FGCU Northern Italy 2018

NORTHERN ITALY

From the Alps to the Adriatic September 12-26, 2018

15 days for $5,274 total price from Fort Myers ($4,795 air & land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees)

This tour is provided by Odysseys Unlimited, six-time honoree Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operators award.

An Exclusive Small Group Tour for The Renaissance Academy of FGCU

Dear Friends, Travel with us on a 15-day journey through Northern Italy. From the rustic Lake District and Tuscan countryside to the magnificent Dolomites and the vibrant cities of Milan, Florence, and Venice, your small group will experience the best of Italian hospitality … and la dolce vita.

Begin your journey at the international resort of Stresa, and delight in a three-night stay on lovely Lake Maggiore. Cruise to the Borromean island of Isola Bella, experiencing its beautiful landscaped gardens and its palazzo, showcasing priceless works of fine art. Continue on to Italy’s beautiful Liguria region and the Italian Riviera resort town of Santa Margherita. Travel by boat to the renowned port of Portofino and enjoy a fullday Cinque Terre excursion featuring Vernazza. Next, you will tour beloved Tuscany, from Lucca through wondrous Florence and Siena. Stop in storied Verona en route to the South Tyrol and Bolzano, gateway to the Dolomites. Conclude your remarkable tour of Italy in Venice, with its complex maze of canals and unforgettable St. Mark’s Square. Here, you will enjoy ample free time to explore this enchanting city as you wish, and have the opportunity to extend your Venice stay with a 3-day/2-night post-tour extension.

Space on this exclusive FGCU tour is limited to just 24 guests. We expect this tour to fill quickly, so please call now to reserve your space!

Sincerely, John Guerra Director, Continuing Education & Renaissance Academy

THE FGCU RESERVATION FORM: NORTHERN ITALY Enclosed is my/our deposit for $______($500 per person) for ____ person(s) on Northern Italy, departing September 12, 2018. I/We understand the final payment is due at least 95 days prior to departure.

Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, VISA, or by personal check. Please make check payable to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., and mail check, with completed reservation form, to: The Renaissance Academy of FGCU, Attention: John Guerra, 1010 5th Ave. South, Naples, FL 34102. Phone: (239) 434-4838; e-mail: jguerra@fgcu.edu.

Full Passport Name ______________________________________________ Date of Birth___________ Gender ____ Full Passport Name ______________________________________________ Date of Birth___________ Gender ____ Badge Name(s) ______________________________________ E-mail(s) ______________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________________ State ________ ZIP ___________________ Home Phone (______) ________________________________ Cell Phone (______) _____________________________ Please book my/our air from ________________________________ I/We request an air upgrade to _____________ Post-Tour “Venice – On Your Own” Extension: Please sign me/us up q I will share a room with ______________________________________ I request a single room (limited availability) q Please Note: The undersigned has read the schedule of activities for Northern Italy, September 12-26, 2018, and agrees that their signature below represents their acceptance of the General Terms and Conditions: Signature(s) ________________________________________________________________ Date___________________ Method of Payment

q Check

q American Express

q Discover

q MasterCard

q VISA

Account # __________________________________________ Security Code _________ Exp. Date _______________ Name of Cardholder ________________________________________________________________________________ Signature __________________________________________________________________________________________ Final invoicing will be sent by our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. The balance of the program price must be paid to Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure, and is payable by check or credit card.

Tour membership limited to 24 friends

Northern Italy From the Alps to the Adriatic

15 days for $5,274 total price from Fort Myers ($4,795 air & land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees)

T

his leisurely exploration of Italy’s varied northern regions, from the romantic Lake District and dramatic Cinque Terre to beloved Tuscany, the majestic Dolomites, and canal-laced Venice, offers a refreshing perspective on a well-known land. In the company of our congenial small group, we celebrate the Italian penchant for hospitality, good food, and good living. In a word, splendido!

