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A refined worldwide escorted touring
experience
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 Specially-priced
Air Rates
Available: YES
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Day 12 Stresa - choice on tour - Isola dei PescatoriToday,
it’s your choice! Take a boat across Lake Maggiore to Isola Bella,
where you’ll join an expert guide and venture into the Borromeo
Palace**** -OR- cross into Switzerland as your motor coach climbs up
the Simplon Pass for a taste of the Swiss Alps, admiring the Simplon
Hospice dominating the landscape. Tonight, travel by boat to Isola dei
Pescatori***** for a farewell dinner surrounded by beautiful scenery.
DAY 13
Stresa - Tour Ends |
Your
Italian adventure comes to a close today.
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NOTE: Tour
prices are land only rates based on per person, double occupancy. Some
dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and
inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of
booking. Government taxes and fees are additional. Land rates are
guaranteed at time of deposit. Certain taxes and fees are to be paid
upon exiting the country in local currencies. Airfare is available
through Collette Vacations at an additional cost.
We
provide an additional "Thank You!" for
all Collette
tour programs. Call or Email us for details about our "Thank You!"
Promotion for all first-time tour
clients. Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
We will check your requested tour program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in the questionnaire above and reply back to you as soon as possible. Of course the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass along your information that you provide to any third party for any reason (see Liabilities and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout our website. We are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday (except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 | 817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may request from our listed programs. We will respond to your requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon double occupancy unless otherwise specified. Thank
you for
your interest in this quality tour by COLLETTE Vacations!
 Randy C. Gardner President Gardner Travel Service, Inc.  |
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PASSPORT
& VISA INFORMATION
The
Collette
DifferenceCertain countries require a minimum of 6 months passport validity. You are strongly urged to contact the appropriate consulate for details. Visit www.travel.state.gov for the U.S. State Department for the latest details about passports and visa requirements. IMPORTANT: We recommend that our clients traveling abroad take a photocopy of their passport and applicable visas. It should be packed separately from your actual passport and visa. We also recommend leaving a copy at home with your emergency contact. DESTINATION FACTS & STATS Time Zone Italy is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The currency in Italy is the Euro. Electricity Voltage in Italy is 220V. An adaptor (which changes the physical plug) and/or converter (which changes the electric current) are necessary if you plan to use an appliance with voltage different from the standard within the country you are visiting. Please note, if your appliance has dual voltage you may still need an adaptor for the plug. When packing your electronic items for travel, please review the converter electric current level to make sure it is the same or greater than the items you are planning on using. If you plan on utilizing or transporting a sleep apnea machine, please remember to pack an extension cord and adapter plug to ensure proper function. Elevation The highest elevation encountered on this tour is 2,400 feet.
Plan Ahead, Reserve Now! Add a touch of personalization to your vacation by selecting from our well-researched list of options. While Collette is known for our many inclusions, we also want to be sure you have adequate free time and options to enhance your vacation – your way. And now, you can reserve your options in advance of your tour! Availability is limited and reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. Payment must be received no later than 15 days prior to departure. Prices are subject to change. Children under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Rome by Night - $90 City: Rome Duration: 4 Hours Your transportation is included Enjoy an Italian Serenade at a very popular Roman restaurant, where you’ll indulge in a hearty, traditional, four-course menu complete with wine. As you savor the delicious tastes of Italy, talented performers entertain you with a mix of favorite folk songs and arias