La Bella Italia

August 14-22, 2009

Come join us….if you've always wanted to float down the canals of Venice, savor a bottle of Tuscan wine in Florence and see the amazing ruins in Rome, now is the time, as we have created a delightful itinerary to the magnificent country of Italy!
From the museums to the cathedrals, the vineyards to the olive groves, we'll see it all on our journey to this beautiful country. Italy is a moveable feast of seemingly endless courses and a place of olive oil, pasta, wine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces. And that’s just the beginning! Italy corners the market among Roman ruins, Renaissance art, quaint picturesque villages, canals of Venice and beautiful churches. With its golden light, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, Italy has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Inspire yourself by enjoying the fruits of Italy this summer with singles mostly in their 30’s & 40’s for which this itinerary is especially designed.
                        La dolce vita……..good food, good wine and good friends!!
Price includes all of this…..

• 7 Nights First Class Hotel Accommodations
• 11 Meals Total, including Pizza Party in Florence
• 7 Breakfasts
• 1 Lunch
• 3 Dinners (includes welcome, farewell and pizza party with wine)
• Motorcoach transportation with professional driver
• Sightseeing and special inclusions
• Rome- guided sightseeing- St. Peter's Square, Basilica,Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Roman Forum
• Optional Cooking Class
• Orvieto- tour Parco Delle Grotto (Orvieto Underground)
• Montepulciano-enjoy a Wine Tasting with Lunch at Frattoris Le Capezzine.
• Florence- guided sightseeing-Academy of Fine Arts-Michelangelo’s ‘David’ & the magnificent Cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower,Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” Signoria Square
• Pizza Party a local restaurant, where an Italian chef demonstrates just how Italian pizzas are made
• Modena-see the oldest producers of balsamic vinegar, learn about the production process, tasting!
• Visit a Parmesan Factory
• Optional Hike/Bike Tour of the Countryside
• Venice-Private Boat Ride on the Grand Canal-A Venetian Night Out! We’ll travel by private water taxi along the splendid Grand Canal with its elegant palaces to a fine Venetian restaurant
• Special for our tour only….
• More time at leisure vs. days on a bus
• Later morning departures to accommodate late nights out on the town
• Singles representative (restrictions apply)
• Free roommate matching available
• Other singles to enjoy on your vacation

Hotels:
Rome-Ludovisi Palace (First Class), Florence-Hotel Albani Firenze (Superior First Class), Venice-Hotel Carlton and Grand Canal (Superior First Class)

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Itinerary

Day 1, Friday, August 14                  Depart USA to Rome
Board your overnight transatlantic flight to Rome if traveling from North America.

Day 2, Saturday, August 15            Rome
Arrival in Rome, Italy today and depending on your arrival time and after getting settled at the hotel, you can rest or start exploring this city known as the ‘Eternal City’.
At 6 p.m. you’ll meet our local tour director and your traveling companions and head to a local restaurant for our special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome's lively restaurants. It’s a great way to begin our tour by sharing a cozy dinner with new friends. Make sure you are at the Ludovisi Palace by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2009. (D)

Day 3, Sunday, August 16               Rome
After breakfast start sightseeing with our local guide with a visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, world famous for Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment. Continue to monumental St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Cross the Tiber and visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, where Roman Legions marched in triumph.
Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. Relax or join our local guide for an optional walk that takes us to the magnificent marbled Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, the well-preserved Roman Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps, the place for singles in Rome! Shop, eat and meet the locals.
            This evening is at our leisure and our group escort will be available to assist with plans to dine and find some fun entertainment. (B)

Day 4, Monday, August 17               Rome
            Savor la dolce vita and enjoy a day at leisure with new friends from the group. Take a stroll along beautiful Via Condotti, discover Rome’s hidden treasures, or just sit on a terrace and watch people go by.
            Tonight, why not join us at Tivoli Gardens with local specialties and live music? (B)

Optional: This morning, a Cooking Lesson introduces us to the culinary secrets of some traditional Italian dishes. Afterward, savor the delicious lunch that we helped create.  The afternoon is at leisure. (optional L)
Optional: Tonight, lets’ all whoop it up “Roma Style” with a typical country-style dinner with wine, spumante, and music.   Our excursion includes a guided visit of the famous Villa Adriana or the Villa D'Este Gardens and Fountains in Tivoli.  (Optional D)

Day 5, Tuesday, August 18                          Rome-Orvieto-Montepulciano-Florence
            This morning we depart for Orvieto where we tour Parco Delle Grotte (Orvieto Underground).  Orvieto is honeycombed with Etruscan and medieval caves and our guide weaves the archaeological history into an hour-long look at the caves. We'll see the remains of an old olive press, two impressive 130-feet-deep Etruscan well shafts, and the remains of a primitive cement quarry.
             We continue on to Montepulciano, one of the most attractive hill towns in Tuscany. This beautiful town is known for its food & wine and here we’ll enjoy a wine tasting with lunch at Frattoria Le Capezzine.  Sit back and enjoy the Tuscan countryside as we travel to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, we check into our hotel and our group escort is on hand to assist with plans. The remainder of our day is at leisure-enjoy! (B, L)

