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11 Day Aristocrat (Winter 2010-2011)
Overnight Stays: Venice (2 nights) Florence (4) Rome (3)
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Here’s a chance to splurge just a little. While all of our tours feature fine First Class hotels, our “Aristocrat” hotels are a degree higher in quality. Also, this tour includes most dinners out at fine restaurants. Feeling aristocratic? This is the tour for you!
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- Great Hotels. Centrally-located, First-Class & Deluxe hotels, exclusively.
- Smaller Groups. 20-to-40 guests per tour.
- More Legroom. Deluxe, state-of-the-art motorcoaches with EXTRA legroom.
- Airport Transfers. Arrival and departure transfers in Italy.
- Buffet Breakfast Daily. A very hearty start to each day!
- 5 Dinners. Including pasta or soup, choice of entrees, vegetable, salad, dessert, coffee, wine, mineral water, beer or soft drink.
- Wine Tasting. Vineyard tour and wine tasting.
- Wireless Headsets to hear your guide clearly and distinctly in public places.
- 1 Tote Bag Per Person, baggage tags and travel documents included.
- Baggage Handling. Never touch your bag! (except at airports).
- Hotel Taxes, Hotel Service Charges and All Tips for hotel and restaurant personnel.
- Professional Tour Directors and licensed local guides.
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At a Glance:
- DAY 1 (Monday) - Depart USA
- DAY 2 (Tuesday) - Arrive in Venice, Afternoon Free, Dinner Out
- DAY 3 (Wednesday) - Venice, City Sightseeing, Murano Glass Factory Visit
- DAY 4 (Thursday) - Venice, Padua, Florence, Dinner in Hotel
- DAY 5 (Friday) - Florence, Full Day Sightseeing including ‘The David’
- DAY 6 (Saturday) - Florence, Pisa, Wine Tasting in Tuscany
- DAY 7 (Sunday) - Florence, Siena, Afternoon at Leisure, Dinner Out Tonight
- DAY 8 (Monday) - Morning Drive to Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica, Imperial Rome & the Colosseum, Dinner in Hotel
- DAY 9 (Tuesday) - Rome, The Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel
- DAY 10 (Wednesday) - Rome, Full Day of Leisure, Dinner Out
- DAY 11 (Thursday) - Flight Home
Full Itinerary:
DAY 1 (Monday) - Depart USA
Boarding our overnight flight, we’re off to Italy on the adventure of a lifetime!
DAY 2 (Tuesday) - Arrive in Venice, Afternoon Free, Dinner Out
Benvenuti a Venezia! We are pleased to offer complimentary motorboat transfers from the Venice airport to your hotel at scheduled times.
Your Perillo representative will be at the airport to greet you. Your tour guide will be on hand to preview the exciting trip ahead. Then we’ll enjoy a ‘get acquainted’ dinner at a fi ne restaurant just steps from St. Mark’s Square. D
DAY 3 (Wednesday) - Venice, City Sightseeing, Murano Glass Factory Visit
This morning we’ll meet our expert local guide for a walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the great Byzantine Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs and an inside visit of the Doge’s Palace.
Next we’ll board our motoscafi to visit one of the world’s oldest glass blowing factories on the island of Murano.
This afternoon you’ll have a chance to “get lost” in the city’s labyrinth of canals, bridges and tiny piazzas. Being a small island, it’s impossible to stray very far. But it won’t hurt to master the phrase “Dov’e’ Piazza San Marco?” Dinner is on your own tonight and there are lots of great choices around your hotel. Even Hemingway’s famous “Harry’s Bar” is just around the corner! Your guide will be happy to make suggestions. BB
DAY 4 (Thursday) - Venice, Padua, Florence, Dinner in Hotel
This morning it’s back to the mainland where we’ll meet our dependable driver for the ride to Florence. But on the way we’ll make a memorable stop.
Visitors to Padua are often surprised by a sense of deep spirituality. St. Anthony (patron Saint of lost objects) is interred here in the serene Basilica which dates back to the 1200s.
Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner at our hotel. A toast (brindisi) to Florence and our new traveling friends! BB, D
DAY 5 (Friday) - Florence, Full Day Sightseeing including ‘The David’
Florence, the fountainhead of the Renaissance, awaits our inspection.
