Our Byzantine Trip!

Trip Canceled Do to Covid-19

Tiber Bridge Rome
Tropea Calabria Italy
Sicilian Cost Line
Church Berat Albania
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Trip Canceled Do to Covid-19

Byzantine Heritage Trip

MAY 18-JUNE 1, 2020
14 LAND DAYS

A pilgrimage of the Byzantine traditions in Italy with visits to the tomb of Saint Nicholas, Italo-Albanian villages in both Calabria & Sicily. While in Rome we will visit the Byzantine Abbey in Grottaferrata. Conducted by Alfredo & Monsignor Romanos Russo of the Melkite Catholic Church

COST PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $3,795
PER DIEM COST: $237

What’s included:
TRIP INCLUDES
• 14 Land Days touring in Italo-Byzantine sites in Rome, Calabria & Sicily in our private a/c bus
• Stay at 3* OR 4* hotels
• 13 Buffet breakfast in the hotels
• 3 Lunches
• 8 Dinners :set menu with choice
• Visit to various religious sites in Rome, Calabria and Sicily to attend Liturgy
• Visit to the abbey of San Nilo in Grottaferrata with a porchetta lunch after in Ariccia
• Flights from Rome to Bari & Palermo to Rome

14 Land Days in Rome, Calabria & Sicily visiting Italo-Albanian & Italo-Greek locations.

Conducted by myself & Monsignor R.Russo of the Melkite Catholic Church

COST PER PERSON;
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $3995
Single supplement: $850
Group size: 40+

Itinerary

DAY 0: MONDAY MAY 18: UNITED FLIGHT NEWARK TO ROME

DAY 1: TUESDAY MAY 19: BARI/COSENZA/D
8:45AM: Land in Rome.
10:00AM: Option 1:Leave in bus for Bari to visit tomb of San Nicola: 6 h/438K
1:00AM: Stop at Autogrill for lunch
3:00PM: Visit to the Basilica of San Nicola
1:05PM:Option 2: Flight to Bari. Alitalia AZ1613 arrives at 2:10. Have lunch before flight
2:00PM: Option 2: Meet SAT bus. Visit to the Basilica of San Nicola
4:00PM-7:00PM: Trip from Bari to Cosenza: 3 h/265K
7:30PM. Dinner in Hotel

DAY 2: WED MAY 20: COSENZA/HOTEL ITALIANO B/D
7:00AM: Breakfast in hotel
8:30AM: Leave for visit to Rossano(Codex Purpureus) possible Santa Maria del Patire: 1h 30m/ 86K
7:00PM : Dinner at hotel

DAY 3: THURSDAY MAY 21: COSENZA/HOTEL ITALIANO :B/D ASCENSION
7:00AM: Breakfast in hotel
8:00AM; Bus for Lungro Ascension Thursday Liturgy at the Cathedral. 1h 30m/ 66K
Lungro to San Cosmo Albanese: 1h/50 K
6PM: Return to hotel /Dinner in hotel

DAY 4: FRIDAY MAY 22: CENTRALE PALACE B/D
7:00AM: Breakfast at Hotel
8:30AM: Bags on Bus leave for Cefalu: 5 hours 360 K
2:00PM: Arrive at Cefalu for afternoon visit & lunch.
Time to visit the Duomo, shop and explore the town
4;00PM: Leave Cefalu for hotel: 1h./69K
5:30PM: Arrive in Hotel near Piano Centro Maria Immacolata
7:30PM: Dinner in hotel

DAYS 5: SAT. MAY 23 : PALERMO: CENTRALE PALACE B/L
7:00AM: Breakfast in hotel: Driver’s day off.
Day Guided Visit in Palermo. Starting with a visit to the market Ballero’, then to the Duomo, finally visit to the Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace.
1:00PM: Lunch of typical Sicilian “Street Foods”
7:00PM: Vespers at the Matorana
Dinner On your own.

DAY 6: SUNDAY MAY 24: PALERMO: CENTRALE PALACE B/D
7:00AM: Breakfast in hotel
8:00AM: Guided visit to the Golden Cathedral of Montreale 20M/10k
10:00 AM: Leave for Piana degli Albanesi for Divine Liturgy :35M/20K
After Liturgy enjoy a famous local cannoli & cappuccino & Lunch
2PM: Leave for Santa Cristina Gela: 7M/5K
7:30PM: Dinner in hotel

DAY 7: MONDAY. MAY 25: PALERMO: CENTRALE PALACE: B/
Breakfast in Hotel
Visit to the Italo-Albanian Town of Contessa Entellina: 2 H./85K
Dinner On your own.

