Text Box: Day 1 Fly overnight to Italy
Day 2 Milan • Venice
Day 3 Venice
Day 4 Florence
Day 5 Florence
Day 6 Assisi
Days 7-8 Capri • Sorrento
Days 9-10 Taormina
Day 11 Palermo • Night ferry
Day 12 Pompeii • Rome
Days 13-14 Rome
Day 15 Depart for home

 

15 Days in Italy Summer of 2008

Venice, Florence, Assisi, Pompeii, Rome, Capri, Sicily and more

$3371*(student) / $ 3694*(adult)
*estimated trip fee 
Estimated price based on travelers who register AFTER Jan. 1, 2008.
This price DOES NOT include optionals (see list below) or insurance(see brochure).
**Special conditions and a late fee may apply after March 9th.

Trip fee includes…
Round-trip airfare, hotel stays, and most meals
Full-time multilingual tour director
Guided sightseeing tours
 
Accepting deposits from student and adult travelers now! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registration Fee                             $495 Accepting deposits now.

Remainder of Program Fee          $2495             

Departure Fees*                             $381*Subject to change.

Total for Students (quad)            $3371   *estimated total

Adult Supplement (double)            $485
Total for Adults                          $3856   
*estimated total
Estimated price based on travelers who register AFTER Jan. 1, 2008.   3/7/07

This price DOES NOT include optionals (see list below) or insurance(see brochure).

**Special conditions and a late fee may apply after March 9th.

 

Program Fee includes:

Round-trip airfare

12 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms

1 night ferry accommodations

Complete European breakfast and dinner daily

Full-time bilingual EF Tour Director

9 sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides: Venice • Florence • Assisi • Capri • Taormina  • Palermo • Pompeii • Vatican City • Rome

12 visits to special attractions:  Doges’ Palace • Glass-blowing demonstration  • Duomo • Leather-making demonstration  • Assisi Basilica • Capri island cruise • Greek theater  • Cathedral of Monreale • Roman ruins at Pompeii  • Sistine Chapel • St. Peter’s Basilica • Colosseum 

Whisper headsets for tours of Florence, Pompeii, Rome, and Vatican City

 

OPTIONALS...not included in trip fee:

Pisa

Mount Etna

Catacombs and the Appian Way

Cancellation Insurance

 

Detailed Itinerary for Requested Tour

Day 1 Flight

Overnight flight to Italy • Spend the night flying across the Atlantic.

Day 2 Milan • Venice

Arrival in Milan • Touch down in Milan, fashion and finance capital of Italy. After clearing customs, you are greeted by your bilingual EF Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay. 

Transfer via Verona (time permitting) •  Transfer by way of Romeo and Juliet’s Verona, known for its couplets and Capulets. Here,

you can see the town’s Roman Arena, which dates back to the 1st century A.D. You’ll also see a bronze statue of Juliet, standing below

the balcony said to be the one where she called to her Romeo. 

Arrival in Venice • Arrive in magical Venice, home of Marco Polo.

Day 3 Venice

Guided sightseeing of Venice • Begin your tour of La Serenissima (the city’s nickname, meaning “the most serene”) at St. Mark’s

Square, “the finest drawing room in Europe,” according to Napoleon. Allegedly buried under the altar of the basilica are St. Mark’s remains, which, in the 11th century, were smuggled out of Alexandria in a barrel of salt pork to prevent a thorough search by the city’s Muslim guards. Also see the Grand Canal and the 324-foot campanile (bell tower), whose steps were originally built so that a noble could ascend on horseback. Look for the clock where two bronze figures have been striking the hour for more than 500 years. Venice is also famous for its glassware—you’ll see why during a glass-blowing demonstration.

Visit to Doges’ Palace • Visit the grand

14th-century, pink-and-white Doges’ Palace, from which mighty Venetian dukes once ruled. Here, you’ll stroll over the Bridge of

Sighs, connecting the palace and its prison. As they crossed the bridge, prisoners supposedly sighed with perfect sadness as they

regarded their beautiful city for the last time. Casanova made a daring escape from this prison in 1756.

Day 4 Venice • Florence

Transfer to Florence • Arrive in Florence, birthplace of the Italian language, the Renaissance and opera. 

