VENICE CARNIVAL 2015 SCHEDULE of ACTIVITIES Day 1 ² February 12: Arrive and check in to your Venice hotel. Take an optional guided walking tour or spend time on your own to explore the city, full of artistic heritage, architecture and Carnival mystery. A special appointment time will be given for your personal costume fitting. During this initial Carnival activity you can find your own character transformed as part of your Carnival experience! After your fitting appointment, we extend an invitation to join us at one of the city's special cafes (Cicchetti bars) for a late afternoon/early evening welcome aperitif. Day 2 ² February 13: A full day to experience the Essence of Carnival -‐ Your day begins with an early afternoon cocktail and buffet lunch reception at Palazzetto Pisani-‐Ferri, which overlooks the Grand Canal. The reception party will feature a special Venetian buffet menu with Prosecco, regional wines and sweet deserts, all accompanied by music and entertainment. Afterwards, you will depart by Gondola, taking you in true Venetian style to the center of Carnival -‐ Piazza San Marco. Upon arrival to the famed piazza you will join in the excitement for our own traditional Parade of Costumes. Once there you may find your costume provides an instant celebrity status -‐ as the visiting tourist 'paparazzi' and professional photographers will be eager to take pictures of you -‐ Be ready to provide them your best Vogue profile! Later in the evening if you are up to the task, easily you can join one of the city's planned activities in San Marco, or as well attend an evening Costume/Dinner Dance Minuetto party at Hotel Danieli (optional). Day 3 ² February 14: A morning to relax after the previous full day; but certainly as the day progresses you may feel the need to stay in the Carnival mood. Certainly you will find other protagonists also participating in the magic of Carnival. Easily you can join them at one of the city's planned activities in San Marco, then prepare yourself to attend our own ² Venice (Hearts &) Dreams. A full sit down dinner is offered in the grandeur of palazzo Nani Bernando on the Grand Canal. Day 4 ² February 15: For some, after morning breakfast it is time to check out and continue with your travels. For those continuing their stay in Venice, we suggest the gala ball -‐ Mascheranda -‐ to be held in the evening at the Grand Canal palazzo, Pisani Moretta. Please ask us for more details and how to book this spectacular Carnival Costume Ball as part of your package. Day 5 ² February 16: After morning breakfast, a time for check out and to continue with your travels. If you looking for other experiences in Italy, please let us suggest options we offer in nearby Verona; or if you need personal transfers to say Florence or Rome, we would be glad to provide such services.
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HOW to ARRIVE BY PLANE From Venice Airport Once you have left the baggage claim area, for public transfers you can either take the complimentary shuttle bus to the "Alilaguna" boat service, or you can take the short walk (10 minutes) to the same "Alilaguna" boat dock arrival/departure area. These public boats will take you to Piazza San Marco -‐ Zaccaria stop. Water taxi are also at the dock area, but not present at all times. If you would like a private transfer, we can provide a pre-‐paid water taxi and have this service waiting for you after your flight arrival to take you to your hotel (return transfers are also available). Our hotels for Carnival, Al Ponte Antico and Locanda Orseolo, both have direct canal access for water taxi service. Ca Pisani and Belle Arti are but a few steps away from the location where the water taxi can drop you (Accademia Bridge). BY CAR From Milan From the center or area around MIlan, find the GREEN road signs, direction A4 -‐ VENEZIA. Once traveling on the A4 (going east), it will take approximately 2.5 hours to reach the toll booths and the exit for Venice. Once you pass through the toll booths, follow the BLUE signs, direction VENEZIA (SS11). Around VENICE -‐ In the past 12 to 18 months a lot of new road construction has been completed in the area just on the mainland as you approach Venice; signage may be lacking. The access road crossing the lagoon from the mainland to Venice is the SS11 (BLUE sign). Crossing the lagoon by car will bring you to the end-‐of-‐the-‐line, Piazzale Roma. Prior to reaching this point you have long term parking at the TRONCHETTO parking garage (other garages are also closer to Piazzale Roma; but are more expensive). If you park at Tronchetto you can make your way (walking) towards the water and the vaporetto stop (see the Google Map for more directions on how to arrive to your hotel). A private water taxi can also be reserved to meet you at the docks at Tronchetto to take you to your hotel. From Florence Travel north on the A1 superhighway, until you find the GREEN road sign, direction to A22 -‐ BRENNERO. This highway will connect you eventually to the A4 highway; once signs appear for this connection, take the A4 direction VENEZIA. Once you are on the A4, the next exit for Venice is approximately 1.5 hours. Once you exit the A4 highway follow the directions given above, starting from "Around VENICE".
