| Operatunity

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9 April - 3 May 2024

Our Grand Tour of Italy is escorted by our favourite artists Bonnie and Kelly with private guides. We enjoy Italy in Spring in April/May, avoiding the busy tourist season and the summer heat. We experience musical concerts in some of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, and other special venues including a private concert featuring young stars at Pavarotti’s villa, La bohème in Genoa, Tosca in Bologna, Cinderella in Trieste and Mefistofele in Venice plus opera house tours, composers’ houses and museums.

We visit iconic cities like Rome, Florence, Genoa, Bologna, Venice, Trieste, Padua, Vicenza, as well as charming smaller towns like Sestri Levante, Portofino, Sienna, San Gimignano, Tuscan hills, Emilia Romagna, Orvieto and Slovenia including Lake Bled and stay at historic villas and palazzos

Viva Italia! One of the most amazing countries in the world filled with great food, music, sights and people.

$21,900 NZD Single Room Supplement Add $5885

Initial Deposit On Booking

$2,000 NZD

Second Deposit Due 6 October 2023

$4,000 NZD

Final Balance Due 15 December 2023

The Grand Tour of Italy

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• Experience operas and theatre tours at many of the grandest opera houses in Italy including La Sonnambula in Rome, La bohème in Genoa, Tosca in Bologna, Cinderella in Trieste and Mefistofele in Venice plus opera house tours, composers’ houses and museums.
• Other special music flavours from our artists including a private tour and concert at Pavarotti’s House and other private concerts by our hosts, Puccini and Verdi Immersion days and Puccini concert.
• Operas in grand opera houses: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro Carlo Felice, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, Teatro Comunale di Bologna.
• Guided tours and sightseeing in Rome, Florence, Genoa, Bologna, Venice, Trieste, Padua, Vicenza, and visits to Sestri Levante, Portofino, Sienna, San Gimignano, Tuscan hills, Emilia Romagna, Orvieto and Slovenia including Lake Bled!
• Full day tour to Slovenia including walking tour of Ljubljana and Lake Bled, known for its church tipped island, castle and alpine scenery.
• Reserved entrances, therefore, no long queues, to Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, Baptistery, Sistine Chapel, St Peters, Vatican Museum, Borghese Gallery, St Marks, Venice.
• Other special experiences include cruises in Genoa and Venice including visits to Murano and Burano, architecture tour of Palladio works, Tuscan immersion day, tour to the oldest university in the world, churches, and art galleries plus visits to small towns and places of interest!
• Foodies immersions where we will enjoy cooking class, balsamic vinegar, wine and parmigiana tastings, and gourmet meals at vineyards and villas.
Our hosts for this trip are our talented long term artists Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua & Kelly Lim Harris
Hotel Romanico Palace & Spa, Rome (4 nights) is located in the heart of the city centre, in the Via Veneto - Villa Borghese area, near by the most important tourist attractions of the city. The hotel features a spa, marble floors, frescoes, antique furniture and Jacuzzi tubs.

Hotel Piazza San Paolino, Florence (4 nights) is situated in the Santa Maria Novella district in the heart of Florence. The design of the hotel is eclectically inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy with a quirky, arty feel.

Hotel Bristol Palace, Genoa (3 nights) is an Art Nouveau charmer built in 1905 style. Located on one of the most prestigious streets in Genoa, the hotel features an elliptical staircase leading up to its elegant rooms.

Hotel Saturnia & International, Venice (4 nights) is a four star superior hotel located 5 minutes walk from St. Mark’s Square and La Fenice Opera House. It is truly Venetian, being partly a 14th century palace.

Savoia Excelsior Palace Hotel, Trieste (3 nights) overlooks the Bay of Trieste in the city centre. Set in a historic building with 19th-century architecture, this romantic hotel is steps away from Piazza di Cavana and Piazza Unita d’Italia and Palazzo del Municipio.

Hotel Posta, Reggio Emilia (3 nights) located in the heart of the oldest quarter of Reggio Emilia, the hotel offers a relaxing stay in delightful surroundings and where art, history and tradition are combined with every imaginable modern comfort.