Guided sightseeing of Florence • Fall under the spell of the powerful Medici family on your guided tour. Pass the classical statues of the Piazza della Signoria, where Michelangelo’s David originally stood and now the site of an impressive replica. From behind the Uffizi Palace, you will see the Ponte Vecchio, one of the city’s only bridges to survive WWII and now one of its most photographed sites. The bridge provided the Medici easy access from the Pitti Palace to the Uffizi. Continue past the Chiesa di Santa Croce, final resting place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo.  Next, you will visit the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, better known as the Duomo, or dome, that dominates Florence’s skyline. The dome was sculptor and architect Brunelleschi’s finest work, and the nearby campanile was designed by the painter Giotto. Look for the famous bronzed doors—Ghiberti’s legendary Gates of Paradise—at the Baptistery opposite the Duomo. Later, watch artisans at work at a local leather-making demonstration.

Day 5 Florence

Optional excursion to Pisa • Opt to journey to Pisa. In the city’s Field of Miracles, you’ll see the 12th-century Leaning Tower, aslant

ever since the third floor was built. This is where Galileo was said to have developed his laws of gravity. Be sure to visit the adjacent

cathedral and baptistery, which contain exquisite marble pulpits carved in the Gothic style by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano.

Free time in Florence • Ask your tour director for fun suggestions!

Day 6 Assisi

Transfer to Assisi • Travel to Assisi, birthplace of both St. Francis and St. Clare. 

Guided sightseeing of Assisi • A local guide

shows you Assisi. Wander through this city, nestled between Mount Subasio and fields of olive groves, which draws millions of tourists

every year with its religious significance and some of Italy’s finest early Renaissance art. At the Basilica of St. Francis, follow the life of

one of Italy’s most beloved saints through Giotto’s artful frescoes.

Day 7 Assisi • Sorrento

Arrival in Sorrento • Transfer to Sorrento, where you’ll spend the night and experience the unparalleled beauty of Italy’s favorite resort,

which overlooks the Bay of Naples.

Day 8 Capri

Guided sightseeing of Capri • Cross the Bay of Naples to the captivating Isle of Capri.  Travel by funicular to the town of Capri and

board a cruise to see the most spectacular views of Capri's coast. You’ll see the Arco Naturale,  a majestic stone arch on the eastern

cliffs, and the famous Faraglioni, three enormous, pale-ochre limestone colossi that loom out of the sea. When weather conditions do

not permit a cruise, groups will visit the town of Anacapri instead.

Day 9 Sorrento • Taormina Region

Transfer to Sicily • Via a ferry crossing from Villa San Giovanni to Messina, transfer to age old Sicily, a Mediterranean island steeped in mythology. Spend the night in the Taormina region. 

Day 10 Taormina Region

Guided sightseeing of Taormina • An expert local guide introduces you to Taormina, a scenic town perched high above the sea. Pay

homage to classical vistas and majestic Mount Etna, towering in the background. See the duomo and the 15th-century Palazzo Corvaia.  Then visit the town’s 3rd-century Greek Theatre—Goethe felt it boasted one of the world’s most beautiful vistas.

Optional excursion to Mount Etna • When you join this optional excursion, travel from Taormina to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest

(and still active!) volcano. Ancient Greeks said Typhon, a terrifying monster they believed would be the last to fight the gods for dominion of the earth, inhabited Etna’s lava-covered slopes. You’ll need sturdy walking shoes and a jacket as you and your guide navigate the mountain’s meandering pathways.

Day 11 Taormina Region • Night Ferry

Arrival in Palermo • Transfer to Palermo, situated along the Conca d’Oro (Golden Conch Shell). This bayside city also lies at the foot of

Mount Pellegrino.

Guided sightseeing of Palermo • Pass the city’s 16th-century palazzi on a guided tour of the capital—and chief port—of Sicily. You’ll visit the Cathedral of Palermo, which is noted for its diverse history and many architectural styles. A Byzantine basilica that once stood on this site was turned into a mosque in the 9th century, and after the Normans gained control of Palermo in 1072, the mosque was reconsecrated as a Christian church. The new cathedral was completed in 1185 and underwent several renovations and included many additions through the years until the last major restoration in 1785. Continue on to Monreale for a visit to the town’s magnificent Norman cathedral.

