2009 Itinerary
Day 1 – See the glories of Ancient Rome
Tour begins: 2:30 PM at The Westin Excelsior, Rome. Welcome to Rome, where your family begins this most excellent of Tauck Italy tours; a transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to The Westin Excelsior, Rome. A drive through the heart of the city reveals relics of Imperial Rome, once capital of the ancient world. Walk through one of the Colosseum's 80 entrances to step back in time on a guided tour of what might be the world's most famous arena, and pose for pictures with Roman Centurions; and explore the temples and basilicas of the Roman Forum, nerve center of the ancient empire. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight at your hotel, dubbed the "magnificent white palace on Via Veneto."
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Day 2 – Rome at leisure and a private after-hours Vatican tour
Most of the day is yours to explore more of Rome's iconic sights on your own, from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain; be sure to make a wish there to ensure your return to the "Eternal City." Later, Tauck's family journey through Italy tours one of the world's most famous houses of worship, magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica. This evening, join us for a Tauck Exclusive – a privately guided after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, full of fascinating history and artistic masterpieces. View Michelangelo’s famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel – which the artist originally resisted doing because he considered himself a sculptor, not a painter – without the usual crowds!
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Day 3 – Through Orvieto's tunnels and Tuscany's hills to Florence
Discoveries abound on this most delightful of Italy tours today as your family sets off through rural Umbria and Tuscany. The first stop on your travels is walled Orvieto, perched on a volcanic plateau; a guided tour takes you under its cobblestone streets to explore the town's honeycombed medieval tunnels, and caves dating back to the time of the ancient Etruscans. Then it's on to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, where you'll check out Michelangelo's famed statue of
David and other great works at the Galleria dell'Accademia, the oldest art school in the world. Arrive at your hotel, a former 18th-century palace overlooking the River Arno, for a memorable three-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel*, Florence, Italy
Day 4 – The Leaning Tower and pizza-making in Pisa
An excursion from Florence takes you to Pisa for a look at this maritime city's great medieval buildings – including a glimpse of the remarkable Leaning Tower and more of Pisa's "field of miracles" – followed by a tasty lunchtime pizza-making demonstration. Return to Florence for an evening as you please.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel*, Florence, Italy
Day 5 – Florentine treasures at the Uffizi Gallery
More great Renaissance art awaits in Florence today. A local art historian shares insights about the Renaissance and prepares you for a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, the world's oldest art gallery, where you'll see masterpieces galore – including Michelangelo’s painting of
The Holy Family and Botticelli's
The Birth of Venus. The rest of the day is free for your family to explore more of Florence as you wish.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel*, Florence, Italy
Day 6 – Travel to Venice aboard the high-speed Eurostar
A first-class rail journey aboard the high-speed
Eurostar takes your family to Venice, a city of islands where the roads are paved with water, and a treasured memory of many Italy tours. Ride a private boat to the city's heart for lunch along the Grand Canal, followed by a walking tour of massive St. Mark’s Square, and a visit to the Doges’ Palace; learn why a small bridge high above a canal is called the Bridge of Sighs. Later, a musician serenades your family as you ride in a gondola, traveling through the canals as the Venetians have done for centuries!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Day 7 – Experience Venice your way
If there is any city in Europe that is perfect for just wandering, seeing and experiencing, it is Venice. Follow the small, cobbled streets and alleyways to see where they lead; visit a museum, sample some
gelato (served warmer and creamier than traditional ice cream), or just feed the pigeons in Saint Mark’s Square. Tonight, please join us for a farewell reception and dinner, as this most memorable of family Italy tours draws to a spectacular close.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Day 8 – Homeward bound
Tour ends: Venice. Arrivederci! Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Westin Europa & Regina to Venice's Marco Polo Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. If you did throw that coin into Trevi Fountain, legend has it that you will return to L’Italia Bella again someday!
Meals: Breakfast
* Departures of April 13 & 20 and June 5 will stay at the Westin Excelsior Florence on nights 3, 4 & 5; ask at booking for details.
Seize the opportunity to share the splendors of Italy together on this most family-friendly of Italy tours!
Inclusive Prices
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars ― All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, First Class accommodations on the Eurostar train from Rome to Florence, and from Florence to Venice, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Rome Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport and provide transportation to the Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided Tauck has received accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. Tauck will also provide transportation from The Westin Excelsior, Venice Lido Resort, to Venice Marco Polo Airport whenever you decide to depart.