Our day of sightseeing includes the majestic Duomo built in 1296, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery with its renowned “Gates of Paradise” doors.
We follow the medieval streets to the most striking square in Florence, Piazza della Signoria, home of Santa Croce Church, Michelangelo’s final resting place.
“Breathtaking” is the only word to describe one’s first view of Michelangelo’s David. Yes, it’s quite large and detailed. But the real magic is in how Michelangelo transformed a lifeless rock into a man - full of pride, wary of his adversary, yet quietly confident. All with just a hammer and a chisel.
Dinner is on your own tonight. Have you tried a Bistecca all Fiorentina? Hmmmm! BB
DAY 6 (Saturday) - Florence, Pisa, Wine Tasting in Tuscany
The bell tower of Pisa is among the most instantly recognizable structures on earth. Architects say it would be world famous even if it were perfectly straight. This morning we’ll see for ourselves, along with the beautiful Cathedral and Baptistery.
This afternoon we’ll visit a typical Tuscan winery to learn about the grape, the “nose,” food pairings and most importantly – which glass to use! Cin-Cin!
Tonight we thought you’d enjoy a dinner on your own. Ask your tour guide for a recommendation, or simply relax and enjoy your hotel restaurant. BB
DAY 7 (Sunday) - Florence, Siena, Afternoon at Leisure, Dinner Out Tonight
While the ambitious city of Florence was launching the Renaissance, Siena was her “laid-back” country cousin. Just 30 miles south of Florence, she is considered the best preserved medieval city in Italy.
Our guided tour will include the elaborately carved Gothic cathedral, Town Hall and Piazza del Campo- site of the famous Palio horse race. You’ll have time for lunch on your own, shopping, and a little more exploration.
Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner at one of our favorite Florentine restaurants with great local wines. BB, D
DAY 8 (Monday) - Morning Drive to Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica, Imperial Rome & the Colosseum, Dinner in Hotel
This morning we enjoy our drive south to Rome through Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio - the “green heart” of Italy.
This afternoon we visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We’ll see Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini’s seven story bronze canopy above the main altar.
Next we board our coach for a panoramic tour of “Imperial Rome” including Castel Sant’Angelo, the Roman Forum, Largo Argentina, the Jewish Ghetto and the Circus Maximus. Then we’ll enter the Colosseum, reliving the brutal entertainment of the gladiators and the lions, refereed by the Emperor himself.
Tonight, we rejoin the 21st century with a satisfying dinner at our hotel. BB, D
DAY 9 (Tuesday) - Rome, The Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel
This morning, with our expert local guide, we’ll tour the Vatican Museums - a treasure trove of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, tapestries and Renaissance paintings. Our visit culminates in the Sistine Chapel, the room where the pope is elected. We enter in total silence, not wanting to disturb Michelangelo’s famed frescoes, depicting stories from the Bible and the “End of Times.” You’ll be fascinated by which of Michelangelo’s contemporaries he assigned to heaven and which to hell.
Your tour guide will have some great suggestions for dinner on your own in Rome. BB
DAY 10 (Wednesday) - Rome, Full Day of Leisure, Dinner Out
A free day in Rome! But don’t sleep in too late – there’s much to do and see! Ask your tour guide for suggestions.
Why not start with an espresso in Piazza Navona, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return and stroll across the Tiber for another look at the Vatican. Rome is a great city for walking, shopping and people watching.
Tonight is our last dinner together. No tears. You’ll exchange e-mails with your new friends and make plans for the future. How about we all meet again on a Perillo Tour to Hawaii! BB, D
DAY 11 (Thursday) - Flight Home
This morning we board our flight home, arriving in the USA the same day. While we say “arrivederci” to Italy, we realize we’re taking a little piece of it back home with us.
Thanks for traveling with the Perillo family and please return soon. BB
B=Breakfast D=Dinner
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Prices below are land-only and do not include airfare.
