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About this trip
Let us plan your vacation to two of our favorite countries! Enjoy a 13-day trip to Italy and Greece in 2024. These countries have breathtaking scenery and architecture, rich cultures, and impressive history. From the ancient Colosseum and Acropolis to the beauty of the Sistine Chapel and Santorini's "blue domes," Italy and Greece are sure to please. Ride in a gondola in Venice and a catamaran on the breathtaking Aegean. Drink wine with your friends and try everything from pizza or risotto to Spanakopita and baklava. On this trip, you will see and taste it all.
Cancelation Policy
Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. All cancellations must be in writing, and the date of postmark will determine the amount of refund due. For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply. Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found. Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
From time of deposit to February 26, 2024: $350 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits that are incurred from the supplier.
From February 27, 2024 – March 10, 2024: $1,000 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits that are owed to the supplier.
From March 11-April 15, 2024: $1,350 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From April 16, 2024 onwards: No refund
What’s included
- TransportationPrivate deluxe motor coach
- AccommodationsBased on 2 sharing a room in 3.5-4* hotels
- MealsAs listed in the itinerary
- TransfersAs a group
- Tips and TaxesAll services provided
- Professional Tour GuidesWe use a tour guide who stays with the group and local step-on guides as well
- EntrancesAll entrance fees as listed in the itinerary
- Additional MealsNot listed in the itinerary
- Single upgradeFor those not sharing a room or not finding a roommate
- Travel InsuranceOptions provided
- AirfareWe will arrange for the group, or you may purchase your own
- Personal FeesE.g. passport
Available Packages
Itinerary
Day 1: Thursday, May 30, 2024: Depart from St. Louis to Venice (IF)
Day 2: Friday, May 31, 2024: Venice
On arrival in Venice, we will meet our tour director, and a local guide will take us on a walking tour of Venice, including inside visits to the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Cathedral, and the Bell Tower. We will also visit St. Mark’s Square and the Bridge of Sighs. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore. We can shop in the famous market area around the Rialto Bridge, watch glass-blowing, take a gondola ride, or enjoy a coffee and some people-watching at St. Mark’s Square. We will have a Welcome Meal this evening. Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal, Venice. (IF/D)
Day 3: Saturday, June 1, 2024: Florence We will head to Florence via Bologna. Here we will stop for lunch and drive to Florence to check into our luxury villa in the afternoon. Enjoy free time to drink wine or just enjoy the beautiful scenery around the villa. We will have dinner together at our villa. Art Hotel VILLA AGAPE (B/D)
Day 4: Sunday, June 2, 2024: Florence Today’s day trip is to Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance. On the way into the city, we will stop at Piazza Michelangelo for an amazing view of the city. A local guide will take us on a walking tour of Florence, including a visit to Accademia to see Michelangelo’s incomparable “David.” We will see the beautiful Santa Croce Church with the tombs of many famous residents of Florence including Michelangelo, Dante and Galileo. We will tour the famed Baptistry and the Duomo. Tickets will be available for those who want to climb Brunelleschi’s famous dome. We have free time in the afternoon. VILLA AGAPE (B)
Day 5: Monday, June 3, 2024: Florence Today is a free day, with options like a cooking class at the villa, including wine-tasting. This will be a great way to engage with the culture and learn new cooking techniques. Other options will include a free day in Florence, a guided tour to Cinque Terre, or a trip to Pisa. VILLA AGAPE (B)
Day 6: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 Siena/Rome We will say goodbye to Florence and travel to Siena. This morning a local guide will take us on a tour of Siena, including the Sunken Piazza del Campo and the Duomo, perhaps the finest Gothic cathedral in Italy. After lunch, travelers will have time to explore Siena and shop. This afternoon we will drive to Rome where we will check in our hotel and eat dinner as a group. In the afternoon we will have a walking tour of Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. The rest of the day is free for shopping or gelato or more touring. The Prati neighborhood around the Via Cola di Rienzo, is a popular shopping district. Other choices include the Roman Catacombs, the Borghese Gallery, the National Museum. The Piazza di Spagna is a great shopping area, very popular with visitors to Rome. HOTEL GENOVA (B/D)
Day 7: Wednesday, June 5, 2024: Rome Today we will explore Ancient Rome with our full-day guide, beginning with an inside tour of the Colosseum. We will tour the Forum, and Palatine Hill. In the afternoon we will visit the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Cathedral, home of the Roman Catholic Church and the largest building in Christianity. Also included is a visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, with stunning artwork. HOTEL GENOVA. (B)
Day 8: Thursday, June 6, 2024: Rome/Santorini
This morning we will visit to Pompeii. Today’s highlight will be a tour of Ancient Pompeii with an expert local guide and lunch at a winery that includes a tasting. In the afternoon, drive back to the airport for an evening flight to Santorini. We will then check info the El Greco Resort and Spa (B,L)
Day 9: Friday, June 7, 2024: Santorini We will have the morning free to relax by the pool or explore the town. This evening we will visit the village of Oia to see the stunning sunset and relax at a small taverna. El Greco Resort and Spa (B)
Day 10: Saturday, June 8, 2024: Santorini.
Today we will do the famous Catamaran “Red Cruise”. Our first stop is the Hot Springs, then we’ll sail past Aspronisi ancient lighthouse, Akrotiri and Indian Rock. On the Red Beach we’ll have time for swimming and snorkeling. The first stop is the White Beach, where we’ll have barbeque cooked on board the ship. This evening is free, but we will have an option to attend a fun Greek wedding show, complete with appetizers, dancing, and unlimited wine! El Greco Resort and Spa (B/L)
Day 11 : Sunday, June 9: Santorini Optional Winery tour and tasting
Drive through the scenic Santorini countryside and visit 2 different wineries. At each winery, you’ll taste some of Santorini’s finest wines such as Nycteri, Asyrtiko, and Vinsanto. Sample 6 to 8 different varieties of wine throughout the tour. Sip a glass of Vinsanto, a Santorini specialty made from dried grapes, whose sweet taste is renowned throughout Europe. Learn about Santorini’s rich viticulture tradition which dates back to ancient times. In between your winery visits, drives through Santorini’s impressive countryside and admire its scenic villages. Experience the world-famous sunset of Santorini as you sip a glass of wine at a winery perched upon the caldera cliffs. Explore the cellars of each winery and learn about the centuries- old techniques employed by Santorini’s winemakers. The tour starts by picking up from your Hotel. The wine tour begins from the wine museum of Koutsogiannopoulos where you will see the only wine museum in Greece and furthermore they will have a wine tasting of four different local wines. The second stop of the tour is the famous Venetsanos Winery. While you will have the wine tasting you will
experience the world famous sunset of Santorini overlooking the Caldera Cliffs.
El Greco Resort and Spa (B)
Day 12: Monday, June 10, 2024 Athens
We will fly to Athens this morning where we will have a city orientation tour and visit the Acropolis and the museum. The rest of the day is free to explore the Plaka.
Divani Palace Athens (B)
Day 13: Tuesday, June 11, 2024: Return to US.
