Pre-departure Itinerary Swiss and Italian Charm Saturday, September 17 Sunday, September 25, 2016 Northern Italy, where the Alps give way to Switzerland, is a gorgeous landscape of deep water blue lakes, smart resort towns, ancient villages, fortified castles and lush gardens. Lake Maggiore s classical charm and sophistication are the perfect setting for Baveno, a small lakeside resort flanked by cypress trees, dotted with villas and lakeside promenades brimming with café s and bars overlooking the Borromean Islands. From our accommodations directly on the lakefront in a converted 18th-century villa, we ll enjoy excursions to Isola Bella, quiet and secluded Lake Orta and romantic Bellagio on Lake Como; visit elegant palaces, terraced gardens and cobblestoned medieval squares while wandering along lakeside promenades. We ll have some time to browse along the famous Via Nassa in Lugano, Switzerland and see the highlights of Milan in a half-day tour. The highlight of this holiday may be the full-day excursion to three jewels of Alpine Switzerland: Ascona, with its charming old town and promenade overlooking Lake Maggiore; Locarno, which boasts the warmest climate in Switzerland, with flourishing palm and lemon trees and a 12th-century castle; and Bellinzona, the most Italian Swiss town with picturesque squares and courtyards as well as a trio of castles listed with UNESCO. Lake Maggiore is one of Italy s most elegant destinations with old world charm, flower-decked lake islands and shores spanning two countries. $2,799 per person double occupancy $3,079 for single reservations INCLUDES round-trip airfare, fuel surcharge and all air taxes and fees. Triple accommodations may be available upon request. Fuel surcharge, air taxes and fees subject to change. Passport required. Per person deposit is $300. INCLUDES: Round-trip regularly scheduled Alitalia Airlines flights from Boston to Milan, via Rome Seven nights three-star accommodations: Hotel Romagna, Baveno HOTEL ROMAGNA Via Sempione 21-28831 BAVENO (VB) ITALY Tel: 011 39 0323 924879 http://www.hotelromagnalagomaggiore.it/index_eng.htm Hotel Romagna has an enchanting location directly on the lake in front of the Borromean Islands. The building dates back to the end of the eighteenth century as a private residence (villa) and was later purchased during the seventies by the Zangheri family and transformed into a refined Hotel - Restaurant with a cozy and homey ambience. It has a magnificent and romantic dining room with veranda that overlooks the lake. The Hotel offers its Guests an equipped beach and a garden to relax and admire the landscape. The hotel has a lift and all rooms are furnished with private bathrooms with hairdryer, air-conditioning, satellite TV, telephone and safe-deposit box. Fourteen meals: seven buffet breakfasts, seven dinners with wine Escorted round-trip, private airport/hotel transfers Services of professional local Tour Manager FEATURES: Cruise to Isola Bella, tour of Palazzo Borromeo and gardens; full-day excursion to Ascona, Bellinzona and Locarno; full-day excursion to Lake Como; full-day excursion to Lake Orta with wine tasting and snack; full-day excursion to Milan; excursion to Lugano.
