Highlights of Italy with a Taste of France...June 2016

This 12 day trip visits:  Sorrento, Rome, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Anncey, Chamonix

***This trip combines the best of the best.  I set up this custom itinerary based on my many years of traveling throughout Europe.
In preparation for each trip, I spend many hours studying maps and special sights to see.  Most trips begin with a guided tour upon
arrival in a new city which is followed by free time.  Repeat travelers often enjoy venturing out on their own.  Whether or not you
are new traveler or a seasoned traveler, you are welcome to stick by my side because I always have something for you to see.

***What is included?
              Air fare, hotels costs, tours as listed on the itinerary, city to city transportation, daily breakfast and generally 2 dinners. 
             *Insurance, tips, lunches and other dinners are not included in the trip fee.

  It is important to note that we must have enough travelers to run this trip.   I do have an option to travel with a very similar itinerary
with fewer people if we should fall short of travelers.  (Based on the response, I do
not think that we will have trouble reaching our quota.

11 Overnight Stays

Overnight Flight
Sorrento     2 nights
Rome         2 nights
Florence     2 nights
Genoa        2 nights
Annecy      1 night
Milan         2 nights

Please be aware that the exact itinerary is always subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.  Please be aware I am still making
final tweaks to the trip to make sure that we have the best possible experience.

PLEASE NOTE...Where you see free time, I will always have a plan.  You may choose to explore with me or to use your free time as you desire.  I will add some notes below of some ideas that I have for free time.  I am not sure if all of them will work out but I will be doing lots of research before we travel.  Feel freee to share your ideas.

2016 Highlights of Italy Itinerary

Day 1:     OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO NAPLES:  Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Naples aboard an internationally recognized airline.

Day 2:    ARRIVE IN ITALY:  Welcome to Italy! Our representative greets us at the airport in Naples after clearing customs and escorts us to our hotel in Sorrento.  The rest of the day is free for you to relax or begin acquanting yourself with Sorrento. (So you are probably thinking, what I am going to do in Sorrento and how will I know my way around.  Sorrento is a beautiful town and is very walkable.  Sunsets are incredible.  There is delicious food around every corner.  And for you shoppers there are lots of shops and for your non shoppers there and pubs where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere.  You will not be at a loss for what to do in Sorrento.   It is one of the most comfortable towns in which to walk around.  At the end of the day enjoy an included dinner this evening with your fellow travelers.
Included Meals:  Dinner   Overnight in Sorrento.

Day 3:     FREE DAY IN SORRENTO OR CAPRI      (Optional Excursion to Capri - $105)    On the optional excursion you will travel by ferry to the fabled Isle of Capri, a beloved resort since the days of the Roman Republic.  Weather permitting, you will enjoy a mini-cruise around the island.  Later, you will have free time to discover why evreyone from Roman emperors to Sophia Loren wants to spend their vacation in Capri.  If weather prohibits a mini-cruise, you will travel to the village of Anacapri, which offers stunning views of the surrounding scenery.  Please note:  This excursion is offered by the company and is weather dependent.

This is a wonderful option, but on our last visit to Sorrento I was able to rent a private boat and captain for 8 hours.  It was more but we were not locked in to Capri.  We visited Capri, and then did the same mini cruise as listed above and then boated to Amalfi where we visited the town.   After boarding the boat we went on to Positano where we had a wonderful lunch.   And sadly had to return back to Sorrento.   This remains as one of my fondest Italy memories.  I will look into this option and pass the information on to the group.  This is something that must be booked in advance.  And like the above excursion, it too is weather permitting.
 

Day 4:  TRANSFER TO ROME:   Transfer from Sorrento to Rome by bus.  Guided sightseeing of Rome will include a panoramic tour including the Roman Form, Piazza Venezia, Imperial Forums, Trajan's Column and Colosseum are.  Entrance fee is included for a guided tour of the Colosseum.
Free evening in Rome....Again if you have the energy, we can take off to visit additional must sees in Rome.  I will lead the way.

Day 5:  FREE DAY IN ROME OR VATICAN CITY:  Optional Excursion:  Iconic Sights, Vatican City - $99 per person...This guided tour takes you inside the world's smallest state, Vatican City.  Upon arrival, you will first visit the Vatican Museums, which recently celebrated a 500 year anniversary and hold many of the world's most important Classical and Renaissance-era sculptures.  Next, you will visit the Sistine Chapel, where you will gaze on what is perhaps Michelangelo's greatest materpiece.  Finally, visit the enormous St. Peter's Basilica, the eipicenter of the Roman Catholic faith.  The artists whose efforts contributed to its glory are some of the best Italy has ever known, including Bramante, Peruzzi, Raphael and Michelangelo.  Masterpieces await at every turn, from Berninini's magnificent bronze canopy to Michelangelo's Pieta.   Overnight in Rome.  
       For those who have done this tour, I will research side trips or off the beaten path ideas to cover while this tour is going on.  I will share these ideas with you and you may opt to explore with me or venture out on your own.   We then usually regroup and spend the afternoon touring together.

