MERCY CATHOLIC COLLEGE CHATSWOOD ITALIAN IMMERSION TOUR 2018 asdlake Tuggeranong
YOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 SATURDAY 14 APRIL 2018 DEPART SYDNEY Depart from Sydney on 2 flight connection to Rome. Flight 1*: 14 th -April, Dep: Sydney @ 18:05, Arr: Singapore @ 00:20(15 th -April) Flight 2*: 15 th -April, Dep: Singapore @ 01:30, Arr: Rome @ 08:05 Accommodation: In-transit Meals Included: In-flight meals only Transport: Flight Sydney Rome (*Flights are subject to change) Activities: None DAY 2 SUNDAY 15 APRIL 2018 ARRIVE ROME, travel to POMPEII This morning you will arrive into Rome Airport, meet with your Italian Tour Manager, depart by coach and travel South to Naples & Pompeii (approximately 3 hours). This afternoon your Italian Immersion studies begin with a visit to the world renowned Archeological Museum of Naples. At the museum your tour manager will guide you through the many exhibits of this large museum. This evening you travel onwards to your hotel near Pompeii, dinner this evening will be pre-booked for a restaurant at your hotel or nearby. Accommodation: Hotel del Sole or similar Meals Included: In-flight meals & Dinner Transport: Coach transfer Activities: Entry passes to Archeological Museum of Naples. DAY 3 MONDAY 16 APRIL 2018 POMPEII, travel to ROME Today you will enjoy a full day guided tours of the Pompeii and Herculaneum Archeological sites. Guiding services will be provided by a local expert, with your Tour manager providing additional support. Pompeii was first discovered by a surveying engineer in 1748. Learn about the tragedy that struck here in 79AD and the customs, trades and everyday life of its inhabitants that have been revealed through its excavation. After visiting Pompeii, visit Herculaneum. Like the more well-known town of Pompeii, Herculaneum was destroyed in AD 79 by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. As it was a wealthier town though, archaeologists found more opulent building and decorative materials here, along with organic objects, which were better preserved here than in Pompeii. This evening you bid farewell to your local guide and board your coach for the 3 hours transfer north to Rome. Your coach driver will plan a stop for this evenings dinner (at your expense) during the travel to Rome. Accommodation: Hotel Delle Muse or similar Activities: Pompeii and Herculaneum Archaeological sites guided tours DAY 4 TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018 ROME This morning with your tour manager you will visit of the Catacombs of St Callixtus, located on the Appian Way - the ancient road way connecting Rome to Brindisi on the south-eastern coast. Later this morning you transfer to the Vatican city, where a 3-hour guided tour has been organised. A Vatican City specialist guide will take you through the highlights of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter s Basilica. You will see the masterpieces of Michelangelo including his sculpture Pieta, and the famous 1
frescoes The Last Judgement and The Creation of Adam inside the Sistine Chapel. After your tour, visit the Vatican Grottoes and climb the Cupola (if time permits, fee for the cupola applies). Later this afternoon, travel to the Villa Borghese for a guided gallery tour and visit of the gardens. This evening dinner will be pre-booked for at your hotel s restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Delle Muse or similar & Dinner Activities: St Peter s Basilica, Vatican Museums and Sistene Chapel Guided tour, Villa Borghese Guided tour DAY 5 WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL 2018 ROME This morning with your tour manager you travel back to the Vatican to be a part of the papal audience in St Peter s Square, the standard Papal Audience time is 10 or 10:30am (scheduled to be released 3 months in advance). This afternoon you travel cross town to the Colosseum, were a specialist Colosseum guide will provide you a guided tour the Colosseum has been organised for you to explore this iconic ancient Amphitheatre used for public entertainment and gatherings including gladiatorial competitions and executions. The tour continues to the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where the Emperors home overlooked the city. Later this afternoon embark on a teacher & Tour Manager-led walking tour of some of the cities famous landmarks. See the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna and Via dei Condotti and the Trevi fountain. Accommodation: Hotel Delle Muse or similar Activities: St Peter s Papal Audience, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill guided tour, teacher-led walking tour DAY 6 THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2018 ROME to ASSISI & VOLTERRA Depart Rome and transfer to Assisi (approximately 3 hours). Upon arrival visit the Basilica of St Francis. Continue on to Volterra (approximately 2.5hrs). En route, stop by an olive grove to learn about local agricultural practices and sample the olive oil that this scenic region is known for. Your coach driver will plan a stop for this evenings dinner (at your expense) during the travel towards your hotel near Volterra. Accommodation: Hotel Nazionale or similar Activities: Basilica of St Francis, Olive grove visit DAY 7 FRIDAY 20 APRIL 2018 VOLTERRA, travel to FLORENCE This morning your Tour Manager will provide you a guided tour of Volterra s archaeological sites; the Roman Forum and Baths, the Acropolis, the Etruscan tombs and the Porta all Arco. Your tour will also encompass the Palazzo dei Priori and the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum Continue to Pisa (approximately 1 hour). Visit the Campo dei Miracoli - enter the Baptistry, Campsanto and climb the famous Leaning Tower. Afterwards drive onwards to Florence (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. Dinner will be available (at your expense) en-route to your Florence hotel. 2
