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A refined worldwide escorted touring
experience
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 Specially-priced
Air Rates
Available: YES
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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. Roman Serenade
Day 3 | Rome
$100.00 pp
Enjoy a pleasant serenade with dinner in Trastevere, a charming, bohemian district where Rome’s locals often frequent. Indulge in a hearty, traditionally Roman menu, complete with wine. As you savor the delicious tastes of Italy, talented performers entertain you with folk songs. This lively, fun-filled evening will be an unforgettable part of your visit to Rome and an engaging immersion into Italian culture. Tuscan Feast
Day 6 | Florence
$90.00 pp
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! Venetian Serenaded Gondola Cruise
Day 8 | Venice
$75.00 pp
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!
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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On a locally guided tour of the Vatican Museums*
explore Papal palaces, halls and galleries housing priceless artifacts
from ancient Egypt and Etruscan Italy, as well as statuary from
classical Greece and Rome. Admire the Gallery of Maps and works by
great Renaissance masters such as Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio. In
the Sistine Chapel, marvel at Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling and
brilliant Last Judgement. Next, wander through the towering columns of
St. Peter’s Basilica, a daring feat of human artistry and engineering.
Admire the baroque spirals of Bernini’s altar canopy and gaze up at
Michelangelo’s dome – still the tallest in the world. Later this
afternoon, take in views of the River Tiber, the Circus Maximus and the
Colosseum during a panoramic drive back to your hotel. The evening is
yours. Perhaps you’ll join an optional dinner in a popular restaurant,
indulging in a hearty meal accompanied by wine and local entertainment.
Ease your way into the local culture as your Tour
Manager shares a few key Italian phrases. Travel to Assisi, birthplace
of St. Francis. Take in the old-world atmosphere on a guided walking
tour of the old city, including the Basilica of St. Francis. Then
you’re off to medieval Perugia, the historic capital of Umbria. With
free time to explore, consider wandering along the Piazza IV Novembre
or visiting medieval palaces and ornate cathedrals.
Head through Tuscany’s graceful low-lying hills
to the Etruscan city of Cortona. Perched on the side of a hill, take in
the ornate facades and medieval architecture. Peek at the adjacent Lake
Trasimeno, situated off in the distance. You might recognize the city
as the charming setting for the book and film Under the Tuscan Sun. End
your day in Florence – the “Cradle of the Renaissance” – and visit the
world-famous Academy Gallery* to see Michelangelo’s David.
Start your day with a visit to a historic winery
in the heart of the Chianti region. In the shadow of its 12th-century
castle, learn about Tuscan wines and enjoy a chef-led cooking class.
Next, sit back and savor regional delicacies during a delicious lunch.
This afternoon, journey through central Italy, crossing the Apennine
Mountains toward the Po River Valley. Enchanting Venice awaits with 117
tiny islands and its latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges.
