I am so excited to announce a fabulous new trip overseas - for the fourth time I will be leading a group tour in Italy with a special continuation in Paris! It's the best of my favorite places! I've been to Italy many times, and it is a place I love and long to return to again and again. The beauty of the country, the history and architectural treasures, the food, but most of all, the people, make it one of the most special places to discover. AND we all know that Paris is my favorite city in the world, and so we'll conclude our time together with a few days to explore my favorite neighborhoods there.
There is so much to see and do in Italy, so we will be traveling by train to three cities during our 9 days/8 night adventure. Even then we will be just scratching the surface of this amazing country as we see the highlights of Rome, Florence, and Venice. I always like to allow time to wander and explore, too, which is my favorite thing to do! This is a unique opportunity to have a personally guided tour in a small group with the benefit of my travel experiences to each of these places.
Our adventure will begin in Rome on Monday, October 23. We will spend two nights in Rome at a lovely hotel in the heart of the historic Campo de Fiori where I always stay. We will be walking and seeing the major sights of Rome and experiencing an historic neighborhood of Rome with a twilight delicious and informative food tour. It is a short time in Rome but we will see the highlights and taste my favorite gelato in the world!
From Rome we will travel by train to the fabulous city of Venice where the narrow streets and beautiful canals will take us here and there throughout the city. At night the enchanting music of the dueling bands in the square will entertain us. Our three nights there at an historic hotel just steps away from St. Mark's Square will give us the perfect vantage point to soak in the magic of this unique and beautiful city. We will tour the Doges Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, take a half day trip by boat to the colorful island of Burano, and wander the charming streets and canals to find a never-ending source of amazing photo spots.
Breakfast on the roof of our hotel in Venice...
Last of all in Italy we will take the train to Florence and spend three nights there in the heart of the city near the Duomo, with visits to churches, markets, sightseeing, shopping, and visiting the best spots for photos and gelato! We will visit the world famous Uffizi art gallery, visit San Mineato al Monte, high above the city, and watch the sun set over the Florence skyline from Piazzale Michelangelo.
From Florence we will fly together from the Florence airport to Paris for five nights in the most magical city in the world. From our hotel in the St. Germain area of Paris we will explore the different charming neighborhoods, gardens, and architecture that I know and love so well. We will also have free time to explore and visit specific sights you might want to include in your visit. Together we will go to the Vanves flea market, have an immersive tour of the Hotel de la Marine, and visit my favorite shops, parks, and restaurants.
At the end of our trip, you can fly home from Paris as our trip will formally end on Sunday, November 5. If you would like to arrive in Rome earlier than our meeting date or stay later in Paris, I can provide the hotel information so that you can make separate reservations for those stays.
There are a few requirements for this adventure:
1. This is a ladies only trip. All participants must be over the age of 18 and registered for the trip.
2. This trip requires that you be in good physical condition. Most of our walking will be on very uneven streets and up and down many stairs. A group trip like this is not conducive to those who cannot do a lot walking or climb up and down stairs. You MUST be able to walk long distances and navigate steps without a problem. Your registration contract will ask you to sign that you do not have mobility issues. You will need to be able to carry your own luggage on and off trains, boats, and donkeys - just kidding about that one, but I'm not kidding about the need to be in good health for this trip.
3. This trip requires that you be up for an adventure - ready to make new friends and have a great time! It is inevitable in travel, especially overseas, that things might not go as expected at times, but the ability to see an opportunity for an adventure and to have a good attitude helps everyone have the best time!
4.Small group travel with me is unique in that we are together for most of the trip. There will be some free time scheduled when we can follow our particular interests, but the trip is best suited to those who want the companionship of a small group. We'll eat most meals together at cafes, explore the beautiful streets and shops, and really get a feel for the spirit in every city. If you haven't traveled with me before, I'll send you a short questionnaire about your interests and travel experience.
Price of the trip: Double occupancy: two people in a room in two beds - $3400 per person. Every effort will be made to find a roommate for you, if you do not already have a travel companion, to be able to take advantage of the double occupancy rate.
Payment terms: A non-refundable deposit of $750 will hold your spot. The balance can then be paid by August 15. You can pay by check or Venmo to my account @DebraSchuh. If you would like to pay via Paypal then please add 3.5% to each of your payments to cover the Paypal fees which are not included and send them to [email protected]
The trip is based on four participants plus me. There are two spots available!
The price of the trip includes:
- hotel rooms for 13 nights. Our hotel rooms will be in three star or higher hotels with breakfast included in Italy. Breakfast is not included in Paris but there are many options very close to our hotel including a bakery right outside our door!
- Train fare from Rome to Venice, and from Venice to Florence.
- personal guidance and itineraries from me for our time in Italy - planning and coordinating the details for you as we tour, explore, and shop.
- a food tour in Rome
- transportation via water taxi to our hotel and back to the train station in Venice
- round trip boat fare to Burano
- a guided tour of the Doges Palace and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
- a guided tour of the Uffizi museum in Florence
- an immersive tour of the Hotel de la Marine in Paris
- a visit to the Vanves flea market in Paris
- unlimited travel pass in Paris on the Metro and buses
The price of the trip does not include:
- airfare to Rome or home from Paris
- airfare from Florence to Paris (We will book our own tickets on the same flight - about $200)
- transportation to or from airports
- tips
- taxis within each city
- luggage assistance when available
- meals other than breakfast included at the hotels and the food tours
- the cost of optional activities
- travel insurance or cost of travel documents
A passport is required for travel outside the US and must be valid for 3 months past the date of entry to Italy and must have at least two blank pages. You are responsible for having the travel documents you need. Travel insurance is strongly recommended as I cannot control the weather, pandemics, and other unforeseen circumstances that might affect our travel. In case of extreme circumstances that would prevent our trip from taking place, all funds that have not been prepaid will be refunded. Travel insurance and travel health insurance policies are readily available at AAA and other agencies. If you cannot travel with the group due to illness, you will need to receive a refund from your travel insurance.
I'm so excited about the possibilities! I can't wait to create many happy memories with you!
Here is our tentative itinerary:
Sunday, October 22: Depart from the US
Monday, October 23: Arrive in Rome, meet group in the morning, food tour in evening
Tuesday, October 24: Explore Rome
Wednesday, October 25: Train to Venice
Thursday, October 26: Tour Doges Palace and St. Mark's Basilica and explore Venice
Friday, October 27: Half Day trip to the island of Burano
Saturday, October 28: Train to Florence
Sunday, October 29: Explore Florence
Monday, October 30: Tour of the Uffizi Museum, explore Florence
Tuesday, October 31: Fly to Paris
Wednesday, November 1-4: Time in Paris
Sunday, November 5: Fly home
Wednesday, October 12: Depart for home
Join me for a dream-come-true adventure as we see the best of these remarkable cities! It will be the adventure of a life-time. Please email me at [email protected], if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!
(All guided tours are subject to availability.)