Accommodation: Albergo Firenze or similar Activities: Volterra archaeological sites guided tour, Pisa Baptistry, Campsanto and Leaning Tower DAY 8 SATURDAY 21 APRIL 2018 FLORENCE This morning the students will have a private Italian language class at a local language school in the heart of the city. (Art & Design students will take part in Art classes) This afternoon, with your Tour Manager you will visit the Accademia Gallery - most well-known for housing Michelangelo s masterpiece, David, as well as his unfinished sculptural series Prisoners. Later this afternoon you will enjoy a walk to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore the Duomo, and receive a guided tour of the Baptistry and climb the Cathedral Dome. Your admission ticket is valid for 48hrs and also allows you entry to the Bell Tower, Crypt and Museum. This evening dinner will be pre-booked at restaurant near the Piazza San Marco or nearby your hotel. Accommodation: Albergo Firenze or similar & Dinner Transport: None Activities: Italian(& Art) lesson, Accademia Gallery, Santa Maria del Fiore complex visit and tour DAY 9 SUNDAY 22 APRIL 2018 FLORENCE This morning the students will enjoy their second private Italian language class at a local language school in the heart of the city. (Art & Design students will take part in Art classes) This afternoon, with your Tour Manager you will visit the Uffizi Gallery. You will admire Botticelli s greatest works including Birth of Venus and Allegory of Spring. Other highlights include works by other renaissance artists including Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. This evening your Tour Manager will take you on a guided walk through Florence visit some of the city s famous piazzas such as Piazza della Signoria, where you will see Giambolonga s Rape of the Sabines. Continue across the Ponte Vecchio and walk to Piazzale Michelangelo where you will admire the view of the city. Accommodation: Albergo Firenze or similar Transport: None Activities: Italian(& Art) lesson, and Uffizi Gallery visit DAY 10 MONDAY 23 APRIL 2018 FLORENCE This morning the students will enjoy their third private Italian language class at a (Art & Design students will take part in Art classes), then all students will enjoy a lunch time cooking class, to learn how to make a classic Tuscan dish. This afternoon with your Tour Manager you will walk to the cross the Pitti Palace, and enjoy a tour of the the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The palace dates from the 15 th century and was originally the home of Luca Pitti, a wealthy Florentine banker. Today it is divided into several museums and galleries holding a wealth of historical artefacts and artworks. Continue to the Boboli Gardens to explore at your own pace. 3
This evening dinner will be at restaurant nearby your hotel. Accommodation: Albergo Firenze or similar & Dinner Transport: None Activities: Italian(& Art) lesson, Pitti Palace entry passes and Boboli Gardens visit DAY 11 TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2018 FLORENCE, travel to VENICE This morning you depart Florence and travel by coach to Venice (approximately 3 hours). Upon arrival, drop your luggage of at the Hotel and being exploring Venice with the use of 48hour vappretto (Water Taxi) passes that have been pre-purchased. Later this afternoon, travel to the Palazzo Ducale for an educational guided tour with your Tour Manager to learn about the symbolism and art of the former home of the Doge of Venice and its role as the centre of administration for the Venetian Republic. Afterwards, walk along the Grand Canal and see the Bridge of Sighs. This evening dinner will be pre-booked at restaurant near the Santa Maria di Nazareth or nearby your hotel. Accommodation: Hotel Atlantide or similar & Dinner Transport: ACTV 2-day Public transport pass Activities: Palazzo Ducale guided tour DAY 12 WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2018 VENICE Using your 48hour vappretto passes, this morning travel to St Mark s Basilica for a Tour Manager & teacher-led visit and climb of the Bell Tower. The Basilica s interior is beautifully decorated with more than 8000 square metres of intricate mosaics, depicting stories from the bible and events in the life of Christ and the saints. Afterwards, travel to Murano. Here learn about the history and techniques of glass production at the Murano Glass Producers Association and receive a glass-blowing demonstration at a nearby factory. Later this afternoon visit the church of Santa Maria della Salute in Dosrsoduro. Accommodation: Hotel Atlantide or similar Transport: ACTV 2-day Public transport pass Activities: St Mark s Basilica and Bell Tower, Murano Glass Factory visit DAY 