Buongiorno, amici! The Tiki Heads are rolling Spring Break week to...

MILAN~FLORENCE~TUSCANY~VENICE, ITALY!

March 12/13--21/22, 2012 - $1799*- $2099* per person & up!

Hot tip: extend & go a day early on 3/12 to Milan to see Lake Como; extend a night to see more Venice! Each extra night--$150 p.p.

Note: Everyone in our group has opted for the extra nights on each end, so plan on Mon.-Thurs., March 12-22 if you can!

1st deposit of $400 per person due at booking; 2nd deposit of $950 due by Dec. 29th; final payment due Feb. 1st!

Includes: AA air from DFW (or other central/eastern U.S. city) to Milan, 1-2 nights Milan in 4-star hotel with

daily breakfasts, fast train from Milan to Florence, 4 nights Florence in 4-star hotel with daily breakfasts;

fast train from Florence to Venice, 2-3 nights Venice in 4-star hotel ON Grand Canal with daily breakfasts,

air from Venice to DFW, Tiki Trips tour guide on site, & taxes*!

*Price is per person based on double occupancy/2 persons in room. Want to stay a recommended extra night in Milan or Venice? Add $150 per person per night to

your trip! Traveling solo? Add $150 per night for a room to yourself (single rate). Coming from another city? Call us! Possibly need a roommate? Ask us, we may know someone also looking! As of 7/1/11, new Italy hotel occupancy tax of €4 Euro dollars per day per hotel not included, payable only in person to hotel upon arrival.

             Florence & the Duomo (main cathedral) at dusk                   Gondolas lagoonside overlooking Venice & St. Mark's Square

            Azure waters & incredible scenery of Lake Como                                Villas & gardens dotting Lake Como's shores 

              The Leaning Tower of Pisa & church at sunset                                            Gorgeous Tuscan countryside

Package includes:

-- Round-trip air from DFW to Milan; Venice to DFW (departing from another city? Call us for your city’s rate)

-- 1 night Milan, 4-star hotel (Antares Concord Hotel or similar)

             (Want to go a day earlier on 3/12 & stay an extra night in Milan to see Lake Como? Add $150 per person to your trip!) 

-- Daily full breakfast in Milan

-- Fast train from Milan to Florence

-- 4 nights Florence, 4-star hotel (Hotel Monna Lisa--former palace, SPECTACULAR location in heart of historic city!)

-- Daily full breakfasts in Florence

-- Fast train from Florence to Venice

-- 3 nights Venice, 4-star hotel (Hotel Bellini on the Grand Canal in Venice! INCREDIBLE!!)

         (Want to stay an extra night in Venice? Add $150 per person to your trip!)

-- Daily full breakfasts in Venice

-- Tiki Trips representative/tour guide* on-site (don't worry, you won't be alone--we'll be there to hand-hold & guide you to the best stuff!)

-- Air & main hotel taxes**!

**Note: as of July 1, 2011, Italy now has a 1-to-5 Euro dollar per person per day tax, payable only in person to hotel & not included.

(Based on hotel star rating-- 4 star hotel means 4 Euro dollars per day). Also not included: tours, excursions, shopping/souvenirs,

meals or drinks other than breakfasts, transportation (cabs/taxis) other than trains listed, phone calls, room service, minibar,

or resort incidentals. Price is per person based on double occupancy/2 persons in room. Want to stay a recommended extra night

in Milan or Venice? Add $150 per person per extra night to your trip! Traveling solo? Add $100 per night for a room to yourself

(single rate). Coming from another city? Call us! Possibly need a roommate? Ask us, we may know someone also looking!

We cannot hold this price or a seat/room without your FULL passport name & birthdate--

price can change & space can sell out at any time-- so CALL us ASAP to reserve your space!

PLACES WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ON OUR TRIP:

                           Milan's Castello Sforzesco & fountains                                       Grand Canal-side dining in Venice--does it get any better?!

   Arno River, Duomo, Santa Croce Church, Tuscan hills beyond           Historic palace, villa & gardens-- our HOTEL in Florence! 

         Florence's Ponte Vecchio Bridge over the Arno River                              Arno River, Boboli Gardens & hills beyond

What does the country of Italy have to offer?

Italy is an amazing country with many facets & faces to it... from the ancient history of Caesars & gladiators in Rome...

to the quaint, picturesque towns of Amalfi, Positano & Sorrento hugging the coastline in & around the bay of Naples...

to the excavated ancient towns of Pompeii & Herculaneum buried by volcanic eruption two centuries ago.... to the

cosmopolitan city of Milan & its fashion industry... to stunning Lake Como just north of Milan... to the heart of the

Renaissance in Florence with its world-famous works of art & culture... to beautiful rolling hills laden with vineyards &

wineries & old churches in the Tuscany region... to the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa & its church... to more

gorgeous coastline bejeweled with hillside-hugging villages such as Cinque Terre & Portofino... to the canals, gondolas,

glassworks & St. Mark's Square in Venice...  ITALY is a MUST-SEE in your lifetime, the destination most dreamed-of

& wished-for to visit in Europe! Those who have been know how simply wonderful it all is & want to return. It is enchanting!

