for suspicious activity
[ ] Review the [Travel Tips] page for packing guidance
[ ] Review [Food Allergy Considerations] if you have dietary restrictions
[ ] Pack for 5-6 days of clothing, plus one modest outfit that meets holy site requirements

Staying Connected:

Cell Phone Use in Italy, Greece & Turkey

Yes, your phone will work overseas. No, it will not work the way it does at home unless you prepare it first. Here is everything you need to know before you fly.

The Short Version

Do not rely on your home carrier's regular plan. Without preparation, you can rack up hundreds of dollars in roaming charges in a single day. The fix is simple: get an eSIM or international plan add-on before you leave home, and lean on WiFi wherever it's available.

Step 1: Find Out If Your Phone Is Unlocked

This determines your options, so check it first.

How to check:

iPhone: Settings > General > About, scroll to "Carrier Lock." It should say "No SIM restrictions."
Android: Settings > Network & Internet > SIM cards, or call your carrier and ask directly.
Easiest method: call or text your carrier and simply ask, "Is my phone unlocked?"

Why it matters:

Unlocked phones can use eSIMs or physical SIM cards from other providers. This gives you the cheapest and most flexible data options.
Locked phones are tied to your home carrier. You'll need to use your carrier's international plan or add-on instead of a foreign SIM.

If you're buying a new phone before the trip, ask for it unlocked. It costs nothing extra and gives you far more freedom overseas.

Step 2: Choose Your Connectivity Path

Option A: eSIM (Best for Unlocked Phones)

An eSIM is a digital SIM card. No plastic chip to swap out. You install it as an app before you leave, and it activates automatically when you land.

Why travelers like it:

Cheap. Typically $15 to $35 for a week or two of data across Europe.
No need to remove or lose your home SIM card. Both can run at once.
Keeps your home phone number active for texts and calls over WiFi.

Recommended providers: Airalo, Holafly, or Nomad. Search "eSIM [country]" in your phone's app store or the provider's website.

Important for Turkey: Turkey is not part of the EU data zone, so you'll need a separate eSIM region or plan that specifically includes Turkey. Airalo sells Turkey-specific and "global" eSIMs that cover all three countries on this trip. Double check coverage before you buy.

Do this before you leave home:

Download the eSIM provider's app on home WiFi.
Purchase the data plan for your trip dates.
Follow the install instructions while still connected to WiFi (this step often fails if attempted overseas).
Leave the eSIM inactive until you land, then switch it on.

Option B: Your Carrier's International Plan (Best for Locked Phones)

Every major US carrier offers an international add-on. Contact your carrier 3 to 5 days before departure and ask specifically about Italy, Greece, and Turkey, since Turkey is sometimes priced differently.

T-Mobile: Many plans include international data and texting at no extra charge. Verify your specific plan.
Verizon: TravelPass offers a daily rate for international use.
AT&T: International Day Pass works similarly.

Ask your carrier these two questions directly:

"Does my plan include Turkey, or only the EU?"
"What is the daily or per-megabyte cost if I do nothing?"

Option C: WiFi Only (No Data Plan)

You can travel without any cellular data plan at all. This works, but requires more planning.

Turn on Airplane Mode, then switch WiFi back on. This blocks all cellular charges while still allowing WiFi use.
Use hotel and restaurant WiFi to send messages, check email, and make calls through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Messages (WiFi calling).
You will be offline during travel days, walking tours, and anywhere without WiFi. Let family back home know this in advance.

Step 3: Before You Fly, Confirm These With Your Carrier

Whether your phone is unlocked
Whether international roaming charges are automatically enabled (ask them to disable this if you're using an eSIM, so you don't get accidentally charged)
Whether your specific plan includes Turkey

Should You Use a VPN?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your phone's internet traffic through a secure, encrypted connection. It's optional, but worth considering for two reasons.

1. Security on public WiFi

Hotel, cafe, and airport WiFi networks are shared and often unsecured. A VPN protects you if you plan to check email, log into banking apps, or enter any passwords while connected to public WiFi.

2. Access in Turkey

Turkey periodically restricts or slows access to certain apps and websites, including social media platforms and sometimes VoIP/calling apps like WhatsApp calling (texting usually still works). This is unpredictable and can change without notice. A VPN generally restores normal access by routing your connection through another country.

What to do:

Download and set up a VPN app before you leave home, on WiFi. Some VPN apps are themselves restricted once you're in Turkey, so installing in advance avoids the problem entirely.
Recommended providers: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or ProtonVPN (Proton has a free tier). Any reputable, well-known VPN will do.
Test that it connects and works before departure.
Turn it on when using public WiFi, and turn it on in Turkey if you find an app or site isn't loading normally.

One thing to know: VPN use is legal for travelers in all three countries. It's a standard, common tool, not something that will draw attention or cause issues at customs or otherwise.

A Note on Turkey

Turkey handles mobile service differently than Italy and Greece. It is not part of the EU roaming area, and local SIM cards purchased in-country must be registered to your passport, which can take time at the airport kiosk. This is why we strongly recommend an eSIM purchased before departure. It avoids the registration hassle entirely and works the moment you land.

Staying in Touch With the Group

Your Trip Leader will share a group communication plan (typically WhatsApp) before departure. WhatsApp works over WiFi or data and is the standard method international travelers use to stay in touch, so we recommend downloading it and creating an account before you leave home, even if you don't normally use it.

Quick Checklist Before Departure

[ ] Confirmed whether phone is unlocked or locked
[ ] Chosen a connectivity option (eSIM, carrier plan, or WiFi-only)
[ ] Purchased and installed eSIM on home WiFi (if applicable)
[ ] Called carrier to confirm Turkey coverage and disable auto-roaming charges (if applicable)
[ ] Downloaded WhatsApp and created an account
[ ] Downloaded and tested a VPN app on home WiFi
[ ] Let family know your connectivity plan, including any offline stretches

Questions about connectivity before your trip? Contact us at info@classicaltrips.org or 918.770.8088.

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