Adventure in Italy

Travel with Travel West founder Jim West as we take off for this adventure through out Italy as we visit Venice, Montecatini Terme, San Marino, Florence, Siena, Viareggio, Cinque Terre, and Rome and experience the sights, sounds and food of Italy. This 11-day tour takes place from October 10 - 20, 2010.

Package Includes

• Round-trip airfare from Chicago
• Deluxe hotel accommodations
• Private motor coach & driver
• 18 meals
• Special Travel West Gifts
• Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary

Itinerary

Sunday, October 10th
Today we begin our Italy Adventure with an overnight flight from Chicago, O’Hare Airport to Venice. During the flight, dinner will be served. D

Monday, October 11th
This morning we will enjoy a breakfast snack on board the plane before we land in Europe and change planes to continue onto Italy and arrival into VENICE. We will be met by our motor coach driver and taken to our first class hotel. Here we will check in and get settled. A private guide will take us on a leisurely walking tour of the city, including St. Marks Square and other well known places. This afternoon we will have time to enjoy shopping and strolling around the city on our own. You may opt to take a gondola boat ride through the canals during this time. Tonight we will all enjoy a welcome dinner and the remainder of the evening is at your leisure. B, D

Tuesday, October 12th
This morning you will have the morning to enjoy Venice at your leisure. Later in the morning we will check out of our hotel and take a water taxi to meet our motor coach and driver who will take us south to the Tuscany Region. We will drive through picturesque hills and see what makes this area of Italy the most photographed of all regions. In the later afternoon, we will arrive in the resort spa town of MONTECATINI TERME, where we will check into our hotel for the next five nights. Upon our arrival, we will check in and then enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the town. Dinner will be served at the hotel. B, D

Wednesday, October 13th
This morning is an opportunity to sleep in and relax. Mid-morning, we will drive to the town of SAN MARINO, where we will visit the Il Poggio Winery. We will participate in a Tuscan Cooking Class, and we will learn to make homemade pasta, crostini, different sauces and even learn the recipe for limoncello. Following the cooking class, we will venture out into the vineyards and learn firsthand how grapes are grown and made into wine. There will even be information about the production of olive oil. For lunch, the winery has prepared a special five course meal, including introducing a special wine tasting with each course. In the middle of the afternoon we will stagger to our motor coach and our driver will take us back to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. B, L

Thursday, October 14th
Today, following breakfast, we will visit the renaissance city of FLORENCE. Here we will meet our local guide who will take us on a walking tour of the city. This will include a visit the Academia Gallery, home of Michelangelo’s famous statue, David. The leisurely walking tour will take us from piazza to piazza, where we will enjoy hearing about the history and the art in this city. The afternoon will be free for shopping and sightseeing. The evening is free to enjoy on your own. B

Friday, October 15th
This morning we will drive to the historic city of SIENA. Here we will meet our local guide and enjoy a walking tour. We will learn about the life of St. Catherine, visit the Piazza del Campo and hear about the famous Palio horse race and discover more about what makes this city so vibrant and exciting. The afternoon will be free for shopping and sightseeing on your own. Tonight, an “optional dinner” at the Villa Pasquini is available for those who might be interested. It’s a night of eating, music and dancing. B

Saturday, October 16th
Today we will leave our hotel for the seaside town of VIAREGGIO. We stop and have a morning coffee and walk around for an hour or so. We will continue on until we arrive at one of the most photographed places in Tuscany, the CINQUE TERRE. Our motor coach will leave us at the town of VERNAZZA. There will be time to walk around, shop and take photographs before we board a train to take us to the next town, MANAROLA. Here we will have time for lunch on our own and more shopping and photographs. We will board the train once again and arrive at our final little town, RIOMAGGIORE. There will be time to walk around and shop, before boarding the train one more time to go to LA SPEZIA, where our motor coach and driver will meet us and take us back to our hotel. It’s a very special day and one of the highlights of our time in Tuscany. Dinner will be served at our hotel. B, D

Sunday, October 17th
Today, we will check out of out hotel and drive south to ROME. It will take us approximately 3.5 hours, and we will stop for lunch along the way. Upon our arrival into Rome, we will check into our hotel, and then meet our local guide for an afternoon tour of the VATICAN MUSEUMS and ST. PETER’S BASILICA. Tonight, we will enjoy dinner at our hotel. B, D

Monday, October 18th
This morning, following breakfast, we will go on a PANORAMIC TOUR OF ROME. Here we will throw our coins in the Trevi Fountain, visit the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, drive past the Coliseum, Circus Maximus, Roman Forum and other recognizable sights. The afternoon will be free for shopping and sightseeing on your own. Tonight, we will enjoy a special dinner at a local restaurant. B, D

Tuesday, October 19th
Today is completely free for you to enjoy on your own. For those that are interested, we will offer an “optional tour” to POMPEII and CAPRI. This all day tour will include lunch and will arrive back to our hotel in the evening. B

Wednesday, October 20th
This morning we will check out of our hotel for our flight back to CHICAGO. During the flight, lunch will be served on board the plane. B, L

This itinerary, pricing and escorts are subject to change. Insurance is available and highly recommended. Space is limited to 45 participants only and based on first come, first served. Single rates are available upon request. Gratuities are additional. Please consult the Terms and Conditions located on our website, as they apply once the first deposit is received.

This Italy Tour is only

$3498.00 | per person