Venice, Verona and the Wonders of Lake Garda
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8days from
£1,170*per person
Overview
Discover an idyllic corner of the world, and explore two of Europe’s most fascinating, enthralling and historic cities.
Stay in a hotel on idyllic Lake Garda, make the most of plenty of time to rest and relax in one of Italy’s favourite locations, and join your tour manager for four wonderful included excursions. Discover the breathtaking beauty of glorious Venice, the world’s most romantic city, see Verona’s ancient streets and majestic Roman arena, head into the craggy heights of the Dolomites, and experience the many delights of Garda’s colourful shores.
Stay in a hotel on idyllic Lake Garda, make the most of plenty of time to rest and relax in one of Italy’s favourite locations, and join your tour manager for four wonderful included excursions. Discover the breathtaking beauty of glorious Venice, the world’s most romantic city, see Verona’s ancient streets and majestic Roman arena, head into the craggy heights of the Dolomites, and experience the many delights of Garda’s colourful shores.
Itinerary
- Fly to Verona - Fly from the UK to Italy, meet your tour manager at the airport, board the coach and travel to Lake Garda and your chosen hotel. You can stay on the lake’s eastern shore, close to delightful Malcesine, with its quaint alleyways and narrow streets, or close to sun-blessed Torbole and its vibrant café life, shops and stunning views across the lake. Alternatively choose Riva at the top of the lake, or Limone on the North West shoreline. Settle in to your surroundings, and enjoy a first evening at your hotel.
- Included Grand Circular Lake Garda Tour - After breakfast, today, board the coach to begin a Grand Circular Tour of this beautiful lake in the company of your tour manager. The fjord-like eastern shores and the northern, mountain backed resorts of sun-blessed Torbole and pastel-painted Riva del Garda give way to a western shoreline of citrus and olive groves. On the southern shore a promontory leads to the spa resort of Sirmione, with its healing waters and fairy-tale Rocca Scaligera castle. The tour will also visit the wine-growing town of Bardolino, and the busy resort of Garda itself, on the way back to your hotel.
- Included Verona excursion - Today you’ll visit the thoroughly charming city of Verona and join a local guide on a fascinating walking tour. Amongst its outstanding sights, you'll find the best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Italy, famed across the world for its summertime opera festival. You'll also take in the sweeping Piazza Bra, with its popular pavement-side cafés, and the colourful market on ancient Piazza delle Erbe. Nearby, the maze of 13th-century streets is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers and you'll have the chance to soak up their scenic beauty as you wander through. After another marvellous day, you’ll return to Garda’s shores.
- Day at leisure - Today, you're free to rest and relax. Enjoy the facilities at your hotel, or perhaps venture into the centre of your chosen resort. All the resorts we use have been favourites with our customers for many years, and each has a lot to offer. Stroll the lakeside promenade, watch the world go by from a seat in a pavement café, shop, or perhaps even take to the water – Garda is a favourite of sailors and windsurfers who revel in the breezy conditions offshore.
- Included Dolomites scenery tour - Today is spent exploring the crags and passes of the majestic Dolomites, which lie to the north of Lake Garda, and provide some of Europe’s most dramatic mountain scenery. Visit towering Marmolada and Canazei in the mountain's shadow, Val Rendena, the huge Adamello Glacier, the Brenta Dolomites and pretty Val di Genova. Soak up the atmosphere and stunning views as you stop at some of the traditional towns and villages of this delightful region, which sits between the sun-kissed Italian plain of Emiglia-Romagna and the Alps of the Austrian Tyrol, above the wine-growing valley of the Alto-Adige.
- Included Venice excursion - Today's visit to Venice, probably the world’s most romantic city, will etch itself into your memory like few others. Board the coach and travel through the Veneto to the city. On arrival, you'll take a walking tour of this simply breathtakingly beautiful place in the company of a local guide. The 100 or so islands that make up the city are linked by innumerable bridges, and gondolas and water taxis ply their trades on the beautiful Grand Canal, past the stunning Accademia museum and beneath the Rialto Bridge. The vast expanse of St Mark's Square, with its sumptuous cathedral, clock tower and the Doge's Palace – the Palazzo Ducale – is one of the world’s great sights. Close by, joining the palace to the prisons, the famous Bridge of Sighs is said to have afforded condemned men a last view of the beauty of Venice en route to the gallows. Away from St Marks and the Grand Canal, a labyrinth of narrow streets waits to be explored, each new corner revealing another memorable view of this wonderful city. After an unforgettable day you'll return to Lake Garda.
- Day at leisure - Spend your final day in Italy relaxing at your hotel and in the resort. Revisit your favourite cafés, relax at the water's edge or explore further afield.
- Fly back to the UK - Say "Arrivederci, Lago di Garda", today, as you board the coach and the transfer back to the airport to catch your flight home.
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Journey through the dramatic Dolomites
- Enjoy a full-day visit to incomparable Venice, La Serenissima
- Explore Verona, Romeo and Juliet’s exquisite city
- Experience a Grand Circular Tour of Lake Garda and its surroundings
Our Price Includes
- Seven nights’ carefully selected accommodation at the hotel or resort of your choosing
- Air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
- A Grand Circular Tour of Lake Garda
- Return flights to Italy
- Guided excursions to Venice, Verona and into the Dolomites
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable
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Dates and Prices
Accommodation
Hotel Continental, Torbole -
Introduction
Enjoying an elevated position, close to the village of Nago, this bright and modern family-run hotel offers a high standard of service and facilities. It boasts fantastic views of the surrounding countryside, and will suit those who wish to be located in a peaceful area with easy access to the nearby resort of Torbole, less than 2 miles away.