Night ferry to Naples • Board a ferry and enjoy comfortable cabin accommodations as you sail through the night to Naples.

Day 12 Naples • Rome

Arrival in Naples • Disembark in Naples, birthplace of Italian pizza.

Guided sightseeing of Pompeii • Learn how wealthy Romans lived 2,000 years ago on an excursion to Pompeii, one of the richest archaeological sites in the world. When neighboring Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, volcanic ash completely buried the Roman

resort. Now it is fully excavated, and you can see the ruins of villas, ancient temples and Stabian Baths.

Arrival in Rome • Arrive in bella Roma, the Eternal City. Here, Charlemagne was crowned by the pope in A.D. 800.

Day 13 Rome

Guided sightseeing of Rome • Get to know Imperial Rome on a panoramic tour. Then spend time exploring the mighty Colosseum, Rome’s largest amphitheater. Its elaborate construction spanned two emperors—building began between A.D. 70 and 72 under Vespasian and was completed in A.D. 80 under Titus. Originally built to accommodate nearly 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum played host to some of the most incredible spectacles of the day, including gladiatorial combat, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions and even dramatic performances based on classical mythology. Later, pass by the Forum Romanum, once the heart of the Roman Empire. 

Walking tour of Rome • As part of your walking tour of Rome, stop at the Trevi Fountain and make sure to toss in a coin to ensure

your return to Rome. Then view the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in the city, commissioned by the Emperor

Hadrian around A.D. 120. This temple to “all the gods” features the second-widest dome in Rome. Then, during free time, continue to the Piazza Navona before meeting at the Spanish Steps prior to dinner.

Day 14 Rome

Visit to Vatican City • Today, you will explore

Vatican City, the world’s smallest country. Begin at the Vatican Museum, where elaborate galleries filled with one artistic masterpiece after another lead you directly to the Sistine Chapel. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted some of the world’s finest pictorial

images on the chapel’s ceiling. This was his first attempt at working in fresco, which he did by standing up and craning backward

from a scaffold. Next, tour St. Peter’s Basilica, erected on the site where the saint was martyred.  Enter the basilica under the watchful

eyes of the brightly dressed Swiss Guard. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s Pietà, the only sculpture he ever signed.

Optional excursion to the Catacombs and the Appian Way • Take an optional excursion to Rome’s outlying catacombs, Christian burial grounds that date from the 2nd through 5th centuries. As you visit these mysterious burial chambers of popes and saints, keep your eyes out for early Christian art. Then journey down the ancient Appian Way, the most celebrated highway of the Roman Republic. Constructed in 312 B.C., the Appian Way led southward from Rome to Capua, and eventually to Brundisium (now Brindisi). Continue on to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the second-largest church in the city of Rome, next to St. Peter’s. On the basilica’s peripheral walls hang circular portraits of each pope. There is space for only seven more portraits, and legend says that once the walls fill up the world will end.

Free time in Rome • Alternatively, you’ll have free time to make your own discoveries of Rome. You might wish to focus on museums, cathedrals or finding the perfect gelato.

Day 15 Home

Return home • Your tour director assists with the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight home.

 

 

Brief Itinerary of Requested Tour

Day 1 Flight  Overnight flight to Italy

Day 2 Milan • Venice  Arrival in Milan...Transfer via Verona (time permitting)...Arrive in Venice .

Day 3 Venice Guided Venice...Visit Doges’ Palace

Day 4 Venice • Florence Transfer to Florence...Guided Florence

Day 5 Florence Optional Pisa...And/Or Free time Florence

Day 6 Assisi Transfer to Assisi...Guided Assisi

Day 7 Assisi • Sorrento Arrival Sorrento

Day 8 Capri Guided Capri

Day 9 Sorrento • Taormina Region Transfer to Sicily  

Day 10 Taormina Region Guided Taormina...Optional Mount Etna

Day 11 Taormina Region • Night Ferry Arrival in Palermo...Guided Palermo...Night Ferry

Day 12 Naples • Rome Arrival in Naples...Guided Pompeii...Arrival in Rome

Day 13 Rome Guided Rome...Walking Rome

Day 14 Rome Vatican City...Optional Catacombs & Appian Way...Free time in Rome

Day 15 Home Return home

 

 

                                                                   

                                                                               

