11 DAY The Med Runner EESCMR-8

Transcription

1 11 DAY The Med Runner EESCMR-8 This tour visits: Spain, France, Italy, Vatican City Run, don t walk. Seriously. This one s for the runners. Sprint across the best parts of the Mediterranean, featuring red hot cities and damn fine scenery. Cue jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring moments as you dip your toes in vibrant Spain, wind your way through France and head for romantic Italy. The Bucket List More Inclusions Walking tour of Valencia Local guide in Florence Driving tour of Barcelona 10 breakfasts, 3 dinners 7 nights in hostels, 3 nights in bungalows at European campsites Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Madrid, Spain Rise and shine, it s Madrid time. Meet the group today and prepare yourself for the excitement and adventure ahead. This city is home to Spanish masterpieces (Picasso and Dali anyone?) and buzzing nightlife. Spend a spare moment exploring the Royal Palace, Plaza de España and Reina Sofia. Need more? Don't miss the Prado Museum, the botanical gardens and the home of Real Madrid FC. -Dinner Day 2 - Madrid Hot foot it along Gran Vía to Plaza Mayor. Before you go, don t miss a visit to the Chocolatería San Ginés - serving some hot dayum churros since In the mood for chills? Kick back and relax in the Malasaña or Chueca neighbourhood. Shopping fiends will be well catered for in the Salamanca district. Optional activities: -Madrid food tour Day 3 - Madrid to Valencia Grab a calamari sandwich then head to Valencia. More food. Some argue Valencia is THE home to paella but we ll leave that for the Spaniards to battle out. -Walking tour of Valencia Day 4 - Valencia to Barcelona Say hey Barcelona! Get acquainted on an included driving tour before we set you free into the buzzing city. Later: if you think you ve eaten it all, nuh-uh! Not even close. Uncover the food market gems scattered across Barcelona and satisfy your inner gastronome. Visit La Boqueria for a luxe open air experience. Tonight: shall we dance? Prepare for an optional flamenco show. -Driving tour of Barcelona -Dinner Optional activities: -Flamenco show

3 Day 5 - Barcelona Next up, rowdy Gaudí. Free day today to tick off Park Güell or La Sagrada Familia. At night, rumble with Las Ramblas for a taste of the Spanish nightlife. Day 6 - Barcelona to Marseille, France Today we hop over the French border to Marseille. Head out on an included walking tour and uncover the delights this port city has to offer. It s multiculturalism and history at its best. -Walking tour of Marseille Day 7 - Marseille It s maritime heaven in the Vieux Port mast-to-mast with yachts for the sailing fans out there. Dig into local French fare and watch the sun set across the port. Charming, really. Day 8 - Marseille to Florence, Italy Time to roll on to Florence, aka the home of the world s best gelato and most awe-inspiring open air museum. End your day in true Italian fashion: in a carb induced coma at a local trattoria. It would be rude not to. -Dinner Day 9 - Florence Renaissance beauty meets Italian style. Say ciao to cheeky David and strut along the Ponte Vecchio, gelato in hand. You could do worse than hunting down a Florentine steak for dinner tonight. -Walking tour of Florence with local guide

4 Day 10 - Florence to Rome Enter Rome and become an amateur historian in no time on our guided city walking tour. Cross off some red hot ruins, oodles of obelisks and of course, the big ticket sights. Later, refuel on pizza. Obviously. How can you not fall in love with this city? -Walking tour of Rome -Visit Pisa & the Leaning Tower Day 11 - Rome including Vatican City visit It wouldn t be Rome without a visit to the Pope. Catch that 360-degree view from the Basilica (optional). After, you re on your own as we love and leave you here. While in Rome, might as well keep on exploring? Optional activities: -Guided tour of Vatican City Accommodation Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While modern hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade - yeah!) or bungalows. The 'More Inclusions' section details what type of accommodation will be used for overnight stops on your trip. The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels you will have multi-share rooms and usually share with between 3 and 5 others (although in some circumstances you will share with more than 5) while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4 people to a room. Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex. Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare

5 circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Spain - Barcelona Flamenco Show 10 Spain - Madrid Madrid Food Tour 69 Italy - Rome Guided tour of Vatican City 40 Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Customer Service Consultant when you book, or make note of this in the Topdeck app when you check in (refer below). However, please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android

6 Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.