TOUR CODE: 18180
GRADE: Ss/E
FEBRUARY - APRIL 2015
21 Feb 15 Mar 17 Apr -
28 Feb 22 Mar 24 Apr
1 week duration
VENICE ~ LA SERENISSIMA The Most Serene City!
© Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2014 ADK/ADK/MARCH 2014
HOLIDAY INFORMATION TOUR DESCRIPTION This information is additional to our General Information Booklet, which is enclosed. Possibly the most easily identifiable city in the world due to the canals replacing roads as the transport arteries, Venice is a unique place and deserves a considerable period of time to explore its quieter corners away from the tourist hoards. We stay on Venice Island in an ideal location. We can walk the back streets by day to uncover lesser known delights then head off to St Marks Square when the day trippers have gone to enjoy the relative peace and quiet. You might also care to take a drink in St Marks Square. If you take the view it is the most expensive drink you have ever had you are likely to be disappointed. If you take the view you have bought a grandstand seat in one of the most famous city squares in the world and they give you a free drink you may think you have got better value. We include the 7 day transport pass that will allow you to jump on and off water buses at will. One can, and should, spend a day just riding the boats to see where you get to. In Venice we have a full programme which we will spend largely on foot exploring this historic and beautiful city with so much to see and enjoy. Some of these magnificent sights include the Grand Canal, San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, the Rialto, the Accademia, the Arsenale and the island of Murano where crystal and glass are made, the island of Burano famous for its lace making and restaurants and Torcello, the home of the first cathedral to be built in Venice Santa Maria Assunta. Venice is true to all that you have ever heard about it, or imagined it to be. Distances between all the major sights are short, and the quickest and best way to see and feel the city is to ramble... We plan to travel inland into the Veneto. Padua is the first city we come to. It offers some spectacular art and architecture but is also the gateway to the Euganean hills just to the south. This offers an ideal chance to walk, to gain some altitude and give the legs a decent stretch.
TRAVEL INFORMATION We fly from London Gatwick to Venice Marco Polo Airport and return on British Airways. Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately ten days before departure. Transfers between Venice Airport and the hotel are by road and foot for a short distance. Airport to hotel should take less than an hour. If you are joining and leaving the party in Italy, it is assumed, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will meet and leave the party at the Hotel Continental. If this is not your plan, please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure.
© Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2014 ADK/ADK/MARCH 2014
For clients making their own way to the hotel it is an easy journey. From Venice Treviso Airport (gateway for many low cost flights) take the shuttle bus to Piazzale Roma. From here the hotel is walking distance. Check the hotel website for directions. From Marco Polo Airport if you have just won the lottery take a private water taxi from the airport. If not follow the instructions of the hotel website: http://www.hotelcontinentalvenice.com/en/location.php
PASSPORTS & VISAS Please refer to Section 2 of the enclosed General Information Booklet. It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to the UK. This should also allow you to change money. Please note reductions are sometimes available for people over 65 on production of a passport and combined tickets can be bought for several sites which greatly reduces costs of entry. Please also take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you - it will help in the event of an emergency. See section 1 of our General Information Booklet for further details. Passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
LOCAL CURRENCY The currency in Italy is the euro. There are banks in Venice, with ATM machines. The hotel accepts credit cards but will not change cash or travellers’ cheques.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS In twin bedded and single rooms with shower and wc at the 3-star Hotel Continental. The hotel is comfortable and is ideally located for our explorations. The rooms are air conditioned and have tea & coffee making facilities and hairdryers. The electricity supply is 220V AC. Hotel Continental Lista di Spagna, Cannaregio 166 - 30100 Venice
© Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2014 ADK/ADK/MARCH 2014
Tel: Fax: E-mail: Web:
+39 041.715122 +39 041.5242432
[email protected] www.hotelcontinentalvenice.com
The hotel is ideally located within easy walking distance of St Marks Square, and everywhere else on Venice Island. It is also close to the train station so we can head inland and see something of the Veneto. The hotel has two large terraces, one canal side and one adjacent to the square where food and drinks are served. It is close to shops restaurants and cafes. Breakfasts will be taken in the hotel, with dinners taken in the hotel and local restaurants. Lunches are not included.
WALKS & EXCURSIONS Each evening, the leader will discuss the programme for the following day with you. If you do not wish to join the party, please let the leader know. We include the Venice card that offers free transport anywhere on the lagoon for the 7 days we stay in Venice. The only limitation of this card is it can not be used for trips to the airport but as we include airport transfers anyway this should not be an issue. Your Ramblers Worldwide Holidays leader will purchase these tickets and hand them out on the first morning in Venice. For interest details of the Venice transport system can be found at: http://www.actv.it/en Entrance fees in Venice are not included. If all museums and galleries are visited this could cost a further £50.00 for the week. Members of the National Trust in the UK may also be interested to know that the Italian sister organisation FAI offers free or reduced entry to its Italian sites on production of a valid national trust membership. Please consult http://eng.fondoambiente.it/ for further information. Please note that the estimation of local costs relating to this holiday is based on currency exchange rates valid in March 2014. Fluctuations in exchange rates since the publication of our brochure and this Holiday Information sheet may impact on this estimation of local costs; please check with your bank or currency provider prior to your holiday to enable you to plan your spending.
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT We should enjoy pleasant weather but there is always the possibility of rain and it can be cold. We advise you to take a lightweight waterproof jacket, fleece, hat and folding umbrella. We also recommend you take a small rucksack, lightweight bottle for drinking water, picnic knife, some polythene bags, small first aid kit and a lunchbox. Comfortable shoes are fine for walking around Venice. Lightweight boots are recommended for walking in the Euganean Hills.
© Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2014 ADK/ADK/MARCH 2014
PERSONAL SAFETY Please take sensible precautions like leaving your credit cards and passport in the hotel safe and avoiding displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt.
MAPS & SUGGESTED READING Maps and books of Venice and the Veneto region may be obtained before departure from specialist map sellers such as The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn, Worcs. WR8 0HJ Tel : 01684 593146 Fax : 01684 594559 Website: www.themapshop.co.uk Further information can be found on the last page of our General Information Booklet. Many local libraries stock a good selection of travel guides/books which may offer you more information on Venice. You may find the following websites useful: Italian State Tourism: Veneto Tourist Office Venice Tourist Office:
www.enit.it www.veneto.to http://en.turismovenezia.it/
Revisions to this Holiday Information sheet Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases any revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will be unchanged. Should we need to make a major change to the holiday arrangements between you booking your holiday and your date of travel we will notify you to specifically draw your attention to any significant change. You may wish to review the latest version of the Holiday Information sheet online prior to travel. PLEASE QUOTE YOUR HOLIDAY CODE & BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE. WE WISH YOU AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY AND WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS UPON YOUR RETURN!
© Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2014 ADK/ADK/MARCH 2014