13 THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2018 VENICE, travel to MILAN This morning you depart Venice and travel to Milan by coach (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, you will visit Milan Cathedral where your Tour Manager will guide you through the Cathedral, the underground crypts and the Terraces. This afternoon you continue to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where you will have the chance to see The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. This evening, a Farewell Dinner will be pre-booked at restaurant near the Milan city centre or nearby your Hotel. Accommodation: Ibis Milano Centro or similar & Dinner Transport: Coach transfer Activities: Milan Cathedral and Terraces entry passes, and The Last Supper admission tickets 4
DAY 14 FRIDAY 27 APRIL 2018 DEPART MILAN, travel to SYDNEY This morning you bid farewell to your Tour Manager, depart from your Hotel and transfer to Milan Airport for your Mid-day flights home to Sydney. Flight 3: 27 th -April, Dep: Milan @ 13:00, Arr: Singapore @ 07:00(28 th -April) Flight 4: 28 th -April, Dep: Singapore @ 09:35, Arr: Sydney @ 19:15 Accommodation: In transit and in-flight meals Transport: Coach transfer, flight Milan to Sydney DAY 15 SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2018 ARRIVE SYDNEY Arrive into Sydney this evening. Accommodation: None Meals Included: In-flight meals Transport: None.. TOUR COSTS Passengers Price (pp) Single Supplement Quote Validity 20 students and 3 FOC teachers $5,990 18 students and 3 FOC teachers $6,190 $720 9 th -JUNE- 2017 15 Students and 3 FOC teachers $6,640 Cost Includes: 12 nights of accommodation based on students sharing a mix of twin & triple room, with staff members in 1 x twin share room and 1 x single occupancy room. Hotel breakfast, taxes and local City tax included. Coach transportation as per the itinerary. 1 x Tour Manager will accompany you for the duration of your Tour ACTV 2-day Venice Public Transport Pass. 6 x Dinners. St. Peter s Basilica, The Sistine Chapel and The Vatican Museums admission and guided tour. The Colosseum, The Forum, Palatine Hill admission and guided tour. Capitoline Museums Admission and guided tour. Borghese Gallery admission and guided tour. Entry passes to the Archeological Museum of Naples. Catacombs of St. Callixtus admission and tour. Pompeii & Herculaneum admission and guided tour. Guided tour of Volterra archaeological sites, including admission to the Etruscan Museum, Pinacoteca, Alabaster Museum, Palazzo dei Priori, the Acropolis and Roman Theatre admission. Olive grove visit in Umbria/Tuscany. Pisa Leaning Tower, Baptistry and Campsanto admission. 3 x 4hr private Italian language classes (or Art Classes) in Florence. Cooking class. Accademia Gallery Admission. Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo, Bell Tower, Baptistry, Dome, Crypt and Museum 48 hour pass. Santa Maria del Fiore Baptistry and Dome (or Museum) guided tour with skip the line Dome climb. Uffizi Gallery admission and guided tour. Pitti Palace admission and guided tour (Palatine Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art). Boboli Gardens admission. 5
St. Mark s Basilica and Bell Tower admission. Palazzo Ducale admission and guided educational tour. Presentation at the Murano Glass Producers Association glass-blowing demonstration. The Last Supper Admission (subject to availability). Milan Duomo and Terraces admission and guided tour. Administration, planning and coordination of all details above. Cost Excludes: Travel Insurance. Passport & visa requirements. Meals not listed above. Entry fees to attractions not listed above. Donations at places of worship. Spending money and other incidentals. Gratuities for drivers and local guides. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Please read the booking terms and conditions outlined herein as they apply to the services that Horizons Education Tours (Horizons) provides in the planning, handling and operation of tours. These terms and conditions are deemed to be accepted by the responsible party upon receipt of a booking form and/or payment of the initial deposit. PACKAGE PRICES The quoted amounts outlined in the package are in Australian dollars unless stated otherwise. The quoted price takes into account a minimum number of paying participants, should the minimum number of participants not be met a requote will be necessary. Upon receipt of a deposit the tour price will remain unchanged regardless of changes in currency exchange rates, fuel prices and taxes. Costs are subject to the group travelling together, any variation will incur an amendment fee. No refund will be made for any unused services included in the tour price, including for individuals who choose to join the tour late or depart early. Due to group airfare terms and conditions no refunds or discounts can be offered for participants choosing not to use their return international flight. TOUR CANCELLATIONS Tour cancellations made by member(s) of the touring party must be in writing to Horizons prior to the tour commencement. Your cancellation will be effected from the day Horizons acknowledges receipt of your cancellation notice. The table below outlines the scale of charges for cancellations: Days of Notice Prior to Tour Commencement Cancellation