Registration Details
Application Deadline: October 15th
Link here.
+
Application Deposit due with application (October 15th): $350 to MSU Office of International Programs
Link here.
Link here.
+
Application Deposit due with application (October 15th): $350 to MSU Office of International Programs
Link here.
Travel Logistics
Cell Phones:
You will need to contact your phone carrier and get an international extension to your plan. This is a month by month thing and you will pay a little extra for May so that your phone works in Europe.
Passports:
Students must have passports no later November 15.
Information? Link here.
Arrival:
Munich Airport to Munich Train Station. Link here. (Students are in charge of getting to the train station + walking to Wombats Hbf hostel nearby. Purchase 1 one-way ticket to the Hauptbahnhof from the Automat.)
Money:
You will need to tell your bank that you will be overseas and give them the dates of your trip.
Our trip is from the 13th - 25th of May. You should give the bank some wiggle room on the far end in case you have travel issues getting back to the US (say May 13th - May 30th).
A debit card works great in Europe for getting cash. This is the best deal and limits the transaction costs. Upon arrival, gather your wits (you'll be tired), make your way to a decent looking Debit machine/ATM (ie: Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse) at the airport. Then take out cash. It will charge you the going-rate for foreign currency exchange + a $5 banking fee or so, maybe on both sides. This is by far the best deal; better than exchange USD for Euro at the little shops at the airports...
*It is a good idea to have a backup money source: a credit card and some cash (dollars or euros). If in doubt, get a hold of Kate or Pete on Whatsapp or call/text. They will be ready to help.
Health Insurance:
All students are required to get overseas health insurance from MSU Office of International Programs: www.montana.edu/international/studyabroad/healthandsafety.html
The cost of the insurance has been incorporated into our trip cost. Here is more information: ogse.geobluestudents.com/?ac=PJE-39998
Packing List thoughts:
Remember that we will be traveling to a new city every 2 or 3 days, staying at hostels and one mountain hut (Vordertalhütte).
Luggage: sturdy backpack preferred (ie: Deuter 50L, Mammut 55L, Gregory 65L) + a smaller day-pack (carry-on backpack)
*wheel suitcases are ok.., but you would need to stash them at the Innsbruck train station for our 1day overnight hike to the hut and move your toiletries + hiking stuff (back-up socks/underwear, back-up outfit) into your small pack
Sleeping liner: Mainly for the Vordertalhütte will you need a lightweight, small sleeping liner. There will be bedding available at the hut, but they require that we use our liner. We will be sleeping in one large 20person room together at the hut. For hostel stays, you will have 6-8 person MSU shared bunkbed rooms for the most part. Bathrooms will be community-based.
Lightweight quick towel: Check with Kate before purchasing. But these can be good general travel items to have along.
First-aid: Kate & Pete will be carrying first-aid gear for the most part. **Make sure you bring any medications and keep them with your carry-on luggage/accessible at all times. (Contact lens stuff too)
Toiletry bag + plastic bag for airport security. *It's a good idea to compartmentalize your stuff. ie: Toiletry bag w meds (carry-on luggage), electronics, clean clothes, dirty clothes. You can use plastic bags or cheap things to compartmentalize, or more sturdy pack-sacks. As Toby mentioned, it's a good idea to have a small bar of soap, but for the most part, all of our accommodations will have soap/etc.
Clothes: Something along these lines.
Other:
In general, it is super helpful to pack light for this European trip! Here is a decent packing list that we can talk more about at our meetings. Some things are not necessary and Europe has become less formal, especially in the summer: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light/ricks-packing-list
Travel Tips:
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/european-travel-skills-part-1
Contact information:
We will post updates on our instagram page, and parents are welcome to follow us and message us through the app: msu_german (www.instagram.com/msu_german/?hl=en)
Pete Schweppe
Kate Kithil
Toby Blake
In case of emergency, if you cannot get ahold of your student, call Toby Blake in the Office of International Programs at MSU and/or email Pete or Kate.
*Remember:
You will need to contact your phone carrier and get an international extension to your plan. This is a month by month thing and you will pay a little extra for May so that your phone works in Europe.
Passports:
Students must have passports no later November 15.
Information? Link here.
Arrival:
Munich Airport to Munich Train Station. Link here. (Students are in charge of getting to the train station + walking to Wombats Hbf hostel nearby. Purchase 1 one-way ticket to the Hauptbahnhof from the Automat.)
Money:
You will need to tell your bank that you will be overseas and give them the dates of your trip.
Our trip is from the 13th - 25th of May. You should give the bank some wiggle room on the far end in case you have travel issues getting back to the US (say May 13th - May 30th).
A debit card works great in Europe for getting cash. This is the best deal and limits the transaction costs. Upon arrival, gather your wits (you'll be tired), make your way to a decent looking Debit machine/ATM (ie: Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse) at the airport. Then take out cash. It will charge you the going-rate for foreign currency exchange + a $5 banking fee or so, maybe on both sides. This is by far the best deal; better than exchange USD for Euro at the little shops at the airports...
