Trip to Tuscany

*** Florence * Cinque Terre * Siena * Pisa * San Gimignano * Montecatini Terme * Verrazzano Castle for Lunch and Wine Tasting * Pistoia * Vinci (Town of Leonardo Da Vinci) * Montalcino * Cortona * Montepulciano***

Dates 2010: June 30 -July 10; October 7-17 ---------------- $3,990 11 Days

Dates 2011: June 30 -July 10; September 8-18 ------------- $3,990 11 Days

Flights to Tuscany -Italy

We fly you directly to Italy from your hometown for the same price

Hotels - 4 and 5 star hotels in the downtown area close to major sites

	Montecatini. Grand Hotel & La Pace. 5 Star Hotel. Tel. 011.39.0572.9240 Hotel & La Pace
	San Gimignano. Relais Santa Chiara. Tel. 011.39.0577.940701 Santa Chiara Hotel

Trip Includes

	Air Fare from anywhere in the Continental USA (same price)
	4 or 5 star Hotels in Downtown Areas
	Transport with Luxury Bus
	All Breakfasts and all Dinners in Upscale Restaurants. Wine included at Dinner
	All Tips to Driver and to Tour Guide
	Guided Tours and Tour Fees
	All Taxes
	Fuel Surcharges
	Remember: our trips are not more expensive during high season - We offer unlimited food and drinks including wine, and we are flexible with the menu - The price of the trips is the same from anywhere in the USA - Passengers will never be expected to be extra for anything else on the trip - The size of our groups are not large at all - We always wait for passengers and we never leave anyone behind - We do not charge extra if any passenger intends to come back from overseas at a later date

Trip Does Not Include

	Lunch
	Optional Insurance: $200 per person

Trip Itinerary – Taste of Tuscany

Day 1: Departure to Pisa, Italy.

Day 2: Arrival to Pisa. Check-in Montecatini Terme. After sometime to relax

and unpack, depart hotel to visit the famous Tettuccio Spa. Continue by coach to

Montecatini Alto (Old Town). After your visit, descend by funicular to Montecatini

Terme. Meet your coach and continue with an orientation drive through the town en

route to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Day 3: Florence. This morning, depart for full-day excursion to Florence.

Your walking tour begins with a visit of the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s

masterpiece, the David. Other highlights include the Piazza del Duomo, the religious

center, and the Piazza della Signoria, the political center. Wine Tasting in Florence of

variety of wines that arrive to Florence from many areas of Tuscany. Enjoy the

afternoon at leisure in Florence for independent exploration. Return to Montecatini

early evening. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Cinque Terre. Depart this morning for a full day excursion to the picturesque

Cinque Terre, five small villages perched dramatically above the mountains of the

Eastern Italian Riviera. Travel by coach to Monterosso to board the local train. Stop

at each of the 5 towns, Walk the romantic “Via dell’amore”, the path of love, through

the National Park along the Ligurian coastline. Enjoy a beautiful view of the Golfo

dei Poeti. Meet your motorcoach at La Spezia. Return to your hotel. Enjoy dinner at

a lovely restaurant in the Tuscan Hills.

Day 5: Free Morning. Cooking lesson in the afternoon followed by dinner at the

Fattoria il Poggio.

Day 6: Verrazzano Castle/Pistoia. This morning, depart for another spectacular day.

First, drive through the Tuscan wine country to Castel Verrazzano. Here, explore the

beautiful grounds and wine cellar. Then, enjoy a wine tasting and hearty rustic lunch.

After lunch, make a brief stop in Greve, a small market town in Chinati with an

unusual triangular piazza lined with busy porticoes. Visit one of the many wine shops

and the statue of Giovanni di Verrazanno who discovered New York harbor. Then,

visit Pistoia, a medieval town famous for its metal works. In the Chapel of St. James,

see the silver altar decorated with more than 600 statues and reliefs. Dinner in

Montecatini.

Day 7: Vinci/San Gimignano. Depart Montecatini this morning En route to San

Gimignano, stop in Vinci, a hill-top town famous as the birthplace of Leonardo da

Vinci. Visit the Museo Leonardiano in a 13th century castle. See wooden models of

Leonardo’s inventions and prototype drawings. Continue to Fattoria San Donato for

a wine tasting and an early dinner. Then off to San Gimignano for a sightseeing tour of

this fascinating medieval city. See 13 towers built by noble families in the 12th and

13th centuries. The town prospered until the 14th century when the plague

contributed to its decline. Check into your hotel.

Day 8: Siena/Montalcino/Abby of Olivetto Maggiore. Today, depart for a full day

excursion to Siena and Montalcino. First, visit Siena for a guided tour of this beautiful

renaissance city that rivaled Florence in power, beauty, and wealth. Your walking tour

will highlight the Piazza del Campo, considered to be Italy’s most beautiful square, and

the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals. Learn about the frenetic Palio Race,

held every summer since medieval times. After your tour, enjoy some free time for

independent exploration. Continue to Montalcino in the heart of Tuscany’s wine

country. Enjoy a wine tasting of the famous Brunello wine and lunch at a farm in

Montalcino. Then, drive to Monte Oliveto Maggiore to visit the Benedictine Abbey,

one of Italy’s finest. Your local guide will show you the 15th century frescoes depicting

the life of St. Benedict. Return to San Gimignano. Dinner at a local restaurant in San

Gimignano.

Day 9: Cortona/Montepulciano. This morning, visit the awesome city of Cortona and

the Church of Santa Margherita. Then, your local guide will take you to the Academia

Etrusca and show you around Cortona, one of the Tuscany’s oldest and most beautiful

towns. Famous as the setting for Under the Tuscan Sun Movie. Cortona delights

visitors with its maze of charming old lanes and medieval buildings. Continue to

Montepulicano one of Tuscany’s highest hill-towns. Enjoy beautiful views of southern

Tuscany and Umbria, vineyards, and Renaissance palaces. Wine lovers get ready to

taste the famous Vino Nobile during our included wine-tasting with snacks. Return to

San Gimignano. Enjoy dinner at a charming local restaurant.

Day 10: Free morning. Custom day. Your tour guide will help you visit any site you

would like to see. You could also remain in San Gimignano, go shopping or relax.

Farewell dinner in San Gimignano.

Day 11: Back to USA from Pisa.

*** Shopping *** Spa Treatment *** Wine Tasting

Cooking Classes *** Gourmet Food

Romance

A Trip You Will Remember For the Rest of Your Life

General Trip Information - Tuscany

About our Private Tour Company: Proximo Travel

Testimonials about Proximo Travel are available. Hundreds of people who traveled to Italy with Proximo Travel would be happy to speak with you about Your trip. Safety is a priority. Proximo Travel hosts Vacation Tours: No Rush, No Pressure, Lots of fun!

Airport and Passport

	Get a passport ASAP
	It is highly recommended that you register your trip with the US State Department online at Travel Registration

Flight Information

	We fly you from any city in the USA round trip to your destination for the same price
	You can deduct $800 from the price of the trip if you purchase your own flight. Feel free to use your mileage and join the group at your destination
	Passengers need to be at the airport counter at least 3 hours before departure
	You will be fed on the plane. Plenty of food
	You can earn miles even though we are traveling as a group. Just call the airline we are using and tell them that you need to be credited for your miles

Safety

Safety is our priority. As we tour each country, every passenger is always accounted for: there is always a count of passengers before and after touring each site. We never leave anyone behind!

Temperature in Tuscany-Italy

So you know when to travel, here is a rough idea of how the temperature is in Tuscany, Italy: May-June high 70s; October 70s

Lots of Walking?

Expect some walking but not too much. Bring comfortable shoes (dress shoes are not necessary at all). Let me know ahead of time if you need a wheelchair

Lots of Cooking and Wine Tasting?

Absolutely. We will have tons of wine Tasting and cooking lessons in Rural Tuscany.

Staying In Touch

	Each traveler will receive 2 cards with emergency contacts (one for you & one for your family at home)
	The trip is designed so that you and your family in the U.S. are always able to contact Proximo Travel during the trip
	Anthony Nachef, Proximo Travel’s owner and tour guide, is with you for the entire trip (from USA departure to USA return)

Money

	Get some Euros before leaving the US (300-400 Euros)
	You can use your credit/debit card. Tell your bank /card company that you will be using them in Europe. Credit and debit card have the best exchange rate
	AAA prepaid debit cards are also useful
	Avoid bringing Traveler's Checks with you
	Make sure that your pin does not start with number "0" and does not have more than 4 digits. Some ATM machines in Europe do not accept pins starting with "0" and pins that have more than 4 digits
	Money Belt are highly recommended

Transportation in Europe

	We have our own Private Luxury Bus at all times
	Bus is air-conditioned and has large windows to enjoy the scenery

Dress Code

	Dress is casual and comfortable. It is a vacation, relax and enjoy
	Some sights (i.e. historical Churches) require long pants (or capris) and shirts with sleeves
	Bring comfortable walking shoes. Avoid sandals because they could get stuck between the coble stones

Packing and Carry-on

	Pack light! People normally don't use more than 60% of what they pack
	Pack your medicine, valuables, and one day's change of clothes in a carry-on just in case your luggage does not arrive on time
	Liquids should be in your checked luggage, not in your carry-on. If you choose to have your liquids in your carry-on, it should be less than 3 ounces and should be placed in a one quart-size plastic zip bag (one bag per person)
	Here is a great link to the Transportation Security Administration’s website. It itemizes everything you can think of and identifies if the item can be in the carry-on and or checked luggage: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#4

Traveling Alone

If you are traveling alone, we will room you with another nice passenger so that you don't have to pay the single room supplement. If you want your own private room, it is $700 extra

Number of Passengers

Proximo Travel hosts an average of 25 people on each tour. These trips are advertised in many venues. They sell out early. Keep this in mind when you are planning to book a trip. Many people book up to a year in advance

Cancellation Policy & Insurance

	Additional $200 per person for full balance coverage up to last minute before travel. The Deposit is always non-refundable Cancellation/Refund Policy:
	You must have a valid reason for cancellation (illness, surgery, God forbid family death, etc.)
	You must provide proof of your situation to be eligible for a refund prior to departure. In case of illness, a doctor's note is necessary
	Without Insurance:

1. Balance (less deposit) is refunded if cancelled 90+ days prior to departure

2. Only plane ticket is refunded if cancelled within 90 days of departure

With Insurance:

1. Full balance (less deposit) is refunded at any time of cancellation

Method of Payment

	PAYMENT BY CASH, CHECK, VISA, and ALL CREDIT CARDS
	Non-refundable $500 deposit per person accepted right now. it is $700 if you want insurance
	Balance is due 90 Days before USA Departure Date
	There is an extra 3% charge if you pay your balance (not your deposit) with for credit card payments

Check payable to

Proximo Travel

857 W. Boylston Street

Worcester, MA 01606

Very Important Notes

	Be at the airport on time
	Each Traveler is responsible for expenses in cases where Proximo Travel has no control over events (i.e. missed flight because of a highway accident, etc...)

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I Entrust all Trips to the Maternal Care of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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This site was last updated 02/18/10