Authentic Italy Travel Itinerary - Spring 2024

"Authentic Italy"
Travel Itinerary Spring 2024
April 18 - 28
Note: This Trip is Full and Closed
stay tuned for Spring 2025 Announcements

Experience the Stunning City of Naples, the Magnificent Amalfi Coast and the Spectacular Cilento Coast of Italy as Few Others Ever See it!

Granted, there are many ways to visit Italy but experiencing the real authentic Italy can be rare. If boarding a bus at dawn each day, seeing tourist attractions and returning home exhausted is not what you are looking for, then this Italy travel itinerary is for you.

In other words, you may want to experience the “real” Italy and to live its lifestyle on a fully guided tour with me – an Italian speaking citizen of Italy at a pace that’s naturally relaxing.

Plus, group size is kept small – under 20 people adding to this unique experience!

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Spring 2024 Itinerary

April 18 - April 28, 2024

Departure Day

April 18, 2024

Depart for Naples Italy – either from Chicago O’Hare or other airport depending on your location in the U.S.
April 19, 2024

Arrive Naples Italy - we will meet at the Naples airport at mid-day for group transportation to our hotel.

Naples is Italy's third largest city; founded by the Greeks and developed by the Romans. It's a melting pot of culture and art. The Neapolitan approach to life is decidedly carefree. It's sweeping bay, music and food are the center of life. You will quickly be won over by the soul of the city.

Once we have gathered our baggage our comfortable motorcoach takes us to the beautiful Grand Hotel Santa Lucia overlooking the Bay of Naples. After check-in we will enjoy a typical Neapolitan pizza lunch at a small typical trattoria a short walk from the hotel and a short "meet and greet" while sharing pizza and wine.

After our lunch take a little time to settle in at the hotel. Dinner is on your own at one of the local seafront trattorias easily walkable on the lungomare (traffic free promenade for walking.)
April 20, 2024

After a leisurely and elegant breakfast at the hotel we will enjoy a walking tour through the magnificent center of Naples to the public square, famous Via Toledo Street, the Galleria and more.

In the afternoon we will leave for Sorrentino vineyard located on the fertile ground of Mt. Vesuvius. The vineyard has been owned and operated by the Sorrentino family for five generations. The 35 hectares of vineyard (a paradise of its own) is located in the heart of Mt. Vesuvius. We’ll enjoy it all with an elegant lunch and Sorrentino wines made in their open kitchen on the property.

The evening is reserved for taking the finiculare (cable car) to the beautiful and elegant Vomero neighborhood of Italy that few tourists know about. You will be enchanted with this vibrant city and its non-stop energy! If you are up for it, we’ll go to Vomero for the best gelato you’ve ever eaten.
April 21, 2024

After our elegant and leisurely breakfast at the hotel, our comfortable motorcoach takes us to the spectacular and laid back Cilento Coast of Italy where medieval villages exist as they did a thousand years ago.

Enjoy the ride and the open countryside of Italy that few tourists get to see. We’ll stop in the ancient city of Paestum. You will be in awe and wonder as you visit 2500-year-old Greek temples that are better preserved in Paestum than in Greece!

Check in to our stunningly beautiful Grand Hotel Santa Maria hotel on the sea, settle in and take a guided walk with the group through the city of Santa Maria Castellabate. Dinner on your own either at one of the amazing little trattorias in the village of Santa Maria or at the hotel on the sea where the chefs prepare gourmet meals..
April 22, 2024

Following a sumptuous buffet breakfast at our hotel on the sea, our motorcoach waits to take us to the medieval city of Castellabate.

Discovering this ancient city high in the mountains is a breathtaking event. You will be stunned at how this ancient village also feels classically modern.

More to be announced for this day….
April 23, 2024

Following our delicious Mediterranean breakfast on the sea, a special day is planned on the Cilento coast with a stop at the village of Pioppi where the Mediterranean diet was discovered. See where Ancel Keys lived and did his research on the most famous, most copied diet in the world.

