Day 1 Saturday, March 23 Departure Day v Have your passport and luggage in possession to meet coaches for AFW departure flights from New York, Chicago or Los Angeles - or travel to Italy with a parent and/or other family members. Board your overnight flight. Enjoy dinner, a movie, and importantly get some sleep and then breakfast on board. Due to time zone travel you will land in Italy the following morning after a short night of rest. Day 2 Sunday, March 24 Arrival in Italy & Classical Rome v Morning arrival at Rome Fiumicino International airport. Disembark and proceed through Italy Passport Control then to baggage claim to retrieve your luggage and equipment. After securing all of your belongings proceed through Customs and out to the reception area where you will be greeted by our full-time bilingual tour manager. They will be at your service until your departure from Milan the following Sunday. v While waiting at the airport if you have not done so prior to departure, you may want to secure some Euros from an ATM or currency exchange. Make certain that your luggage and all personal items are secure at all times. Early arrivals that have to wait on other incoming travelers may enjoy an Italian pastry and espresso. v When everyone in the AFW tour group has arrived load your motor coach and depart to Rome city centre seeing several historical sites along the way. v Upon arrival in Rome you will provide a preliminary orientation to the city center probably highlighting the famous and beautiful Piazza Navona where you will have free time for lunch (traveler s choice) and possibly your first taste of fresh, authentic Italian gelato. Your tour manager will be of assistance to make recommendations. ATMs will be available as well. v Staying within the defined area, the group will then gather at a designated meeting point to meet professional bilingual local guides who will provide a tour of the Eternal City. See the famous classical buildings, architectural wonders, fountains and squares of Rome including the incomparable Pantheon, renovated Trevi Fountain, the beautiful Spanish Steps and more! v Following the tour there will be free time provided to further explore or begin your souvenir shopping. v Due to the rigors of travel to Europe, it will be a challenging first day so by 6:00pm we will re-gather and proceed to your Rome base hotel for check-in, freshening up, and then dinner. The players may have a brief team meeting. Afterward, rest and sleep are recommended for your upcoming exciting days experiencing Italy s la vita dolce. Day 3 Monday, March 25 The Coliseum, Vatican City & First Practice v Have a hearty breakfast then board your motor coach. Players will need to bring their helmets and game jerseys on to the bus. We will take a team photo in front of the one-andonly Coliseum. v Afterward we will tour the famed Roman Coliseum where the original gladiators did battle years ago. Professional bi-lingual guides will take you through one of the most recognizable structures in the world as well as the nearby Roman Forum where western civilization was shaped and influenced for centuries. v Following the morning tour of these phenomenal historical sites the group will move to the nearby restaurant. v Following your meal the group will move to receive a guided visit of the well-known Vatican Museums. Learn more of the fascinating heritage of the Popes and Roman Catholic Church, witness the beautiful Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo then be awed by the immense nature and beauty of St. Peter s Basilica, the largest church in the world. Exiting the basilica you will have time in St. Peter s Square.
v At the dinner hour we will proceed to our hotel for a group meal. v After dinner the players and staff will move to a nearby practice field to begin to install our schemes and drill skill work and begin to install our schemes. v Parents and family members will have time for further exploration of Rome. v After practice the team will return to the hotel, shower and get some after a very full but spectacular day in the Eternal City and hopefully a sharp football practice! Day 4 Tuesday, March 26 On to Tuscany, Italy s Green Valley and stop in Siena v After breakfast the players will have an installation walk-through, then all will checkout and load your motor coach for transfer to Tuscany. Enjoy the distinctive views of the Tuscan countryside including both natural and architectural highlights. v Your first Tuscany ground experience will be the quaint and beautiful city of Siena, a strikingly well preserved medieval gem and home to the famous Palio horse race. The convenient city centre with its unique shell main square (the Campo ) and narrow streets will leave a lasting impression. Upon arrival in the latter noon hour be oriented to this and then go off in small groups to enjoy a nice Italian lunch. Afterward the group will gather to receive a guided tour of this city that rivalled larger and powerful Florence for centuries. v There will then be more free time to souvenir shop or enjoy the relaxed ambiance an Italian spring afternoon. Relax at the pizzerias or cafe that sits on the edge of the charming square or walk the quaint narrow streets that rise up from the shell and dine in a beautiful and authentic Italian restaurant. v The group will then gather for dinner. Afterward, it is a nice stroll to your motor coach and the group will proceed to Montecatini Terme, a town west of Florence known for its spas and relaxation, for your overnight rest. v Late arrival and check-in. After a very full and fabulous day it is suggested you get some overnight rest. An important practice awaits players the following day. Day 5 Wednesday, March 27 Florence: Birthplace of the Renaissance v Following breakfast the group will load its motor coach for departure to nearby Florence. Players will bring their gear as a late afternoon co-practice with the local American football club is planned. v Upon arrival in Florence, you will be treated to a guided walking tour of Florence starting from Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio and its old shops, Palazzo Vecchio to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore and its imposing duomo. v After the tour, travellers will have time to take in a delicious Italian lunch. v You will have time to take in