DAY 8: TUES MAY 26: PALERMO: CENTRALE PALACE B/ D
Breakfast in Hotel
Day to explore some other Italo-Byzantine villages
From Palermo to Mezzojuso 1 H 39K
From Mezzojuso to Palazzo Adriana(Cinema Paradiso) 1H 9M/42K
Lunch at local/Dinner in Palermo

DAY 9: WED. MAY 27: ROME HOTEL MUSEUM B/ D
Breakfast in Hotel
8AM: Leave for Palermo airport check in for flight: 30M/35K
FLIGHT OPTIONS: 10:25-11:35 AZ1782
12:00PM-1:30 AZ 1784
Dinner at local

Continued>>>>>

Byzantine Tour, Byzantine Trip, Byzantine

Byzantine Heritage Trip
Continued 

DAY 10: THURSDAY MAY 28: ROME HOTEL MUSEUM B/L
7:00am: Breakfast in Hotel FREE DAY IN ROME
Optional Visit to the Vatican Museums with lunch at Giulio
Dinner on your own

DAY 11: FRIDAY MAY 29: HOTEL ROME: B/D
7:00AM: Breakfast in hotel: NOTE: CHECK WITH SAVERIO FOR GUIDE & WHISPERS/BUS GIANFRANCO
1:00PM: Quick lunch followed by a walking tour of historic central Rome including the Pantheon & Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, San Luigi Francese, Piazza Navona
7:30PM: Gather in lobby to go for dinner

DAY 12: SAT MAY 30: HOTEL ROME: B/D
FREE DAY
Meet at Greek College by the Spanish Steps for Vespers
7:30PM: Gala Dinner at Memmo with night walk thru Piazza Navona

DAY 14: SUNDAY:MAY 31:PENTECOST HOTEL ROME: B/L
7:00AM: Breakfast in hotel
9:00AM: Leave for Monastery of San Nilo in Grottoferrata for Liturgy; 45m/21K
11:00AM: Divine Liturgy
1:00PM: Leave for Ariccia for Porchetta lunch
Dinner on your own

DAY 00: MONDAY JUNE 1: FLIGHT UA 41 TO NEWARK
7:00AM:  Leave for Fiumicino for flight to New York

NOT INCLUDED
• Round trip New York /Rome: Note, I might be able to include air for the group
• Beverages with meals
• Optional tours: Vatican Museum & Basilica tour: Price TBA
• Tips to driver, guides & escort

CONDUCTED BY ALFREDO DE BONIS
& ECONOMOS ROMANOS V. RUSSO

 

Speak to someone now

Alfredo  732-910-5244

Or fill out our contact form to get more information.

 

EXPLANATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES & TOUR CONDITIONS OF ALFREDOTOURSITALY

1) Initial deposit of $1,000 on signing up.
2) $500 non- refundable
3) Second payment ½ of Balance due in 30 days
4) Final Payment due 60 days before the departure
Payments can be made by check made out to Alfredo de Bonis: Mailed to P.O. Box 191 Milltown N.J. 08850,
Payment dates may change according to the booking and travel date.

Cancellation Fees
1) More than 60 days the non-refundable portion will be retained
2) 60-16 days prior to departure: 30 % of land price
3) 15- 1 days prior to departure: 50% of land price
4) Day of departure: 100% of land price

For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information on the available plans click here or contact Travelex Insurance 800-228-9792 and reference location number 30-0346.

 

Upcoming Tour 2022!

Create Your Own Grand Tour of Italy

Any Dates Of Your Choosing 
Up To 14 LAND DAYS Of Your Choosing

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Upcoming Tour 2022!

Alfredo’s Cucina e Cultura Week at Villa Daniela Grossi

Learn to create Local Lucchese dishes that you love so much!

October 13th to October 26th, 2023
13  LAND DAYS

FAQ’s

AlfredotoursItaly offers many services. I do group tours from 16 to 40 to almost every area of Italy. These are private guided tours of Italy with a personal touch.
I also have a wonderful villa in Tuscany, www.villadanielagrossi.it
Where I take my customers for a wonderful relaxing week exploring the historic lands of Lucca, Pisa, Florence & Siena.
I especially enjoy taking people on tours of Rome, which I divide into 3 days of touring, first day: Christian Rome, second day: Ancient Rome, third day: Renaissance and Baroque Rome.
I also offer a trip planning service & vacation packages where I will set up your personalized tour with hotels, transportation, things to do & a list of my favorite eateries.
Just like my motto says: Travel with “Alfredo, he knows Italy”

I think it’s more honest to leave out the travel day.So that when you divide the cost by the land days you get a
true per diem cost.

When we go out to eat you will be able to choose from a reduced ala carte menu where you can choose two items, be it; appetizer *& pasta or pasta & entrée ect..

If you can’t eat what is being served, we can have the kitchen prepare you something in accordance of your health or dietary needs. You have to let us know ahead of time about your needs.

Water will be served on the table. Any other beverage like wine, soda or caffe must be paid for when served.