For more information on airfares check out the "Air Information" section of this page.
| Per Person Double Room | Triple Room | Single Room | Kids (Under 12yr w/ 2 Adults | ||
| Black Dates | $2799 | $2499 | $3399 | $1599 | |
| Red Dates | $2999 | $2699 | $3599 | $1599 | |
| Green Dates | $3099 | $2899 | $3899 | $1599 | |
TO VENICE, RETURN FROM ROME Depart USA Monday - Return Thursday |
NOTE: Rates are per person and include roundtrip airport transfers in Italy at scheduled times. Airfare available from your hometown.
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Why book your flights with Perillo Tours?
1. Big savings in both Coach and Business Class.
2. Reserve your flight now but pay later with your “final payment.”
3. Much more lenient cancellation and change fees!
4. You can still earn your Frequent Flyer Mileage.
5. Airport arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times.
Step 1: Choose the zone of your departing city.
| Zone 1 |
Newark, NJ New York City, JFK |
| Zone 2 | |||
Akron, OH Albany, NY Allentown, PA Atlanta, GA Baltimore, MD Bangor, ME Boston, MA Buffalo, NY Burlington, VT | Chicago, IL Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Dayton, OH Hartford, CT Manchester, NH | Norfolk, VA Philadelphia, PA Pittsburgh, PA Portland, ME Providence, RI Richmond, VA | Roanoke, VA Rochester, NY Syracuse, NY Toledo, OH Washington, D.C. WilkesBarre/Scranton, PA |
| Zone 3 | |||
Asheville, NC Austin, TX Birmingham, AL Charleston, SC Chattanooga, TN Charlotte, NC Columbia, SC Columbus, GA Dallas, TX Des Moines, IA Detroit, MI Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Ft. Myers, FL Ft. Wayne, IN Grand Rapids, MI Greensboro, NC Greenville/Spartan, SC Houston, TX Huntsville, AL Indianapolis, IN Jackson, MS Jacksonville, FL Kalamazoo, MI Kansas City, MO Knoxville, TN | Lansing, MI Lexington, KY Little Rock, AR Louisville, KY Memphis, TN Miami, FL Milwaukee, WI Minneapolis, MN Mobile, AL Montgomery, AL Myrtle Beach, SC Nashville, TN New Orleans, LA Oklahoma City, OK | Omaha, NE Orlando, FL Raleigh/Durham, NC San Antonio, TX Sarasota, FL Savannah, GA Shreveport, LA South Bend, IN St. Louis, MO Tampa, FL Tulsa, OK W. Palm Beach, FL |
| Zone 4 | |||
Albuquerque, NM Billings, MT Boise, ID Bozeman, MT Butte, MT Casper, WY Colorado Springs, CO Denver, CO | Great Falls, MT Helena, MT Idaho Falls, ID Jackson, WY Kalispell, MT Las Vegas, NV Los Angeles, CA Missoula, MT | Palm Springs, CA Phoenix, AZ Portland, OR Rapid City, SD Reno, NV Sacramento, CA Salt Lake City, UT San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA Santa Ana, CA Seattle, WA Spokane,WA Tucson, AZ Wichita, KS |
CAN’T FIND YOUR HOME CITY? Give us a call and we’ll find the most convenient airport for you.
Step 2: Match your zone to find the sample airfare which depends on your exact departure date.
Choose the zone of your departure city and match it with the tour departure date to find airfare examples.
SAMPLE AIRFARES
| Airline Zone | October 25, 2010 - December 13, 2010 | December 14, 2010 - December 23, 2010 | December 24, 2010 - March 31, 2011 | April 1, 2011 - April 9, 2011 |
| ZONE 1 | $555 | $620 | $555 | $620 |
| ZONE 2 | $705 | $770 | $705 | $770 |
| ZONE 3 | $785 | $850 | $785 | $850 |
| ZONE 4 | $805 | $870 | $805 | $870 |
These fares can help you estimate the full cost of your tour. We will quote your exact airfare within 48 hours of booking. |
Sample Airfares
The “sample” airfares shown do not include departure taxes or fuel surcharges now in the $420 - $450 range. Your exact airfare will be advised within 2 business days of booking your tour.
Airfares DO include your roundtrip airport transfers in Italy at scheduled times, provided you arrive and depart on scheduled tour dates. If you wish to arrive earlier or extend your stay, airport transfers are not included.