                                                                           Italian Treasures June 2008

 This is my 10th opportunity to lead a trip through Europe.  I am always excited to plan a new trip.   Visiting a new country is an experience you will never forget.  Travelers will experience places and people like never before.  Travelers have the opportunity to see and walk through cities and buildings that you have only seen in books and on  television.  You will place yourself amidst these monuments, stories, people and buildings.  Traveling Italy from north to south will provide the opportunity to visit several cities with different flavors and atmospheres.  Because I have visited all of these places (except for Sicily) on several occasions, I am happy to share with travelers some of the hidden treasures in each city.  Likewise, I can share with you information that will prepare you to travel with the tools that you need to help you maximize your visit.  My goal is to keep my travelers safe, informed and to allow them to see as much as they can see while traveling with me.  I hope that you are ready to do some walking because we will “hit the ground running ” and continue to do so throughout our  trip. 

Since I have been leading European travel for 10 years, let me assure you that every year I thoroughly research travel companies and destinations before selecting a company and/or destination.  I have consistently chosen EF for my European trips.  Frankly, I think that they give you the “most bang for your buck”.  With that being said, understand that you are not on a 5 star tour with the services of a bellman.  If that is your goal, you are on the wrong trip.  If what you are looking for is a packed itinerary, with safe and clean accommodations, the full time services of a multi-lingual tour director and guided local tours with someone preparing tour arrangements in advance, you are in the right place.  Knowing this ahead of time will make your trip more enjoyable.  The trip is that it is planned as an educational experience with briefings throughout the journey.  Additionally, I will provide you with pre-trip information, on trip information and assistance with free time activities.  One example of trip information that I prepare is a luggage tag prepared with all of our hotel addresses and phone numbers along with my phone number.  In the event you are separated from the group you never have to worry about regrouping.        

First, let me help set your expectations. The purpose of visiting new countries is to have new experiences.  Hopefully all of them will be pleasant.  Keep in mind like any vacation there may be times that do not go exactly as planned.  It’s times like these that you need to be prepared to “enjoy the moment!”  Remember that the most trying experiences make the best stories when you return home.
      It is a good idea to realize that many of the European customs and standards are very different from our American expectations.  If you are aware of this before traveling and realize that these customs should not be taken personally, it will be much easier to sit back and enjoy the experience.  I have listed a few things that you should be prepared for:

 

1.   Many of the cities that we will visit designed for tour buses.  Therefore, we are not guaranteed 
      a front door drop-off.  You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage at all times
     Keep this in mind when packing your luggage.  Hopefully we will not have to carry our bags too
     far but be prepared just in case.  This is when you really appreciate the wheels on your suitcase.


2.   Elevators are available in most hotels, but they are sometimes small and slow.  In some
      hotels the elevators start on the second floor which means that you have to climb a
     flight of stairs before reaching the elevator.  When a group of 35 travelers arrive all at
     once it is sometimes just easier to take the stairs.



3.   Many public restrooms have pay toilets.
 


4.  Continental breakfast usually means toast and coffee or rolls and coffee.
 

5.  Dinners tend to vary between local cuisine and an attempt to mimic some American   
     meals. Sodas are NOT provided with your meals.  Bottled water and beverages must be purchased.  
     Remember you are responsible for purchasing your own lunch.

 6.  Hotel rooms are sometimes smaller than American hotel rooms.  Some are not air-conditioned.  If
      there is air conditioning it is not nearly as “cool” as what we are accustomed to.  You might want to
      consider a small portable battery operated fan.

 7.  Many stores and businesses keep different hours from what we would expect.  

 8.  Don't forget that we will be combined with other groups which will include students and adults.  Take this
      time to make new friends with our partner travelers from various parts of the United States.  Address cards
      to exchange with your new friends can be fun.  


 

It is never too early to start packing.

After leading 23 domestic trips and 9 European trips, I still have not managed to master the art of packing light.  However, I cannot stress the importance of doing so.  You will be miserable packing a heavy suitcase across Europe.  You will be TOTALLY responsible for handling your own luggage.  You will be responsible from taking your belongings from the bus to the hotel and vice versa.  Keep telling yourself, that it is okay to wear the same clothes twice.  Trust me, the Europeans do it all the time! You will be glad that you kept it light. 

            Do not pack to the brim.   There are so many interesting things to buy.  Make sure to leave room in your suitcase to carry your souvenirs home.  One option is to carry a lightweight bag in your suitcase.  Toward the end of the trip you may want to load the extra bag and check it separately for the trip home.  This has not been a problem in the past but we all know that the airlines are frequently changing the rules.

            As for a carry on bag, the airlines are checking those more thoroughly these days.  So the idea is to keep the important things in but to minimize as much as possible.  Do include your passport (Bring a copy of your passport and keep it in a separate location.), camera and all medicine (in a labeled bottle or with a copy of the prescription), one set of underwear, toothbrush etc (Yes…airlines do lose and delay luggage.)  Keep in mind by the time we reach our destination we will have been traveling form many hours.  (I suggest a blow up neck pillow for the airplane.)

Getting ready…

§       Wheels are a MUST on your luggage.  Narrow streets do not always allow the bus to give you front door service at the hotel.  Elevators are available in most hotels, but they are usually small and slow.  In some hotels, the elevators start on the second floor which means that you have to climb a flight of stairs before reaching the elevator.

§       Keep your luggage weight to a minimum.  Plan to check only one bag.  Weight and size restrictions  change frequently.  International rules are different from domestic restrictions.  Please call the airlines to check for the most recent regulations. 

§       Label everything with your name and address...inside and out!  Luggage tags may be lost during transport.  Cameras and bags are easily misplaced.  Please label your cameras!  Again, label EVERYTHING with your name and address.

§       Film should be “carried on”.  Do not pack film in your suitcase.  Suitcases are “heavily x-rayed”.  

§       Invest in a brightly colored luggage strap or ribbon.  Brightly colored luggage straps can be found at Wal-Mart.

§       If you have never used a backpack, this is probably the time to start.  Look for a lightweight bag that is sturdy.  A backpack makes a great carry-on.

§       Don’t forget the camera and lots of film.  If you think you have enough, pick up a few more rolls.  If you are using a digital camera remember lots of batteries and memory cards.  It is much easier and cheaper to purchase these at home.  Be sure your camera is light and portable.  Label it clearly with your name and address.

§       Purchase a calling card.  The best deals can be found at Wal-Mart or Sam’s.  Make sure that you have the country codes for each country.  These are different for each country.  If the codes are not with the card, call customer service before leaving home.  You must have these codes to call home.  Keep in mind that units indicated minutes used in the United States.  It takes several units for a one minute call home.

§       Many cell phones can be activated to be used abroad.  Check with you cell phone carrier regarding charges.  It is sometimes easier and cheaper to purchase an international phone.

§       When you are thinking about calling home, remember that Italy is 7 hours ahead of us.  This makes it difficult to call home at reasonable hours.  Warn family members before leaving home. 

§       The international flight will be a LONG one.  You might want to consider purchasing travel books and/or maps for each city to read on the flight.  Visit a bookstore such as Barnes & Noble to pick up books on the places that we will visit.  You might want to purchase maps for the big cities that we will visit.  I suggest versions that are small enough to carry with you while on tour.  Familiarize yourself with the layout of the cities that we will visit and the sights located there.  If there are special sights that you would like to visit on your free time, it is extremely helpful if you have some idea of the location.  (I find the DK travel books and the MapEasy maps to be the most helpful.)

§       I suggest purchasing an inflatable neck pillow which can be found in the luggage department of most stores.  It is important that you get some sleep on the plane.  When we arrive in Europe it will be Day 2 on according to our itinerary.  It is very possible that we will not have a chance to rest before going out.  Our rooms are sometimes not ready until late afternoon.  Remember several days of intense touring will follow Day 2.  You will need all of the rest that you can get.       

§       We will be using the Euro.  The currency value can be found in the daily newspaper or online at xe.com.  If you start watching the value of now, you should be familiar with the money once on tour. 

§       Before we leave you should change American dollars to foreign currency (Euro).  No matter what anyone else says…you will be glad that you changed money BEFORE departing. 

§       ATM machines are available.  But do not depend solely on these machines.  They are not always where you want them when you need them.

§       Credit cards are accepted in most stores so you DO want to bring your credit card.  Check with the credit card company regarding any surcharge for foreign purchases.  This is especially handy for large purchases or extra spending money.  Again, make two copies of your card number, expiration date and customer service number.  Leave one at home.  Take one with you separate from your card. 