Day 1: Overnight flight from Boston to Rome Day 2: Arrive Rome Connecting flight to Milan Transfer to Lake Maggiore After passport control and immigration, proceed to baggage claim and retrieve your luggage. You will then pass through customs and move into the Arrivals Hall where you ll meet your Tour Manager who will accompany you for the length of your holiday. Board the transfer coach to the Hotel Romagna in Baveno on Lake Maggiore. After receiving room assignments the rest of the afternoon is free for you to get acquainted with the hotel and surroundings. Dinner with wine and overnight at the hotel. (D) Day 3: Lake Maggiore Isola Bella After breakfast you ll depart for a full-day excursion of Lake Maggiore. Nestled against the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps, Lake Maggiore is known for its serenity and an abundance of flora and fauna. Enjoy a relaxing boat trip to Isola Bella, one of the famous Borromean Islands in the centre of the lake, to visit the exuberant Palazzo Borromeo. Dating back to the 17th century, this elegant palace boasts an array of spectacular fountains, imposing statues and landscaped, terraced gardens that gently cascade down to the tranquil waters of the lake. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon for dinner with wine and overnight. (B,D) Day 4: Ascona, Locarno & Bellinzona A full day excursion is in store for you today. You will visit three jewels of Switzerland: Ascona, Locarno and Bellinzona. Ascona is famous for it Old Town and Ronco sopra Ascona one of the most delightful places overlooking Lake Maggiore with an enchanting panorama of the lake and mountains and a picturesque footpath with over 800 steps leading down to the lakeside. Next is a visit to Locarno, located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore the town with the warmest climate in Switzerland. Southern plants such as palm trees or lemon trees flourish here and give the city special charm. Bellinzona is famous for its preserved medieval castles that are listed with UNESCO World Heritage and considered amongst the finest examples of medieval fortification architecture in Switzerland. Return to the hotel for dinner with wine and overnight. (B,D)
Day 5: Lake Como After breakfast at the hotel you ll experience one of the highlights of your vacation a full-day trip to Lake Como. Marvel at the spectacular scenery as you drive along Como s western shore to Tremezzo. Here you ll board a private boat and enjoy a trip across the wonderful lake passing many quaint villages and sumptuous villas before you disembark in Bellagio. The town of Bellagio has been called the most beautiful town in Italy. With a promenade planted with oleanders and limes, hotels painted shades of butterscotch, peach and cream, and a hilly old quarter of steep cobbled streets and alleyways to say nothing of its spectacular mid-lake location it's easy to see why Bellagio has become so popular. Enjoy free time and lunch on your own before returning by boat to Tremezzo. Once in Tremezzo you will continue on by motor coach to the town of Como where you will enjoy an orientation tour. After some free time in Como you ll return to the hotel for dinner with wine and overnight. (B,D) Day 6: Lake Orta Enjoy breakfast before you depart for an excursion that begins in Omegna where we ll visit the local weekly market, and then continue on to Lake Orta, one of Italy s best-kept secrets an unspoiled gem that is quieter than nearby Maggiore. The lovely lakeside villages and surrounding green hills provide a truly romantic setting. The medieval centre of Orta town has pretty, cobbled streets and tucked away cafes and trattorias. A beautiful main square overlooks the ancient monastery on the island of San Giulio. This is a place to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the lakes. Before returning to the hotel, stop at the Cantina Bianchi for a snack and wine tasting. Dinner with wine and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 7: Milan Today you ll travel to Milan a historic city, with a spectacular cathedral and enough ancient churches and galleries to keep you busy for a week. Milan also represents the leading edge of Italy's fashion and design industry. In the morning you ll enjoy a guided tour of the city highlights including Castello Sforzesco, the beautiful gothic cathedral the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the world famous opera house, La Scala. The afternoon is at leisure. Return to the hotel for dinner with wine and overnight. (B,D) Day 8: Lugano, Switzerland Today s excursion is to Lugano, the largest city in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. It lies on Lake Lugano, and is surrounded by mountains. The Italian border lies about 8 km (5 miles) from the centre of town. Thanks to its surrounding mountains and the lake and its location south of the Alps, Lugano enjoys a milder climate than most of Switzerland.You will have time to shop on the Via Nassa which is the most popular shopping street found right in the heart of Lugano. It offers a fantastic range of shops from famous fashion designer boutiques to delicatessens and bakeries.. Dinner with wine and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 9: Return to Boston Today you will depart the hotel in the very early morning for the transfer to Milan Malpensa airport. Details of departure will be posted. Upon arrival in Milan you will connect with your international flight to Boston. PREPARING FOR YOUR TOUR Identification