Lakes & Mountains of Italy & Panoramic Bernina Express

Join us on this exclusive value for money tour to the lesser spotted Italian Lake District.  You will spend 7 nights in the Lake Iseo area around 16kms from the town of Iseo in Darfo Boario Terme in a moderate 4* perfect for group touring. 

The hotel is offered on a half board basis with breakfast and 3-course set evening meal. This holiday gives you one base for a week, free time and some escorted day trips without costing normal summer Italian prices. at HOTEL SAN MARTINO ****, in DARFO BOARIO TERME www.sanmartinohotel.com.  Pool access included.

DAY ONE – 17 JULY 2024 - Depart D for your onward flight at 07.00am arriving 10.40am. Transfer time to Darfo Biario Terme (Approx 1 hour 30 mins). Check in around 3pm. Free evening with dinner at hotel.

DAY TWO – 18 JULY 2024 - Breakfast at hotel.  Today enjoy an escorted tour to Como and Lake Como.  Drive to charming Como on the southern tip of the lake and stroll through the old town’s alleyways and boutiques.  We will visit Duomo, the Old Broletto Town Hall and Piazza Cavour in the centre of Como.

Lunch time free.  In the afternoon we will take a boat trip on Europe’s deepest inland lake to Bellagio, the most well-known town in the middle of the lake with colourful houses and staircase alleys.

DAY THREE – 19 JULY 2024 - Breakfast at hotel.  After breakfast travel through the Veltlin to Tirano.  Here the Rhaetian Railway is waiting to take us on an impressive Alpine crossing on the legendary Bernina Express.  This journey through beautiful narrow valleys is considered one of the most spectacular sections of the railway. Stunning vistas delight your eyes at every turn. The train journey will include the panoramic carriage. Your journey ends a St Moritz.  Dinner and overnight at hotel

DAY FOUR – 20 JULY 2024 - Breakfast at the hotel.  Free day.  Dinner and overnight.

DAY FIVE – 21 JULY 2024 - Breakfast at hotel.  This morning visit Lake Iseo, one of the most beautiful lakes on the edge of the Alps in Italy.  In the medieval old town of the main village of Iseo, you will have the opportunity to stroll through the intricate alleys that stretch up the hillside to Casteelo Oldofredi.  Remainder of the day free in Iseo with coach transfer back to hotel.  Dinner and overnight.

DAY SIX – 22 JULY 2024 - Breakfast at hotel.  Free day.  Dinner and overnight.

DAY SEVEN – 23 JULY 2024 - Breakfast at hotel.  This morning, enjoy a boat trip to the famous Borromean Islands with their ornate gardens, magnificent buildings, elegant villas and subtropical vegetation.  We will visit the sumptuous Baroque Palace on Isola Bella.  Free time in the beautiful fishing village of Isola die Pescatori.  Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY EIGHT – 24 JULY 2024 - Depart hotel after early breakfast for your return flight from Linate at 11.30am arriving in Dublin around 12.50.

Price:  £1695 pp sharing  Single supplement £165 (limited to 6 rooms)

Price includes: -

• Return flights
• Transfers
• Excursions as listed in the itinerary
• 7 nights half board
• 20kgs of luggage per person
• Tour Escort throughout
   

Price excludes: -

• Items of a personal nature
• Travel insurance
• Lunches
• Tips - £40pp.  This will be collected with balance payment
• Local tourist tax of 1euro per person per night is payable in resort

This itinerary and hotels are subject to change.  If changes are made beyond our control we will endeavour to offer a reasonable alternative.  This tour is offered on a first come first serve basis.

Insurance – you must have travel insurance for your trip and furnish a copy to our office with your final balance payment.

Bookings are only accepted with a  completed booking form and a copy of your passport together with the requested deposit. If your passport is due for renewal, please advise on your booking form and send it as soon as you receive it. Deposits are non-refundable.

A payment plan is in place for this tour based on hotels, flights, excursions.  Please ensure you make payments by the date stated or your holiday may be cancelled.

Payment Plan

Deposit                £250pp at time of booking

2nd payment       £250pp by 22 December 2023

3rd payment       £250 by 28 February 2024

Balance payment by 30 April 2024

Your booking is made with Thompson Travel International.  Tour Ref:Italy0724

If you wish to make payments online please use the following details with the above tour reference followed by your surname so we can easily locate your payment

Bank of Ireland  Sort Code 90 23 54  Account No 64837731

Booking forms  to leanne@thompsontvl.co.uk  T: 028 38 394489

Fact Sheet

Weather in Italy - Weather in Italy in July ranges from 20-35 degrees with long hot summer days and cooler evenings.

Dress Code – Casual throughout.  Summer clothing with comfortable shoes for tours. Long trousers for dinner for men.

Ability – you must be able to travel independently and able to look after your luggage.  The tours are for medium ability as there is walking involved - these will be taken at a leisurely pace.

Insurance – you must have adequate insurance for your trip and furnish our office with a copy of the same with your final balance payment.  We are a  referral agent for Holiday Extras  travel insurance and if you call, please quote D1828 they will give you a rate. Travel Insurance: for a quotation provided by Holiday Extras – Please call 0800 083 3551 and quote D1828.

Tips – we collect tips as an adequate amount for hotel staff, tour guides, coach drivers to reward them for their services.  It is much easier to have this prepared prior to travel so will be collected at final balance as indicated.

Local taxes – In Europe all hotels charge a local Tourist City tax at 1e per person per night.  This may be charged and the beginning or end of your trip and paid directly to the hotel.

Luggage allowance – 20kgs per person in main hold luggage.

Carry-on Luggage – Aer Lingus offer a policy that you may take 10kgs of hand luggage with you free of charge if you drop it at the airport check-in desk, or kiosk free of charge.  If you arrive at the gate with your 10kg bag you will be charged 35e to take it on onboard.  Please advise us if you need to carry your hand luggage for the purposes of medication not fitting in your small personal item bag.

A small personal item (handbag or laptop bag) is still included for all customers to carry-on.

Coach transfers to the airport -  we offer a coach transfer service to the airport depending on group size and where everyone is travelling from to join the tour.  If this service is available on this trip, we will inform you once we know the final group and where they are travelling from to see if it is viable.

Currency – the local currency in Italy is euro.  You may use credit cards or cash.

Electric Plugs – European adaptor

PASSPORT – you must hold a valid passport for your trip.  This must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your return.  You must complete the booking form with the passport info you will travel on and if it is due to expire please let us know on your form and send us the updated passport as soon as it is renewed.

Payments – Please ensure you keep to the payment plan provided as we split group travel over payments when due to airlines, hotels, ground handlers etc.  Incremental cancellation charges apply throughout the period preceding travel.  100% cancellation applies from 1 May 2024.