The Italian people are friendly, they love food, wine, life, art, history, culture, & generally really like Americans

(there are more Italians living in the U.S. now than Italy!). In Milan, Florence, Tuscany & Venice as well as farther afield,

there is simply SO MUCH INCREDIBLE HISTORY & SO MANY SIGHTS to see... you will recognize & know so much about

a lot of it without even realizing it!

What is Tuscany & northern Italy like?

Italy's northern region is a gentler, easier pace & lifestyle with people to match. Contrary to the hustle 'n bustle & crazy

pace & crowds of Rome, northern Italy is a breath of fresh air. Milan is in the northwest corner of Italy; though a busy,

cosmopolitan city & known for its fashion industry, Milan is a bit slower pace than Rome & thus easier to get around &

see the sights. The deep blue waters of Lake Como with villas dotting the hillsides surrounding are a sight to see;

Lake Como lies less than an hour north of Milan & is thought by many to be the most beautiful lake in all of Italy's

northern 'lakes' region. Tuscany is the region in north-central Italy known for its golden hills full of vineyards & olive

groves, terra-cotta colored villas & point-top trees; it is breathtaking, plain & simple! Tuscany is arguably the prime

cultural & wine & art center of Italy, the heartbeat of the Renaissance, with Florence in the absolute heart of the region.

Florence is every-inch historic, every-bit fascinating, & a must-visit! Loaded with Renaissance churches, piazzas,

fountains, historic sites, museums full of art, statues, fabulous shopping, delicious cuisine-- the works!-- Florence is

THE must-see city of the Tuscan region. Farther outside Florence, fabled hillside Tuscan towns of Siena, San Gimignano,

Montalcino, Fiesole, Pisa & its famous Leaning Tower, & the Chianti wine region are just a few of the amazing places

you will have the opportunity to visit. On to the northeastern corner of Italy, Venice is the fascinating city of gondolas &

waterways, & it never disappoints. From the romantic canals with the gondoliers poling by to St. Mark's Square where

you can feed the many birds to the Murano glass factories where you can see the historic art form of blown glass & shop

for treasures to take home, Venice is the iconic Renaissance city without which a trip to Italy would be incomplete!

Highlights of Milan, Florence, Tuscany region, & Venice:

In Milan, the city sights, churches & Castello Sforzesco along with Michelangelo's "Last Supper" painting are a must-see...

cruise Lake Como & marvel at her azure waters & picturesque villas surrounding her shores, all storybook spectacular scenery...  

then catch the speed train over to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, to see the amazing city & its art treasures at the

Uffizi Gallery & Accademia, marvel at Michelangelo's statue of the David (& many other works of art)… wander beautiful

Boboli Gardens… peek in the Pitti Palace/Museums, visit the Piazza Duomo & Santa Maria del Fiore (main cathedral) &

Giotto’s Bell Tower & then over to the Santa Croce Basilica (Michelangelo, Galileo, Brunelleschi & Machiavelli & are all

buried here!)... stroll over Ponte Vecchio bridge spanning the Arno River & get lost in its maze of bargain stores & stalls

(specializing in leather goods—purses, boots, wallets,jackets, you name it!)… maze through medieval towns of the Tuscan

region such as Siena, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Chianti & vineyards/wineries, olive groves & gardens, hillside town

of picturesque Fiesole overlooking Florentine valley, Cinque Terre & the coast, town of Pisa & its famous Leaning Tower

& church... hop on the shopping shuttle to go splurge at all the famous Italian designer OUTLET stores (Gucci, Prada, Armani,

Valentino, Ferragamo, etc.--you name the Italian!)... take an Italian cooking class with real chef, enjoying a delicious

4-course dinner afterwards… speed-train further up to Venice to cruise its canals on gondolas, feed the birds in iconic

St. Mark's Square, stay in a gorgeous hotel overlooking the Grand Canal, visit the Doge’s palace, sail to Murano & glass

factories to see how the Venetian glass works-of-art are made... & many other sights, all awaiting you to discover them!

And let's don't forget the fabulous food & world-class wine! No forgetting that...

Because there is just SO much to see & we expect a larger than normal group for this trip, as we did with our Rome trip in 2010,

we are going to leave this as an "OPEN" trip for maximum flexibility for everyone! This way, you can choose exactly what you

want to see & do & be master of your own schedule while in each city; you can do whatever you feel like doing & do whatever

day trips or excursions you wish to add with the group or enjoy separately at your own pace!

IN FLORENCE:

Hotel Monna Lisa-- 4-star hotel, former palace-- Renaissance-period architecture & antiques!

