~2025 Grand Tour of Italy

Package Includes:
Arrival and departure transfers
2 nights in Florence at 4-star,
          Raffaello Hotel (or similar)
2 nights in Venice (Mestre) at 4-star
         Delfino Venezia Mestre (or similar)
3 nights in Rome at 4-star,
         Hotel St. Martin (or similar)
11 meals: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunch, and 2 dinners
Hop on Hop off bus ticket for Rome
Entrance to the Mark’s Basilica in Venice- “skip the line”
Assisi for a visit to the mystic town of Saint Francis
Tour Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St Peters Basilica
Panoramic guided walking tour of Venice
Cooking Class with Dinner
Visit Tuscany Wine Region
Visit Bologna and Padua
Visit Assisi, Florence, and Sienna
English-speaking guide on tours

Not Included - Optional Add On
Gratuities - $20 per person per day
Estimated Airfare - $1600

Not Included
Entrance fees to monuments or museums when not mentioned
City tax for overnight stays (according to each city council’s rules)
Early Check-In or Late Check-Out at hotels
Any items of a personal nature
Passports, Visas & Travel Permit(s)
Health requirements, and required travel insurance
Water, drinks & Alcoholic beverages
Laundry
Additional Gratuities (bellman. porters, waiters )
Porter  Service

** Itinerary subject to change
All tours and entrance fees are included
Maximum 2 travelers per room

The Hotel St. Martin is located a few meters from Piazza della Repubblica and in front of the Castro Pretorio metro station, a convenient and strategic location both for tourists visiting Rome and for business travelers.   A few steps from Rome Termini Station, the capital's main railway hub and from the shopping area of Via Nazionale.  The Baths of Diocletian, the largest thermal complex of Ancient Rome, and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the latest project by Michelangelo, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Opera House, the Circus Maximus and the Palazzo del Quirinale are located in the immediate vicinity.

Hospitality and excellence, just steps from the heart of Florence Located at the entrance to the city, Hotel Raffaello is the ideal starting point for visiting Florence, discovering its history and breathing its unique atmosphere.  The hotel is easy to reach both for those who arrive in Florence by car or by train. Our staff will welcome you with professionalism, courtesy and a pinch of happiness... after all, we are in the heart of Tuscany!

Both business and leisure travelers seeking a Hotel in Mestre, near Venice, will find a perfect accommodation at the Delfino Hotel. Venice is easily reachable by bus, whose stop is just in front of the building. Buses run 24/7 every 10 min., and the journey lasts aprox. 10 minutes.  Our Hotel, part of the complex Ambasciatori&Delfino, with more than 250 rooms, is only 800 mts far from the train station, and just 5 min on foot from Mestre city centre.  In our 4-star hotel in Mestre, Venice we are all fully focused on ensuring customers’ satisfaction, providing the most efficient service, trying to make them feel completely at home. Come and visit us now!

Cancellations must be received by email. 

Cancellations 60 days before departure will receive travel credit. Cancellation fees include deposit, booking fees, donations, late fees, reinstatement, and other specified fees. Additional non-refundable fees may apply from service providers such as hotels, airlines, and transportation, potentially totaling 100% of the booking cost. Cancellations within 60 days of departure are non-refundable and do not qualify for travel credit.

If TBOG Travel cancels the trip, a travel credit equivalent to the full amount paid will be provided without any cancellation fees deducted.   
Reservations 91 days in arrears will be automatically canceled. Any amounts already paid will not be refunded. If TBOG Travel incurs any additional cancellation fees or charges due, you agree to indemnify us for those fees or charges.

Travel Credits can be used to purchase specific TBOG Tour the World travel experiences.  Travel credits issued from travel booked in: 

• Credits from 2024 bookings: valid until December 31, 2025. 
• Credits from 2025 bookings: valid until December 31, 2026.
• Credits from 2026 bookings: valid until December 31, 2027.

If the cost of your TBOG “Tour the World” travel experience exceeds your travel credit, you must pay the difference. The remaining balance will be issued as a future travel credit if it is less than the credit.

