Singles Travel Company -

Best of Italy-

A Wonderful Italian Vacation!

September 27-October 8, 2008

Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Naples, Assisi, Ravenna, Venice, Tuscany, Pisa, Florence, Siena and…….includes 2 nights on the Isle of Capri!

Download Itinerary

We start in Rome for this unforgettable 12-day vacation in Italy. We have included so much you’ll feel you have really seen and explored this wonderful country!

With professional guides throughout, we’ll visit the excavations of Pompeii, drive to the charming resort of Sorrento, and sail to the Isle of Capri where our two-night stay includes guided sightseeing with a visit to Villa San Michele in Anacapri. Next drive through lively Naples and continue through the Apennine Mountains to St. Francis’ Assisi. Along the Adriatic coast drive to Ravenna, to visit the Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe.

We’re still not through; we explore Venice-see St. Mark’s Basilica, lavish Doges’ Palace, and Venetian glassblowers at work. Continue to Pisa, see the Leaning Tower, and then on to Tuscany. Your walking tour through Florence includes visits to the cathedral and the Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo’s David. After visiting Siena, we head back to Rome where highlight visits are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Lots of sightseeing with a professional guide to enhance your experience and 15 meals included. A great vacation to wonderful and exciting cities in Italy and other singles to enjoy it with!! Come join us for a fabulous trip!

Price Includes all of the following……

10 nights accommodations in first class hotels,
Twin bedded rooms with private shower or bath.
Hotel taxes, service charges
Tip for baggage handling on arrival: all local taxes
All transportation by motorcoach as per itinerary
Professional Tour Director
Total 15 meals
10 buffet breakfasts (BB)
5 three-course dinners (D) including a welcome dinner with wine in Rome
Free roommate matching if requested
Guided sightseeing with professional English speaking guides
         Rome -Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing- visit the    Vatican Museums and           Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum
        Pompeii -Guided visit of the excavations
        Sorrento-Capri-Naples -By jet/hydrofoil
        Capri -Guided sightseeing, visit Villa San Michele in Anacapri
        Assisi -Guided sightseeing, visit St. Francis’ Basilica
        Ravenna -Visit the Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe
        Venice -Private boat ride; guided sightseeing- visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration
        Pisa -Picture stop at the Leaning Tower
        Florence- Guided sightseeing, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square
        Siena -Orientation including the Piazza del Campo

Itinerary

Austria

Day 1, Sat. Sep 27 Leave the U.S.

Board your overnight transatlantic flight from your hometown to Rome, Italy and your Italian vacation begins!

Day 2, Sun. Sep 28 Arrival in Rome, Italy

Depending on your arrival time, you can rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your tour director and fellow traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3, Mon. Sep 29 Rome- Pompeii- Sorrento- Capri

After breakfast, we head south on the Highway of the Sun to Pompeii, where we’ll meet our local guide and start our highlight visit of this Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. See a patrician home, public baths, and shops that give a striking picture of what day-to-day life was like in Rome at its apex of power.

Then we continue on to the charming resort of Sorrento where we’ll have time to stroll around and check out the local shops before crossing the blue bay to the beautiful Isle of Capri for our two night stay. Capri is an ancient retreat for Roman emperors and renowned ever since for its beauty, it is also the home to many of the well-to-do from all over Europe.

Included dinner tonight together on the Island and then some local night life? (BB,D)

Day 4, Tues. Sep 30 Capri

This morning enjoy sightseeing with a local guide on the Isle and one of the highlights is a visit to Villa San Michele, an important museum which organizes concerts, exhibitions and seminars in Anacapri, which is the highest part of the island of Capri. The natural beauty of Anacapri is one of the most appealing attractions of the area.

The afternoon and evening are at leisure to further explore Capri to discover and enjoy the beauty of this famous island. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with friends from the group. (BB)

Day 5, Wed. Oct 1 Capri- Naples- Assisi

After breakfast, we leave this beautiful Isle and speed across the bay and drive through lively and colorful Naples. Then turn north through the Apennine Mountains to peaceful Assisi about 90 miles north of Rome in the rolling hills of the region of Umbria. Assisi is a well-preserved medieval town and is known as the birthplace of St. Francis.

With our local guide, visit the massive 13th-century lower Basilica of St. Francis built above the Saint’s grave, and known for its famous frescos by renowned late-medieval artists.

Take time to explore this town (you’ll love it) before our included dinner tonight with the group. (BB,D)

Day 6, Thurs. Oct 2 Assisi- Ravenna-Venice

Breakfast first and then we take a scenic drive to Ravenna to visit the 6th-century Basilica of St. Apollinaris.

Later we arrive in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the world. This 1500 year old city is famous for its canals and it is through these canals and walking (as cars are banned) that we will enjoy the beauty and magical feeling this city has to offer with its museums, palaces, fine art, great shopping and wonderful food. (BB)

Day 7, Fri. Oct 3 Venice

Today we enter in style by private boat to meet our local guide for our guided walking tour of Venice. Highlights of our walking tour are St Mark’s Square and its Byzantine Basilica, lavish Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Also we’ll watch skilled glassblowers fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner.

Then enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional excursion to the island of Burano. Maybe people-watch and relax in Piazza San Marco, or stroll through the back alleyways (streets) and over the bridges that make up this city, visit the basilicas, or have a drink at the famous Harry's Bar!