Child Discount ― Children 11 years of age and under may receive a discount on the tour price. To qualify for a child discount, the child’s birth date must be provided at time of booking. No child discount is offered on the Tauck Travel Protection plans.
Hotel Accommodations ― The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually a two-bedded room with a rollaway cot or sofa bed when available; quadruples on this tour will be accommodated in two-adjacent double rooms unless otherwise requested. Adjacent, adjoining and connecting rooms are available by request only and cannot be guaranteed. Quadruple accommodations are not available for four persons 18 years of age and older rooming together. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult.
Meals ― Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
Even though water from the tap is safe to drink, restaurants will offer bottled water, either sparkling known as "frizzante", or non-sparkling known as "naturale". Water and other drinks served in a glass usually do not contain ice. If you ask for ice, known as "ghiaccio", you will probably receive a few cubes in a bowl.
Most restaurants open for lunch around noon, close at 3:00 PM, and then re-open for dinner at 7:30 PM. Customarily you will be charged a "coperto" (cover) for service at the table, which includes bread. The “coperto” usually ranges from 2 to 4 Euro per person and may be found at the top of the bill. Often a "servizio" (service charge) is added to the bill as well, which may range from 10 to 12%. If there is no added service charge, tips customarily range from 12 to 15% of your total bill.
Tauck Director ―
Italia Bella: Rome to Venice is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.
Gratuities Included ― All appropriate gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff, local guides and drivers, and the Tauck Director are included.
No Options Sold ― Your Tauck Director will assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.
Not Included
Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.
Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours ― To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the
Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.
Luggage Responsibility ― Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to
Tauck Travel Protection for more information.
Personal Expenses ― Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral waters, soft drinks, laundry, airline per bag or excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, individual airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Additional Information
Airline Security Measures ― In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name
must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website by clicking
here.
Air Services ― Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.
Holiday and Museum Closures ― Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or to the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.
If there is a local holiday on the day you are scheduled to visit any museum, including the Vatican Museum, we will re-arrange your program so that these visits will not be missed.
Offices and shops are closed all Sundays in Italy. In major tourist areas especially during high season, many shops are now open.
List of Italy’s National Statutory Holidays:
January 1
|
New Year's Day
|
January 6
|
Epiphany
|
Easter Sunday
|
|
Easter Monday
|
|
April 25
|
Liberation Day
|
May 1
|
Labor Day
|
August 15
|
Assumption of the Virgin
|
November 1
|
All Saints Day
|
December 8
|
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
|
December 25
|
Christmas Day
|
December 26
|
Santo Stefano (Boxing Day)
|
Offices and shops are also closed in the following cities on the local feast days honoring their patron saints:
April 25
|
San Marco (Venice/Venezia)
|
June 24
|
San Giovanni Battista (Florence/Firenze, Genoa/Genova, Turin/Torino)
|
June 29
|
San Pietro e Paolo (Rome/Roma)
|
Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility ― Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing.
Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins with a walk around the center of Rome with a local guide that starts at the Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi at 2:30 PM on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. The tour ends at check out time at The Westin Excelsior, Venice Lido Resort on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow at least 2½ hours for flight check in.
Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.
Photography on Tour ― Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.
Preparing To Go
Air Conditioning ― All the hotels and motor coaches used on this tour are air-conditioned for your comfort. Most air conditioning systems in European hotels have three settings for the fan, plus a "cool" setting. Very few of the European systems actually have a temperature setting. In general, the amount of cool air that is produced from a European air conditioning system may be less than what you may have in your own home.
ATM and Credit Cards ― We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Clothing and Packing ― The weather in Italy is temperate and unpredictable. We suggest that you dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater or jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll; however, generally you will only need to dress for warm and delightful weather – and the occasional shower.
When dining in finer restaurants, slacks or a dress for women are acceptable dining attire; jackets for men are not required. We advise not wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but certainly be comfortable.
Most catholic churches in Italy require that your knees and shoulders be covered when you enter, even during the hot days of summer. This is particularly important when you visit St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where shorts and tank tops are not allowed.
You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. By law in Italy, irons and ironing boards are not made available to guests at the hotels. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.