TBOG Travel reserves the right to restrict reservation changes, subject to availability. Changes in party size, date, or location may affect rates. We recommend purchasing travel insurance through our partner, Travel Guard, underwritten by AIG.

These policies are subject to change at any time.

By booking with The Black Onyx Group, you acknowledge and accept the following terms and conditions: 

Agent  
- The Black Onyx Group, LLC (or any affiliated entities) acts solely as a travel agent. We sell travel-related products from various transport and accommodation service providers, including airlines, coaches, rail and cruise line operators, and hotels. 
- The Black Onyx Group's obligations to you include booking travel on your behalf and arranging relevant contracts between you and the travel service providers. 
- We are not responsible for these services and do not have the authority to make any warranties or representations regarding their quality. A request cannot be guaranteed. 
- All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability these service providers impose. 
- You understand that your legal recourse lies against the specific provider, not The Black Onyx Group LLC.

Liability
- We constantly strive to ensure your arrangements are satisfactory. However, we cannot accept any liability of any kind, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, for the actions, omissions, or defaults, whether negligent or not, of these service providers over whom we have no direct or indirect control.
- In situations where liability cannot be excluded, such liability is limited to the value of the purchased travel arrangements. We are not liable for any consequential losses or damage.
- We do not accept any liability in contract, tort, or otherwise for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expense, or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or any other event beyond our control or not preventable by reasonable diligence on our part.
- We cannot control and will not be responsible for bodily injury, property damage, or other loss caused by factors beyond our control, including but not limited to flight delays, airline turbulence, transportation accidents, war, terrorism, weather, quarantine, illness, government restrictions, regulations or actions, mechanical failures, acts of God, fires, earthquakes, floods, climate anomalies, civil unrest, strikes, riots, theft, disease, pandemics, epidemics, accidents, or failures related to public internet, telecommunications lines or facilities, or third-party technology systems, other unforeseen circumstances, or any other causes beyond our control, including your physical, medical, or mental disabilities, failure to obtain valid travel documents, or failure to follow travel instructions. Under no circumstances shall The Black Onyx Group, LLC, be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damage arising from the above.

Deposits
- A deposit will be required at the time of booking.  All deposits are non-refundable for changes of mind or cancellations.

Passport
- All individuals leaving the United States must possess a valid passport. You are responsible for ensuring that you have valid travel documents, including, but not limited to, passports and visas that comply with the requirements of immigration and other government authorities at every destination. 
- Any fines, penalties, payments, or costs incurred due to documents that do not meet those authorities' requirements will be your sole responsibility.

Non-Transferable
- Documents issued are non-transferable. These documents may include, but are not limited to, airline tickets, hotel vouchers, tour vouchers, or any other document that confirms an arrangement with a service provider.
- These documents may also be subject to conditions such as, but not limited to, being nonrefundable, non-date-changeable, and subject to cancellation or amendment fees.

Payment & Credit Card Transactions
- If, for any reason, a travel service provider cannot deliver the services you contracted for, your remedy lies with the provider and not with The Black Onyx Group, LLC.
- If you paid The Black Onyx Group, LLC by credit card, you agree not to seek a chargeback for your payment to The Black Onyx Group, LLC.
- If your credit card or check is declined, you are responsible for promptly settling any amounts owed to The Black Onyx Group, LLC, via money order or another credit card.

Price Variations
- We reserve the right to change published fares in response to fluctuations in exchange rates or price increases by service providers.  All prices are subject to availability and may be withdrawn or altered at any time.

Taxes and Baggage Fees
- Baggage allowance and restrictions apply to all airlines. These can vary, so you should contact the airline you are traveling with for specific restrictions. Some airlines may charge fees for checked baggage.

Cancellation
- Please be aware that travel bookings are non-refundable and non-reroutable.
- Cancelled bookings will incur charges. These charges can be up to 100% of the booking cost, regardless of whether the travel has commenced.
- Where we incur any liability for a cancellation fee or charge for any booking you cancel, you agree to indemnify us for that fee or charge.

