Highlights of Italy in Winter

The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however can sometimes be quite busy. Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'What to Take' section of the trip notes.

Often there are no lifts or escalators in train stations or in the hotel, so you will have to carry your bags up and down the stairs yourself.

This trip is designed for off-season and takes place in the colder winter months of the year. It is essential that you are aware of the climate in Italy during this time. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially compared to American or Australian standards.

On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.

1. This trip takes place during the colder winter months. While this allows you to experience the highlights of Italy without the crowds it is important to bear in mind that winters in Europe are usually quite cold and possibly rainy. Temperatures can drop to freezing or below, and snowfalls can happen at higher altitudes. If temperatures are above freezing there is a likelihood of rainy days during this time of year. You will need to be prepared to travel in varying temperatures and rain.
2. A single supplement is bookable for this trip. Availability is limited due to small property we use. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

PACKING
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. You can find Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination and if it is you can simply refill with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water it is better to buy the largest available and distribute into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you., On some of our trips in Europe it is possible to purchase responsibly sourced reusable water bottles. Thirty per cent of the cost of each bottle is donated to the Intrepid Foundation, specifically to the Support to Life project, which offers humanitarian assistance to Syrian Refugees in Turkey. Please ask your leader for further information regarding this initiative and the availability of the bottles., TRAVELLING ON LOCAL TRANSPORT
It's important that your bags can be locked, as on local transport it may be necessary that your luggage gets stowed separately (and unattended). The smaller your bag the better for you and other passengers. To ensure maximum comfort, try to pack small and light., WINTER
This trip is operated in winter months, but please bear in mind the weather may vary. Remember that quality winter clothes and footwear as well as rain gear is essential for this trip - you’ll enjoy your holiday to the fullest if you’re prepared for all kinds of weather!

Hotel Madison, Via Marsala 60, Rome, ITALY, Phone: +39 064454344

The Hotel Madison Roma boasts a strategic location in the centre of the Eternal City. Within a few minutes' walk you can reach the Baths of Diocletian, Piazza della Repubblica and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Other main attractions in the area include: Altar of the Patria , Fori Imperiali and Colosseum.

Alternate Joining Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
18 Jan 2025 (ZLSW250118)
25 Jan 2025 (ZLSW250125)
08 Feb 2025 (ZLSW250208)
22 Feb 2025 (ZLSW250222)
08 Mar 2025 (ZLSW250308)
22 Mar 2025 (ZLSW250322)
01 Nov 2025 (ZLSW251101)
08 Nov 2025 (ZLSW251108)
12 Nov 2025 (ZLSW251112)
15 Nov 2025 (ZLSW251115)
22 Nov 2025 (ZLSW251122)
29 Nov 2025 (ZLSW251129)
06 Dec 2025 (ZLSW251206)
13 Dec 2025 (ZLSW251213)
10 Jan 2026 (ZLSW260110)
Hotel San Marco
Via Villafranca
1
Rome
ITALY
Phone: +39 06490437

Hotel Villa Rosa, Calle Pesaro, 389, Venice, 30121, ITALY, Phone: +39 041716569

Hotel Villa Rosa is a refurbished villa, located in the quiet area of Cannaregio in the northern part of Venice's lagoon. The property is just a 5 minute walk from the Santa Lucia Railway Station, and 20 minutes by vaporetto from Piazza San Marco. All rooms include air-conditioning, a private bathroom with hairdryer, telephone and TV.

Alternate Finish Point

Pre-booked departure transfer to Venice Airport (VCE): If you have pre-booked a departure transfer you will need to make your own way from the hotel to Piazzale Roma. Your driver will meet you 3 hours before your flight departure time at the end of the white taxi line where the limo service area NCC is located, in the parking lot in front of Olimpia Hotel. Maximum waiting time: 30 minutes from the expected time of pick up. In case of flight cancellations, changes or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +39 3334112840 or +39 3382044390.

Hotel Villa Rosa is within 7 minutes walk of Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station, and a further 2 minutes from Piazzale Roma (for taxis and buses). Your leader or the hotel reception can point you in the right direction. The best way to get to Venice Marco Polo Airport (airport code VCE) is the ATVO (blue) bus which departs from Piazzale Roma and takes about 20 minutes. To get to Treviso Airport (airport code TSF) you can also catch an ATVO (blue) bus from Piazzale Roma. The journey takes about 75 minutes.

Breakfasts included: 5

Lunches included: 

Dinners included: 1

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.

BREAKFASTS
There are some continental breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).

VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.

WINTER
The winter months in Europe are usually quite cold and possibly snowy. Temperatures can drop to freezing or below, and snowfalls are common, especially at higher altitudes. You will need to be prepared to travel in varying temperatures and snow. Extra layers, a warm jacket, hat, gloves and good footwear are a must.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

If you have booked an arrival transfer, and you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly on the number listed in the joining point instructions in the section above.

Intrepid's Local Operator: +49 8024 4679 540

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.