Children may want to consider bringing along pocket toys and games with a "sound off" button or a portable radio or CD player with headphones for use on longer travel days. Journals, binoculars and cameras are also great for children to have with them to make the most of their adventure.
Each child will be sent a complimentary backpack from Tauck Bridges! If the child resides in the United States, the backpack will be sent to his home and should arrive approximately two weeks prior to his departure for Italy. If the child resides outside of the U.S, the backpack will be waiting at the hotel in Rome on arrival, as customs regulations prohibit the easy delivery of the backpacks in advance.
We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.
Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Italy:
- An optional sports jacket for men
- Casually-elegant outfits for women
- Short and long sleeve shirts
- Shorts, slacks and jeans
- Tee shirts
- Socks
- Light-weight sweater
- Light-weight jacket
- Comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
- Raincoat and rain hat
- Collapsible umbrella
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Wash cloth – not all European hotels provide washcloths, so you may want to bring one along if you prefer them. A package of reusable cloth wipes is an excellent alternative
- Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film
- Travel iron
- Tauck Bridges backpack
- Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling
Elevation ― The maximum overnight elevation on this tour is approximately 170 ft (50 m) in Florence.
Health ―
Italia Bella: Rome to Venice, though paced to accommodate all our guests, is nonetheless an active tour. You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Italy is home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, some dating from antiquity. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical limitations. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and some steep and winding staircases. There are several long walking tours ranging form 1½ hours in Venice to 4 hours in Vatican City. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.
We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
Please advise your Tauck Director on tour if you or the children traveling with you have any serious allergies. Also, adults may want to bring along children's aspirin or medicines as a precaution, as access to these may be limited.
If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.
If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Italy. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking
here.
If you are a citizen of another country, please check with an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.
Luggage Restrictions:
Checked Luggage – General
While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.
In addition, airlines have adopted stricter policies enforcing number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.
Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.
Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight or size policies.
Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.
And don’t forget your Tauck Bridges backpack!
Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.
For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.
Travel Document Requirements ― If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a valid passport to enter Italy; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.
If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what travel documentation is required.
We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. In addition, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Travel with Children
Age Recommendations ― Children
3 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck Bridges journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. We recommend that children be
8 years of age or older to participate fully in all activities planned for this tour.
All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.
Babysitting ― Tauck Bridges journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.
Safety and Welfare Responsibility ― We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck Bridges journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck Bridges, you release Tauck Bridges, Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.
Special Travel Documentation for Children
Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by
both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.
CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.
If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.
All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.
Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.
Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.
Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click
here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
Destination Information
Cell Phones ― We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone while on the motor coach, during group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.
Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Italy.
Currency and Exchange Rates ― The official currency in Italy is the Euro.
In Italy, travelers’ checks are becoming increasingly unpopular. Most reputable establishments will accept major credit cards. The ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) in Italy are known as Bancomats, and they are widely distributed. Using a credit card, or better, a debit card or your local bank ATM card, is very easy. If you are unsure about your card’s compatibility with the local banking systems, contact the bank or institution that issued your card. A Bancomat will dispense Euro. Many banks are now charging large fees of 2.5% to 4% for cash advances on credit cards, which negate any advantage of using the Bancomat. We advise that you use your regular ATM card and simply withdraw money from your account just as you would do at your local bank.
To obtain the current currency exchange rates, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website, “oanda.com – The Currency Site”, by clicking
here.
Customs and Tax-Free Shopping ― If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled “Know Before You Go”, by clicking
here.
If you are a resident of another country, you should refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.
Currently, Italy levies a 20% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most consumer goods and services. (The tax may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.
Electrical Current ― The electrical current in Italy is 220 V, 50 Hz, AC. If your electrical devices do not conform to this standard, you will need to bring the appropriate converters and adapters.
Internet Access is available at each of the hotels as indicated below:
Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi - Wireless access in rooms
Hotel Brunelleschi Florence – High-speed access in rooms
The Westin Excelsior, Venice Lido Resort – On-request access for a fee
Time Zones ― Italy is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through late October, Italy switches to Daylight Savings Time and is 2 hours ahead. To determine current time major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, “timeanddate.com”, by clicking
here.