Michelangelo s David at the Accademia or one of the other world-renowned art galleries located in the Uffizi or Pitti Palace. In the alternative you will have time to explore the fascinating outdoor markets of Florence or relax with a refreshment at a plaza café. At the end of the day, be certain to take in the fascinating artistic sites that Florence displays in abundance. v The team and staff will then gather at a designate time and proceed to a nearby field for a co-practice with the local American football club. v Afterward all in the tour party will meet at a local restaurant for a fantastic Florentine meal. v After dinner the group will return to Montecatini Terme to pack for the following days departure,. Day 6 Thursday, March 28 Cinque Terra: The Italian Riviera to Como v On this day, an early breakfast for the players followed by morning practice (7:45 9:30) at the nearby, turfed Palagina Sports Center. Parents can come to a later breakfast then enjoy time strolling beautiful Montecatini Termi. v The team will return promptly to shower and parents need to be packed and ready with the players hustling through a quick shower. Group checkout and prompt departure to the
Mediterranean Coast to enjoy Cinque Terra the Italian Riviera which consists of five authentic Italian villages that sit beneath steep hills where the Ligurian Sea laps against their shores. The five villages are linked by a convenient rail line that begins in La Spezia where you will begin and return at the end of your afternoon. During the day, enjoy a picturesque lunch in a hillside restaurant overlooking the sea or at a quaint beachfront bistro. For this stop you may want to bring your bathing suit and a towel or buy a souvenir towel to enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean on the sandy beaches of Monterosso or the rocky shore of Vernazza. Note do not miss the time for your return train to La Spezia! v Depart La Spezia in the late afternoon for heading north to the Lake Como region. This is our second, and last, lengthy drive taking us from central to northern Italy. v Arrive at your hotel, check-in, freshen up and enjoy a late dinner followed by overnight rest. Day 7 Friday, March 29 Milan and Final Pre-Game Practice (Potential Co-practice with Italian National Team!) v Enjoy breakfast then load our motor coach for an 8:00am departure into Milan. v At 9:00am you will tour Milan, the economic and fashion capital of Italy that links distinctive Italy to its south with central Europe just north of Milan. A local, bilingual tour guide will show you the highlights of the city - the Duomo, La Sforza s Castle, La Scala Theatre and much more. Still need souvenirs? There will be time to shop in Milan s famous and beautiful Galleria centre adjacent to the magnificent Milan Cathedral. v A group lunch will take place. v By mid-afternoon the group will depart for a later afternoon pre-game practice that may involve group and/or scrimmage work with the Italian National U19 team. v At the end of the practice transfer back to Como for a sunset introduction to the lakeside town. The group will then proceed to our hotel for dinner and a relaxing pre-game evening. Day 9, Saturday March 30 Game Day: USA-AFW ELITE American Football in Italy! v Enjoy breakfast then load up all your game and fan gear. v If planning allows we will depart for a special excursion to nearby Lugano, Switzerland a beautiful lakeside city with the Swiss Pre-Alps serving as a dramatic backdrop. You will have some time to stretch your legs, enjoy a lakeside cappuccino or shop in this distinctly beautiful location. v In the latter morning load your motor coach departing back to Italy for a pre-game meal. v Following your meal, the team and tour party will head to the game site. AFW-USA ELITE vs. Italy s National U19 Team v After the game enjoy social time and photo-taking opportunities with players from the Italian national team. v AFW ELITE will then shower and load our motor coach for a final Italian pizza dinner. Let s have cause to celebrate the game as well as the incredible week experienced and friendships that we forged in Italy. v After dinner return to the hotel for packing as there is a morning departure for the airport. All departures need to be coordinated with Giancarlo and AFW representatives. Day 9 Sunday March 31 Return to USA! v Breakfast then departure to Milan Malpensa Airport move directly to the USA departure area then for our flights back home (beginning at 6:40am) to the USA. Arrivederci Italia! Grazie!
TOUR SERVICES INCLUDED: Round-trip flight from Chicago to Rome and returning from Milan Malpensa (full package) Meals o All Dinners (only water included) o 4 Lunches (3 additional are at traveler s cholce and expense) o Daily buffet breakfasts (including juices and coffee) 7 Nights Accommodations 4 stars hotel in Rome area (2 nights), in Montecatini Terme, Tuscany (2 nights), and in Lake Como area (3 nights) Motor coach Transportation available daily (max. 8/ 9 hours per day): o All Driver Expenses (tips recommended) Full time bilingual tour manager at your disposal 24 hours daily (tips recommended) Up to half-day guided visits with bilingual professional guides: o Rome, o Vatican Museums, o Roman Colosseum & Forum o Siena o Florence o Milan o Admission ticket to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel and guided visit with local professional guides; earbud microphone pieces for select tours o Admission ticket to the Colosseum (with audio guides) Cinque Terra Excursion & Tourist Train from La Spezia Medical Insurance for Players 4 practice site rentals International Game vs. Italian National 19U Team Celebration Dinner (restaurant) AFW Tour Gifts: Drawstring Bag (players); Travel Adapter & Lanyard (all travellers) All tour land taxes All parking costs, all city entries fee, land taxes SERVICES/FEES NOT INCLUDED: Drinks at dinners like wine, beer, soft drinks, are customarily not included/billed separate Hot American breakfast daily (eggs, meats...) only included selectively. Extra guided tours and visits Travel Insurance Non-player medical insurance Personal food and wine tasting Drinks at dinners like wine, beer, soft drinks, are customarily not included/billed separate Any personal boat cruise on Lake Como Touring Tips (need to budget) Other items not listed in Service Inclusions