The Best of Italy

9 days
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4.9/5 Excellent
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Group Tour
Experience the Italy with SmarTours by visiting Florence, Rome and other historic city. view the famous Piazza del Miracoli and the amazing Leaning Tower.

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Enjoy a tour to the Vatican which includes visits to St. Peter’s Basilica, the spectacular Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum
    • Explore Imperial Rome
    • Visit the Colosseum
    • Walk under the Arch and marvel at the ruins of the Roman Forum
    • See Michelangelo’s celebrated David
    • View the famous Piazza del Miracoli and the amazing Leaning Tower of Pisa
    • Embark on a boat tour to the island of Murano

What's this trip about?

    Experience the Italy with SmarTours by visiting Florence, Rome and other historic city. view the famous Piazza del Miracoli and the amazing Leaning Tower.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityVenice
End CityRome

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Italy

Attractions

  • Colosseum
  • Rome
  • St. Peter's Basilica
  • Umbria

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Short Cruise
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • Round-trip airfare from JFK Airport via scheduled flight on Delta/Air France or Alitalia
    • Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
    • All intra-Italy transportation via airconditioned motor coach
    • Accommodations at First Class hotels
    • 11 meals: 7 buffet breakfasts (B) and 4 dinners (D)
    • A glass of wine with included dinners
    • Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees as indicated in the itinerary
    • Professional English-speaking Tour Director throughout

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Itinerary

Travel Map
Day 1: Depart USA
Your exciting journey begins as you depart New York this evening on your overnight flight to Italy.

Day 2: Arrive Venice/Venice Lido (Italy)
Meals: Dinner Welcome to beautiful Italy! After landing at Venice airport, you’ll be met and escorted to your beautiful hotel located along the water in Venice Lido. This evening your Tour Director hosts an orientation followed by welcome dinner with wine. Hotel Villa ...
Day 3
Meals: Breakfast Discover the charms of romantic Venice. First, embark on a boat tour to the island of Murano, world renowned for its glass craftmanship. Back in Venice a local guide will bring this remarkable city to life as you explore on foot St. Mark’s Square, the ...
Day 4: Venice/Pisa/Florence
Meals: Breakfast Today journey south to Pisa, where you’ll view the famous Piazza del Miracoli and the amazing Leaning Tower. Visit a Tuscan countryside farm for wine tasting and sampling of local specialties. Arrive in Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany. Grand Hotel Diplomat

Day 5
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner This morning’s tour of Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, starts with a breathtaking view of Florence from Michelangelo Square. Proceed to visit the Accademia of Fine Arts housing Michelangelo’s celebrated David. You’ll also visit the ...
Day 6: Florence/Assisi/Rome
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Depart south through the stunning panorama of Tuscany and Umbria to the Medieval hilltown of Assisi and view the fabled Basilica of St. Francis and Giotto’s frescoes. Late afternoon arrival in Rome, the “Eternal City”. Settle into your centrally located hotel. The Building Hotel Rome

Day 7
Meals: Breakfast A morning tour to the Vatican includes visits to St. Peter’s Basilica, the spectacular Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum abundant with priceless collections of art and treasures. Afternoon is at leisure for shopping or to indulge in Rome’s favorite pastime: people watching at the outdoor cafes of the bustling Via Veneto.

Day 8
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner This morning explore Imperial Rome on an included guided tour. Listen to the echoes of Emperor Nero in the Colosseum, walk under the Arch and marvel at the ruins of the Roman Forum. Afternoon at leisure to explore Rome’s elaborate piazzas an...
Day 9: Rome/USA or Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Extension (See Additional Info)
Meals: Breakfast After breakfast, say “ciao” to Italy and transfer to the airport for your return flight arriving back in the USA the same day, or continue on to the magnificent Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Extension. Please see the “Additional Info” tab for more details.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,199
Price per day$355
Single supplement (single occupancy)$649
Last Updated: 4/5/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with SmarTours.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

SmarTours Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
996
Great
111
Average
1
Disappointing
2
Terrible
5
G

Gina

Mar 2020

Written on

Great Tour

I initially had doubts about traveling on a bus tour. Visions of waiting around endlessly to move a large party from one place to another haunted me. I was more than...

c

carol

Mar 2020

Written on

very best trip

The Best of Italy really was the very best. We had twenty two people in our group and a wonderful tour guide named Andrea. Andrea was always saying things like, "Is ...

