Italian Train Adventure: Culture & Cucinas - 2021

PACING:

• This is an moderately active paced itinerary packed with both indoor and outdoor sightseeing
• Days often begin at 8 a.m. and end at approximately 5 p.m. 
• 4 locations in 14 days: 3 nights in Stresa (Lakes Region); 3 nights in Venice; 3 nights in Florence; 3 nights in Rome; and 1 overnight flight

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:

• With our central locations in historic cities, the best way to sightsee is on foot, and we’ve included a number of city walks, many of which have streets with cobblestones
• The Uffizi Gallery and the Vatican Museums require quite a bit of walking, as do the Rome by night tour, the Colosseum visit and Florence sightseeing
• You must be able to walk unassisted while carrying hand luggage; expect 2-4 hours of physical activities plus train travel on some days
• You’ll tour by boat on Lake Maggiore in the Lakes Region and in Venice. So, be prepared to step in and out of boats from a dock
• This itinerary is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION:

• Most city sightseeing will be done on foot from our centrally located hotels
• Some of the walking tours are on uneven terrain, like cobblestone walkways, or even steps
• Inter-city transportation will be on Italy’s excellent top-level trains
• On most legs of the trip, you’ll travel by high-speed rail — the most efficient and comfortable form of inter-city transportation available. Train cars feature reclining seats, eating/working tables, big windows, Wi-Fi, and electric plug-ins for charging electronic devices
• We use air-conditioned coaches for sightseeing when needed (except in Venice)
• Tour Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, and Venice by boat
• We will spend 11 nights in comfortable high-quality hotels in central locations. All hotels’ accommodations are regular or superior rooms with air-conditioner

CLIMATE:

• Italy's warmest months are June-September; it is generally warmer in southern cities like Rome and Sorrento than in the northern region.
• Due to its location on the water, Venice can be quite humid in any season
• In the Lakes Region in Northern Italy, evening temperatures can dip into the 40s in the spring and fall
• Many parts of Italy experience evening showers
• Since the weather is unpredictable, please check weather sites online for 10-day forecasts closer to your departure date to plan your packing accordingly

Please Note: The hotels listed are preliminary and subject to change. Although we contract our hotels a year in advance, unforeseen situations do occasionally occur. Should it be necessary to change a hotel, one of equal quality and value will be substituted. You will receive verified hotel information with your final itinerary. That hotel ratings are based on the Hotel and a leading travel industry authority on hotels throughout the world.