from best-loved operas. This lively, fun-filled evening will be an unforgettable part of your visit to Rome and an engaging immersion into Italian culture. After dinner, embark on the enchanting Rome by Night tour, seeing the famous landmarks of the “Eternal City” illuminated in the night sky. Make your way along the Tiber River, passing by Tiberina Island. Admire the ancient city walls before seeing the Colosseum from afar, lit from within, radiating against the darkness around it. Remember your evening of Italian romance and charm with a souvenir opera CD – one per couple and one for singles. Gratuities are included. The Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica - $80 City: Rome Duration: 4 Hours Your transportation is included The Vatican Museums are not only home to one of the world’s greatest collections of art, but also to the world-famous Sistine Chapel. Priceless artifacts from ancient Egypt, Etruscan Italy and cultures around the world are preserved in the Vatican’s palaces, galleries, halls and rooms. Follow a local expert guide on a three hour, in-depth visit through this vast collection. Highlights include the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries and of course, a visit to the Sistine Chapel. The chapel’s famous ceiling frescoes took Michelangelo four years to complete. His brilliant Last Judgment, which rests on the altar wall, was a topic of controversy for centuries. Other walls feature paintings by Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Cosimo Rosselli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. Your final stop will be at St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the most important churches in Christendom, and until recently, the largest in the world. Please note this option needs to be prepurchased 90 days prior to departure and is not guaranteed on tour. Due to the nature of this optional item, it is non-refundable. Price includes admission and the use of headphones inside the museum. Due to the unpredictable nature of the events' schedule at the Vatican, on certain dates it may be necessary to visit the Vatican Museums at a different time. Tuscan Feast - $97 City: Florence Duration: 4.5 Hours Your transportation is included This evening, set off on a scenic drive to nearby Galluzzo, a historic town famous for its Carthusian monastery which rests upon one of the beautiful hills surrounding Florence. Prior to dinner, enjoy an after-hours visit to this 14th-century monastery – La Certosa.* Revel in the beauty that lurks inside and experience the monastery’s magnificence as you learn about monastic daily life. Then your evening of fun continues at one of the area’s most popular dining establishments. Experience an authentic and traditional dinner served family-style! Savor local wines and Tuscan food and enjoy the entertainment. It’s a memorable – truly Italian – evening out that you won’t want to miss! *Visit to the monastery may not be possible when weddings are taking place. Gratuities are included. Venetian Serenaded Gondola Cruise - $85 City: Venice Duration: 1 Hour Experience the romance that can only be found in Venice – La Serenìssima – while traveling on its famous waterways. Partake in one of Venice’s most famous pastimes – a gondola cruise. Take a pleasant stroll toward the Grand Canal to board your gondola. As you relax in your elegant watercraft, your gondolier navigates the Grand Canal as well as smaller side canals. Admire the scenery as you listen to the melodic voice serenading you in true Italian style – just like in those romantic Italian movies! This option operates weather permitting. Duration of the gondola cruise is approximately 30 minutes. Gondolas hold 5 to 6 guests. Transportation not included and in most cases not required as option is usually within walking distance.
IT'S IN THE DETAILS Our NO WORRIES cancellation waver means you can cancel anytime prior to the day of departure and receive a full cash refund. Add up the cost of hotels, transportation, meals, sightseeing and entertainment and you'll find what an incredible savings a tour offers. On a tour, you'll find yourself saying, "I never would have thought to try that!" We work everyday to uncover those gems that make your vacation special. Let our experience work for yours. Don't worry about planning the details, getting directions, picking great hotels, or purchasing sightseeing tickets - we do that! Our tour managers are with you from start to finish, taking care of every detail - and brightening your vacation with history and anecdotes that bring the destination to life. A Collette Tour means less time planning and more time enjoying. You pack the bags - we'll lug them around! That's right - when you're on tour with us, we take care of all luggage handling... including the tip!