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Milan, Italy

Bolzano Stresa

Milan

Venice

Santa Margherita

Adriatic Sea

Florence Mediterranean Sea Map Legend Destination Motorcoach Entry/Departure

Avg. High (°F) Stresa Florence Venice

Sep Oct 71 62 79 68 75 65

Small Group Tour Highlights Relaxing three-night stay on Lake Maggiore • Lake region touring, including medieval Orta San Giulio and Stresa • Cruise to Isola Bella, with palace and gardens tour • Full-day Cinque Terre excursion featuring Vernazza • Visit to medieval Lucca • Beautiful Florence • Winery visit and tasting • Majestic Dolomites • Venice sightseeing • Outstanding small group accommodations

Day Itinerary

Hotel

1

Depart U.S. for Milan

2-4

Stresa

5-7

Santa Margherita Hotel Metropole

8-10 Florence

11-12 Bolzano

13-14 Venice

15

La Palma Hotel

Rating First Class First Class

Hotel Rivoli Boutique

First Class

Hotel Scala Stiegl

First Class

Palazzo Sup. First Veneziano Class

Depart Venice for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

Day 2: Arrive Milan/Stresa After arriving in Milan, we drive to the international resort of Stresa on lovely Lake Maggiore, straddling the border between Italy and Switzerland. This afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s welcome dinner. D Day 3: Stresa/Orta San Giulio This morning we visit the lovely lakeside town of Orta San Giulio – dubbed “God’s watercolor” by Italian writer Piero Chiara – with its cobblestoned streets, 16th-century town hall, and medieval houses flanking the inviting town square. After lunch on our own here, we return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. B Day 4: Stresa We embark this morning on a cruise to Isola Bella, the beautiful Borromean island in the middle of Lake Maggiore. Fully occupied by 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo and its extravagantly landscaped gardens, the island offers lovely views of the lake and surrounding mountains. We take a guided tour of the palazzo, with its priceless works of fine art, and stroll through the flower-decked gardens then enjoy lunch together on the island. B,L Day 5: Stresa/Barolo/Santa Margherita We leave the Piedmont region today, bound for Santa Margherita and the Cinque Terre. En route, we stop in the village of Barolo for lunch and to sample Barolo, the “king of wines,” at Marchesi di Barolo, Italy’s premier vintner of its greatest wine. We continue on to the Italian Riviera resort town of Santa Margherita, with its palm-lined esplanade overlooking the harbor.

Tonight we enjoy dinner together at our hotel. B,L,D Day 6: Santa Margherita/Portofino This morning we travel by boat to the renowned – and beautiful – resort town of Portofino, a former fishing village where palatial yachts now crowd the port and the good life is celebrated. We have free time to wander the colorful streets and visit the chic boutiques and galleries here before we return to our hotel mid-day. B

Cover photo: The rugged and scenic Cinque Terre region has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

The Baptistery (l) and Duomo (r) rise above Florence’s rooftops.

Day 7: Santa Margherita/Cinque Terre/ Portovenere We depart this morning by train for the Cinque Terre (literally, “Five Lands”), the five cliff-clinging villages seemingly carved from the mountains. Originally medieval fishing villages, the Cinque Terre were inaccessible by land for centuries.

We stop in scenic Vernazza then board a boat for a comfortable cruise along the rugged coastline to visit another village of the Cinque Terre. From here we cruise to the port town of Portovenere, with its cluster of colorful column-shaped houses. After a brief walking tour of the Old Town, we have time to explore and enjoy lunch on our own. We dine together tonight at our hotel. B,D Day 8: Santa Margherita/Lucca/Florence Moving on today, we travel south to beloved Tuscany, stopping first in the atmospheric medieval town of Lucca. We take a walking tour of this incredibly well-preserved gem, whose city walls and ramparts remain intact and a popular attraction. After time for lunch on our own, we continue on to our lodgings in the heart of Florence. B,D Day 9: Florence We spend today touring and ex-ploring wondrous Florence, the crown jewel of Tuscany. Our day includes a walking tour followed by free time. Together we visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to view Michelangelo’s sublime “David” and his pieces for the papal tombs; and the Duomo, with its stupendous dome by Brunelleschi.

Then we’re free to stroll the 14th-century Ponte Vecchio, with its many jewelry shops; visit renowned museums and churches; shop for leather goods and Florentine paper; and to enjoy lunch and dinner on our own at a Florentine restaurant. B

Day 10: Florence/Siena Today we visit the walled city of Siena, whose historic center is a UNESCO site and whose ochre-colored buildings and ancient ramparts vividly evoke its medieval past. Fan-shaped Piazza del Campo is one of Europe’s greatest public squares; its Duomo is one of Italy’s finest, with masterpieces by Donatello and Michelangelo.

