Golden Week in the Italian Riviera: For Women Only
September 24 – October 1, 2016
4 Spaces Left! Registration Closes July 20
Led by author Susan Van Allen
Join Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, for a Golden Week on Italy’s enchanting Northwestern coast—where quaint fishing villages, gracious old-world harbors, and the alluring city of Genoa have enticed travelers for centuries. From our base in the lovely seaside town of Santa Margherita, we’ll ferry off to explore surrounding gems: splendid Portofino, charming Camogli village, and the medieval San Fruttuoso Abbey. We’ll discover elegant palaces and the fascinating labyrinth of alleyways=caruggi that make up Genoa’s historic center—the largest in Europe. Our day in the Cinque Terre—visiting 5 picturesque villages that cling to the rugged coast–will be a sensory feast of breathtaking views and sea-scented air mixed with fragrant hillside gardens.
Every Golden Day is custom-designed for women to experience the pleasures of the Italian Riviera to the fullest—meeting locals and immersing ourselves in the region’s stunning natural beauty, art, and delicious flavors.
What’s Included:
*Entertaining hosting by author Susan Van Allen, focusing on Italy’s celebration of all things female
*6 nights at First-Class Hotel Continental in Santa Margherita Ligure, with sea view rooms and balconies
*Private roundtrip transfers from Genoa airport or train station to Santa Margherita
*Daily buffet breakfast at hotel
*Welcome Aperitivo
*2 Multi-course dinners with wine
*1 Cooking Class, followed by lunch in Portofino
*1 Lunch in Cinque Terre
*1 Stop in Elegant Genoa Caffe
*Guided tours of Genoa Historical Center with whisper headsets, San Fruttuoso Abbey, Camogli village, and Cinque Terre
*Ferry, train, or mini-van transportation for all group activities
*Entrance fees for Genoa’s Palazzo Rosso and San Fruttuoso Abbey
*All gratuities for group activities: restaurants, guides, and drivers
*Travel journal and optional travel journal workshop
*$20.00 Charitable Donation to FAI (Italian National Trust), a non-profit organization which promotes and restores Italian natural and cultural sites, including the San Fruttuoso Abbey and Capuchin Monastery in Monterosso, which we will visit
Not Included:
*Airfare
*Meals not specified in itinerary
* Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
*Gratuities for private transfer drivers and hotel staff
*Everything not mentioned in “What’s Included”
Rates: $4090/per person, double occupancy
$4890/per person, single occupancy
Small Group Tour: 14 guests Maximum – 4 Spaces Left!
The week is expertly designed with a balance of planned group and free-time independent experiences
BRIEF ITINERARY
DAY ONE: Depart USA
DAY TWO: Welcome to your Golden Week, with aperitivo and dinner
DAY THREE: Fun Cooking Class and La Dolce Vita Time in Portofino
DAY FOUR: Discover Genoa, including Elegant Palazzos and Historic Shops
DAY FIVE: Fall Under the Spell of San Fruttuoso and Camogli Villages
DAY SIX: Experience Extraordinary Cinque Terre
DAY SEVEN: Free Day to enjoy Santa Margherita and its surroundings
DAY EIGHT: Transfer to Genoa for your flight home
In Collaboration with Perillo Tours, America’s Leading Tour Operator to Italy for 70 years.
To reserve your space, or for more information, contact Irene today at: Irene@perillotours.com or 855-784-7687
DETAILED ITINERARY:
DAY ONE: Depart USA – ANDIAMO
Today you will transfer on your own to the airport, to catch the overnight flight to Italy, full of joyful anticipation…
DAY TWO: WELCOME TO YOUR GOLDEN WEEK
Benvenuta! You’ll be met by our private driver at the Genoa airport or train station and transported to our paradise-of-a-base for the week: the Hotel Continentale in Santa Margherita Ligure. The views from your room’s balcony will take your breath away: sparkling harbor, elegant palm trees, and wonderful town. You’ll have time to relax, and perhaps enjoy the hotel’s private beach, pool, or spa. In the evening we’ll gather on the hotel terrace to toast the Golden Week ahead. I’ll give you tips for your travel journal, so you can create a treasured souvenir of the adventure. We’ll dine in the hotel’s restaurant, enjoying the first of many memorable meals, featuring the traditional flavors of the region with a backdrop of the sparkling, starlit sea.
Meals Included: D
DAY THREE: COOKING CLASS & LA DOLCE VITA TIME IN PORTOFINO
Buongiorno! Wake up and smell the caffe. Enjoy an abundant buffet breakfast in the hotel’s dining room with mesmerizing sea views…get used to such extraordinary mornings for the rest of your week.