Facilities & Amenities
The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool (open approx. May to Sep) and sun terrace set amid its charming gardens. There is also a heated indoor swimming pool with a whirlpool, a sauna, a Jacuzzi and a fitness room. Bicycles are available for hire. There is a bar and lounge area, and two lifts to the upper floors.
Rooms
Each room has private facilities, satellite TV, a telephone, a safe, a hairdryer, a mini-bar and air conditioning (June-Sept). Rooms with balconies are available for a supplement.
Hotel Savoy Palace, Riva del Garda -
Introduction
This extremely popular hotel enjoys a tranquil location, yet is close to the resort's entertainment and amenities. You can expect a warm welcome from the hotel's owners, the Tonelli family, who enjoy a superb reputation for excellent service and wonderful cuisine.
Facilities & Amenities
There are plenty of places to relax in this hotel, including the sun terrace, indoor and outdoor pools, lounge and piano bar. Breakfast is buffet and evening meals are waiter-served, with live music four times per week.
Rooms
There are 190 rooms in the hotel, all of them well-equipped with satellite TV, telephone, safe, minibar, hairdryer, balcony and air-conditioning (typically Jun-Sep).
Club Hotel La Vela, Torbole -
Introduction
A five-minute walk from the shores of Lake Garda, this resort-like hotel, with a family-friendly feel, is centred around an expansive outdoor pool and deck.
Facilities & Amenities
The on-site restaurant specialises in local dishes, and a piano bar and lounge host evening entertainment. Nearby activities include sailing, horse-riding, and windsurfing.
Rooms
Air-conditioned simple, comfortable guestrooms feature TVs, mini-bars, hairdryers, safes, and free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Geier, Torbole -
Introduction
The Hotel Geier boasts a glorious location at the centre of Torbole's picturesque harbour, close to an excellent array of shops, bars and restaurants.
Facilities & Amenities
The public areas of this three-star hotel include a small bar and a breakfast room. The restaurant is open to guests and to the public, and opens onto a sun terrace with wonderful views over the lake. There is a reception and a lift to the higher floors.
Rooms
Each room, with either double bed or single bed, has private facilities, a telephone, a hairdryer, a safety deposit box and satellite TV. Lake Views are available for a supplement.
Hotel Antico Borga, Riva Del Garda -
Introduction
Positioned in the heart of Riva del Garda on a cobbled street and offering impressive views of Riva and Lake Garda from the roof terrace.
Facilities and Amenities
The top floor terrace, lined with loungers, is the highlight of this stylish hotel. Views across the rooftops to the lake are extremely rewarding. A sleek bar, airy restaurant, and fitness corner with outdoor showers are additional facilities. Free Wi-Fi is available for all guests in public areas.
Rooms
60 modern and minimalist air-conditioned rooms, with neural interiors, each have a telephone, TV, hairdryer and safe.
Hotel Portici, Riva del Garda -
Facilities and amenities
Nestled on Riva del Garda’s charming waterfront, this property features a spa, complete with whirlpools, saunas and salt rooms, as well as a restaurant and pizzeria. Bike rental and pre-planned cycling routes are also available upon request from the reception.
Rooms
Air-conditioned guestrooms are simply designed and offer modern amenities including safes, TVs, minibars and free Wi-Fi
Other Information
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time to Lake Garda is approximately three hours from Milan and Venice airports, two hours from Bergamo and one hour from Verona Airport.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Meals and dining in Italy
Guests on half-board arrangements will typically (although some hotels are now moving towards buffet-style evening meals) be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice may be more limited than in a normal restaurant. In some instances, individual guests who have booked with the hotel independently may be offered a different menu from those who are staying at the hotel as part of a package tour.
An authentic dining experience in Italy can often be a bit different to the Italian food that international tourists might be used to, but it’s one of the best ways to truly appreciate the finer cultural differences of this tourist hotspot. From simpler, but more frequent, courses to regional dishes, here are some points to note when dining in Italy.
The first major difference you’re likely to notice is that the dining experience as a whole is much longer; you’ll enjoy a much more social experience than the average dinner back home with multiple smaller courses spread across a longer period of time. While each meal will be prepared to order, you may notice that dishes are served cooler than you might be used to – Italian dishes are rarely served piping hot to preserve the more delicate flavours of each ingredient and to provide a more enjoyable dining experience. The final thing to bear in mind is that it may be tricky to find Italian classics in the same form as they are at home. For instance, while Spaghetti Carbonara is a staple in historic Rome – and made traditionally using egg yolks rather than cream – you’ll often find it replaced with a wild boar ragù in Tuscany.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Italian hotel room tax
Some regions of Italy have introduced a room tax of between 1€ and 4€ per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You will be advised by your tour manager in resort if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Airport development fees
An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.
Holiday code
N211Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays (for Metro Travel Offers)
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