All my bus services are air-conditioned vehicles.
Because of European & Italian regulations a bus can only be out for a total of 12 hours per diem. So that, if we want to take a side trip it would depend on the time limits that the driver is restricted.

As part of the applications I ask if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Knowing this, I will contact each ristorante so that you will have a meal that is consistent with your needs.

Traveling by train can be very relaxing. The most stressful part of the experience is getting on to the train with luggage. Once in your reserved seat you can use the internet, charge your devices, go to the dinning car to buy food, or pack a lunch. Each car has a clean bathroom.

Usually a service charge is included in the cost of your meal. If I’m satisfied with the service and if the waiter doesn’t try to tell me that service is not included, I will leave a 10% tip. I do remember seeing Italians leaving the coin change on the table. Always check your menu for service charge. At a bar I leave .10 euro with my ticket for a coffee.

Yes, I include or collect a tip for the bus driver, the water taxi drivers in Venice, porters, waitstaff in ristorante & guide.

The common consensus is 3 euros per day per person. Therefore a 10-day trip would be 30 euros. From there monies I distribute to the drivers, taxi guys, porters, guides & waitstaff.

Some people do give a tip to the tour leader; however, it is not mandatory.

Italy’s Autostrada has wonderful rest stops with great     ristorante and café. If you want to order at the bar a caffe, cappuccino, tea, or a panini, you first have to go to the CASSA give the cashier your order, take the ticket to the bar and tell the barista what you want in your best Italian!
If you want a meal in the dinner room you go to the various stations get your meal (there are pasta, salad & entrée stations) your beverage and pay as your exit. The rest stop is set up so that in order to exit you have to walk around all the aisles. They do this in the hope that you will do some shopping.

I recommend that everyone fly on the same flight from the U.S. so that we all arrive on time especially if we have to make a connecting flight. If, for example, our first night is in Rome and you come on a different flight that is not at the same time as the main flight, then it is your responsibility to get a car service to the hotel. I can set that up for you. On the last day when we return to the airport, I will supply a bus to take everyone back as a group.

The major cities in Italy have extensive transportation routes. Rome has many bus lines and 2 Subway lines. Tickets are easy to purchase for one trip or for a day or more. Milan is the same. Venice, has a water bus system called Vaporetti which are each to fine and use, especially on the Grande Canale or to go to the various islands in the lagoon

No matter where you travel you have to consider your safety. Always carry your valuables, like money & credit cards, in either a fanny pack or in a pocket that has a sipper. I wear a multi-pocket vest where I can conceal my monies, passport & credit cards. Try not to wear valuable jewelry like necklaces’ that can be easily accessed by thieves.
Be attentive especially in crowds and on public transportation like buses & subways. The thieves of today are not the rag clad types from years ago. They are well dresses & work in gangs.

 

Speak to someone now

Alfredo  732-910-5244

Or fill out our contact form to get more information.

 

1) Initial deposit of $1,000 on signing up.
2) $500 non- refundable
3) Second payment ½ of Balance due in 30 days
4) Final Payment due 60 days before the departure
Payments can be made by check made out to Alfredo de Bonis: Mailed to P.O. Box 191 Milltown N.J. 08850,
Payment dates may change according to the booking and travel date.

Cancellation Fees
1) More than 60 days the non-refundable portion will be retained
2) 60-16 days prior to departure: 30 % of land price
3) 15- 1 days prior to departure: 50% of land price
4) Day of departure: 100% of land price

For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information on the available plans click here or contact Travelex Insurance 800-228-9792 and reference location number 30-0346.

 

Past Tours 2020!

All 2020 Tours Canceled due to Covid-19

SICILY 350x250 b

Trip to Sicily, Ischia & Rome

Sept 12-Sept 25, 2020

12 LAND DAYS 

Viaggio-in-Calabria-350x250

Trip Byzantine Heritage

MAY 15-JUNE 1, 2020

16 LAND DAYS

Venice-Italy 350x250

Trip to Northern Italy


OCT. 4-15, 2020

10 LAND DAYS

tuscany-350x250

Trip to Ischia, Rome, Florence & Venice

SEPT. 19-Oct 2, 2020

12 LAND DAYS 

Past Tours 2020!

All 2020 Tours Canceled due to Covid-19

italy-tour-lakes-350x250

Create your Own Custom Tour

You Decide When Your Choice of  LAND DAYS

Positano-Amalfi-Coast 350x250-min

Sold Out

Trip to Amalfi Coast & Sicily

June 9-24, 2020
16 LAND DAYS

Viaggio-in-Calabria-350x250

Sold Out

TripRome, Amalfi Coast, Calabria & Sicily 

JUNE 26-JULY 12, 2020
10 LAND DAYS

Sorrento-Italy-350x250

Sold Out

Trip To Rome, Sorrento & Tuscany

Sept. 12-25, 2020
13 LAND DAYS