Highlights of Italy and Switzerland 2010

A 13-Day Trafalgar Tours tour starting from $2,775

Thanks for voting !  (Not Yet Rated)   |   Write a review
Bookmark & Share This Tour
Starting Price: $2,775 Printer Friendly Page
Tour Length: 13 Days
Countries Visited: See Description
Get A Quote     Chat with a travel agent
 
  • Book 6,10 or 12 months in advance save up to 10%
  • Young Travelers ages 5-17 save 10% off tours
  • Groups of 5 or more save 5%, 9+ one goes for free
  • Triple Room Discount available
 
More Information About This Tour:
Tour Type:
 Escorted Tour
Tour Category: Regional
Tour Operator: Trafalgar Tours
Tour Code: TT-ITSW-2010
Printer Friendly Page
An E-Brochure is available - click to view

Cities Visited:
Rome, Florence, Montecatini, Portofino, Lausanne, Zermatt, Venice, Italian lakes

The splendors never stop during this travel experience. The dignified statues and cathedrals of Rome and Florence, romantic Venice, and elegant Portofino contrast beautifully with traffic-free Zermatt, situated in the shadow of the Matterhorn.

 

Sightseeing Highlights
  • Rome: View the Forum and Circus Maximus. Visit St.Peter''s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.
  • Florence: See Piazza Signoria, the Duomo, PiazzaSanta Croce and Piazzale Michelangelo.
  • Pisa: Visit the Square of Miracles and see theLeaning Tower.
  • Italian Riviera: Orientation of Santa Margherita.Cruise to Portofino and orientation.
  • Chamonix: Orientation and see Mont Blanc (weatherpermitting).
  • Geneva: See the Jet d''Eau, the ReformationMonument and the United Nations Building.
  • Montreux: See Château Chillon
  • Zermatt: Views of the Matterhorn (weatherpermitting).
  • Italian Lakes Visit Stresa.
  • Venice: Cruise the canals. Orientation of St.Mark''s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and Doge''s Palace. Visit aMurano glass-blowing workshop.
  • Orvieto: Visit the Umbrian hilltop town byfunicular.

Dining Highlights
  • 11 hot buffet breakfasts.
  • 3 three-course dinners in hotels.
  • ''Be My Guest'' speciality Tuscan dinner with wine amongst the olivegroves.
  • Special cheese fondue dinner in Zermatt hotel.
  • Farewell Dinner with wine in Rome.
  • 17 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights
  • First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms withprivate facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggagehandling fees and local taxes.
  • Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and awashroom onboard.
  • The services of one of Trafalgar''s top professional multi-lingualTour Directors.
  • A qualified local city guide in Rome and Florence.
  • Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 12 (conditionsapply)
  • A stylish wallet, tour documents and a Welcome on Tour book.

Airport Transfers
  • London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive,particularly between the airport and your London hotel. But whenyou book your Trafalgar tour and take advantage of our land and airpackages, we have included a FREE transfer to and from London''sairports and your Trafalgar London hotel. For passengers who havetheir own flight arrangements we offer you the opportunity topurchase inexpensive transfers to and from London''s Heathrow -Trafalgar has negotiated special rates for the Dot2Dot transferfrom London''s Heathr
  • Important - Please Note: Passengers will only beentitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing thefollowing conditions are met:
  • For included transfers: Your flights must be booked directly byTrafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. For chargeabletransfers: Your Travel Agent provides detailed flight informationto Trafalgar no fewer than 21 days prior to departure. Oncetransfers are booked they cannot be changed.
  • For London arrivals, you must stay at a London hotel booked byTrafalgar on the night of arrival and the night prior to yourdeparture date.
  • Trafalgar only includes one inbound and one outbound transfer.
  • In the event of flight delays outside of Trafalgar''s control, thetransfers will be deemed to be cancelled.
  • All transfers are based on group transfers. No refund is thereforeavailable for missed transfers, or passengers not using thisservice.
  • In the event of unforeseen events (such as road or rail works,strikes or demonstrations), Trafalgar will not be responsible fordelayed or cancelled transfers.
  • Heathrow Airport: National Express Dot2Dot willpick up and drop off in time to meet all flights to/from London''sHeathrow Airport. For guests arriving at the Dot2Dot desk after22.00 hrs please make use of the courtesy phone to arrange yourtransfer to your Trafalgar hotel.
  • Gatwick Airport: Passengers who have bookedTrafalgar''s Land and Air packages arriving at London''s GatwickAirport are provided with a Gatwick Express train voucher. TheGatwick Express train journey from Gatwick Airport to London''sVictoria Station takes 30 minutes. Guests then need to make theirway from Victoria Station to their Trafalgar hotel.
  • European Gateways: With Trafalgar all passengerswill receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on thescheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the timesspecified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves yourflight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown
  • Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who book Trafalgar''s Land+Air packageand who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on thescheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also beprovided with a transfer.
  • Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tourdays are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase onethrough Trafalgar providing that they also purchase the additionalpre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask forprices of transfers at the time of booking your extra nightaccommodation.
  • Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tourarrival or departure days but whose flights don''t coincide with thelisted transfer times below may also book and purchase thesetransfers. Flight details must be provided to Trafalgar not lessthan 21 days before the flight departure.
 

Day 1 - Depart USA
Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights)
Welcome to Rome, capital of Italy, and the Eternal City! The restof the day is free to relax. Later we join our Tour Director andtraveling companions for a Welcome Drink.. Hotel: Aran Mantegna (2 nights)

Day 3 - Rome sightseeing and at leisure
Today''s highlight is our visit to the Sistine Chapel to admire thepainted ceiling by Michelangelo rendered even more fascinating bythe clear commentary of our local guide, thanks to our effectiveaudio system. From here we make our way into St. Peter''s Basilicain the Vatican to see the famous Pieta - among other great works.Then we cross the Tiber to explore ancient Rome with views of theForum, a visit to the mighty Colosseum and a view over the CircusMaximus where chariot races were held. Later, time to relax orexplore further. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 4 - Rome - Florence - Montecatini (tuscan hills)
This morning we drive into the rolling hills of Umbria and throughthe beautiful Tuscan landscape to the Renaissance city of Florence.We enjoy a guided walking tour of the city, which takes in thestatue-lined Piazza Signoria, the Piazza del Duomo with itscathedral and baptistery and the Piazza Santa Croce. Time to shopfor quality leather goods and gold jewelry before continuing to thespa resort of Montecatini. Where tonight we enjoy an authenticTuscan dinner in an atmospheric restaurant amongst the olivegroves. (Buffet breakfast / ''Be My Guest'' Dinner)Hotel: Francia e Quirinale

Day 5 - Montecatini (tuscan hills) - Pisa - Santa Margherita (2nights)
Today we follow the Arno Valley westwards to the city of Pisa. Herewe have the chance to see the famous Leaning Tower, the Cathedraland baptistery in the Square of Miracles. Then we follow thebeautiful Ligurian coast and catch sight of the massive marblequarries in the Apennine foothills. We can actually see great slabsof marble which are brought to the town of Carrara to be preparedfor export worldwide. Then we pass by the important naval port ofLa Spezia before making our way to our hotel in Santa Margherita(Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Park Hotel Suisse (2 nights)

Day 6 - Italian Riviera at leisure - excursion to Portofino
This morning we take the ferry (or minibus when not available) tothe Riviera''s most elegant resort - Portofino - one of Italy''s mostromantic destinations. Renowned for its multicolored houses in aspectacular setting, it is one of the most exclusive towns inEurope, and we have the time to explore at our leisure. Later wereturn to Santa Margherita and have the opportunity to strollthrough the elegant streets and perhaps visit the Cappuccini Churchwith its 12th century statue of the Virgin Mary or maybe just relaxand enjoy a cool drink in a café overlooking the Mediterraneanbefore dining in our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Day 7 - Santa Margherita - Chamonix - Lausanne - Geneva
We take the highway northwards and toward the Alps. We travel viaAlessandria and into the attractive skiing area of the Val d''Aostato France. Here, in the shadow of Europe''s tallest mountain, MontBlanc, we stop in the resort of Chamonix, high in the French Alps.Then we descend to the international city of Geneva where we seethe Jet d''Eau on the lake, the Reformation Monument and the UnitedNations building before continuing to our hotel. (Buffet breakfast)Hotel: NH Rex