                  Historic Hotel Monna Lisa-- total ambience!                           Monna Lisa's lobby & bar-- full of antiques & atmosphere 

                 Monna Lisa's restaurant with giant fireplace                                                    Monna Lisa's lobby area

                        Monna Lisa's courtyard at breakfast                                                     Tuscan-style courtyard, night

About the Hotel Monna Lisa in Florence:

Two words: FORMER PALACE! This best describes the Renaissance architecture, romantic ambience & exquisite touches that are the

Hotel Monna Lisa. Set just 3-4 blocks from the Duomo (main cathedral, considered THE heart of Florence!) the Hotel Monna Lisa couldn't

have a better location. This hotel was originally a convent, then turned into the residence & palace of the Marchizi Lenzi family,

dating back to the 15th century. This Renaissance dwelling holds the atmosphere of another age; hotel features Renaissance-

period decor, fresco-covered ceilings, sculptures, original paintings & antiques... its charm is irresistible, with arched entrances

& dramatic fireplaces, yet rooms contain modern comforts & elegant furnishings. The palace & surrounding villa-style buildings ring an

interior courtyard full of gorgeous gardens filled with flowers, plants, fountains & quintessential Italian/Tuscan beauty. This is

THE PLACE to stay in the heart of Florence & a treasured historic residence you will be lucky enough to stay in & be a part of

while in Florence!

Rooms each have a different, unique style of elegant decor; all rooms have one double bed or 2 twin beds with private bathroom,

shower, satellite flat-screen LCD TV/movies on demand, direct dial phone, a/c, heat, hairdryer, in-room safe & minibar (cost).

Hotel has internet & wi-fi available for an extra cost. Hotel only has 45 rooms; it features a breakfast restaurant (with daily buffet

breakfast included) & lobby bar serving cocktails & cappuccinos, with many rooms to relax & cozy-in, enjoying a tasty beverage or an

interesting book. Bonus unusual to Florence: hotel has a gym/fitness center on-site!

  Exquisite art-filled ceilings with Renaissance scenes & symbols          Interior courtyards filled with gardens, flowers, fountains 

                                    View of Monna Lisa's courtyard windows                              Monna Lisa's lobby rooms-- Renaissance everywhere!        

        More of Monna Lisa's many sitting areas/public rooms                         Monna Lisa's restaurant overlooking courtyard

                                   Monna Lisa's elegant rooms-- well-appointed, with each room a different style & decor!

IN VENICE:

Bellini Hotel-- 4-star Venetian elegance on the Grand Canal! 

      Magnificent blown-glass chandeliers           Venetian style rooms, some with view          View of canal & cathedral from Bellini!

        Rooftop terrace overlooking cathedral & Grand Canal                         Very Venetian-style lobby & decor -- bellissimo!

   Beamed ceilings, antiques, chandeliers                   Bellini's charming exterior                              Beautiful dining room

                            Bellini's lovely garden terrace                                                              Bellini's breakfast room

About the Hotel Bellini in Venice:

The Hotel Bellini is an elegant 4-star hotel on the Grand Canal in Venice, making it a great location for ease of sightseeing &

getting around Venice. Hotel is a former 18th century palace (palazzo) & features magnificent Venetian-style blown-glass

chandeliers, furnishings & fixtures, marble floors, beautiful marble baths, & many works of art (paintings, tapestries, antiques).

The hotel's superb location is ideal for travelers arriving by train, as you exit the train station & round the corner to the hotel...

important to have when you arrive by train with luggage in Venice, a city of bridges & winding canals & narrow walkways!

Rooms each have a different, unique yet always Venetian style of elegant decor; classic/standard rooms & deluxe rooms are

available (upgrade to larger "deluxe" room for best chance at a canal view). All rooms have one double bed or 2 twin beds with

private marble bathroom, shower, satellite TV, direct dial phone, a/c, heat, hairdryer, in-room safe, minibar & room service (last

two for extra cost). Hotel has internet & wi-fi available for an extra fee. Hotel has just 97 rooms; it features a restaurant & lobby

bar serving cocktails & cappuccinos 'til late. Fun & unusual feature: book a water taxi to take you straight to the airport!

(How cool is that?!)

Note from your travel agent/tour guide Dena: "I have personally been to & stayed at this hotel & LOVED it. I found it, in one word,

DELICIOUS! It's the perfect little 'jewel box' of a hotel for a Venetian-style experience without breaking the bank. The Bellini

has all of the old-world elegance & ambience you would want & expect in your Venice hotel, such as the exquisite blown-glass

chandeliers in each room & the beautiful furnishings, many of which are antiques. The brocade-edged damask curtains & luxury

touches in both the rooms & the public areas (note the magnificent monster-size chandelier in the lobby!) make for a grand

atmosphere & very enjoyable stay. The canal views from some of the rooms overlooking the Grand Canal really top off the whole

experience (pay the extra $$ & book a deluxe room if it's available for best chance at a canal view!). And, if you have good

weather during your visit, be sure to check out the rooftop terrace for the best views of all!"

                   Bellini's rooms, each with its own unique, beautiful Venetian decor  (deluxe & classic/standard shown here)

                 Bellini's main lobby                                    Bellini's elegant bar/lounge                       Arched entrance to bar/lounge

        Florence's Duomo & aerial city view            Tower of Pisa       Venice lagoon & St. Mark's           Hillside Siena & church