Weather - The weather in Italy is temperate and unpredictable. Generally, April through June average high temperatures range from 61 to 81 °F (16 to 27 °C), July through September, 74 to 88 °F (23 to 31 °C), though temperatures are frequently over 90 °F (32 °C) in summer, and October through December, 44 to 71 °F (7 to 22 °C). Rain falls evenly throughout the year in Venice, but more seasonally in Rome, where summers are dryer than winters. Venice experiences very high humidity, with hot weather in July and August. Due to its location on the Adriatic coast, Venice often experiences thunderstorms and rain showers which, particularly in spring and autumn, tend to cause flooding, known as the “acqua alta”. Rainfall in Florence is twice that in Rome.
|
Average Temperature |
|
|
Rome, Italy
|
Florence, Italy
|
|
| Month |
Hi/Lo ºF |
Hi/Lo ºC |
Hi/Lo ºF |
Hi/Lo ºC |
|
| January |
55 / 38 |
13 / 3 |
50 / 34 |
10 / 1 |
|
| February |
56 / 39 |
13 / 4 |
53 / 37 |
12 / 3 |
|
| March |
59 / 42 |
15 / 6 |
59 / 40 |
15 / 4
|
|
| April |
64 / 46 |
18 / 8 |
65 / 45 |
18 / 7 |
|
| May |
71 / 53 |
22 / 12 |
74 / 52 |
23 / 11 |
|
| June |
78 / 60 |
26 / 16 |
81 / 58 |
27 / 14 |
|
| July |
83 / 64 |
28 / 18 |
88 / 63 |
31 / 17 |
|
| August |
83 / 65 |
28 / 18 |
87 / 62 |
31 / 17 |
|
| September |
78 / 60 |
26 / 16 |
79 / 57 |
26 / 14 |
|
| October |
71 / 53 |
22 / 12 |
70 / 50 |
21 / 10 |
|
| November |
63 / 46 |
17 / 8 |
58 / 41 |
14 / 5 |
|
| December |
57 / 41 |
14 / 5 |
50 / 36 |
10 / 1 |
|
|
Venice, Italy
|
| Month |
Hi/Lo ºF |
Hi/Lo ºC |
| January |
42 / 30 |
6 / -1
|
| February |
46 / 33 |
8 / 1 |
| March |
53 / 38 |
12 / 3 |
| April |
61 / 46 |
16 / 8 |
| May |
70 / 54 |
21 / 12 |
| June |
76 / 60 |
24 / 16 |
| July |
81 / 64 |
27 / 18 |
| August |
80 / 63 |
27 / 17 |
| September |
74 / 57 |
23 / 14 |
| October |
64 / 48 |
18 / 9 |
| November |
52 / 39 |
11 / 4 |
| December |
44 / 32 |
7 / 0 |
|
Average Rainfall |
|
Rome, Italy
|
Florence, Italy
|
| Month |
Inches |
Millimeters |
Inches |
Millimeters |
| January |
3.2 |
81 |
3.1 |
79 |
| February |
3.0 |
76 |
2.9 |
74 |
| March |
2.6 |
66 |
4.3 |
109 |
| April |
2.2 |
56 |
6.2 |
157 |
| May |
1.3 |
33 |
7.9 |
201 |
| June |
0.6 |
15 |
6.9 |
175 |
| July |
0.6 |
15 |
5.4 |
137 |
| August |
1.3 |
33 |
6.8 |
173 |
| September |
2.7 |
69 |
6.3 |
160 |
| October |
3.7 |
94 |
5.8 |
147 |
| November |
4.4 |
112 |
5.0 |
127 |
| December |
3.5 |
89 |
2.6 |
66 |
|
Venice, Italy
|
| Month |
Inches |
Millimeters |
| January |
1.5 |
37 |
| February |
1.9 |
48 |
| March |
2.4 |
61 |
| April |
3.1 |
78 |
| May |
2.6 |
65 |
| June |
2.7 |
69 |
| July |
2.0 |
52 |
| August |
2.7 |
69 |
| September |
2.3 |
59 |
| October |
3.0 |
77 |
| November |
3.7 |
94 |
| December |
2.4 |
61 |
To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, “weather.com”, by clicking
here.
If You Have to Cancel
Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers
Tauck Travel Protection.
If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Please
click here for more details.
If you choose
not to purchase Tauck Travel Protection, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
60 days or more before departure
$600 per person (the amount of the deposit)
59-8 days before departure
$900 per person
7-1 days before departure
$1,500 per person