Day 8 - Geneva - Lausanne - Montreux - Zermatt (2 nights)
This morning we drive eastwards along the lake passing by Lausanne,to Montreux where we stop to take a photo of the Château deChillon before continuing to the upper Rhone valley. Finally wetake minibuses from Tasch to the traffic-free resort of Zermatt, inthe shadow of the Matterhorn, where we enjoy a special fondueHighlight Dinner tonight. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight dinner) Hotel: National (2 nights)

Day 9 - Zermatt at leisure
Today there is time to relax and enjoy the quiet atmosphere of thismountain village, with its attractive cafés, gorgeousboutiques and surrounding green meadows. Time also to take in evenbetter views of the Matterhorn by taking a cable car trip to one ofthe surrounding peaks! (Buffet breakfast)

Day 10 - Zermatt - Italian lakes - Venice (2 nights)
Cameras at the ready for a day of stunning scenery! First over theSimplon Pass high in the Alps and then down towards the ItalianLakes, where we enter Italy near Domodossola. We stop in theglorious resort of Stresa on Lake Maggiore, a town of elegantvillas facing the picturesque Borromean Islands. Then first viaMilan, we take the autostrada to Venice - a unique city of 200islands built on wooden piles in a glassy lagoon. (Buffet breakfast/ Dinner) Hotel: B4 Venezia-Mestre (2 nights)

Day 11 - Venice orientation and at leisure
We start today with a cruise by vaporetto to the heart of Venice,St. Mark''s Square. On the way we have the chance to savour thesights and sounds of this unique floating city where all servicesmust be provided either by water or on foot. On arrival we canmarvel at the Bridge of Sighs, immortalized by Lord Byron, themagnificent and ornate Doge''s Palace and the Byzantine Basilica ofSt. Mark. Our Tour Director will reveal a Hidden Treasure to us,before we have the opportunity to watch a demonstration of theancient craft of glass-blowing, which originated on the Island ofMurano. Then we have time at leisure to explore this fascinatingcity or perhaps to take a trip out across the lagoon to thefisherman''s Island of Burano where we can enjoy a delicious seafoodlunch. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

Day 12 - Venice - Orvieto - Rome
We travel over the Veneto Plain and ascend into the ApennineMountains after Bologna. We continue through Tuscany into Umbriawhere we stop to visit one of its most attractive hilltop towns,Orvieto. We take the funicular to the center where we see themagnificent cathedral and have time to sample the renowned localwhite wine and shop for colorful ceramic pottery. Then we returnagain to Rome and enjoy a Farewell Dinner together. (Buffetbreakfast / Farewell dinner)Hotel: Villa Pamphili

Day 13 Rome - USA
This morning it is time for final goodbyes as our vacation comes toan end. There are transfers available to Rome''s Fiumicino Airport,conditions apply. (Buffet breakfast)

Free airport transfers
Transfers on Day 2 at Rome Fiumicino Airport will operate at 09.30,12.30 and 15.30. Passengers arriving later should make their ownway to the first hotel. Return transfers on the last touring daywill arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 07.00 and 09.30.

 

Don't miss our current specials:

  • Save $300 per couple on Europe land vacations!
  • Companion flies to Europe for only $199 on air-inclusive vacations!
  • Trafalgar Great Ways to Save
         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
8/1/2010 - 8/13/2010
$2,775
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
8/8/2010 - 8/20/2010
$2,775
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
8/15/2010 - 8/27/2010
$2,775
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
8/22/2010 - 9/3/2010
$2,799
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
8/29/2010 - 9/10/2010
$2,825
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
9/5/2010 - 9/17/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
9/12/2010 - 9/24/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
9/19/2010 - 10/1/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
9/26/2010 - 10/8/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
10/3/2010 - 10/15/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
10/10/2010 - 10/22/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
10/17/2010 - 10/29/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
10/24/2010 - 11/5/2010
$2,875
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
Get A Quote
         

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

  • Rome
  • Florence
  • Montecatini
  • Portofino
  • Lausanne
  • Zermatt
  • Venice
  • Italian lakes
 

Save $300 per couple on Europe land vacations!