Book Early
The early booker usually gets the lowest fares, the most convenient flights and best seats. So a word to the wise - BOOK EARLY!
Air Upgrade at Affordable Prices
When you purchase your coach ticket through Perillo Tours, you can upgrade to Business/First Class for a surcharge of as little as $2199 per person. Live it up a little!
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Below are the hotels you will experience on this Perillo Tour.
NOTE: If a change in hotels becomes necessary for any reason, the hotel substituted will be equivalent of those shown.
Deluxe Luna Baglioni
A member of the leading hotels of the world, this five-star, luxury hotel is located just steps from the Piazza San Marco, in the very heart of Venice, just a short distance from some of the city's most famous historical attractions.
Grand Hotel Villa Medici
An historical residence located in the center of Florence at walking distance from all major art sites and shopping locations.
The Grand Hotel Villa Medici is located in the center of Florence, the 5 star hotel Villa Medici was the residence of one of the most important Italian families.
Now the charm of past ages still survives in the splendid rooms and the extremely elegant furnishings of the hotel in Florence.
Each room is decorated with antique ornaments, which enrich the magical atmosphere of this 5 star hotel in Florence.
Villa Medici is one of the best 5 stars hotels in Florence and it is the favorite destination of artists and important persons.
A refined restaurant and a garden with a swimming pool, complete the charm of this 5 star hotel in Florence.
Rose Garden Palace
Experience a new level of hospitality as well as a most stylish design, blending classical and modern traditions. We enthusiastically recommend this brand new hotel in the heart of Rome.
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Our tours have been crafted to balance abundant activity with plenty of free time. Some folks will enjoy the time on their own, others will be happy to know that we offer several 'optional excursions' at a reasonable cost. They can be purchased directly from your tour guide in Italy.
All optional tours and rates can and do frequently change. Prices noted above are approximate. Payment in EUROS or DOLLARS ONLY, no Travelers Checks or Credit Cards accepted.
Pompeii and Naples
Rome's Piazzas and Fountains
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Want to start your vacation early or extend your stay in Italy? A Perillo Tour’s representative will be happy to help with the arrangements. Along with extra night hotel accommodations, your air tickets may be booked to arrive before your tour begins or remain after your tour ends.
Many customers prefer to arrive early to unwind and relax prior to the tour’s start date. Others like to extend their stay to visit with friends or relatives or explore on their own.
Whatever you desire Perillo’s team will help you plan and coordinate your entire journey.
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Memories are the most magical part of any Perillo experience. Here are a few memorable moments from our clients.
Have an interesting or inspiring story of your own? Tell us your story and it may be published on our website for others to enjoy!
Barry and Barbara B.
From Baltimore MD
The afternoon that we arrived in Rome on our Perillo Tour, we settled into our lovely room at our Hotel Cicerone and then went off to explore the city. We were to meet some friends later on at St. Peter's Basilica. They told us to meet them at 5 PM at the "big door on the right as you are facing the church". When we arrived, there were hundreds of people straining to get through that door, but no one was using the door on the left.
"Why not just go through this door?" we asked our friends. "Then we won't have to crowd through the other one." It was then that they pointed to the sign above the door: Sacra Puerta, it said-the sacred door. We had arrived in Rome during the Jubilee celebration, the one year in twenty-five when the Sacred Door is opened and all who go through it are blessed.
Even though we are not Catholic, we are also not people to pass up a blessing whenever we can get one! We lined up along with the rest of the pilgrims to receive ours.
Jim and Diane V.
From Kingwood, TX
We just returned from the 3-City Aristocrat 11 day Tour in April, 2008. Our friends, Lynne & David went with us and this was our first time to Italy! Perillo made it a wonderful trip. We were not disappointed. We want to say how wonderful our tour guide was. We understand he has been with Perillo many years and he did a great job.
The tour itself was first class, well done and so much fun. The weather was wonderful. The hotels were exceptional and well located in each city. The individual guides in each city were very knowledgeable and entertaining. We will certainly look to Perillo for our next tour and recommend it highly to all our friends.
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