§       It is important to remember many of your purchases will be made from street vendors who do not accept credit cards.  Basically, a little of each is the best rule of thumb…credit card, ATM and Euros.  Don’t forget US dollars as well for airport purchases while in the US.

§       You many want to bring some cheap washcloths or bath sponges that can be left behind.  Europeans provide towels but think washcloths are unsanitary.

§       Don’t forget any braces/supports for ankles etc.  If you have any problems that call for such.

§       Do bring a lightweight waterproof jacket with a hood.  There are days when we may be really warm and then there are cities and nights where we may be really cool.  Like Louisiana, you never can tell.  Just be prepared.  We tour rain or shine.  You may want to bring a small umbrella. 

§       Before departing check the weather page in our local newspaper for high and low temperatures in the cities that we are visiting.  Remember that some hotels are not air-conditioned.  Even hotels that are air-conditioned are not always cool by our terms.  Some hotels charge extra for air conditioning.  Packing a small battery operated fan is an option.   

§       Shorts are acceptable for MOST touring.  Do include one or more pairs of slacks for days when shorts are not acceptable.  Europeans are strict about knees and shoulders.  You will need your knees and shoulders covered in order to visit some churches.  The best bet is to carry your jacket and a lightweight skirt or pants in your backpack.  You can slip this on before entering and take it off to continue your tour.  Pants are acceptable.  Another option is to carry a wrap skirt in your backpack.  The skirt can be worn over shorts in the church and then removed for touring.

§       Comfortable walking shoes are a must.  We will do lots of walking.

§       You must have a watch and a travel clock.  Reminder…the cities that we are visiting are 7 hours ahead of us. 

§       If you plan to use a camera charger or blower dryer or anything electric you will need a converter and adaptor.  Make sure that the kit you purchase includes both. 

§       Check with your health insurance company to determine coverage abroad.  Bring a copy of your health insurance card and a phone number to reach the company.  Bring your insurance card. I strongly recommend the complete EF insurance package.

§       Label everything inside and outside.  Luggage tags are sometimes lost during transport.  Cameras and bags are easily misplaced.  Label everything with your name and address. 

§       Record credit card numbers and customer service numbers for your cards.  Make a two photocopies of your passport and your birth certificate.  Leave one copy at home.  Bring the other copy with you. Store it separately from your passport.   Record serial #s of any other important items or documents.

§       Don’t forget that we will be combined with students and adults from other areas.  Take this time to make new friends with our partner travelers from various parts of the United States.  You might want to bring cards with your name and address to exchange with our new friends.  It’s nice to keep in touch when we return home.  We have made some great friends this way.  These can be simple computer cards.  It’s just a fun thing to do.

§       A money pouch to be worn under your clothing is ESSENTIAL.  You will have to carry your passport, money and airline ticket with you at all times.  These need to be kept on your person in a spot accessible to you and inaccessible to pickpockets.

§       Leave valuables such as expensive jewelry at home. 

§       Prepare for unexpected expenses.  We tour with the group throughout the day.  We sometimes participate in nighttime activities not pre-planned and not paid by EF.  In the past we have taken a boat ride, enjoyed night entertainment, or taken a night tour.  Other night activities have included a special stops, side-trips or activities not included on the itinerary.  These are expenses that are not covered by EF.  All of these activities involve admission fees not covered by EF.  The cost of these activities may range in cost.  I suggest budgeting $250 for extra activities because once you are there you will want to do it all.  I especially like to warn students about this since participating in these extra activities can quickly bite into their planned lunch and souvenir money. 

§       Other expenses to consider are airport meals, pay toilets, lunch (which is not provided by EF), metro or bus tickets when bus transportation is not provided, and beverages.  Only tap water is provided with meals.  Payment for bottled water and sodas is NOT included with your provided meals or purchased meals.  Anything beverage or bottled water is a purchased item at all times throughout the trip.  When planning your budget, remember to include a daily budget for beverages.

§       Don’t forget you will need some United States currency to use at US airports for food, drinks, etc.

§       Finally, our departure date will not be confirmed until closer to travel.  Please let me know immediately of any dates on which you CANNOT travel. 