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This trip includes

• Return airfares Auckland - Rome/ Milan - Auckland via Dubai Direct flights on Emirates.
• Stay in idyllic historic hotels at 4 and 5 star hotels: Rome (4 nights), Florence (4 nights), Genoa (3 nights), Venice (4 nights) and Trieste (3 nights) and Reggio Emilila (3 nights) including in palaces and Italian villas!
• We enjoy Italy in Spring in April/May, avoiding the crazy, busy tourist season and the heat of the Italian summer.
• Guided tours and sightseeing in Rome, Florence, Genoa, Bologna, Venice, Trieste, Padua, Vicenza, and visits to Sestri Levante, Portofino, Sienna, San Gimignano, Tuscan Hills, Emilia Romagna, Orvieto and Slovenia including Lake Bled!
• Visit and experience operas and theatre tours at many of the grandest opera houses in Italy including
in Rome, Florence, Genoa, Bologna, Trieste and Venice plus opera house tours, composers’ houses and museums.
• Five great operas; Bellini’s La Sonnambula, two of Puccini’s operas La bohème and Tosca, Rossini’s Cinderella & Boito’s Mefistofele!
• Other special music flavours from our artists including a private tour and concert at Pavarotti’s House and other private concerts by our hosts, Puccini and Verdi Immersion days and Puccini concert.
• Full day tour to Slovenia including walking tour of Ljubljana and Lake Bled, known for its church tipped island, castle and alpine scenery.
• Foodies immersions where we will enjoy cooking class, balsamic vinegar, wine and parmigiana tastings, and gourmet meals at vineyards and villas!
• Reserved entrances, therefore, no long queues, to Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, Baptistery, Sistine Chapel, St Peters, Vatican Museum, Borghese Gallery, St Marks, Venice.
• Other special experiences include cruises in Genoa and Venice including visits to Murano and Burano, architecture tour of Palladio works, Tuscan immersion day, tour to the oldest university in the world, churches, and art galleries plus visits to small towns and places of interest!
• All tours, boat cruises, coach transfers, reserved entry and entrance fees to all sights and sites as listed in itinerary.
• All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 12 dinners, porterage, taxes and tips are included.
• Escorted by Bonaventure Allan Moetaua and Kelly Lim Harris.
• Limited to 20 travellers, this tour is part of our Travel of Note boutique tours.

MODERATE TOUR

All our trips are specifically designed for our core market but this trip does contain travel challenges, either because of the region visited or the walking distances or uneven surfaces that arise at some sites. We do advise that you and your doctor evaluate your level of fitness before you consider booking this tour.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
Payment by direct credit incurs no surcharge. Credit card payments will incur a surcharge of 1.5%.
Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit.
All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.

Travel Insurance

Every customer is required to take out insurance for all international travel when taking a trip with Operatunity Ltd.

DOMESTIC INSURANCE
Insurance for Domestic travel is currently available from many companies. Insurance for New Zealand trips is entirely at your discretion. Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice.

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
Insurance for International travel is currently available from many companies. For our trips overseas it is a requirement that proof of cover be sent to our office some time before departure from NZ. We can not accept travellers who hold no cover for international travel as per our term and conditions.
Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice. Email travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz Phone 0508 886 489

MOBILITY

Operatunity provides group senior travel and with this in mind we plan trips to suit our target market. But not every trip is created equal in terms of mobility. We want to give you the best possible experience but that will only be achieved if you are able to enjoy everything that our trips have to offer.
Most of our long haul trips require a better level of mobility. We will look after everyone as well as we possibly can, but we cannot look after one at the expense of the rest of the group. We also cannot have one person slowing the rest of group to the point where the group is not able to enjoy every experience we are able to provide.
With this in mind we have put a mobility clause into every trip. Under each explanation here I have popped a statement. Ask yourself if this is ‘you’, when booking on a trip.

None of the following mobility clauses preclude you from ordering a wheelchair at the airport if required.

1. GENTLE TOUR This tour will suit most people, even with a stick or a walker, but sorry not someone in a wheelchair. The activity level is gently paced, but you still need to be able to get on and off buses easily. There will be walking, but not a lot. “I love travelling, but at a gentle pace. I like to avoid stairs or too much activity, but I am able to get on and off buses easily.”

2. EASY TOUR This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker. You will be required to walk to get from place to place and stand in museums, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of times to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances. ”Walking is fine. I can get on and off a coach. I am happy to stand for an hour or two in museums and galleries and gently stroll through places of interest. I am happy to climb the odd set of stairs.”

3. MODERATE WALKING TOUR This tour requires a better level of fitness with no wheelchairs or walkers. Generally, there may be times when we can’t get the coach close. In some of our Pacific Island tours we will need you to transfer onto a tender and walk on soft sand. We also will have much longer flights and long walks through airports. “I like walking at a moderate pace. I love to keep my days full and experience everything the tour has to offer. Stairs, tender transfers and cobblestones don’t bother me.”