Following a walking tour that includes an inside visit to the Duomo, we have free time to explore on our own. We return to Florence mid-afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure. B Day 11: Florence/Verona/Bolzano As we travel north today, we stop in storied Verona, renowned as the setting of several Shakespeare plays, including “Romeo and Juliet.” A UNESCO site, Verona boasts

Post-Tour Extension September 26-28, 2018

Venice – On Y our Own 3 days/2 nights for $395 total price Single Supplement: $295

End your journey with a longer stay in this most beautiful of cities.

Your Tour Price Includes • 2 nights’ accommodations at Palazzo Veneziano (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport

“The history of mankind is the history of ideas.”

– Luigi Pirandello

well-preserved monuments from antiquity, including a 1st-century Roman amphitheater, as we see on our guided walking tour. After time for lunch and to explore on our own here, we continue our journey to the South Tyrol, Italy’s German-accented northern reaches bordering Austria and Switzerland. We’re bound for the regional capital of Bolzano, gateway to the Dolomites in the Italian Alps. Late afternoon we reach our hotel, where we dine together tonight. B,D Day 12: Bolzano Set in a basin surrounded by rounded forest-green hills, Bolzano boasts truly spectacular scenery. We take a cable car for views of the 18-peak Dolomites, their vertical walls and sheer cliffs presenting a magnificent backdrop to the surrounding landscape. Then we walk through Bolzano’s colorful historic center and visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, well known for housing the mummified corpse of Ötzi the Iceman, dating to 3300 bce. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this cosmopolitan city as we wish; tonight we dine at a local restaurant. B,D Day 13: Bolzano/Venice En route to Venice today, we travel through the Dolomites themselves, enjoying jaw-dropping scenery at every turn. When we reach Venice late this afternoon, we are free to begin savoring this wondrous city as we wish and enjoy dinner on our own. B,L Day 14: Venice This morning we take a guided walk through vast St. Mark’s Square. The afternoon is free for independent exploration; tonight we bid “arrivederci” to Italy and to our ­fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. B,D Day 15: Depart for U.S. We depart early this morning for our connecting flights to the U.S. B

We enjoy stunning scenery in the South Tyrol.

Tour Departs: September 12, 2018 Prices include int’l airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees.

New York

$4,974

Boston, Philadelphia

$5,174

Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, DC

$5,274

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$5,374

Land Only (transfers not included)

$4,295

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $479, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,095. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 13 nights’ accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels • 23 meals: 13 breakfasts; 3 lunches; 7 dinners • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class – $3,995 per person; Premium Economy – $895 per person (upgrades are subject to availability and pricing is subject to change). Upgrade costs are in addition to the costs above.

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets.

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

For information and reservations, please contact John Guerra at The Renaissance Academy of FGCU at

(239) 434-4838 or e-mail jguerra@fgcu.edu

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Air Transportation – Important Information Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. includes in its tour price round-trip economy air from designated gateway cities as shown, and contracts with those airlines the company feels provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates. You will receive your preliminary air schedule approximately 2½ months prior to departure.

Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is provided at airport check-in. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. is unable to guarantee any seat assignments. Due to the nature of tour operator tickets, other restrictions apply, including, but not limited to, frequent flyer mileage accrual, stopovers, alternate travel dates, upgrades, and airline taxes and fees. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, Land Only is available on most tours. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase non-refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. If you choose to make your own air arrangements, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of this tour or changes in this tour

Medical Conditions If you or a member of your party suffer from any physical challenge or medical condition, you must check with your doctor about the advisability of traveling abroad and make this known to us before you book. We will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of tour participants, but are not responsible for denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, and other independent suppliers. Smoking: Smoking is NOT permitted in the hotels, on motorcoaches, or on other modes of transport used by the group.

