Ferrari Factory & Italy Tour - April 27 thru May 8 2007

[msouza]

FERRARI CLUB OF AMERICA
NEW MEXICO CHAPTER

Spring Tour of Italy

APRIL 27 – May 8



The Ferrari Club of America, New Mexico Chapter is organizing a Spring tour to Italy including a visit to the Ferrari Factory. Our Chapter would like to extend the invitation to all FCA members who are also FerrariChat members.

The tour program will be as follow:

Friday, April 27—Departure from Chicago in the late afternoon or early evening. Connecting flights to Chicago and direct flights to Europe from other cities can be arranged on request.

Saturday, April 28—Late morning or early afternoon arrival in Venice. Following customs formalities, meet your tour manager and transfer to your hotel in this island city. Depending on the time of arrival at the hotel, a light lunch will be served before or after check-in. The balance of the afternoon will be at leisure to settle in and rest. This evening we’ll have a short get-acquainted walking tour followed by a welcome dinner at one of Venice’s fine restaurants. Our first day in Italy will be topped off by a gondola ride through the canals.

Sunday, April 29—On our morning walking tour, we’ll visit the Doges’ Palace and the Academy of Fine Arts. After a break for lunch, we’ll visit St. Mark’s Basilica. Then we’ll take a vaporetto out to Murano, the glass island. After a glassblowing demonstration, we’ll have an opportunity to browse in some of the beautiful showrooms and shops. Back in Venice, the evening is at leisure.

Monday, April 30—Leaving Venice this morning, we’ll travel due south into Emilia-Romagna and on to Ravenna. Sightseeing here includes visits to the Galla Placidia Mausoleom and the Basilica of St. Vitale; both of which contain 5th-century mosaics considered to be the finest in Europe. Then we’ll head west and south into Tuscany. Our headquarters for the next two nights will be in the resort of Montecatini-Terme. Following hotel check-in, we’ll get together for dinner.

Tuesday, May 1—Enjoy a full-day excursion through Tuscany’s famed Chianti wine region, stopping in towns and villages as time permits. At Castello Vicchiomaggio, we’ll be treated to a wine tasting and a luncheon of regional specialities. Before returning to Montecatini, we’ll visit the Tuscan hill town of San Gimignano. For the evening, we recommend taking the funicular railway up to old Montecatini and having dinner at a restaurant in or around the Piazza Giusti.

Wednesday, May 2—A short morning drive takes us back into Emilia-Romagna and on to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. Arriving at midday, we’ll be welcomed by representatives of Ferrari who will acquaint us with the plans for our visit. Your tour personnel and motorcoach will be available to provide transfers and assistance as needed.

Thursday, May 3—We’ll spend the day enjoying the hospitality of our hosts, learning more about the history and current operations of the world-renowned Italian sports car manufacturer and getting acquainted with Maranello.

Friday, May 4—Returning to Tuscany today, we have plans to visit Florence. After time for lunch, we’ll visit the Academy Gallery (Michelangelo’s David is here) and the Cathedral. Then we’ll check in at our hotel. The evening is at leisure.

Saturday, May 5—With an early (8:00 a.m.) start, we’ll travel south and east to Assisi to visit the Basilica of St. Francis. After our tour and time for lunch, we’ll continue to Rome, hoping to arrive around 3:00 p.m. so we can visit one of the catacombs. Then we’ll continue to our hotel to check in for a three-night stay. Dinner is served at our hotel or a nearby restaurant this evening.

Sunday, May 6—Our morning city sightseeing tour includes visits to the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. The evening is at leisure.

Monday, May 7—We’ll spend the morning in Vatican City, visiting the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. The afternoon is at leisure for shopping and independent pursuits. In the early evening, we’ll gather at one of Rome’s best dining establishments to put just the right finish on our tour!

Tuesday, May 8—All too soon, our spring tour of Italy has come to an end! Departing Rome in the morning or early afternoon, we’ll return to Chicago. Onward connections from Chicago or direct flights from Europe to other cities will be arranged as needed.

Tour Cost Includes:

- Air Transportation from Chicago to Venice and from Rome back to Chicago via regularly scheduled air carrier.

- Land Transportation for the complete itinerary by deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach equipped with reclining seats.

- Accommodations at superior first-class hotels on the basis of two persons sharing a room with private facilities. When superior first-class hotels are not available, top-quality standard first-class and superior tourist-class properties will be selected. The supplement for single accommodations is $500.

- Meals. A full breakfast, with coffee or tea, is provided at the hotel each day. Lunch is included on April 28. A wine tasting and lunch with wine are included on May 1. Dinner is included on April 28 and 30 and on May 5 and 7. Beverages are not included with lunch on April 28 or with any of the included dinners.

- A Multi-Lingual Tour Manager will accompany the group from arrival in Venice through departure from Rome. The tour manager will be assisted by local guides as needed.

- Sightseeing and Admission Fees in accordance with the itinerary.

- Porterage of one suitcase per person will be provided to the greatest extent possible. In addition to the one suitcase, each passenger may carry one piece of hand luggage, a purse, and a camera.

- Tipping and Taxes for all services included in the tour cost. Tipping to local guides and motorcoach drivers is also included, as are all hotel, local government and airport taxes. Tipping to the tour manager is not included.

- European Insurance Coverage. Each tour participant is covered during the organized land portion of the tour for medical expenses arising out of illnesses or accidents requiring hospitalization. The assistance of SOS International is also included where needed. SOS International supplies ill and injured travelers with a variety of services, including early returns to the U.S. when so ordered by the attending physician. The included insurances carry limitations and restrictions and do not cover luggage or trip cancellation.

- It’s recommended that each traveler purchase a complete travel protection package. For your convenience, we make available a travel protection plan offered by Trip Mate. This travel protection plan can be purchased at the time travelers register for the tour or at any time before they make their final payments for the tour. The policy exclusion for pre-existing conditions will be waived if the premium is received within 14 days of the initial deposit for the tour provided the traveler is not disabled from travel at the time he/she pays the premium. Trips over 30 days are not eligible for coverage. The cost of the Trip Mate Protection Plan will be included in the tour brochure. The premium for this travel protection plan is non-refundable.

- Flight Insurance Coverage. We provide a $100,000 flight protection insurance to each tour participant.

- Tour Documents. Our tour documents include the tour itinerary, a hotel list, a passenger list, flight schedules and easy-to-follow departure instructions, and luggage tags.

- Luggage Allowance. Each passenger may take one suitcase, one piece of hand luggage, a purse and a camera.

- The cost of the tour does not include passports, all items of a personal nature, optional excursions, independent sightseeing, trip cancellation and luggage insurance, meals noted in the itinerary as independent, beverages with dinner, and any other items not mentioned as included.


If you interested in going on the trip, and desire more details, please send a PM with your Name, Address, Phone number, email and the name of the FCA region or Chapter you belong to. I’ll email back all the details including costs about this trip.


Milton Souza, President
Ferrari Club of America
New Mexico Chapter

DISCLAIMER: I am not involved in any way with the Tour Agency handling this trip. I contact the agent with the sole purpose of organizing this trip. Ferrari Club of America, New Mexico Chapter is not profiting with this venture.

[msouza]

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