*It is a good idea to have a backup money source: a credit card and some cash (dollars or euros). If in doubt, get a hold of Kate or Pete on Whatsapp or call/text. They will be ready to help.
Health Insurance:
All students are required to get overseas health insurance from MSU Office of International Programs: www.montana.edu/international/studyabroad/healthandsafety.html
The cost of the insurance has been incorporated into our trip cost. Here is more information: ogse.geobluestudents.com/?ac=PJE-39998
Packing List thoughts:
Remember that we will be traveling to a new city every 2 or 3 days, staying at hostels and one mountain hut (Vordertalhütte).
Luggage: sturdy backpack preferred (ie: Deuter 50L, Mammut 55L, Gregory 65L) + a smaller day-pack (carry-on backpack)
*wheel suitcases are ok.., but you would need to stash them at the Innsbruck train station for our 1day overnight hike to the hut and move your toiletries + hiking stuff (back-up socks/underwear, back-up outfit) into your small pack
Sleeping liner: Mainly for the Vordertalhütte will you need a lightweight, small sleeping liner. There will be bedding available at the hut, but they require that we use our liner. We will be sleeping in one large 20person room together at the hut. For hostel stays, you will have 6-8 person MSU shared bunkbed rooms for the most part. Bathrooms will be community-based.
Lightweight quick towel: Check with Kate before purchasing. But these can be good general travel items to have along.
First-aid: Kate & Pete will be carrying first-aid gear for the most part. **Make sure you bring any medications and keep them with your carry-on luggage/accessible at all times. (Contact lens stuff too)
Toiletry bag + plastic bag for airport security. *It's a good idea to compartmentalize your stuff. ie: Toiletry bag w meds (carry-on luggage), electronics, clean clothes, dirty clothes. You can use plastic bags or cheap things to compartmentalize, or more sturdy pack-sacks. As Toby mentioned, it's a good idea to have a small bar of soap, but for the most part, all of our accommodations will have soap/etc.
Clothes: Something along these lines.
- Good walking/hiking shoes. They don't have to be mountaineering boots. Our 2.5hr hike to the Vordertalhütte is quite intermediate. 1400ft elevation gain (hiking to the "M" is 850ft elevation gain for reference). The hut is at 4,500 feet elevation, approximately. Bozeman is at 4,800 feet elevation in comparison. So the elevation gain is actually starting from a place lower than Bozeman and hiking up to a hut lower than Bozeman. Some hikers do it in 1 hour. (without luggage/big packs) We can take our time, and split up gear as needed. We foresee 2.5-3hrs for the hike. *BUT, we will also be walking on cobblestones, around cities, up and down some hills, etc, everyday. In addition, you will commute from train station to hostels to airport, so your feet will need good support for our regular activities. You can pack a second lighter pair of other shoes for evening outings as you wish.
- 2 pairs of wool socks for our hike (if not more). These dry quickly and, if it rains, you'll be grateful for the second pair after a hot shower. Pete is bringing approximately 7-8 pairs of wool socks, also for his post-trip hiking plans.
- Underwear. Choose your own adventure. Pete is bringing smartwool stuff for the hiking. We will be walking and moving around a lot, and it might be really hot, or also cold/rainy. Choose accordingly.
- 4-8 shirts, 2-3 pants, 1-2 shorts, sandals?, etc.
- Rain jacket! (leave your umbrella at home? you can purchase a cheap one at a store in Europe) If it rains on our hike day, you will get wet, maybe also a bit cold. It will pass. Then, you will warm up, shower, and we hike back down, and you're back in a super nice hostel with all of the amenities. #Innsbruck (You can use your rain jacket for warmth too.)
- One warmer fleece or lightweight warmer jacket. Nights can get chilly in May. You 'may' want to have 1-2 warmer upper body items, especially if it is windy. Again, your rainjacket can double as a windbreaker and warmer layer.
Other:
- Sun-glasses. Sunscreen maybe, or you can purchase there.
- Adapter! We will have a couple extra to share. But never a bad idea to have your own for your phone.
- Laptop? Or not? Pete is also on the fence. If he brings it, anyone can borrow/use it for longer emails/etc.
In general, it is super helpful to pack light for this European trip! Here is a decent packing list that we can talk more about at our meetings. Some things are not necessary and Europe has become less formal, especially in the summer: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light/ricks-packing-list
Travel Tips:
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/european-travel-skills-part-1
Contact information:
We will post updates on our instagram page, and parents are welcome to follow us and message us through the app: msu_german (www.instagram.com/msu_german/?hl=en)
Pete Schweppe
Kate Kithil
Toby Blake
In case of emergency, if you cannot get ahold of your student, call Toby Blake in the Office of International Programs at MSU and/or email Pete or Kate.
*Remember:
- to call students in Europe, dial 011, then the number
- to call parents/friends in the USA, dial 001, then the number