All three segments of the tour are open to anyone who wishes to participate, including both laypeople and students. There is no minimum or maximum age for the tours, but please be advised that the trip will involve substantial amounts of brisk walking, numerous stairs, and uneven ground, and that the temperature is likely to be rather warm in the daytime. (See below for information about climate.)

Older adults who do not require assistance with walking and can tolerate being outside in hot weather will probably do fine on the tours; in fact, many elderly people work regularly on archaeological excavations in all of these countries. But older people should think carefully about their abilities and limitations before signing up for the trip. Participants are welcome to stay on the bus (or at the hotel, on days when we will be returning to the same site) if they are concerned about their ability to get around a particular site.

Is it safe to travel in these countries?

While no one can promise absolute safety on any trip, even in the United States, the countries that we will be visiting on these tours have no recent history of violence in the areas where we will be touring. None are on the U.S. State Department’s travel warning list, and their crime rates are much lower than in a typical American city. All three countries host millions of tourists each year without incident. Anyone who takes proper precautions (e.g., securing your valuables while standing in a crowd) is unlikely to have trouble with crime.

Can I earn academic credit for the trip?

Students may earn academic credit for the trip at either the undergraduate or graduate level by doing outside reading and writing assignments with one of the instructors. Two options are available: a lower-level course on Greek and Roman civilization (listed as CLAR 103 for St. Bonaventure students) and an upper-level or graduate theology/religion class entitled “The Social World of Paul.” Credit will be issued by St. Bonaventure University, from where it can be transferred to one’s home institution. The tuition cost is only $750 per course plus the expenses of the trip. For more information, contact Dr. Chris Stanley at cstanley@sbu.edu.

What is the religious orientation of the tours?

All three segments of the tour are oriented toward education, not faith development, though Christians will no doubt find occasions for personal spiritual reflection when the tour leaders are discussing the life and ministry of the apostle Paul. No religious commitment is assumed or required—the trip is open to people from any (or no) religious background. Participants are welcome to organize their own religious services and similar faith-related activities as they wish during the course of the tour.

How much does it cost?

Click here to go to the page entitled “Pricing and Payment Information.”

How do I get there?

None of the prices that are listed for the various segments include air transportation, since participants will be coming from several different countries and some will be paying for their travel using frequent flyer miles rather than cash. Participants will therefore need to make their own travel arrangements. The tour leaders can provide guidance with locating good airfares for those who request it. Anyone doing more than one segment of the trip should check with the tour leaders for information about which flight(s) the group will be using to get from one segment to the other.

Since people will be arriving at different times, ground transportation from the airport to the hotel is not included in the price of the tour. In some instances a representative of the travel agency might be available to meet people at the airport, but you should not assume that this will be the case. The tour organizers will do their best to coordinate shared rides for people who will be arriving around the same time, but participants should communicate with the organizers before making any flight reservations if they wish to take advantage of this service. Instructions for getting to the hotel will be provided.

Who are the instructors for the tours?

Instruction during the tour will be provided by two professional scholars.

Dr. Christopher D. Stanley is Professor of Theology at St. Bonaventure University in New York. Dr. Stanley has authored or edited four scholarly books and numerous professional articles on the apostle Paul, along with a Hebrew Bible/Old Testament textbook that is used in colleges and universities across the country. He is a member of the Society of New Testament Studies, an elite international organization of New Testament scholars. He travels regularly around the world to present papers, give lectures, and teach courses at conferences, seminaries, and universities. For more information, see http://www.sbu.edu/About_SBU.aspx?id=11500.

Dr. Scott Craver is Assistant Professor of Art History at St. Bonaventure University in New York. Dr. Craver is a Roman archaeologist and art historian who worked and wrote his dissertation on the excavations at Pompeii. He conducted archaeological research in Italy for three years and supervised a work crew on the excavation at Morgantina, Sicily. The quality of his work has been acknowledged by a number of grants and awards and led to his appointment as a Fellow in Ancient Studies at the American Academy in Rome. For more information, see http://www.sbu.edu/uploadedFiles/About/Directory_Contact/New_Faculty_Profiles/S_Craver_Vita.pdf.

Additional instruction will be provided by trained tour guides at some of the sites.

Who is managing the tours?

The day-to-day details of travel, housing, meals, etc., in Italy and Turkey will be managed by Tutku Tours, a Turkish travel agency that specializes in organizing Bible-oriented tours (http://www.tutkutours.com). In Greece, the arrangements will be handled by the Hellenic Education & Research Center (HERC) in Athens, an organization that facilitates short-term study abroad programs in Greece (http://www.herc.gr). Both agencies are managed by skilled professionals who organize and direct tours for a living.

The staff of Tutku Tours and HERC and the tour instructors will do everything in their power to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip. In the end, however, it is up to you to decide whether the tour is right for you. None of the organizers or travel agents or their employers makes any warranty regarding the safety of the trip nor assumes responsibility for any injuries, loss of property, accident, or other damages that you might experience during the trip. For a list of the full Terms and Conditions pertainint to the trip segments managed by Tutku Tours, see http://www.tutkutours.com/00_TERMS_CONDITIONS.asp.

What will the weather be like while we are there?