Discover the beauty and magic of Europe during Autumn, Winter and Spring with Trafalgar.  From November through April, Europe takes on a unique radiance - Autumn's vast forest of trees adorned with rich red and burnt orange leaves, snow capped mountains in Winter and fields of vibrant color during Spring.  It is the season for grand carnivals, opera and symphony, and the chance to experience a fairytale white Christmas with Magical light illuminations and all the trimmings of the festive season.

And here's another special treat.  As you lose yourself in the atmosphere of some of the world's most enchanting cities at a time when there are fewer crowds, you'll also save on average 30% when compared to taking the same vacation during the summer months.

*Valid on new 2010/2011 Autumn, Winter and Spring bookings when full payment on the land and air portion is made 07/06/10 – 08/13/10 for travel departed 10/21/10 – 04/03/11. Companion airfare of $199 valid for second traveler when first traveler pays full airfare, including fuel surcharges and taxes (of up to $160) on exact same itinerary. Companion airfare to Cairo is $499 plus taxes. Not valid on tours to Israel or Morocco. Valid on British Airways on select service class only, and valid only on applicable US and European gateways. Taxes of up to $160 and fees are not included. Visit www.trafalgartours.com/taxesandfees for full details. Not valid with Early Payment Discount, 150AWS2010 or AWSBAAIR. **Valid on new 2010/2011 Autumn, Winter and Spring bookings when full payment on the land portion is made 07/06/10 – 07/13/10 for travel departed 10/21/10 – 04/03/11. Not valid on City Breaks (including An English Christmas and Christmas in Paris) and Eastern Mediterranean tours. Not valid with Early Payment Discount or AWS199AIR. Promotion code is 150AWS2010. Subject to availability and offers may be withdrawn at any time. Offers are valid for groups subject to availability. Other conditions may apply. Visit www.trafalgartours.com/aws for details. CST#2077132-20

Companion flies to Europe for only $199 on air-inclusive vacations!

Each of Trafalgar's perfectly planned First Class Autumn, Winter and Spring itineraries are designed to reveal the wonders of Europe's extraordinary history and cultural heritage.  They ensure that you will see, taste, hear and experience everything about a destination as you've always dream.

And here's another special treat.  As you lose yourself in the atmosphere of some of the world's most enchanting cities at a time when there are fewer crowds, you'll also save on average 30% when compared to taking the same vacation during the summer months.

*Valid on new 2010/2011 Autumn, Winter and Spring bookings when full payment on the land and air portion is made 07/06/10 – 08/13/10 for travel departed 10/21/10 – 04/03/11. Companion airfare of $199 valid for second traveler when first traveler pays full airfare, including fuel surcharges and taxes (of up to $160) on exact same itinerary. Companion airfare to Cairo is $499 plus taxes. Not valid on tours to Israel or Morocco. Valid on British Airways on select service class only, and valid only on applicable US and European gateways. Taxes of up to $160 and fees are not included. Visit www.trafalgartours.com/taxesandfees for full details. Not valid with Early Payment Discount, 150AWS2010 or AWSBAAIR. **Valid on new 2010/2011 Autumn, Winter and Spring bookings when full payment on the land portion is made 07/06/10 – 07/13/10 for travel departed 10/21/10 – 04/03/11. Not valid on City Breaks (including An English Christmas and Christmas in Paris) and Eastern Mediterranean tours. Not valid with Early Payment Discount or AWS199AIR. Promotion code is 150AWS2010. Subject to availability and offers may be withdrawn at any time. Offers are valid for groups subject to availability. Other conditions may apply. Visit www.trafalgartours.com/aws for details. CST#2077132-20

Click here to browse Trafalgar Autumn, Winter and Spring tours.