We’ll begin the day with a stroll down the hill for an orientation to Santa Margherita Ligure. The town’s historic center is a beautiful mix of colorfully painted neoclassical buildings, a stunning Baroque church, and delightful shops, caffes, and restaurants.
Then we’ll hop a ferry boat for a short ride to Portofino—a tiny, gorgeous seaside village that’s a choice yacht-stop for jet setters. We’ll be welcomed here into the kitchen of Chef Giovanna for a fun, hands-on cooking class, to immerse ourselves in Liguria’s extraordinary flavors, including making Genovese pesto.
Lunch will follow, enjoying the fruits of our labors. Then we’ll have time to relax in this jewel of a spot, strolling amidst terraced herb gardens and shopping in Portofino’s legendary designer boutiques.
We’ll ferry back to Santa Margherita where the evening is yours to dine on your own, with my recommendations. Choices range from lively pizzerias to chic upscale restaurants.
Meals included: B, L
DAY FOUR – DISCOVER GENOA
The city of Genoa is a wonderland of fabulous Gothic churches, opulent Baroque and Renaissance palaces—all to be discovered on our walking tour of the historic center with Simona, our expert guide.
There will be time for lunch on your own, before we set off in the afternoon to explore the city’s fascinating caruggi=alleyways, that are packed with historical shops—offering treasures from spices to chocolates, fine linens, tableware, clothing, and beauty products.
Back in Santa Margherita Ligure, there will be an early evening optional journal writing workshop, followed by dinner on your own.
Meals included: B
DAY FIVE – EXPERIENCE MAGICAL SAN FRUTTUOSO / CHARMING CAMOGLI
We’ll begin the day with a short ferry ride to one of the most magical spots on the Ligurian coastline: San Fruttuoso. This secluded bay can only be reached by boat or hiking. The setting is dreamlike: sparkling turquoise waters and a stunning 10th century Abbey which we’ll tour with our guide Simone.
We’ll continue by boat to the village of Camogli, that got its name from case delle mogli=house of wives”, as it was a fishing village named for the women who managed things here while their husbands were away at sea. The soul of Camogli from days gone by remains—there are still many fishing boats, little shops where focaccia is fresh-baked, and artisan workshops. We’ll have free time here for lunch, strolling, and shopping in these enchanting surroundings.
In the late afternoon, we’ll ferry back to Santa Margherita, where you may want to have a massage or beauty treatment at the hotel spa, and then a relaxing dinner on your own.
Meals included: B
(Please note: In case of bad weather, San Fruttuoso may be inaccessible, and we will instead visit the villas and gardens of Santa Margherita Ligure village).
DAY SIX – EXTRAORDINARY CINQUE TERRE
The extraordinary stretch of coastline called the Cinque Terre (meaning Five Lands), is comprised of five colorful fishing villages that cling to the rugged coastline, surrounded by fields and terraced gardens.
With our guide Simona, we’ll have an insider’s experience of each of these unique villages, meeting the locals, traveling by train and/or ferries to see such wonders as the Riomaggiore castle, vineyards in Manarola, and stopping to take in breathtaking views all along the way.
Included in our day is a delicious lunch in a traditional trattoria, featuring freshly harvested vegetables and herbs from the hillsides.
After this exhilarating day, we’ll transfer back to Santa Margherita Ligure, where you can enjoy the sunset and dinner on your own.
Meals included: B, L
DAY SEVEN – LA DOLCE VITA
This is your day to experience Santa Margherita and its surroundings according to your desires.
Options include:
Relax at the spa, beach, and pool at the Hotel Continentale
Explore the shops and villas of Santa Margherita
Guided hike in the Cinque Terre
Seaside walk to Portofino (one hour from Santa Margherita)
In the evening, we’ll gather for a Farewell Dinner at a harbor side restaurant, to celebrate our Golden Week, refreshed and inspired.
Meals included: B, D
DAY EIGHT – ARRIVEDERCI!
Our driver will transport you to the Genoa airport or train station, where you’ll depart with Golden Memories of our week together…
Meals included: B
To reserve your space, or for more information, contact Irene at Perillo Tours today: Irene@perillotours.com or 855-784-7687.
Early arrivals and later departures can be arranged with discounts for Hotel Continental.
CLICK HERE FOR TESTIMONIALS and HERE for more photos on PINTEREST
*Itinerary subject to change. If because of weather or unforeseen circumstances changes need to be made, replacement events will be equally as awesome as above.
Activity Level: Bring comfortable walking shoes! The Hotel Continental sits on a promontory, about a 5-minute walk to the Santa Margherita Ligure historic center and harbor. Our excursions will take us to pedestrian only villages and the city of Genoa, where the itinerary is at a relaxed walking pace, with breaks to relax and savor the atmosphere. Ferry rides require precautions to be taken for those with motion sickness.