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««« PALIO TOURS Atlantic Ventures USA, Inc. Seller of Travel Reg. # FL-ST 33263 · CA-ST 2087502.50 www.paliotours.com
Experience the Best of Italy
+2:WR$55,9(FRQ·W
BY TRAIN From Milan
There are high speed connections between Milan and Venice, approximately every hour. The time of travel is just around 2.5 hours. Even the high speed connections will have a few stops (Brescia, Verona, Padova). The best trains are the EuroStar Italia (ES). Once at the Venice train station (Santa Lucia) you should walk directly through the station and once outside walking down the short steps to the water canal, where you can catch a vaporetto, or private water taxi. If you wish to reserve a prepaid water taxi, please let us know. From Florence There are high speed connections between Florence and Venice, approximately every hour. The time of travel is just around 2 hours. Some connections are direct with possibly a single stop in Bologna. Some connections require change of trains in Bologna. The best trains are the EuroStar Italia (ES). Once at the Venice train station (Santa Lucia) you should walk directly through the station and once outside walking down the short steps to the water canal, where you can catch a vaporetto, or private water taxi. If you wish to reserve a prepaid water taxi, please let us know.
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««« PALIO TOURS Atlantic Ventures USA, Inc. Seller of Travel Reg. # FL-ST 33263 · CA-ST 2087502.50 www.paliotours.com
Experience the Best of Italy
Transportation Service Options and Prices
Transfers for Venice
1 -‐ 2 Persons
3 ² 6 Persons
Piazzale Roma or Train Station -‐ Water Taxi to/from Hotel
½90
½100
Venice Seaport -‐ Water Taxi to/from Hotel
½110
½120
Venice Airport (VCE) -‐ Water Taxi to/from Hotel
½120
½30
Milan Ctr or Apt (MXP) to/from Pzle Roma
½390
½450
Milan w/ stops (up to 1.5 hrs) ² to/from Pzle Roma
½420
½ 480
Private ground transfers include English speaking driver, private vehicle with A/C, all fuel, road tolls, and taxes. ([WUDWLPH½SHUKRXURIZDLWWLPHHLWKHUGXULQJWUDQVIHURUZKLOHDZDLWLQJdelayed flight arrivals.
««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««« PALIO TOURS Atlantic Ventures USA, Inc. Seller of Travel Reg. # FL-ST 33263 · CA-ST 2087502.50 www.paliotours.com
Experience the Best of Italy
TERMS & CONDITIONS The Essence of Carnival Special Event Package ("Package") is NOT an Escorted Group Tour. The Package is a combination of services and products designed for independent travelers that wish to enjoy the freedom of an un-‐escorted trip with the convenience and value of a package price. The Package does not include transportation or transfers, or any services not explicitly listed on the invoice provided to you for your reservation. If you wish to have such additional services, please let us know as they can be added to any Package and reservation requested. Payments: Prior to November 1st, a minimum 40% deposit is required in order to confirm your reservation. Payments can be made through the PAYPAL system, by direct credit card (VISA, M/C, AMEX) or by bank transfer. The balance payment will be due 60 days prior to the starting date of the Venice Carnival period (date varies from year to year). With direct credit card payments, the balance payment will automatically be charged to the credit card provided, unless the reservation is otherwise cancelled or notice is given to use an alternate form of payment. Cancellations: Due to the nature of Special Events and the ticketing and reservation process, Tickets purchased for Venice Carnival, cannot be refunded for any reason. Refunds for hotel accommodations or other travel options supplied for any cancelled Special Event package will be subject to the refund schedule found below. Venice Costume cancelled prior to 45 days are refunded net of 100 euro cancellation fee. Event Cancellations: Cancellations of the Essence Carnival activities (Palazzo Reception, Costume parade and Gondola tour) due to weather conditions are not refundable. IF YOU DECIDE TO CANCEL, YOU MUST NOTIFY THE COMPANY IN WRITING OF YOUR INTENT TO CANCEL. If you cancel a reservation and the written cancellation is received within 30 days from the date you made the reservation, then all fees paid will be refunded, with exception to the provisions for Tickets and Costumes stated above and otherwise net of credit card service charges. After the first 30 days of your reservation period, deposits and payments for accommodations will follow the refund schedule below. If you cancel after the first 30-‐day period and someone takes your place, then administrative cancellation fees may apply, in addition to Ticket costs, which will be deducted from your deposit or payments. After the 30 day initial reservation period, but Prior to 90 days before Start Date: Refund, less 25% of total cost, net of Tickets; Prior to 60 days before Start Date: Refund, less 50% of total cost, net of Tickets; Prior to 45 days before Start Date: Refund, less 75% of total cost, net of Tickets; Less than 45 days before Start Date: No refunds. No refunds are given for TICKETS for cancellations due to weather conditions. No refunds are made for unused portions of any reservation, including but not limited to missed meals, missed guided tours, Tickets (includes airline tickets), or non-‐use of hotel room.
Experience the Best of Italy