J

Judy

Mar 2020

Written on

Fantastic Trip

This was my first SmarTour and first time to visit Italy. It was 100% fantastic from our truly amazing host, Mercedes, great driver - Cataline and great tour guides-...

R

Ronald

Mar 2020

Written on

Great Time

What a great time we had. Saw the highlights of Italy, Venice, Florence and Rome; and had ample time to wander on our own. Transportation on the bus was smooth and c...

P

Pat

Mar 2020

Written on

Wonderful Time

I had a wonderful time in Italy! Our tour director, Lynn Maloni, made this trip an exceptional one. She and all of our guides in Venice, Florence, Rome, Assisi, Sorr...

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I did a tour to San Remo / Menton/ Turbine and my tour guide was Smiley - she was great knowledgable, educated. One of the best tours I have taken. Highly recommend ...

T

Tour Guide Spoke Unintelligible English

Jun 2024

Written on

Company Failed to provide value and service

traveled with Smartours to Japan on a 12 day trip in May 2 024. This was the tour guide’s first trip working for Smartours. She spoke unintelligible English. Smartou...

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smarTours was founded in 1996 with one goal in mind: to provide high quality, exciting group tour packages to some of the most fascinating countries in the world at the lowest possible price.  The team at smarTours believes deeply that high quality international travel should be affordable, and we work tirelessly to deliver affordability.

At smarTours, most of our travelers in any given year are repeat customers – they had such great experiences with us before that they decided to travel with us again.  And many of our customers are so happy with smarTours that they have made traveling with us an annual tradition, reaching 5, 10, even 15 trips with smarTours!  In other words, we must be doing at least a few things right.

Unbeatable Value: We provide exceptional value for your money, and it does not take that much time visiting our website to figure that out.  However, it can be difficult to compare the value provided by different tour operators because the tours are so intricate and multifaceted.  If you take the time to really peel back onion and evaluate the tours offered by smarTours, we are confident that you would come to the conclusion that our loyal customers have – that smarTours provides unbeatable value.

Phenomenal Tour Guides: If you ask anyone who has been on an escorted tour, they will tell you that the tour guides are an essential ingredient to making the trip a success.  The importance of tour guides is not lost on us at smarTours, which is why we are relentless in our pursuit and retention of the very best tour guides.  We are proud to say with confidence that our tour guides are phenomenal, and many of them have become celebrity-like figures within the smarTours community.

smarTours Price Protection: We have had a price protection policy since we started in 1996, and we thought it was time to share it with you.  If you reserve a spot on a tour and we later lower the price, we will make up the difference for you!  We do not penalize you for booking early, so you can reserve your spot with confidence that the price will not get any better (lower) for that particular date.  Also, to be clear, if you reserve a spot on a tour and we later increase the price, we will not raise your price to match the new price!

Focus: Unlike most of our competitors, we focus exclusively on providing affordable group tours to foreign, largely exotic destinations.  In the travel business, it is particularly easy to get distracted by new trends and themes, but we have chosen to focus on what we do best.  We are extremely deliberate in introducing new tours because we have set a standard that our loyal customers have come to rely on, and we are committed to meeting and exceeding your expectations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Venice/Venice Lido: Hotel Villa Mabapa Riviera San Nicolo, 16, 30126 – Venice, Italy Venice/Venice Lido: Albergo Quattro Fontane, Via delle Quattro Fontane, 16, 30126 – Venice, Italy Florence: Hotel Diplomat, Via L. Alamanni, 9, 50123 Firenze, Italy Rome: The Building Hotel Rome, Via Montebello, 126, 00185 Roma, Italy Sorrento: Grand Hotel Vesuvio, Via Nastro Verde 7, 80067 Sorrento, Italy

Transportation & Flights

Round-trip airfare from JFK Airport via scheduled flight on Delta/Air France or Alitalia,