4. EXPLORING TOUR This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace. “I like to spend most of the day exploring. Whether walking historic neighbourhoods on cobblestones at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I want my days full. Stairs don’t bother me and I am keen to see and do as much as I can with the odd day off to recuperate.”

Operatunity is a company specialising in music lovers tours to the senior market. Each trip has been especially planned to include music and arts experiences and has a level of friendliness and care which cannot be found anywhere else! Our trips are packed with features not found anywhere else
Yes we have lots of people who travel on their own. We endeavour to match you up with someone who lives close to you or is close in age to you. Often you will get a chance to meet with your matchup or ring them before you leave on your trip. You also may prefer to travel solo and pay the single supplement price. We travel as a happy band so there will be lots of chances to meet people. You will find fellow music lovers and those with other similar interests. In fact those like the nicer things of life so you will travel with like-minded people. It is also important to remember that our singers are our escorts so you will see at least a couple of familiar faces as you leave.
If you live outside of Auckland, we can arrange travel and accommodation on your way to meet up with our group. We have access and can book domestic airfares in conjunction with Air New Zealand international airfares. Plus we can book your pre and post tour accommodation if required.
It is compulsory for our international trips and highly recommended for our domestic tours.
No as most airlines offer various special meals and any restaurants we visit are happy to accommodate special dietary requirements.
We seek to accommodate the needs of guests with disabilities whenever possible. However in most cases we are unable to take customers with walkers, wheelchairs or other mobility issues. Certain trips may be unsuitable due to walking or limited availability of accommodation with disabled facilities. We cannot be responsible for the care of customers suffering from significant cognitive illness (such as dementia). We ask such customers to consult with your doctor to obtain medical clearance. Guests needing assistance mustbe accompanied by an able companion who will be available to assist them and assume full responsibility for their wellbeing.
We ask that you can walk at least 100 metres unaided and be able to get on and off buses with little or no assistance. We cater for a senior market but it is important that you do not jeopardise the enjoyment of others by requiring more care and holding up the rest of the group. Talk to our office or staff at concerts and any advisory notes for individual trips to get a better idea of your suitability for each trip.
We stay at 4 and 5 star character hotels, avoiding package, tourist or big hotel chains. We choose hotels with a more personal feel often with historic content or hotels of beauty and character, centrally located or in parks, by the water, or with beautiful gardens.
Breakfast is included daily, and many dinners and lunches are also included as per our itinerary.
There are no hidden costs. Included in the trip are tips, taxes, porterage, breakfast, meals where specified, inclusions listed in the itinerary, entry fees where listed in the itinerary, concert/show tickets where listed in the itinerary, tour escorts and local specialised guides.
Some of our trips sell out very quickly and we recommend you make your booking as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
We will ask you to pay an initial deposit when making your booking. We will then follow up for a second deposit and then a final balance payment prior to travel.
All deposits up until final payment are refundable minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs the company may incur.
After final deposit refunds are unlikely and the refund becomes an insurance claim.
Our numbers vary from destination to destination, please contact our office for further information. We have a minimum number required to operate a tour. Should minimum numbers not be met, a full refund will be made.
For international trips, all guests must have a valid passport that does not expire earlier than at least 6 months beyond their intended stay.
Music is a key element in making our experiences special. There are special experiences and events every day, such as themed dinners, impromptu concerts, music, art tours with art experts and garden tours with garden experts.
Most hotels now have internet connection and all hotels have telephones in the room or at reception. If using your mobile telephone check calling and text rates, and disable data roaming before leaving New Zealand. Consider purchasing a prepaid SIM card. And you can keep in touch using social media such as Facebook. We have a copy of your next of kin details in case of emergency and we are also happy to help out with texts, phone calls and emails if you can’t get in touch with your family and need to while away. We are also happy to help out with getting your phones, ipads and cameras to work if needed while away.
We spend less time travelling between regions, allowing more time to enjoy experiences when you arrive. We avoid one night stops and “conveyor belt” travel, so you really can capture the local colour and vitality of the region. Our trips are planned so that there is a balance of included activities and free time for you to relax or do some exploring on your own.
Contact Operatunity Travel
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Mail your booking form to PO BOX 132 150, Sylvia Park, Auckland 1644
Email: travel@operatunity.co.nz
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Email: travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz

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