Overview
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Due to government travel restrictions in the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy, this vacation will have a modified itinerary temporarily to ensure its operation is smooth and safe. For details on any adjustments, please refer to the Travel Update & Policy page found on the home page.
Highlights
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Colosseum
FLORENCEGuided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square
VENICEPrivate boat ride; visit St. Mark’s Square; glassblower demonstration; pasta dinner at local restaurant; [LF] private water-taxi ride through the Grand Canal
BELLINZONA[LF] Visit the Castelgrande courtyard and enjoy a light lunch with wine
LUCERNEWalking tour including the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
BASEL–PARISBy high-speed TGV train (first-class)
PARISGuided sightseeing, enjoy a Seine cruise, farewell dinner at a local restaurant
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Total meals included:
- 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY.
Day1
Welcome to Rome! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants.
Meals included:
- Dinner
ROME
Day2
Guided sightseeing of the Eternal City starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL with Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, followed by a visit to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà. Then, enjoy views of other major sites as you drive to the Roman Forum to visit the amazing COLOSSEUM, where gladiators once fought. For those who wish to see it all, an optional walking tour with a Local Guide is available to further explore Rome’s famous sites.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROME–FLORENCE
Day3
A pleasant drive past hilltop towns and the vineyards of Chianti brings you to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Meet your Local Guide, and visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Continue your walking tour through the historic center and stand in awe in front of the magnificent cathedral, admire Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gates of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afterwards, shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry, sold by the ounce. Tonight try out Tuscan specialties during an optional dinner.
Today’s Distance: 211 mi / 340 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
FLORENCE–VENICE
Day4
Arrive in Venice, city of romantics, and enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to visit ST. MARK’S SQUARE. Admire the byzantine basilica, the Clock Tower, lavish Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Also watch a skilled GLASSBLOWER fashion delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Time to wander through the narrow streets with their numerous shops at your own pace and you may wish to join an optional gondola ride. A PASTA DINNER has been prepared for you at a local restaurant, followed by a LF PRIVATE WATER-TAXI ride along the Grand Canal as a proper arrivederci on your last night in Italy.
Today’s Distance: 174 mi / 280 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
VENICE–BELLINZONA, SWITZERLAND–LUCERNE
Day5
Enter the Swiss Alps and stop in Bellinzona. LF Ride the elevator to the COURTYARD of Castelgrande, part of the fortifications dating back to the Middle Ages and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a spectacular panoramic view and a light lunch with local specialties and the delicious Merlot wine for which the Ticino area is famous. On your way to Lucerne marvel at the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard.
Today’s Distance: 342 mi / 550 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
LUCERNE
Day6
Join your Tour Director for a pleasant walk and admire Thorwaldsen’s impressive LION MONUMENT, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France during the French Revolution. Walk along ornate patrician houses of the walled Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church, the first large baroque church built in Switzerland on the north side of the Alps. Shop for Swiss watches or chocolates, and to make the most of your stay, choose from a selection of optional activities: climb Mount Pilatus or take a cruise on the fjord-like lake. Why not sign up for a folklore party with yodeling and alphorn blowing for a first-hand impression of Alpine merrymaking?
Meals included:
- Breakfast
LUCERNE–BASEL–PARIS, FRANCE
Day7
Leave Basel and board the high-speed TGV TRAIN to Paris. In the afternoon, an optional excursion to the Louvre Museum with the Mona Lisa is available, and later, don’t miss an optional dinner and show at the famous Moulin Rouge!
Today’s Distance: 404 mi / 650 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
PARIS
Day8
This morning take advantage of an optional excursion to the lavish baroque Palace and Gardens of Versailles. Later, discover the world capital of chic and style with a Local Guide and admire its most renowned sites: the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and more. During your SEINE CRUISE enjoy spectacular views of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. Tonight, a farewell dinner awaits at one of Paris’ lively restaurants, the proper way to say au revoir, Paris.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
PARIS
Day9
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Extend your stay
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Empire Palace
Superior Tourist-Class
With a classy, elegant design embellished by valuable architectural elements and precious marbles, the Empire Palace Hotel is a refined 4-star superior hotel located in Rome's historical center, just a few steps from the famous Via Veneto. The hotel was built from the charming spaces of the palace erected in 1870 by the Mocenigo, a noble Venetian family, as their own residence. The Empire Palace features a fine dining restaurant that reinterprets the best Mediterranean cuisine and a suggestive cocktail bar for drinks and aperitifs to be enjoyed in the annexed courtyard. Comfortable and rich in charm, classically furnished with fine finishings, enwrapped in a vintage environment, functional and fully-equipped: all guestrooms offer a comfy stay made of privacy and calm. Different in type and surface area, all guestrooms cater to any need of space and comfort. All rooms have air-conditioning, marble bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, minibar, and safe.
Location
Via Aureliana 39, Roma, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Hot Tub
- Spa Services
- Pool
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Restaurant On-Site
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Complimentary Toiletries
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Climate Control
- Room Service
- Mini-bar
- Hair Dryer
- Window Opens
- Air Conditioning
- Television
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Desk
Starhotel Michelangelo
Superior First-Class
Modern 7-story Hotel situated downtown, 2 blocks from the Arco River, 800 meters from Central railway station.
Location
Viale F.Lli Rosselli 2, Florence, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
- Fitness Room
- Concierge desk
- Currency Exchange
- Business Center
- Restaurant On-Site
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Laundry Available
Room Facilities
- Mini-bar
- Alarm Clock
- Internet Access
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Voicemail
- Smoking Rooms
- Phone
- Coffee Maker
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Hair Dryer
NH Laguna Palace
First-Class
Modern hotel with conference facilities, moorings for almost 400 boats in adjoining marina; 25 minute shuttle to center of Venice.
Location
Viale Ancona 2, Venice-Mestre, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Spa Services
- Luggage Storage
- Concierge desk
- Elevator
- Restaurant On-Site
- Free WiFi
- Laundry Available
- Bar/Lounge
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Alarm Clock
- Coffee Maker
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Television
- Phone
- Internet Access
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Wake-Up Calls
- Room Service
- Mini-bar
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
Astoria
First-Class
Ideally located in the heart of Lucerne, surrounded by mountains, close to its lake boasting crystal clear waters, the historic old town, and famous Chapel Bridge. All 252 contemporary rooms have a minibar and Wi-Fi. There's a plush cocktail lounge, a stylish café, and a rooftop bar affording city views. Other facilities include a full equipped modern gym.
Location
Pilatusstrasse 29, Lucerne, Switzerland
Hotel Facilities
- Elevator
- Parking/Valet
- Currency Exchange
- Business Center
- Restaurant On-Site
- Luggage Storage
- Fitness Room
- Concierge desk
- Ice Machine
- Gift Shop
- Laundry Available
- Bar/Lounge
- Free WiFi
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Alarm Clock
- Mini-bar
- Television
- Air Conditioning
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Internet Access
Les Jardins du Marais
Superior First-Class
In the centre of Paris, with 263 rooms and a tranquil garden, this delightful property is composed of nine 19th-century buildings and has 'small village' charm. Facilities include a restaurant, a bar/lounge, a fitness room and Free Wi-Fi access.
Location
74, Rue Amelot, Paris, France
Hotel Facilities
- ATM
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Business Center
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
- Restaurant On-Site
- Concierge desk
- Fitness Room
- Free WiFi
Room Facilities
- In-Room Safe
- Wake-Up Calls
- Hair Dryer
- Mini-bar
- Desk
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control
- Alarm Clock
- Coffee Maker
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Window Opens
- Cable/Satellite
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Room Service
- Smoking Rooms
- Complimentary Toiletries