Day 6:  TRANSFER TO FLORENCE:   Transfer from Rome to Florence by bus.  A walking tour of Florence includes Giotto's Campanile, Palazzo Signoria, the Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Croce.  This is another wonderful town that is very walkable.  There is history, there is art, there is a palace, and of course there is shopping!   (Nothing definite....but I am looking at the possibility of making a quaint lunch stop.   As I mentioned before, I am still doing some tweaking.   I am like Cinderella.  I want the fairy tale!  I try to pack as much as I can into a day.)

Day 7:  FREE DAY IN FLORENCE OR PISA:   Optional Excursion to the Leaning Tower of Pisa $75 per person.  This is an interesting excursion if you have never been to Pisa you might want to consider this.   But this one is a hard call there is so much to see and do in Florence.  Additionally there are some trips to small Tuscan towns.  You just have to make a choice with this one.  At night you might want to find a nice steak.   We heard Florence had the best steaks in Europe and I think it might be true!

Day 8:  TRANSFER TO GENOA:   Transfer to Genoa by bus.  Currently the schedule has us going in to Genoa for an afternoon guided tour.   I really would like to leave Florence early in the morning and stop at Cinque Terre along the way to Genoa which would free up the next day in Genoa.  I am working on that.  We will have to play that one by ear.

Day 9:  FREE DAY IN GENOA OR CINQUE TERRE    On this day there is an optional to Cinque Terre, Cliffside Villages and Coastal Views for $89.  This is the one I would like to do on the way to Genoa.  Of course we would all have to pay the optional fee.  But it would free up today...Day 9 to do the guided tour of Genoa and free time in Genoa.  Or..............Here I go thinking again......we would only be about 2 hours from the French Riviera and Monte Carlo.   This could be a fun optional excursion for those who are interested.  So I am working on that possibility.

Day 10:  TRANSFER TO ANNECY   Transfer from Genoa to Annecy by bus with a stop in Chamonix.   Here I go again.  I know that you are probably thinking I want to go to Italy and now she is dragging me to France.   Go online and search for images of Annecy and I won't have to say another word.  It is called the Venice of France and it is wonderful.   Chamonix is somewhat on the route so if it works out it too is a quaint town with lots of charm.  I visited both this summer and loved them.  That's why I added them to the itinerary.   The evening would be free in Annecy and it too is so walkable and lovely.  There is something for everyone.  It would be an evening exploring the town.    Overnight in Annecy.

Day 11:  TRANSFER TO MILAN:  Transfer from Annecy to Milan by bus.  Panoramic sightseeing of Milan.  Entrance fees are included for Sforza Castle and the Milan Duomo. 

Day 12:  FREE DAY IN MILAN:  I have done this enough to know everyone tries to cram one last site, shopping adventure or delicacy into that last day.  Here is your chance to do that.   No promises but I will be looking into arranging an appointment to see The Last Supper Painting.  This must be done months in advance.  So I will begin working on it.  There is a fee and it would need to be paid in advance.

Day 13:  Depart Italy for Home.

Important Notes:    INFORMATIONAL MEETING....SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH....3PM....6257 CHOCTAW ROAD....BRUSLY, LA  
                              Even if you are unsure about making the trip please come to learn more about how we ROLL!  It is not a high pressure sell. 
                              I do not people pressuring me so I will not do that to you.

1.   I will begin accepting deposits that night.  $650 plus insurance cost if interested.  I will post that amount asap.
2.   I accept travelers on a first come first served basis.  I must have a deposit to hold your place.
3.   I have not set the departure date.  But I will be doing so shortly.  If you have a special date to avoid let me know.  I am looking at mid-June.
4.   If you decide to travel, I will give you all of the information that you need.  We meet and talk about how and what to pack etc. And I provide a hard copy in the
      event that you cannot meet.
5.   Please invite friends and family to attend the meeting.   I must have at least 15 travelers to follow this itinerary at this price.  I do not think numbers will be a
      problem.  But if we fall short I have a second company with a similar itinerary that will work with 10 travelers.  
6.  Feel free to email me at donnakirkland@gmail.com, facebook me, or call or text 225-803-6013 with any questions or concerns.