After a brief visit to the Ancel Keys Museum we’ll depart for a visit to the stunningly beautiful organic farm by the sea, Azenzia Tenuta. Our special guide will prepare lunch for us at the farm. The “farm” and the experience of being there is not to be missed.
April 24, 2024

A new day begins as we enjoy another amazing leisurely breakfast in the stunningly beautiful surroundings of the Cilento Coast. This day is reserved for relaxing and enjoying the culture of the Cilento Coast! More will be announced for optional tours.
April 25, 2024

Following your delightful breakfast at the hotel our motorcoach awaits and we depart for the Magnificent Amalfi Coast of Italy! The jaw-dropping beauty of the landscape is unlike anything you have seen.

We will stop at the city of beauty, Vietri Sul Mare, the first small village nestled at the base of the Amalfi Coast where you will have time to explore this enchanting village and its local ceramic stores. Following our visit to Vietri Sul Mare, will travel the Amalfi coast and check into the lovely Hotel San Francesco, get settled, take a walk through the city center to become familiar with this beautiful village, and enjoy a hand-selected meal prepared by the Neapolitan chefs at the hotel.

Perhaps after dinner you may want to take a passeggiata (leisurely walk) along the promenade on the seafront before turning in for the night. You will quickly feel at home and will more fully understand "La Dolce Vita."
April 26, 2024

Following a relaxing breakfast on the terrace at the hotel overlooking the sea we will travel by boat to visit the city of Amalfi. Amalfi is a town in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs on Italy’s Amalfi coast. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, it was once the seat of a powerful maritime republic. The vibrant and beautiful city square faces Amalfi's cathedral, built in the 9th century! Enjoy shopping, sightseeing or sitting in the square enjoying the sights and having a drink, gelato, or cappuccino.

Our specially prepared dinner in the beautiful dining room at the Hotel San Francesco awaits us at the end of the day.
April 27, 2024

This is a free day for optional visits to Positano, Sorrento, Ravello, the ancient city of Pompeii, or the island of Capri. First enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the terrace at the hotel overlooking the sea and enjoy your day however you would like.

I can help with arrangements when we are at the hotel.

Or you may just want to relax at the hotel for the day or visit Italy's famous Cake Boss in the little town right next to our hotel.
April 28, 2024

Following our breakfast and saying our goodbyes to the wonderful staff at the hotel, we will depart for Naple's airport in the morning only to promise to return in the future. You will take with you more than souvenirs but a new perspective on a life well lived!

Booking Details

Here’s how to reserve your place for this amazing experience!

The land package for 10 days, 9 nights is as follows:

4800.00 Single Occupancy

4300.00 Double Occupancy

Payment can be made using a transfer with Zelle, or by check. Due to the very reasonable cost of the trip, I cannot accept credit card payments unless the credit card fee is included on the invoice.

This fully guided land package includes private motorcoach airport transfers, beautiful 4-star seaside hotel accommodations for 9 nights, all breakfasts, welcome lunch, 2 lunches, three dinners, private motorcoach transportation for all tours including finiculare (cable car) in Naples, villages in the Cilento Coast, boat transportation to the village of Amalfi, guided walking tour in Naples, the Cilento Coast and the Amalfi Coast!

Airfare is separate. I always find the best pricing for coach or premium economy to suggest and send it early for best pricing. The group usually travels together from Chicago O’Hare airport but it’s not mandatory. Lufthansa (partner with United) airlines has been the carrier of choice for service and on time flights.

Pace of the trip.

This is not a trip where we will be up at dawn, looking at tourist attractions all day and returning at night exhausted. We will fully experience authentic Italy at a pace allowing us to absorb the beauty, culture, food and the people while enjoying the Italian lifestyle. Time traveling on the motorcoach is kept to a minimum but with a few locations needing an hour or hour and a half.

Experiencing Italy requires walking.

With that being said, Italians walk, and we will be walking a lot. Streets in Italy are not smooth and paved, escalators do not exist, may times there are steps.

We will not be taking taxis. In fact, they are rarely available once we leave Naples. Experiencing another country as Italy requires to live like a local.

If you are not a fan of walking this likely is not the trip for you.

The lifestyle excursion to the Amalfi Coast of Italy is a rich and lasting experience in the lives of those who experience it by gaining a new perspective on life and on living life well.

It is all part of whole health longevity.

Enjoy just some of the highlights of this exceptional experience.

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