HME International Theatre Party and Summer Girlfriend Getaway

Depart New York for your flight to Naples, Italy

FLIGHT INFORMATION

New York to Heathrow

• Date: 29 June 2023
• Airline: British Airways
• Flight #: BA 114
• Depart: 9:30 PM
• Arrive: 9:35 AM

Heathrow to Naples

• Date: 30 June 2023
• Airline: British Airways
• Flight #: BA 536
• Depart: 11:15 AM
• Arrive: 3:00 PM

Arrive and transfer to your hotel in the late afternoon. You’ll have just a bit of time to freshen up and get ready for your evening. Tonight, attend and an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager on the upcoming journey that awaits you in Italy!  Enjoy a meet and greet/welcome dinner at the hotel and get to know your sister friends in the group.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Vesuvio
Meals: Dinner

The rugged Amalfi Coast, with its dramatic landscapes and amazing panoramas, is one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Along the road, famous for its narrow curves and hairpin bends, you'll see enchanting villages, cliffs terraced with lemon groves, whitewashed villas and sparkling turquoise seas. Drive by Positano and stop in Amalfi, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to spend time at leisure in town. Enjoy a wonderful wine tasting during your Amalfi tour, then return to your hotel in the late afternoon. During the evening, explore the lovely Bay of Naples and enjoy dinner on your own.

Hotel: Grand Hotel Vesuvio
Meals: Breakfast, Wine Tasting

A full day tour to the enchanting and picturesque Isle of Capri by boat will be the highlight for the day! Here, you'll walk through the narrow lanes of Anacapri, with its chic boutiques and shops offering tastings of the island's famous limoncello. Then continue on to La Piazzetta, where everyone gathers to socialize, and to the Gardens of Augustus, a natural paradise, from where you can see splendid views of the sea and the famous Faraglioni rock formations, one of the island's natural wonders. After a day beautiful Capri, we will return to Naples. During the evening, the group will savor a lovely dinner together at a local restaurant.

Hotels: Grand Hotel Vesuvio
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Check out of your hotel this morning. Traveling north we will visit the city that was frozen in time under a thick carpet of volcanic ash almost 2,000 years ago. Walk through the original sloping streets of Pompeii and view the tragic fossils of people attempting to escape beside their children and dogs, along with the preserved ruins of the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Forum.

As we continue to Rome, at a distance, you can view the magnificent Abbey of Montecassino perched high on the mountaintop (weather permitting). This was the scene of a huge battle near the end of World War II in which the Abbey was completely destroyed but has since been lovingly restored.

Arrive in Rome in late afternoon. Check into your hotel. You can freshen up and meet your group for dinner this evening.

Hotels: Hive Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The historic tour of ancient Rome begins with a walk along the uneven and irregular paths of the Roman Forum, the original central plaza of the city from which ancient Rome developed. Next, view the triumphal Arch of Constantine, erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine's tenth year of leadership over the Eternal City. We then visit the mighty Colosseum*, the largest amphitheater built in the Roman Empire that seated over 50,000, where gladiatorial contests and public events were attended by the rich, the poor and by the Emperor himself.

Discover the delights of Rome this afternoon on your own.

Tonight, embark on a scenic drive through the city before stopping for dinner in a local restaurant with wine and music.

*In case of unforeseen circumstances preventing us from visiting the Colosseum, we will visit the Palatine Hill instead

Hotels: Hive Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, visit the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel. Stroll through one of the most important art collections of the world. Admire the Gallery of Tapestries and the Geographical Maps before arriving to the Sistine Chapel, with its great frescoes by Michelangelo.

Continue to St. Peter's Square, passing Bernini's famous colonnade to view St. Peter's Basilica, built on the burial site of Saint Peter.

In the afternoon you will embark on a walking tour of the Piazzas or Rome. This 2–3 hour walking tour takes you to explore the grand piazzas of the Eternal City. Stand in awe in front of the majestic Spanish Steps, the longest and widest decorative steps in Europe, and with your local guide stroll through the most characteristic "piazzas and vias " of Rome. Stop to admire the breathtaking grandeur of the Trevi Fountain and take the opportunity to toss in one, two, or three coins, each of which is supposed to bring a unique kind of good fortune. View the monumental Pantheon, the best preserved of any Roman building and admire the baroque Piazza Navona, which follows the shape of the ancient Roman Domitian Stadium, with Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers and the Egyptian Obelisk.

This evening, enjoy dinner on your own at one of the numerous local restaurants offering delicious Italian cuisine.

Hotels: Hive Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

This morning, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport in Rome for your departure flight to London. Upon arrival in London, meet your coach and guide and start your panoramic tour of London. Begin with a drive through fashionable Kensington with its elegant squares and parks. Pass Harrods store and continue to view Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, and famous Big Ben. Proceed to view Buckingham Palace, the London residence of His Majesty the King.

During your tour, you will stop at one of London’s famous food halls for lunch on your own.

Later this afternoon, arrive at your hotel and check-in. You’ll have a little time to relax from the long day.

This evening, enjoy dinner with the group at a local restaurant.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rome to Heathrow

• Date: 06 July 2023
• Airline: British Airways
• Flight #: BA 551
• Depart: 8:05 AM
• Arrive: 9:50 AM

Hotels: Strand Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you will embark on a 2-hour walking tour (rain or shine) hosted by the Theatreland Black History Walk of London. This walk will focus on Blacks in the theatre and explore the hidden history of African presence in the West End’s theatre district. With a recent explosion of Black productions since the events of 2020, this tour investigates and explores how far back the African/Caribbean presence on stage goes, who the performers were, where they appeared, audience reception and the racial climate at the time.

After the walk, the group will return to the hotel and prepare for a later afternoon High Tea followed by a musical or play and then ending with dinner at a restaurant in the West End Theatre District.

Musical/Play to be announced.
High Tea, theatre, and dinner at your own expense.

Hotel: Strand Palace
Meals: Breakfast

Today we will travel like the Londoners. You have the option of hopping on the Tube and shopping at the famous Harrod's department store and the world-famous Hyde Park, or participating in countless sightseeing opportunities. Cosmopolitan London offers more in one place than almost any other city on Earth. You may take a ride on the London Eye, visit Tate Modern, Madame Tussauds, Kensington Palace, or the British Museum. If the Tube is not for you, UBER is readily available.

Upon return to the hotel area, stop by Covent Garden, a world-class shopping and dining destination attracting food-lovers and fashionistas alike. This would be a great place to enjoy lunch.

For our final evening, we will once again enjoy the theatre followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
 

Musical/Play to be announced.
Dinner and theatre at your own expense.

Hotel: Strand Palace
Meals: Breakfast

Check out of your hotel this morning then transfer to the airport for your departure flight to New York.

Meals: Breakfast

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Heathrow to New York

• Date: 09 July 2023
• Airline: British Airways
• Flight #: BA 115
• Depart: 2:35 PM
• Arrive: 5:30 PM