Upon arrival in Rome, we are met by our tour escort and transfer to our coach for a short panoramic tour of Eternal City in Rome. The balance of the day is at leisure. Tonight we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant La Vecchia Conca for dinner. Overnight in Rome. (D)

After breakfast, meet your local guide and enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of “Imperial” Rome, including the Catacombs, the Appian Way, St. Peter in Chains, the Colosseum, and Circus Maximus. We also visit the three major basilicas in Rome including 1600 year old St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, Cathedral of the city of Rome and St. Paul Outside the Walls, built over the burial place of St. Paul. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B, D)

After breakfast, meet Kelly ( escort ) at the lobby and depart for Vatican City, to attend a Papal Audience (subject for Pope’s availability ). In the afternoon, we visit the splendid Vatican Museums with their world-renowned art collections and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, adorned with Michelangelo’s frescoes. We conclude our visit with a tour of the awe inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, including time to pray at the tomb of Pope John Paul II. We have the remainder of the day to explore the wonders of Rome on our own. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight are in Rome. (B, D)

Today, meet your local guide Valentina at the lobby for your half-day tour exploring the wonders of ancient Rome. We begin with a view of Capitoline Hill , the Arch of Constantine and the Circus Maximus and visit the archeological area of the Roman Forum. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure for last-minute sightseeing or shopping. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B, D)

Today we enjoy a Leisure Day ( Free Day ) to discover the beauty and inspiration that is Rome. OR take an optional tour to Assisi, the town of beloved St. Francis, is offered as well (with additional cost – please check the hotel concierge ). In Assisi we visit the Basilica of St. Francis, with its wonderful artwork by Giotto, the church of St. Clare, which houses her incorrupt body, the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Portiuncula Chapel, birthplace of the Franciscan Order. This evening meet Kelly for your evening dinner at a local restaurant, Tanagra Lungotevere Flaminio. Dinner and overnight in Rome. (B, D)

After early breakfast, meet Kelly at the lobby at 8am for transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for our return flight, arriving the same day. (B)
*(B,L,D) = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• 7-9 x underwear, socks,
• 2-3 x loose, lightweight trousers or skirts– one full length and one cropped pair would be ideal!
• 2-3 x shorts
• 2 x long, loose shirts
• 4-5 x t-shirts or tops
• 2-3 evening tops

• 1-2 x sandals or flip flops for warmer-weather walking
• 1-2 pairs of comfortable walking/running shoes
• 1 x pair of more formal shoes
• 1 rain/wind-proof jacket
• 2-3 sweaters or other colder-weather gear
• sunglasses
• sun hat
• toiletries
• 1 x day bag
• 1 x evening bag
• European adapter
• Phone, camera and any other electronics needed
• passport and travel docs
• insurance

Specific packing notes for the Vatican:
• Cover shoulders: avoid strapless tops, spaghetti straps tops and vests (both men and women)
• Avoid above the knee skirts and shorts (men and women)
• Avoid exposing excessive cleavage, a waist/belly or back
• Do not wear slogans or prints that may be perceived as offensive

You will often see prices preceded by the abbreviation LE. This stands for livre égyptienne, the French translation of Egyptian pound. The currency is sometimes abbreviated as E£ or £E in online forums. The Egyptian Tourism Authority advises that travelers are not allowed to bring more than 5,000 EGP (approximately 320 USD) into the country in local currency. You can bring up to 10,000 USD or the equivalent in foreign currency and then swap it for Egyptian pounds at a currency exchange. Currency exchanges are found in all airports and many big hotels. Banks will also exchange foreign notes.

Sometimes the easiest and cheapest way to get cash is to withdraw it from a local ATM. ATMs are readily available in big cities like Cairo or Alexandria. If you’re headed to a more remote area, make sure to draw enough cash before you leave as you may struggle to find an ATM once you reach your destination. Only use ATMs in reputable areas and be wary of anyone trying to assist you.

Most ATMs will charge a small fee for using a foreign card so it makes sense to minimize costs by drawing larger amounts. Some ATMs have a EGP 2,000 limit, however; look for a Banque du Caire machine if you wish to draw more than that.Debit and credit cards from major foreign banks should be accepted throughout Egypt (Visa and Mastercard cards are typically a safe bet).

In Cairo, almost every cafe and quite a few fast-food outlets feature free wireless Internet, and those that don’t are usually within range of one that does. Additionally, in Luxor and Sharm el Sheikh, two major mobile service providers, Vodafone and Mobinil, are competing to provide Wi-Fi coverage throughout town.

If your laptop is not Wi-Fi equipped, there is cheap and good dial-up access throughout the country that you can access from your hotel room. Most hotels and Internet cafes will also let you plug into their network through the Ethernet port on your laptop.

Egypt’s country code is 020. All Egyptian phone numbers are pre-fixed by a city code. International calls are quite expensive, so use VOIP or app-based communications if you can.

If you have a 3G mobile phone with global roaming capability, your phone will work in Egypt, provided you are in an area covered by 3G service. You will be charged international roaming rates for calls and SMS messages, but the device’s data capabilities and internet connection will work at no additional charge. If you do decide to bring your 3G phone with you to Egypt, verify that you have global roaming capabilities with your provider (and that they extend to Egypt).

A few notes on body language:
• Maintain eye contact while talking. Otherwise Italians might think you are hiding something.
• To beckon a waiter or waitress raise your index finger and make eye contact.
• Italians are known for using the most body language of all European nations.