Charge Prior to 150 days before your tour Loss of Deposit 150-61 days before your tour 50% of total Tour Price Charged 60-15 days before your tour 75% of total Tour Price Charges 14 days or less before your tour 100% CANCELLATION CONDITIONS Upon tour commencement, no refunds will be provided including any unused portion of the tour. Any supplier cancellation fees levied will be in addition to the above. All cancellations will take up to 10 weeks to be processed. The cancellation policy will be strictly adhered to and any appeals will need to be in writing to the Managing Director. If the reason for your cancellations is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to claim these charges from your insurance company. CANCELLATION BY HORIZONS Horizons reserve the right to cancel a tour if the minimum required number of participants is not met. In the event that Horizons should have to cancel a tour, all deposits and instalments will be refunded. TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel insurance is compulsory and is the individual responsibility of all tour members. It is recommended that any policy be taken out as soon as possible to cover any unlikely events. Horizons have a recommended travel insurance provider and can arrange for a group discount on their policy. All tour members must notify Horizons of their Travel Insurance Provider details and policy number prior to tour commencement 6
HORIZONS RESPONSIBILITY Horizons takes all reasonable steps and accepts reasonable responsibility for ensuring the tour is supplied as described in the daily planner issued prior to tour commencement. If unforeseen circumstances or conditions beyond Horizons control necessitate changes, Horizons reserve the right to amend itineraries and substitute the best available alternative. Horizons acts only as agents for contractors providing accommodation, transportation or other services and all contracts issued by Horizons are subject to the tariffs, terms and conditions under which services are provided. Horizons shall not be deemed liable for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property arising from these services or any circumstances beyond Horizons control and amounting to force majeure including but not limited to war or threat of war, riot, epidemic, strikes, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster and adverse weather conditions. PASSPORTS, VISAS All tour members or their guardians are responsible for ensuring the participant(s) have the appropriate travel documentation including passports, Visas (if required) and any insurance documentation. Please allow at least 12 weeks to obtain this documentation. All tour participants agree to provide Horizons with one photocopy of the picture page of their passport as soon as possible after booking. If the copy of the passport is not provided or if the information provided is incorrect, the tour participant will be responsible for all air ticket change fees CONDUCT Damages or losses incurred by a traveller will be the sole responsibility of the individual member(s) and/or the group. No refunds will be made and no expenses will be incurred by Horizons should a tour manager decide to terminate a participant s involvement in the tour for misdemeanour or misconduct. TOUR PARTICIPANT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITY As a tour participant or guardian of a tour participant, it is your responsibility to: Complete and sign the Booking Form and ensure that all information you give to Horizons and have received from Horizons is accurate. Inform Horizons of any changes to your booking immediately. Ensure that your passport, travel insurance and all Visa requirements are met. Ensure that you behave in a responsible and reasonable manner and adhere to local laws and regulations. ACCOMMODATION Unless otherwise stated in the proposal all accommodation is based on shared accommodation, should tour numbers or gender ratios require a single room or rooms a single supplement will be levied. Should gender breakdowns or requests require a single room or rooms a single supplement will be charged. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Please notify Horizons prior to payment of your deposit, if you have any special needs or requirements including physical, dietary or any other. DESTINATION PARTICIPANT INFORMATION Horizons make no representation as to the safety, conditions or other issues that may exist at a destination. International travel advice can be obtained from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (www.smarttraveller.gov.au). COMPLAINTS Should you wish to make a complaint in relation to a tour please: 1. Notify the tour manager so action can be taken immediately 2. If the problem(s) cannot be resolved, please submit a letter of complaint within 28 days of your return to Horizons Education Tours, PO Box 408, Sydney Markets NSW 219 Horizons will thoroughly investigate any complaints and report back to the correspondent. Please feel free to contact us if you would like clarification of any of our booking terms and conditions TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Travel documentation including airline tickets and final itinerary will be available 2-3 weeks prior to departure, providing full payment has been received by the due date. 7