Tonight dinner together as a group. (BB,D)

Day 8, Sat. Oct 4 Venice- Pisa- Tuscany

Leaving Venice behind, we have a comfortable morning drive to Pisa. Admire the Square of Miracles and take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular.

Next, a short drive following the valley of the Arno River to the spa resort of Montecatini, known for its thermal baths. Take time to visit, via funicular, Montecatini Alto, a characteristic medieval village and the original Montecatini settlement, lying a few hundred metres above the 'new' town. The views from here are splendid, and the delightful Piazza Giusti is home to some good bars and restaurants. (BB)

Day 9, Sun. Oct 5 Tuscany. Excursion to Florence

Today, the whole day is dedicated to the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence. Guided sightseeing includes a visit to Michelangelo’s David (awesome!) in the Academy of Fine Arts and the magnificent Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded Signoria Square.

After our sightseeing the afternoon is at leisure for independent sightseeing and browsing through the many shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are some of the more popular and attractive buys.

Included dinner together tonight to end our perfect day in Florence! (BB,D)

Day 10, Mon. Oct 6 Tuscany- Siena- Rome

This morning we drive through the Chianti wine area to Siena. Walk through ancient, narrow lanes to beautiful Piazza Del Campo, site of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race.

Some time on your own in this interesting city before continuing to Rome. Why not join an optional dinner tonight in one of Rome’s fine restaurants? (BB)

Berne, Switzerland

Day 11, Tues. Oct 7 Rome

After breakfast we head out for a great day of sightseeing with our local guide which starts with a visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Next we continue to monumental St. Peter’s Square and Basilica and later we cross the Tiber and visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, where Roman Legions marched in triumph.

Then time for independent activities with new friends from the group and exciting optional excursion possibilities to celebrate our wonderful Italian vacation! (BB)

Day 12, Wed. Oct 8 Rome to Home

Yes, it really is time to say goodbye. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

First Class Hotels

ROME Crowne Plaza St. Peter's (F) or Cicerone (SF) or Jolly Villa Carpegna (F), CAPRI La Palma (F) or La Residenza (F), ASSISI Grand Hotel Assisi (F), VENICE Plaza (F) at Mestre, TUSCANY Settentrionale Esplanade (F) at Montecatini, ROME Visconti Palace (F)

Maybe take our Spain trip right after this trip for a fabulous vacation in Europe!

Itinerary

Available: Download Itinerary Now (PDF)
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Price

$2529.00 land only, per person, based on double occupancy.

$504.00 single supplement –add to above price (very limited availability)

Airfare is additional. You need to fly into and out of Rome, Italy.

For arrival- you fly from the U.S. on September 27, arriving in Rome (Fiumicino airport) September 28. For departure-make your flights out of Rome on October 8.

Airport transfers are $20 each way ($40 roundtrip) days of the tour dates only and arriving between 7am and 9pm. Departure can be anytime on the last day. We will need your flight information with your final payment if you are taking the transfers.

$119.00 +$30 Travel/Trip Cancellation insurance is highly recommended. Get Travel Protection Plus for

an additional $30. This additional benefit allows you to cancel your vacation up to 24 hours (or the prior business day, whichever is farther out) before your scheduled departure for any reason not covered by the travel protection plans provisions. With this Protection Plus policy you will be reimbursed for the cancellation penalties with travel vouchers

to be used within a year with the tour operator. You must purchase it with your deposit if you want a waiver for pre-

existing conditions and Travel Protection Plus. Insurance is not refundable. Your air is not covered under this policy.

Price does not include: items of a personal nature, passports or visas, any phone calls, tips and gratuities to drive and guides as well as local guides, and meals not mentioned in itinerary.

A valid passport is required for U.S. travelers and should be valid up to 6 months after the trip. Non-U.S. citizens must check with their local consulates for any needed passports or visas for travel.

Fine Print –Best of Italy September 27-October 8, 2008

Your payment for a reservation on this trip constitutes consent and acknowledgement of all the provisions in this Fine Print listed below and in the Singles Travel Company General Terms & Conditions. Please make sure you read both of these important pieces of information and call us with any questions.

Payments: A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 is due with your reservation & your insurance is due also if purchasing it. Full and final payments are due 70 days prior to departure date. Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express) and /or checks (payable to Travel Advisors) are accepted.

Cancellation Fees and Refunds:

All cancellations must be in writing. Regardless of when you cancel there will be a charge from Singles Travel Company of $50. Also insurance is non-refundable.

Cancellation Fees as follows:

From deposit to 91 days prior to commencement of services Full refund minus insurance & $50 service fee

90-57 days prior to commencement of services Loss of deposit & insurance & $50 service fee

56-29 days prior to commencement of services 50% of total price & insurance & $50 service fee

28-15 days prior to commencement of services 75% of total price & insurance & $50 service fee

Within 14 days of departure 100% of total price & insurance & $50 service fee

No refunds on unused portions of the tour. A fee of $30 per transaction may be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation. Cancellation fees also apply to additional accommodations reserved prior to and after the tour booked with the tour operator of the trip. After airline tickets are issued, airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy/ and or the tour operator if purchased through the tour operator. Per our tour operator, hotels are always subject to change

** Travel Insurance is highly recommended**

Download full Terms and Conditions (PDF)

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