This tour is great value as the following are all included in the price:

• Return Air fares from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Rome with Emirates. 

• A 13 day tour of Italy visiting such exciting places as Rome, Florence, the Italian Lakes, Venice, Sorrento and the Isle of Capri.   

• A 2 night stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.    

• Excellent accommodation, mainly 4 star. 

• Many meals. 

• All transport and transfers. 

• Services of Italian and Arab tour guides, and if there are 14 or more tour participants there will be an Australian tour leader.  

If you don't have a travel partner but wish to travel but wish to travel at twin share rates we will do our best to match you up with another traveler in a similar position, but this is not guaranteed, For a single room there is an extra charge of $790.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

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	Itinerary for Best of Italy Tour - March 2012
	Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner
16.03.12	Australia - Dubai Brisbane passengers depart Brisbane at 8.45pm on Emirates flight EK 435, arriving in Dubai 5.25am the following morning. Sydney passengers depart Sydney at 9.45pm on Emirates flight EK 413, arriving in Dubai at 5.30am the following morning. Melbourne passengers depart Melbourne at 10.25pm on Emirates flight EK 407, arriving in Dubai at 5.40am the following morning.
17.03.12	Dubai - Rome All passengers then depart Dubai at 9.10am on EK 97, arriving in Rome at 12.35pm. Upon arrival you are transferred to the hotel. Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City. You are free to explore the city on arrival, or recover from your flights. This evening enjoy an included welcome drink while meeting your travelling companions and Tour Director. Accommodation: Milton Hotel or similar
18.03.12 (B)	Rome sightseeing Today visit St Peter's Square and the Basilica, one of the greatest buildings of the Late Renaissance. See Tiburtina Island on your journey across the River Tiber. Marvel at the Circus Maximus, ancient Rome's most famous chariot racing venue. Learn about the significance of the Colosseum and the events staged therein. Later you will have free time to explore the city on your own. Accommodation: Milton Hotel or similar
19.03.12 (B/D)	Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento View the magnificent Sistine Chapel during your guided visit to the Vatican Museums. Gaze at the amazing frescoed ceiling depicting scenes from the book of Genesis, said to be Michelangelo's crowning achievement. Later, see the Abbey of Monte Cassino en route to the Bay of Naples. Tour the excavations at Pompeii with an expert local guide. Pompeii was completely buried when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 and was rediscovered centuries later. Arrive Sorrento and have an included highlight dinner in a local restaurant. Accommodation: Flora Sorrento or similar
20.03.12 (B)	Isle of Capri Witness the art of inlaid woodworking, an ancient craft for which Sorrento is renowned. Take the ferry to the Isle of Capri for a guided excursion where you have the opportunity to explore narrow streets, beautiful gardens and the tempting boutiques of this lovely island. Accommodation: Flora Sorrento or similar
21.03.12 (B/D)	Sorrento - Assisi Driving north through Umbria you arrive in the mystical town of Assisi on the slopes of Mount Subasio. The birthplace of St. Francis overlooks beautiful countryside. Visit the basilica of St. Francis, famous for its fresco paintings depicting the life of this much loved saint on your guided sightseeing tour. Spend free time exploring the town, which is dominated by two medieval castles and a number of churches and monasteries. Accommodation: Ora Hotel Cenacolo or similar
22.03.12 (B/D)	Assisi - Classe - Pomposa - Venice Visit the Church of St. Apollinaris, close to the ancient town of Classe, with its exquisite mosaics and Byzantine architecture. Admire the Basilica of Pomposa, a Benedictine monastery where modern musical notation was invented in the 11th century. Driving north across the Po Valley you arrive in Venice. An enchanting city built across 117 small islands in a marshy lagoon. Accommodation: NH Laguna Palace or similar
23.03.12 (B)	Venice Your cruise by private motor launch to St. Mark's square is breathtaking. See the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace and Basilica of St. Mark. Visit a traditional glass blowing factory to witness a demonstration of this ancient art. The afternoon is yours to explore the wonderful sights. Accommodation: NH Laguna Palace or similar
24.03.12 (B/D)	Venice - Verona - Milan - Italian lakes Marvel at the Roman Arena and Juliet's balcony in Verona, the home of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. Crossing the plains of Lombardy you arrive in Milan, a powerhouse of fashion and design. See the Duomo, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Admire La Scala opera house and the Galleria, with it's vaulted ceilings and glass dome. Arrive later in the stunning Italian Lake District for your two night stay. Accommodation: Hotel Porro Pirelli or similar