Day 6, Wednesday, August 19                   Florence
            Our entire day is dedicated to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” We’ll follow our local guide to the Academy of Fine Arts with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent Cathedral. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded Signoria Square.
The afternoon is ours for independent sightseeing and browsing through the shops. Maybe join the group for an optional afternoon bicycle ride through the countryside.
            Bring your appetite! Tonight, we’ll attend a festive pizza party at a local restaurant, where an Italian chef demonstrates just how Italian pizzas are made! (B, D)

Day 7, Thursday, August 20                       Florence-Modena-Venice
            We’ll take a scenic drive through the Apennine Mountains and the fertile Po area to Modena to visit one of the oldest producers of balsamic vinegar. After learning about the production process, we partake in vinegar tasting of the final product.
Next, we’ll enjoy an introduction to one of Italy’s most well-known cheeses with a visit to a parmesan factory.
In the afternoon, we continue to Venice, entering the city in style by private boat on the Grand Canal. 
Tonight enjoy dinner at leisure with friends from the group and an evening of fun. (B)

Day 8, Friday, August 21                   Venice
            We have a full day to enjoy Venice at our own pace. Simply relax at our hotel, stroll along the narrow streets, or visit the bell tower, take a gondola ride, sip a bellini in St. Marks Square or toast at Harry’s bar. 
Tonight join your traveling companions for a Venetian night out! We’ll travel by private water taxi along the splendid Grand Canal with its elegant palaces to a fine Venetian restaurant, and taste four mouth-watering courses of local specialties and wine.
Later there's time to explore and absorb the romantic and unique atmosphere of Venice by night. The perfect way to say “Arrivaderci Italia” (Goodbye Italy)! (B, D)

Day 9, Saturday, August 22                         Venice
            Breakfast is served at our hotel and then it is time to say good-by to all our new found friends and depart from Venice. Our escort will assist with our departure from Venice. Our homebound flight arrives the same day. Buon Viaggio! (B)

Price
$1999.00         per person, double occupancy, land only (remember we can assign a roommate for you).
$  500.00         add to above rate if you want a room to yourself (very, very limited number!!).

Optionals offered-you can pay with final payment. Prices not available at time of this printing.
Air fare is not included  You fly out of the States Aug 14 arriving Aug 15 into Rome and you return flight is Aug 22 from Venice. You may purchase your own flights, use frequent flyer mileage, or call our office for assistance.
Airport transfers –Arrival and departure transfers are $39 per person each way, on tour dates only.
--Arrival-Upon arrival in Rome on August 15, there are set transfer times of 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. It's best to arrive as close as possible to those times to avoid having to wait.  Our program begins at 6:00 p.m., so make your best efforts to arrive by 3:00 p.m. at the airport (FCO).
--Departure-In Venice, 3 transfers will be scheduled between 7am-3pm.

Pre and post nights- Pre nights in Rome from $299 share, $399 single, and post nights in Venice from $149 share, $159 single, are available. Shares not available but we’ll try and find a roommate for you, but not guaranteed.  For pre or post hotel packages, individual transfers are available at an additional $59 in Rome and $109 in Venice.

Travel Insurance is highly recommended. A brochure will be sent to you for coverage. Please read it carefully and call the insurance company directly with any questions or to sign up. 
Price does not include- items of a personal nature, meals not included in above itinerary, alcoholic beverages (except when included in our meals/events), incidentals such as laundry and phone calls, plus gratuities to staff ($10-$15 per day) and local guides. You may also be charged a delivery fee, imposed by our vendors for special delivery of documents including international and expedited documents.
Passport- A current U.S. passport is required for travel into Italy.  Non-U.S. citizens please consult with your local consulate for any needed passports or visas for entry into Italy.
This trip is for- the active single who likes to ‘get out and about’ and involves a lot of walking.  The trip is geared toward singles mostly in the age range of 30’s & 40’s-these ages are not meant as a restriction, but as a guideline.                                                                                                          

Fine Print –  La Bella Italia, August 14-22, 2009
Your payment for a reservation on this trip constitutes consent & acknowledgement of all the provisions in this Fine Print listed below & in the Singles Travel Company General Terms & Conditions. Please read both of these important pieces of information & call with any questions.  Note: The itinerary, hotels, & inclusive features are subject to change at the discretion of our local tour operators without compensation. We are not responsible for the consequences of any changes.  Ages listed for this trip are not meant as a restriction, but are simply used as a guideline and we can’t guarantee the number of guests, ages or ratios.
Payments Deposits are $500.00. Checks are preferred (payable to Travel Advisors) or credit cards are accepted.
Final payments are due 90 days prior to trip on May 15. Checks preferred or credit cards.
Cancellation Fee and Refunds     All cancellations must be in writing. 
  After deposit and at anytime of cancellation, a minimum charge of $100.00 plus credit card charges will apply in addition to other penalties listed below.
  Between April 16 and May 15, 2009 - $350 penalty applies.
  Between May 16 and June 11, 2009 - 20 % penalty applies.
  Between June 12 and July 24, 2009 - 30 % penalty applies.
  After July 24, 2009 any cancellations or "no-shows" - 100% penalty.

Download full Terms and Conditions (PDF)

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