Transportation & flights

Round-trip airfare from JFK Airport via scheduled flight on Delta/Air France or Alitalia
Cancellation policy
Full Payment due 75 days before departure. Failure to make final payment on time may result in automatic cancellation of reservation and loss of deposit.   Changes to the original reservation will result in a $150 change fee per person per change. No changes allowed within 75 days of departure.   Cancellation charges per person are:   Up to 75 days before departure: $300 74-45 days before departure: $600 44-30 days before departure: $1000 29-10 days before departure: $1500 9 days or less before departure: No refund. All cancellations must be received in writing.   We recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance. Insurance premium is non-refundable and cannot be transferred from one departure to another in the event of a reservation change.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
7 Breakfasts and 4 Dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
The Best of Italy provides the Extended Tours Overview: 3-Night Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Extension: From Approx. $999 per person Day 9: Rome/Pompeii/Sorrento Leaving Rome, we’ll pass Mount Vesuvius, en route to the Bay of Naples. Visit Pompeii, the town frozen in time by the ashes of this volcano’s explosive eruption in AD 79. See the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Jupiter, important Pompeii monuments dedicated to those ancient gods. Your final destination today: the pretty resort town of Sorrento, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the sparkling Bay of Naples. B/D Grand Hotel Vesuvio (or similar) Day 10: Sorrento At Leisure Or Optional Full-Day Capri Excursion Sorrento is world-renowned for its scenic splendor, woodworking and lace making, horse-drawn carriages and relaxing atmosphere. Your whole day is at leisure to enjoy this delightful town independently. Perhaps, take our Full-Day Capri Excursion. Please refer to “Optional Tours” for more details. This evening, celebrate with your fellow travelers at dinner in a famous local restaurant. B/D Grand Hotel Vesuvio (or similar) Day 11: Amalfi Coast Drive And Sorrento At Leisure Cruising along the rugged Amalfi Coast will surely take your breath away, with its dramatic landscapes and awe-inspiring panoramas. You’ll cherish the scenic mountains plunging into the sea, as well as the idyllic villages and lush forests clinging to them. Drive through Positano, the coast’s most exclusive town, and spend some free time in Amalfi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, head back to Sorrento for an evening at leisure. B Grand Hotel Vesuvio (or similar) Customize your trip with these optional tours. Gondola ride with music: Venice from approx. $67 per person Rome -Piazzas of Rome: From approx. $45 per person Capri - Full-Day Capri Excursion: From approx. 100 euro per person
Additional Information
Why not extend your trip with a spectacular three-night Sorrento & Amalfi Coast extension? Sorrento is a charming old town overlooking the Bay of Naples and a wonderful base for exploring the surrounding area. And the Amalfi Coast is simply one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the world. Your extension includes three nights at the beautiful Grand Hotel Vesuvio, breakfast daily, two dinners, tours of Pompeii and Sorrento, a magnificent drive along the world-famous Amalfi Coast and time for independent sightseeing or an optional tour of Capri.   Day 9 Ext: Rome/Pompeii/Sorrento. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Depart Rome, passing Mt. Vesuvius en route to the Bay of Naples. Visit Pompeii, the town frozen in time by Vesuvius’ ashes. See the temples of Apollo and Jupiter. Your final destination today is the enchanting resort town of Sorrento, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the sparkling bay. Grand Hotel Vesuvio or similar. Day 10 Ext: Day at Leisure or Optional Capri Excursion. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Sorrento is world renowned for its scenic splendor, woodworking and lace making, horse drawn carriages and relaxing atmosphere. A day at leisure to enjoy this charming town independently or perhaps enjoy an optional excursion to Capri. This evening celebrate with your fellow travelers at dinner in a famous local restaurant. Day 11 Ext: Spectacular Amalfi Coast Drive. Meals: Breakfast Your final full day in Italy includes one of the highlights of this incredible country, if not one of the highlights of the entire world. Driving along the rugged Amalfi Coast will surely take your breath away, with its dramatic landscapes and awe-inspiring panoramas. You’ll cherish the coastal mountains plunging into the sea with picturesque towns and rich forests. Drive through Positano, the coast’s most exclusive town, and spend some time at leisure in Amalfi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, return to Sorrento and enjoy an evening at leisure. Day 12 Ext: Naples/USA. Meals: Breakfast After breakfast, say “ciao”to your romantic Italy vacation as you transfer to Naples Airport and board your return flight to the USA arriving back the same day.
Trip ID
smartours-smartours-IT

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