25.03.12 (B/D)	Lugano See the beautiful lakeside resort of Lugano during your excursion into the Italian speaking region of Switzerland, Ticino. You might like to shop for souvenirs and enjoy a leisurely lunch at a lakeside restaurant. Explore the pleasant terraced gardens on the shores of the lake. Accommodation: Hotel Porro Pirelli or similar
26.03.12 (B)	Italian Lakes - Pisa - Florence South via the Plains of Lombardy and across the Apennine Mountains you pass Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. See the extraordinary Leaning Tower of Pisa on your way to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo or similar
27.03.12 (B/D)	Florence See Signoria Square, gateway to the Uffizi Gallery, during your guided walking tour of Florence. Admire the elaborate Duomo, including the Bapistery and Campanile. Visit the Ponte Vecchio which spans the River Arno. Appreciate panoramic views of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Spend the rest of the day as you wish. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a dinner of regional specialities in a local family restaurant. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo or similar
28.03.12 (B/D)	Florence - Siena - Rome Admire the sprawling, picturesque vineyards of Chianti on your way to Siena. Visit this historic city, famous for its exciting Palio horse race. Consider exploring the Gothic cathedral or relax with a drink in Piazza del Campo, a splendid square lined with medieval mansions and palaces. Tonight in Rome, join your companions and Tour Director for a farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Cristoforo Colombo or similar
29.03.12 (B)	Rome - Dubai Late morning departure to Rome International Airport for your flight to Dubai. Depart Rome at 2.30pm on Emirates flight EK98, arriving in Dubai at 11.00pm. Upon arrival in Dubai you will be transferred to the Grand Central Hotel. Accommodation: Grand Central Hotel
30.03.12 (B/D)	Dubai This morning enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of Dubai. Pass by the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Mosque. There is a visit to the Bastakia area. Lunch will be at your own arrangement. After lunch there is a four wheel drive 'desert safari' excursion, including dune driving, camel ride, henna painting and the opportunity to wear an Arabic costume for photographs or belly dancing. Dinner will be a dune safari meal, consisting of barbeque meats and salads, as well as fresh fruits and local Arabic sweets. Accommodation: Grand Central Hotel
31.03.12 (B)	Dubai - Australia After an early breakfast at the hotel you are transferred to Dubai Airport. Melbourne passengers depart Dubai at 10.10am on EK 406, arriving in Melbourne at 6.35am the next morning (01.04.12). Sydney passengers depart Dubai at 10.15am on EK 412, arriving in Sydney at 6.55am the next morning (01.04.12). Brisbane passengers depart Dubai at 10.25am on EK 434, arriving in Brisbane at 6.40am the next morning (01.04.12).
Note:	The ground operator in Italy is Trafalgar First Class

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Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 10 weeks prior to departure.
Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.
Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired. Macleay Valley Travel offers Suresave Travel Insurance.  Please note that we can only process your travel insurance when we have received full payment for the insurance and the signed Suresave Travel Insurance application form, located on the last page of the Suresave Travel Insurance information booklet. Until this time the travel insurance cannot be processed and will not be valid. Macleay Valley Travel will bare no responsibility for any consequences that may occur as a result of an incomplete insurance application.
Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.Visas are not required for Italy and Dubai if traveling on an Australian passport.
Basic Tour Price and Taxes - Air taxes and Fuel Levies are included in the basic tour price if the tour is paid in full on or before the due date on the final invoice. Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to charge for any increase in Air taxes and Fuel Levies if the tour is not paid in full by the due date.
Not  Included in the Cost - Travel insurance,visas and all items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), etc.are not included in the cost. Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.
Breakaway Fee -All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set itinerary will incur a breakaway fee. The breakaway fee for most deviations including a post-tour extension on this tour is $105 per person. Please inquire with our office for prices on any pre-tour extensions. 
Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of our tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.
Health and Fitness- Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.
Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
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