Responsibility-Tour Participation Contract – IMPORTANT The Renaissance Academy of FGCU does not provide travel services or act as the agent of any provider of travel services. The liability of Florida Gulf Coast University, as a sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as a tour operator, is strictly limited. The Renaissance Academy of FGCU is not responsible or liable for any of the services provided for/by Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. or any other travel agency, or for any of the services of hotels, motorcoaches, trains, vessels, aircrafts, or other forms of transportation that may be used in connection with the tour. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under its control. All arrangements for transport, accommodations, and services are made upon the express condition that The Renaissance Academy of FGCU, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., and their affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity of any kind occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond their control, including, without limitation, any act of negligence or breach of contract of any third party such as an airline, cruise line, train, hotel, restaurant, tour operator/supplier, ground handler, etc., including their employees, agents, servants, or representatives, who is to or does supply any goods or services to the tour. Without limiting the foregoing, The Renaissance Academy of FGCU, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., and their affiliates are not responsible for any losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strikes, acts of God, acts of terrorism, war, quarantine, criminal activity, the defect of any vehicle, or for any other cause beyond their control. The Renaissance Academy of FGCU reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour, or to substitute similar quality hotels or airlines without prior notice. If the tour is cancelled by The Renaissance Academy of FGCU for any reason, The Renaissance Academy of FGCU, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., and their affiliates shall have no liability beyond the refund of all tour participant deposits received by them, net of any and all expenses due to suppliers and the airline refund policies. The Renaissance Academy of FGCU, in its sole discretion, may increase the tour price in the event costs increase. The Renaissance Academy of FGCU may decline to accept or retain any tour participant as a participant on the tour at any time. Airline tickets may be sold in conjunction with the services of any airline. The passenger tickets in use by the carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the passenger. If you choose to make your own air arrangements, The Renaissance Academy of FGCU and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of or changes to this tour. The parties agree that Ft. Myers (Lee County) in the state of Florida shall be the venue for any disputes arising out of this tour. A signed FGCU General Release and Waiver Agreement is required from each participant prior to departure.

Travel Insurance We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event you must cancel your participation in the travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. You will be sent insurance information from Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. upon registration.

Cancellations, Refunds, and Changes If you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.’s receipt of your written notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 95 days or more before departure: $200 charge; cancel 94-65 days before departure: 25% of tour price; cancel 64-45 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 44-30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29-0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reservation from 94 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy, for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure. Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.

Not Included in Tour Price Airfare when purchasing a Land Only package; costs of passports and visas, if required; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service, and meals not specified; airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; communication charges; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10-$15 per traveler, per day); optional sightseeing; and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. You should confirm directly with your airline(s) prior to departure.

Please read this information carefully, as payment of a $500 deposit per person represents your acceptance of the following Terms and Conditions.

An intimate, family-owned and operated 58-room hotel located just a short walk from the bay and a private beach, the Metropole features a restaurant and bar; complimentary Wi-Fi internet access; laundry and dry cleaning services; fitness center with massage services and Turkish bath; and outdoor pool. Each air-conditioned room has a private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, TV, and phone. Guest accommodations are provided in two separate buildings on the property, both of which are in close proximity to each other.

Recently opened in Spring 2017, the Palazzo Veneziano overlooks Venice’s “lagoon” – the famed Giudecca Canal. Between the hotel and the water lies the Zattere, the widest promenade in Venice, which features picturesque churches, fine restaurants, and numerous water taxi stops. Hotel amenities include a bar, library, internal courtyards, and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each of the 84 guest rooms have Venetian furnishings, private bath with hair dryer, minibar, in-room safe, TV, and phone.

Palazzo Veneziano www.palazzoveneziano.com

Guaranteed Small Group: Limited to 24 Guests

JOIN THE RENAISSANCE ACADEMY OF FGCU ON AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR TO NORTHERN ITALY!

This Liberty-style hotel in an updated 1898 coach station sits a short walk from the Bolzano train station and the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

This hotel boasts a restaurant and bar, sun terrace, garden, fitness center, and sauna, and offers complimentary Wi-Fi internet access and laundry service. All 65 air-conditioned guest rooms feature a private bath with hair dryer, TV, in-room safe, and phone.

Hotel Scala Stiegl www.scalahot.com/en

Located in the heart of Florence, the Hotel Rivoli is set inside a restored 14th-century Franciscan convent, and features original architectural details dating back over 500 years. Amenities of this boutique hotel include a restaurant and bar, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, and an internal garden patio featuring a hot tub. Every air-conditioned guest room has been skillfully restored and each offers unique touches, while all include private bath with hair dryer, classic Tuscan-style furniture, in-room safe, minibar, TV, and phone.

Please note that due to the unique nature of this hotel, room size and décor will vary.

Situated on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the 120-room La Palma Hotel is surrounded by lovely Italian gardens. It features a garden-view restaurant; bar; lounges; internet access; laundry and dry cleaning services; fitness room with panoramic views; solarium; Jacuzzi; sauna; and heated lakeside swimming pool with a view of the Borromean islands. Air-conditioned guest rooms offer balcony, private bath with hair dryer, minibar, in-room safe, TV, and phone.

Hotel Metropole www.metropole.it

Hotel Rivoli Boutique www.hotelrivoli.it

La Palma Hotel www.hlapalma.it

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS