ITALY with Ms. Heidi Rose - June 2025
JUNE 3-10, 2025
Join your friends and teachers on a travel adventure exploring Florence, Rome, and Orvieto ITALY. This is a custom and private tour for students and friends of Ms. Heidi Rose.
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Florence – 2 nights
Orvieto – 2 nights
Rome – 2 nights
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$4550 = Double Occupancy
$5325 = Single room
ITINERARY
Tuesday, June 3: OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO ROME – Join your group at the airport for your overnight flight to Rome.
Wednesday, June 4: BUON GIORNO A ITALIA! – After airport formalities, we will take the local train to Rome’s downtown Termini train station. You’ll have time to shop and get a snack for your trip to Florence. Then, we will hop on the bullet train to Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Settling into your hotel, enjoy getting to know the neighborhood and the nearby Arno River. Later, join your Exploring Europe guide for an orientation walk around Florence, a visit to the San Lorenzo Leather Market, and a walk around the famous Renaissance town. Tonight, enjoy dinner in a traditional restaurant serving authentic Tuscan delights. Sleep for 2 nights in Florence. Train: 3 hours. Dinner.
Thursday, June 5: THE MUSEO ACCADEMIA & DAVID – Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel this morning. Join a local expert to visit the Accademia Gallery and experience Michelangelo’s magnificent “David” statue and other Renaissance masterpieces. Then, take an informative stroll through the streets and alleys of Firenze to learn about its art, history, and architecture. You’ll have the afternoon and evening to explore more of Florence with your friends, teacher, and family.
Friday, June 6: RENAISSANCE ART & ORVIETO – The Uffizi once were the offices of the powerful Medici government. Today, these buildings contain the best Renaissance art collection in the world. A local expert guide will introduce you to magnificent works by Botticelli, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, and more! Later, you’ll have a few hours for shopping, dining, and visiting the Duomo. Then, we will take the train to Umbria and charming Orvieto. Situated on an extinct volcanic tufa stone hill, it affords commanding views of the valley below. There are no museums or must-see sites here. Enjoy the small town, cafes, shops, and ceramic artisans. After exploring a bit on your own, we’ll meet for dinner at a favorite ristorante. Sleep for 2 nights in Orvieto. Train: 2 hours. Dinner.
Saturday, June 7: ORVIETO – You will have the entire day to enjoy Orvieto with your friends and teacher. Orvieto is famous for its handmade ceramics, Etruscan ruins, subterranean caves, and the beautiful Cathedral.
Sunday, June 8: HISTORIC ROME – Another short train ride will take us back to Rome’s Termini Train Station. After checking into our hotel, visit the Roman Colosseum and Forum with David’s Audio Guided Tour App. You’ll get an insider’s perspective on daily life dating back over 2,000 years. Then, let’s explore the historic city center looking at the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain. Sleep for 2 nights in Rome. Train: 1 hour.
Monday, June 9: VATICAN CITY – Join our local expert guide at the Vatican Museum and enjoy an in-depth tour of this vast treasure trove of the world’s finest works of art, capped off with an awe-inspiring look at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Then, visit the massive St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest Christian church. You’ll have some free time today to experience more of Rome with your teacher and friends. Then, let’s meet for a grand farewell dinner to cap off your experiences in Italy. Dinner.
Tuesday, June 10: HEADING HOME – Return to the Rome Airport for your flight home. You will fly during the day and arrive back home later tonight.
Itinerary specifics are subject to change. Entrances to the Colosseum, Forum, and Vatican Museum in Rome are subject to avilability. The 2025 Jubilee Year and subsequent tourist crowd restrictions may limit access to many popular tourist sites. Exploring Europe will make every effort possible to obtain entry tickets, but note some entrances may not be possible.
INCLUSIONS
-Round Trip airfare from Florida to Europe.
-Train travel, as mentioned in the itinerary.
-6 nights’ hotel accommodation (2 Florence, 2 Orvieto, 2 Rome).
-Breakfast daily.
-Group Dinners, as mentioned in the itinerary (3 dinners).
-Entrances and tours, as mentioned in the itinerary. Entrances to the Colosseum, Forum, and Vatican Museum in Rome are subject to availability. The 2025 Jubilee Year and subsequent tourist crowd restrictions may limit access to many popular tourist sites. Exploring Europe will make every effort possible to obtain entry tickets, but some entrances may not be possible.
-Taxes and service charges for all included items.
-Tips and gratuities to local drivers and guides.
-Traditional dining experiences at some of David’s favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority, and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best each locale offers.
-Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
-A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the tour destinations’ art, history, and culture.
-David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
-Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
-Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
EXCLUSIONS
-Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended and discounted at tour enrollment if you choose. Please note insurance is not included in the cost of your tour, but we strongly encourage participants to purchase a policy during tour enrollment.
-Credit Card Payments come with a 3% convenience fee. This may be avoided by enrolling in ACH bank payments or paying with a check or money order.
-Anything not listed in the “inclusions” area is not included in the cost of your tour.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposit- Your Deposit ($400) is fully refundable until December 10, 2024. If you book your tour after 12/10/2024, your deposit ($400) is refundable for seven days. If you book your tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- Tour payments are due on the 4th of each month, beginning December 2024, and ending with the final payment on May 4, 2025. Prices are subject to change until group airfare is confirmed.
|
Due Date |
Amount |
|
at sign up/tour enrollment – before 11/25/24 |
$400 |
|
December 4, 2024 |
$691 |
|
January 4, 2025 |
$691 |
|
February 4, 2025 |
$691 |
|
March 4, 2025 |
$691 |
|
April 4, 2025 |
$691 |
|
May 4, 2025 |
outstanding balance based on final price |
See our complete tour Term, Conditions, and Cancellation policy here.
TOUR PDF DOCUMENTS for PRINTING
TOUR RESOURCES and Information
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry; we are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S AUDIO & E-PRINT PDF DESTINATION GUIDES
David has a complete PDF and Printable Guidebook for all destinations on his Essence and Best of Italy tours. You’ll also find downloadable AUDIO WALKING TOURS for Rome’s Colosseum and the Roman Forum. https://davidmcguffin.com/dg-italy/
DAVID’S VIDEO SERIES: THE BEST OF ITALY
David and his team have produced an episodic video series detailing many of the destinations on this tour itinerary. They are all neatly organized on his YouTube channel. Watch the complete series or view one episode at a time on his Best of Italy Playlist.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in Italy. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David’s Explore Italy.
DAVID’S TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY ALMOST-WEEKLY BROADCAST AND VIDEO SERIES BLOG.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our Tours to Europe
Thank you so much for such a lovely trip! I certainly enjoyed your guidance and care. The manner of care that you and Charlotte gave us was outstanding in every way. I, especially, appreciated your patience in my being so slow and tiring easily. After having fallen the week before the trip, I was so nervous that I would fall again.
The tours on our day trips to Florence and the other small towns gave such a wonderful insight into the history and culture of Italy.
My favorite place was Marcampo and meeting Claudia and her mom. The cooking class and the evening wine sharing were a highlight. Volterra had so much history I've never heard before. The views were so dramatic. Your selection of good restaurants took the worry out of finding a decent place to eat which all of my meals were excellent.
Your sharing somewhere special to you made the whole experience a lifetime event for me. I felt like family. You both are so very special in just being you!! Thanking you again for such a unique experience!
First, I would like to say that the Best of Ireland 12-day tour we took from October 12-24, 2025, was really fantastic. The itinerary was perfect for the opportunity to see all the “must see” sights in Ireland. The start of the tour in Belfast is a wise choice; it gave us the opportunity to end the trip in Dublin after seeing to country which gave a better perspective of the history of the island.
The hotels were perfect in that they were located in the cities which made it possible to explore around the towns then have dinner and drinks.
Finally, and most important, our tour guide and driver, David Grey, was absolutely wonderful.
I cannot say enough kind words and accolades about David. The tour would not have been as memorable without his sense of humor, great insights and his general caring of us as guests in his country. It was an honor and a privilege to get to know David. David took the time to get to know all his guests and would ask us what our interests and needs were.
David also stopped at a few places not on the itinerary which allowed us a better insight into the country. It was great to see the bridge from the John Wayne movie, The Quiet Man, and visiting St. Brigid’s Well in Liscannor was memorable.
I mentioned to David in passing how I would like to try some poteen after having a drink in Kilkenny. David went out of his way to obtain some local poteen for all the tour guests to have a toast after our memorable Italian dinner. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
It was our great pleasure to travel with David & Charlotte for the 3rd time. Our tour which began in Budapest, Hungary ended in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This tour was atypical as we began w a bus and boarded a yacht halfway through. Budapest was nice, but the Croatian island ports were stunning. Plitvice National Park and the tour with a ranger was a highlight as well. We absorbed a remarkable amount of history and saw vineyards, a century's old winery and midieval villages. We traveled with a group of 8 friends and family which was an added bonus! It was also wonderful to be hosted on this tour by our new Croatian friends, Kruno & Suzanna! Thanks again, David!
My husband and I toured southern Ireland and Scotland. It was a celebration of our 30th anniversary. I know many have mentioned David Grey but he was amazing His flexbility , knowledge and overall character made the trip. We also enjoyed the Scotland driver- Ian who had a wonderful personality . The group dinner selections did not disappoint. Amazing food . We felt like we saw so much of both countries and enjoyed having it all planned where to go .
This was my first tour with David, likely not my last. We traversed incredible sites in Sicily. David made it easy, with informative dialogue and guides, and an outstanding driver, Paolo.
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