 

I hope I have not overwhelmed you with all of the information! It is important that you know what to expect when you visit a new country.  Having a real set of expectations, will make your trip enjoyable.   I hope that preparing for the trip will be an exciting part of our upcoming tour.  I just wanted to give you some ideas to help you prepare for the trip.  In the meantime, feel free to call me with any questions or concerns.  However, if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call me or contact me by email.  Phone:  225-687-7720 or 225-803-6013 Email:  donna@donnakirkland.com    

 

                                                          Looking forward to a great trip,

Donna Kirkland           

 

It’s not too late to join us on an Italian Adventure

in June of 2008…

but time is running out!

 

Please contact me asap if you are interested in traveling this summer.

 

15 Days in Italy Summer of 2008

Venice, Florence, Assisi, Pompeii, Rome, Capri, Sicily and more

 

$33371*(student) / $ 3694*(adult)
*estimated trip fee 

Trip fee includes…
Round-trip airfare, hotel stays, and most meals
Full-time multilingual tour director
Guided sightseeing tours
 
Accepting deposits from student and adult travelers now! 

Contact Donna Kirkland for additional details and a detailed itinerary.

Email…donna@donnakirkland.com

Phone 225-803-6013 

Visit: http://www.donnakirkland.com for trip details and photos.

 

 

 

Intent to Travel Information.....

Dear Traveler,

            The applications for the trip to Italy are in!  I have enclosed an itinerary, prices and an application.  Please look over the information carefully.  I would strongly recommend that each traveler include the insurance payment as part of the plan.  Pay special attention to company policy regarding travel dates, refunds and itinerary changes.  It is important to note that if there are not enough travelers for our requested itinerary, EF may opt to schedule a similar but different itinerary.  Prices will be adjusted accordingly.  I have requested the 15 day Italian Treasures trip. Italian Treasures is the only EF trip that travels Italy from north to south AND includes Sicily.  Therefore, our second choice would be a very similar trip but a few days shorter since it would not include Sicily.  Participants would be compensated for/or responsible for any difference in trip cost.  While on tour if an extension or option does not run due to lack of registered participants, monetary compensation will be made or we may opt to run it as a small group with an additional fee. 

Since we do not have a large enough group to make it financially feasible to travel on our own, we will be combined with another group, which may include students.  Please note that I have requested to travel in mid-June. EF cannot confirm the exact departure date at this time.  I am requesting a mid-June departure.  The greater our flexibility in dates, the more likely it is that we will get our 1st choice of trips.  EF asks for a 10 day range of departure dates.  Please let me know if there is a date that I must avoid in order for you to travel with us. 

            After you have carefully studied all of this information, please return the bottom part of this letter to me with payment of $495.  (This is the $95 deposit plus then 1st part of the program fee.)  After you make the initial payment, you pay as you decide.  The only stipulation is that you must be paid in full by the final due date.  Make your payment to EF but send it directly to me.  This enables me to verify the number of travelers.          

My address is:    Donna Kirkland…5213 Eudora Drive…Addis, LA 70710.

Phone 225-687-7720 or 225-803-6013          Email:  donna@donnakirkland.com

 

______  I am definitely making this trip.  I have enclosed my deposit and registration form. 

              After making the $495 deposit, pay as you like as long as you pay in full is made by the final due date.               Select optionals below and return asap so that I can continue with trip preparations. 
              

                                Optionals: Travelers are responsible for selected optional fees.
                       Estimated fees are listed below.  Must have enough registered participants to run. 

                   Pisa                                                                  $ 40                 Yes or No
                        Mount Etna                                                      $ 30                 Yes or No

                        Catacombs and Appian Way                            $ 55                 Yes or No

                        All Inclusive Insurance Plan                              $115                 Yes or No

               ***Please circle your selections.  Your selected optionals will be added to your trip fee.

 

______  I am interested but unsure as to whether or not I will travel.

             (If this is the case, please let me know how long before you will know.)

 

______  I cannot make this trip.  Maybe next time!

 

Name___________________________________  Email:_______________________________

 

Phone     Home:______________          Cell:_____________               Work:____________

 

Mailing Address:______________________________________________________

 

City, State:___________________________________________________ Zip:_____________      

 

**REMEMBER...Send your check made payable to: EF directly TO ME.