U.S. citizens require a valid passport to travel; with at least 6 months' validity beyond the date of your return to the U.S. All non-us citizens should check with the appropriate foreign consulate for additional entry requirements. Passports are the responsibility of each traveler. Make several copies of your passport. Carry one copy with you and leave one with someone at home. If your passport is lost or stolen, having a photocopy will make replacement easier. Money Matters Verify that your credit/atm cards are valid for the duration of your tour and that they can be used internationally. We suggest that you bring a few days worth of foreign currency with you in case you are unable to get dollars changed or have access to an ATM upon arrival. Notify your bank/credit card companies that you will be traveling abroad so that your overseas purchases are not confused with fraudulent charges. Tipping Tips to tour managers, drivers, guides and waitstaff are not included in the price of your trip. Tipping should always be at the travelers discretion and should be a reflection of your satisfaction with the service provided. Following are some guidelines for your convenience. TOUR MANAGERS: 5E per person per day BUS DRIVERS: 5E per person per day LOCAL GUIDES: 2E per person WAITSTAFF: 10E per person per week TRANSFERS ASSISTANTS (if different from Tour Manager): 5E each way Medications Be sure you have a sufficient supply of prescription medications. Obtain written prescriptions for any medication you will be taking on the trip, and for eyeglasses, should replacements be necessary. Packing lost.. Be sure to tape your name and address inside your luggage in case your baggage tag is Layers are essential when sightseeing on tour as the weather can change significantly during the day and over the course of the trip. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. Accommodations While The Travel Club makes every effort to ensure special room requests, special requests are at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be guaranteed.
On tour Generally, longer programs can be filled with long travel days on a coach (rest stops included), and a lot of walking and standing (possibly on uneven surfaces), and some destinations may have altitude or other environmental concerns. Please remember that many historic areas, especially in Europe, cannot accommodate large coaches on their streets and walking tours are the only way to see the area. Whenever possible, we specify such information in your pre-departure itinerary. It is also important to be aware that many sites, especially in Europe, are not designed to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility aids. Flights The Travel Club assumes no responsibility for applying frequent flyer miles. Please be aware that some Frequent Flyer Miles may not be applied toward certain classes of service under which tickets have been issued. However, you may contact the airline directly to attempt this on your own. Information on your tickets cannot be obtained prior to departure, so please remember to retain your boarding passes, as you may need to submit that information to the airline to redeem your miles. Because we reserve GROUP air space, some airlines will not allow you to check on your reservation or make requests directly with the carrier prior to departure. In some cases passengers cannot make seat assignments prior to check-in at the airport. While we make every effort to ensure your requests, we cannot guarantee them. It is at the discretion of the air carrier to fulfill any special requests. In addition, many carriers do not allow seating to be assigned until check in at the airport. Travel Insurance Protecting yourself against unexpected medical emergencies before traveling (your own, a family member s, or a travel companion s) is a smart investment so we strongly urge you to consider purchasing traveler s insurance. Show of the Month Travel Club recommends CSA Travel Protection for your travel insurance needs. (A brochure was forwarded to you when you reserved this trip.) PLEASE NOTE: You must contact the insurance company directly to purchase a policy and with customer service issues and questions regarding potential or existing claims. They will provide you with the most comprehensive information and assist you with processing. LAKE MAGGIORE Anyone who has read Hemingway will know this lake and its forested shores from A Farewell to Arms. That's just the sort of place Lake Maggiore is -- a pleasure ground that's steeped in associations with famous figures (Flaubert, Wagner, Goethe, and many of Europe's other great minds seem to have been inspired by the deep, moody waters, backed by the Alps) and not-so-famous wealthy visitors. Fortunately, you need not be famous or wealthy to enjoy Maggiore, the top bit of which is in Switzerland. BAVENO Lovely Baveno has been a well known tourist resort since the early 19th century. This elegant past is reflected by the beautiful villas that dot the surrounding landscape. With its wonderful views of the Borromean Islands, Baveno has a small harbor, an attractive promenade with lakeside cafés and a profusion of flowers and oleander trees. There are regular ferry connections to Borromean Islands. Isola Pescatori is an old fishing village with good restaurants, famous for the white peacocks that strut in the botanical gardens. Isola Bella, perhaps the best known of the islands, features the magnificent Borromean Palace and beautiful landscaped gardens.