Travel Insurance
- We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance through our insurance partner, Travel Guard, to protect your travel investment.  

Health and Special Requirements
- Please advise your consultant of any special requirements you may have, such as special meals, medical requirements, and so on.

Refusal of Service
- Service providers reserve the right to refuse service to travelers for the following reasons: The traveler:
- Lacks proper documentation for the country of destination
- Has a contagious disease
- Is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or narcotics
- Manifests disruptive and/or unruly behavior

Be prepared with travel insurance coverage through Travel Guard. Plans can include coverage for medical expenses, trip interruption and more and include emergency travel services so you can be sure that Travel Guard has an insurance plan that meets your traveling needs. Travel Guard is available to assist 24 hours a day.  

Travel Guard's Trip Insurance Plans provide valuable coverage at an affordable price and includes an early purchase benefit of a waiver of Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion and Cancel for Any Reason option,  if purchased within 15 days of the initial trip payment.

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You will need to consider what to pack, to ensure you can use your personal electrical appliances safely whilst abroad. This normally includes the use of a travel adapter, which is a device that simply allows you to plug any US electrical appliance into a foreign electrical socket. It is important to note that it does not convert the voltage or frequency.

Type C travel adapter plugs for use in European countries such as Italy, Iceland, Greece, France, Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Netherlands, Turkey and more.

October is the start of autumn in Rome and you can expect good hours of sunshine, mild temperatures and a reasonable amount of dry days, with the occasional shower. The average temperature in Rome in October is 64F with a range from 73F to 54F degrees.

The weather in Florence in October is mild and pleasant, with average daytime temperatures hovering around 68°F. However, evenings and nights can be quite chilly, so it is advisable to have several layers of clothing to stay comfortable.

The average temperature in Venice in October for a typical day ranges from a high of 67°F  to a low of 55°F . Some would describe it as mildly cool with a gentle breeze.

Be sure to check the weather prior to your departure date,

Italian is the official language of Italy, and 93% of population are native Italian speakers. Around 50% of population speak a regional dialect as mother tongue. Many dialects are mutually unintelligible and thus considered by linguists as separate languages, but are not officially recognized.

Here are some helpful phrases:

Yes – Si – See
No – No – Noh
Please – Per favore – Pehr fah-voh-reh
Thank you – Grazie – Grah-tsee-eh
You’re welcome – Prego – Preh-goh
Cheers! (To your health) – Salute! – Sah-loo-tay
Excuse me (for attention) – Scusi – Skooh–zee
Excuse me (to pass by) – Permesso – Pehr-mehs-soh
Do you speak English? – Parla Inglese? – Parh-la een-glay-zeh
I don’t understand – Non capisco – Non kah-pee-skoh
I’m sorry – Mi dispiace – Mee dees-pyah-cheh
Good morning (formal) – Buon giorno – Bwohn-johr-noh
Good afternoon (formal) – Buona sera – Bwoh-nah-se -rah
Good night (formal) – Buona notte – Bwoh–nah–noh–teh
Hi / Bye (informal) – Ciao! – Chow
Good bye (formal) – Arrivederci – Ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee
My name is … – Mi chiamo – Mee kyah-moh
What is your name? – Come si chiama? – Koh-meh see kyah-mah?
Pleased to meet you – Piacere – Pyah-cheh-reh
How are you? (formal) – Come sta? – Koh-meh stah?
Good thank you – Bene grazie – Beh-neh grah-tsee-eh

 - Layered clothing, such as long-sleeve shirts, light sweaters and a jacket.
 - Pants and jeans for cooler temperatures.
 - A nice outfit for an evening out.
 - Proper clothing for visit to Vatican i.e. no mini skirts, shorts or sleeveless tops.
 - Sturdy and comfortable walking shoes.
 - A waterproof jacket, rain shoe and umbrella for occasional rain.
 - A hat and gloves towards late autumn, especially if you’re visiting the cooler northern regions.
 - A day pack or tote bag for day trips.

Genuine comfort comes from letting your feet do what's natural: bending, flexing, moving, feeling. Xero Shoes let them do that.

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