The places that we will be visiting on our tour have warm days, cool nights, and little rain in June and early July. The following chart shows average daytime and evening temperatures during the time when we will be visiting some of the sites on our tour.

	Avg. Daytime High	Avg. Evening Low
Rome, Italy	85°F (29°C)	59°F (15°C)
Athens, Greece	88°F (31°C)	68°F (20°C)
Istanbul, Turkey	82°F (28°C)	68°F (20°C)
Izmir, Turkey	92°F (33°C)	69°F (21°C)
Yalvac, Turkey	85°F (29°C)	57°F (14°C)
Antalya, Turkey	93°F (34°C)	72°F (22°C)

How should I dress while I’m there?

Packing light is essential on a trip like this, since you will be loading and unloading your luggage repeatedly during the trip, and you may have to carry your bags up and down stairs on occasion. Airlines also limit the number and weight of bags that you can carry on your flight, and most charge high fees for exceeding their weight limit. Most airlines have more lenient luggage rules for international than for domestic travel, but you should make sure to ask what they allow when making your reservations. Anyone whose lifestyle requires multiple bags and frequent changes of clean clothing should not come on the tour. Fortunately, the warm climate allows people to wear light clothing that can be washed in their hotel room.

Participants should be sensitive to local values when choosing what to pack. Italy and Greece are modern nations with casual dress codes, but Turkey is more conservative. Turkey is officially a secular country, but most of its citizens are Muslims, and Muslim values shape their understanding of proper dress. Women especially should dress more conservatively there, though head coverings are not required.

In all three countries, both men and women may be required to cover their shoulders and knees to enter a church or mosque, so you should pack something light to cover yourself on those occasions (long skirt, thin athletic pants, windbreaker, etc.). Beaches and swimming pools are more casual, with both men and women wearing Western swimsuits of all types, but Turkey again is more conservative. Sturdy but comfortable shoes are a must for the entire trip. Since we will be spending many hours under the hot sun, most people will also want to wear a hat.

Are there any language requirements?

All instruction will be carried out in English, so participants should know English well enough to follow what is being said or be accompanied by someone who can translate for them. English is widely understood in Italy and Greece, but less so in Turkey. For times when you are on your own, such as shopping, it can be helpful to carry a phrase book in the local language so that you can perform rudimentary exchanges and count your money. For Greece, it can also be useful to learn the Greek alphabet ahead of time so that you can read signs. But none of this is absolutely vital; you can probably find someone who speaks English if you try hard enough. How much you invest in language preparation is up to you.

What if I have special dietary needs?

Most of the meals on the tour will consist of first-rate buffets with a huge selection of food items, including non-meat dishes. Food in the Mediterranean world is generally quite healthy, and virtually everyone ought to be able to find food that they can eat. Participants with unusual dietary needs should check with the tour leaders in advance to make sure that their needs can be accommodated.

Do I need travel insurance?

All participants are required to purchase travel insurance to provide for their health needs during the tour and for evacuation back to your home country in case of injury or illness. Many medical insurance plans cover illnesses or injuries that occur during international travel, but they might require you to pay for the expenses at the time of service and get reimbursed after arriving home. Please check with your medical plan for details.

Many reputable insurance companies sell inexpensive travel insurance through the Internet (usually $3 to 4 per day); check with the tour leaders if you need advice on where to look. You may also be able to purchase it through you local insurance agent or travel agency.

Do I need a visa or other travel documents?

In most cases, all that is needed to enter Italy or Greece is a passport that is valid for at least six months after you enter the country, though visas are required for residents of some countries. Information about visa requirements is readily available through the Internet. Visas are required for most people entering Turkey, but U.S. citizens can purchase one at the Istanbul airport for $20. Citizens of other countries may have to obtain a visa in advance; check with your government to find out the requirements. No special vaccinations are needed for any of the countries.

When do I need to decide?

If you are seriously interested in the trip, please contact the tour leaders as soon as possible so that they can have an idea of how many people might be going. The trip is limited to 20 people, so the earlier you make your reservation, the better. No one is assured a seat on the trip until they complete a registration form and send in a deposit of $100 for each tour segment that they wish to do ($200 for two segments, $300 for all three). The deadline for early registration is January 20, 2012. Full payment is due by March 16, 2012.

Deposits and other payments are refundable up to 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations made less than 60 days before departure will be assessed the following penalties to cover administrative costs and hotel cancellations.

· 45-59 days prior to departure 10%

· 30-44 days prior to departure 25%

· 15-29 days prior to departure 50%

· 7-14 days prior to departure 75%

· 0-6 days prior to departure No refund

Some forms of travel insurance provide reimbursement for cancellation penalties, but these are generally more expensive. If you anticipate any possibility that you might have to cancel (for example, if you have chronic health problems), you should think about purchasing one of these policies. No refunds will be paid for services included but not used by tour members.

Whom do I contact for more information or to register for the trip?

The lead organizer for the trip is Dr. Chris Stanley. Feel free to contact him with any questions that you have about the trip. You can reach him via e-mail at cstanley@sbu.edu or by telephone at 716-375-2454 or 716-372-4232. If you are calling from outside the U.S. and use Skype, his Skype name is cljdstanley.