Why Travel on an Escorted Tour? We take the hassle out of travel, so you have all the fun. Here's how. Our buying power gets you unbeatable value. Our tours include your sightseeing, entertainment, admissions to museums and parks, great hotels and many meals, making it a hassle free experience for you from start to finish. Our hotels are centrally located, so you won't waste a second of your free time in buses or cabs. Even your luggage is managed for you. We planned ahead, so Europe with us is still a bargain. We can provide a vacation to Europe, for example, at 15% less than you would pay if you planned it on your own. There is no better time than now to buy a packaged vacation. Imagine seeing Thailand for less than $90 a day, and that includes your hotel. On our Thailand - Ancient Capitals and Countryside tour, you'll ride an elephant and cruise the Mekong River into Laos, just two unforgettable included experiences among 14 days worth of discoveries You'll also enjoy 26 meals on tour, including a dinner cruise on a rice barge. See the Golden Buddha, the ruins of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, the colorful pageantry of a Hill Tribe cultural show - it's all included! It's like traveling with a friend who knows the area. Your tour manager will be with you every step of the way, handling the tedious details of travel, while you relax and enjoy the trip. They are seasoned professionals with in-depth knowledge about your destination and a passion for sharing it. Our tour developers personally scout out the best for you. They search for accommodations, restaurants, attractions and entertainment to assemble not only a fantastic trip, but create an entire experience that captures the spirit of your destination. Learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine from a Florentine chef in Italy. Fly a kite in China. Feed a kangaroo in Australia. Our tour developers love creating those unforgettable moments that make your trip uniquely yours. We've got something for everyone, from Branson to Beijing. Collette Vacations travels to more than 150 destinations on all seven continents. We also offer Explorations by Collette, small-group tours with a maximum of only 16 - 24 passengers that wander off the beaten path. Explorations tours feature boutique hotels, outdoor activities and interaction with local people. No Worries Protection Plan What exactly is your cancellation waiver? We have the best cancellation waiver in the industry-period. You can cancel your trip up until the day prior to departure for any reason - sickness, change of heart or any reason whatsoever-and you will receive a full refund, minus the small cost of the insurance. That's a cash refund, not a voucher or certificate. There's no risk when you book with Collette. But isn't it expensive? Not at all! Let's say you were planning to take our Italian Vistas tour for 13 days. The land-only waiver is just $170 per person. That breaks down to about $13.07 a day-just a little over eight euros! The land and air waiver is only $30 more. That's airplane peanuts compared to the peace of mind you'll enjoy. Plus, you're covered on tour. Our cancellation waiver and insurance plan covers you on tour. If you have to stop your trip or return home early, need medical assistance or evacuation, suffer a baggage loss or delay; or are delayed on tour for 12 hours or more, you're covered. Testimonials: My husband had an accident in New Zealand…He subsequently had to be transferred by ambulance to Invercargill (Southland Hospital) to have surgery on his leg. He spent one week in the hospital. I am so glad we always take out the insurance. This is our third trip with Collette and we always take out the insurance…In spite of the accident, we had a wonderful time in Australia and New Zealand up to Queenstown and we are very glad we took the trip. Genevieve Gallagher, Clifton Park, NY We had one unfortunate problem; one traveler broke her ankle…Thank goodness I insist that my passengers take the insurance. Virginia Gratton, Greenport, NY
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Discover the city on a locally guided tour of
Classical Rome, passing by the Baths of Caracalla as well as the
remains of the ancient Circus Maximus. During an in-depth visit to the
Colosseum, your guide recounts its rich history. Meander through Rome’s
Renaissance district for a peek at the mythic Pantheon and the
oval-shaped Piazza Navona, adorned with Baroque fountains. This
evening, consider strolling through the Borghese Gardens for views of
the city’s skyline or meander through Rome’s medieval Campo de' Fiori
neighborhood where the cobblestoned streets are lined with antique
shops, independent boutiques and local restaurants.
Today, 
Head through Tuscany, with its landscape of vineyards
and olive groves. Experience Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.”
Home to Italy's best art and architecture, here you’ll visit the
Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture of David.
Tonight, enjoy regional Italian cuisine at a local restaurant.
Embark on a boat trip*** to Murano Island for a
glass-blowing demonstration. When you return, step off the beaten path
and see for yourself how the locals live. Explore the Castello district
with a local expert, walking canal by canal through the narrow streets
all the way to St. Mark’s Square. Admire the stunning Basilica and the
ornate façade of the Doge’s Palace. The remainder of the day is
at leisure. Consider an optional gondola cruise to experience Venice’s
most famous pastime.
Depart Venice for Verona, and stroll the streets that
were the backdrop for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Arrive in the
resort town of Stresa in the breathtaking Italian Lakes District, your
home for the next two nights, and admire the beautiful views of Lake
Maggiore.
