We've told you before about the marvelous bargains offered by Tourcrafters to and within Italy. Well, they've done it again, with their offer of five nights in one of four major cities, round-trip airfare included, at the unbelievably low price of $599.
Tourcrafters, a dependable, family-owned tour operator based in Illinois, offers these packages out of New York, Newark, Boston, Miami and Chicago. The $599 price is available for trips starting in mid-November and running through mid-December. After the holidays, it's valid again from early January to March, except for the Venice package, which is not available after February 21, 2003.
In Rome, you might stay at the 3-star Hotel Brasile, near the British Embassy, the Via Veneto and the main train station, the latter only recently completely remodeled and expanded. Families or two couples could also choose the 3-star Hotel Paris, which offers two doubles sharing one bathroom. In either case, be sure to visit Rome's must-see spots, starting with the Forum and ending, perhaps, with the Vatican museums.
For Florence, you might choose the 3-star Hotel Palazzo Ruspoli, in an historic palace near the cathedral, or the more modern tourist-class Hotel Meridiana. The latter has a self-service restaurant, though you should not miss the opportunity to try one of this city's marvelous little trattorias.
In Venice, a hotel offered is the small and charming 2-star Superior Hotel Hesperia, on the Cannareggio Canal. Don't miss the Grand Canal, a trip in a gondola, and, of course, the city's most important highlight, St. Mark's Cathedral.
Down in Naples, the package includes the 3-star Hotel Garden, centrally located. Be sure not to miss the view of the Bay of Naples, without which no Grand Tour of Italy would be complete.
The $599 price, by the way, does not include airport taxes. For more information or reservations, go to their Web site, www.tourcrafters.com, or phone them at 800/482-5995, e-mail info@tourcrafters.com.