Trafalgar Great Ways to Save

Trafalgar offers great savings and discounts to help you stretch your money.

Past passengers save 5% off of the land on most tour itineraries.

There are also Early Payment Discount and Young Traveller Discounts just to name a few.  The early bird catches the worm, so book now - pay early - and save money!

The earlier you pay, the more you save! If you book and pay in full you'll save up to 10% off the LAND-only portion of your tour.

The earlier you pay - the more you save!

Below are our Early Payment Saving options:

Pay (min) 12 months prior to departure Save up to 10%

Pay (min) 10 months prior to departure Save up to 7.5%

Pay (min) 6 months prior to departure Save up to 5%

Please note: See individual itinerary pages for the exact value of how much you will save. All tours must be booked and paid for in full for this discount to apply. This discount does not apply to our City Break Tours, train tours, any products in our Eastern Mediterranean section and extra night accommodation. For 2010 pre-registration bookings, payments are to be made according to 2009 brochured prices. For further details, call 800-942-3301.

Travel with Family and Friend and Save!

5 or more – Save 5%: If a group of 5-8 people travels together, a discount of 5% per person applies to the LAND-only portion of your tour. So it pays to get together with your family and friends!

9 or more: If 9 or more people travel together, we offer attractive group discounts based on how many people travel. In a group of 9 passengers, 1 traveller qualifies for a 50% discount off the LAND-only portion of the tour. In a group of 16 passengers, 1 traveller qualifies for 100% discount off the LAND-only portion of the tour.

Please note: Space is limited to one group per motorcoach. These discounts are not combinable with our Travel Club Discount, any other rooming, young traveller or triple room discounts, and do not apply to our City Breaks, Greek Tours with Mediterranean cruises, Egypt, Israel, and extra night accommodation. All travelling passengers’ names must be advised to Trafalgar at the time of booking in order to qualify.

Share a Room and Save!

When travelling alone, we understand that some clients do not want to incur the expense of an additional single room supplement. With this in mind, on the majority of our itineraries, Trafalgar offers you the opportunity to purchase these tours on a room-sharing basis. We will accommodate you with a fellow passenger of the same gender on a ‘two-bedded’ basis (non-smoking rooms only). Please note that, regrettably, we cannot guarantee that room mates will be of a similar age group. Even so, it is an enjoyable way to travel and get to make new friends, and a positive way to stretch your holiday budget. If we fail to match you, we will provide a single room at no extra cost.

Please note: This service does not apply to our City Breaks, Greek Island Hopper and Best of Greece tours, Greek tours with Mediterranean cruises, train tours, Egypt, Israel and extra night accommodation.

 
 

Recent Related Posts from our Travel Forum:

Barcelona great places!

By: Ronalds on 12/3/2009 4:19:33 AM

If you like arhitectures and great places I suggest you to see: Olympic Stadium. The former Olympic.. (read entire post)

Re: What are the dates for the Passion Play in 2010?

By: AtlasTravelGuy on 9/10/2009 5:14:44 PM

The Passion Play operates for 5 months from May through October.  Performances are held every d.. (read entire post)

Re: Family Italy Tour

By: AtlasTravelGuy on 9/10/2009 4:53:40 PM

Thanks for your post. Adventures by Disney released their prices last week, however the earliest the.. (read entire post)

Re: Italy for A Single

By: AtlasTravelGuy on 9/10/2009 2:20:57 PM

Hi Ken: Typically, when you tour as a single, you are charged a supplement on top of the regular .. (read entire post)

Visitors who viewed this tour also viewed:

Italy Bellissimo 2010

12 Days starting from $2,750

Another of Trafalgar''s most popular Italian holidays takes you to artistic.. (click for more)

Best of Italy 2010

14 Days starting from $3,125

Come find out what makes this country a must-see destination for travelers .. (click for more)

Italian Glory 2010

14 Days starting from $3,435

Toss a coin into the Trevi fountain! Those lucky to be on this Italian adv.. (click for more)

Splendors of Italy 2010

14 Days starting from $2,150

With many millennia worth of epic history, matchless works of art, and pure.. (click for more)

All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.