Fully Escorted by Paula!
Book NowJoin us this Christmas to picturesque Lake Garda situated in northern Italy, nestled into the base of the Dolomite Mountains, and plays host to some absolutely stunning views across the water. Explore magical destinations including Trento, Verona and Bardolino all with their own traditional Christmas Markets. We stay in Riva del Garda, this historic centre turns into a small gastronomic village. Di gusto in Gusto is in fact the Christmas Market dedicated to the culinary excellence of the region. There is a lovely lakeside promenade you walk around and independent shops to visit.
Day 1
Depart home area to Dover for our ferry crossing to Calais. We continue through France making suitable refreshment stops enroute arriving at our overnight hotel, the Mercure Saarbrücken Süd hotel in Germany, with time to freshen up before our evening meal.
DDay 2
After breakfast we continue travelling through Germany and Austria and into Italy, making suitable comfort stops. We arrive at our hotel in Riva del Garda late afternoon. Time to freshen up before our welcome drink and evening meal.
B, DDay 3
This morning we head to Bardolino which lies on the shores of Lake Garda. The Christmas Market takes place along the beautiful lakeside promenade, characteristic huts offer typical products and gifts from traditional food and wine to local handicrafts and high-quality Christmas items. Take a stroll through the old town where you can visit several churches all wrapped up in a magical Christmas atmosphere. Christmas decorations and festive sparkle transform Bardolino into a charming Christmas wonderland. We return to Riva del Garda with time to look around the shops. This afternoon enjoy snacks with cake, biscuits, and tea/coffee at our hotel.
B, DDay 4
Christmas Eve
We visit the beautiful city of Verona, full of romance, love, history, and architecture. See Juliet’s balcony, the setting of the love story Romeo and Juliet. Over 100 wooden stalls spread across the city in two squares, Piazza dei Signori (or Piazza Dante) and the Courtyard of the Mercato Vecchio. There are many delightful shops and many eateries offering many traditional Italian dishes to tempt your taste buds for lunch. We spend the whole day here before returning to our hotel. Time to relax before our special Christmas Eve dinner with live music tonight.
Day 5
Christmas Day
Enjoy today’s festivities or enjoy an idyllic optional boat trip on Lake Garda this morning (extra cost of £23 per person, this must be pre-booked please ask one of our Sales Advisors). This afternoon we have a traditional Turkey Christmas lunch. Afterwards, time to relax or take a gentle stroll along the Lake around the pretty town before our evening meal.
Day 6
Boxing Day
After breakfast we visit the historic center of Trento, the city of Christmas, where the magic of the Christmas Market blends with the thousand-year history of the city. There are many pastel-colored houses and medieval arcades, we can wander through the picturesque streets towards the medieval Castello del Buonconsiglio. We return to our hotel this afternoon for cake and tea/coffee. We have time to relax before our evening meal.
Day 7
After breakfast we check out of our main stay hotel and return to our overnight in Germany, making suitable comfort stops. We arrive with time to freshen up before our evening meal.
B, DDay 8
After breakfast return to Calais for the ferry crossing, making suitable comfort stops along the way with time to purchase lunch.
BB=Breakfast Included, L=Lunch Included, D=Dinner Included
PORTICI HOTEL, RIVA DEL GARDA ****
This 4-star hotel boasts a truly enviable position, in the heart of the historic city, only 50 meters away from the lake, with refurbished rooms equipped with air-conditioning, flat screen television, minibar and free WiFi.
PRICE INCLUDES
Return ferry crossing
5 nights at the Portici Hotel, Riva Del Garda
Outward & return overnight at the Mercure Saarbrücken Süd
Half board accommodation throughout
Welcome drink at both hotels
Tea/coffee after dinner
Christmas gift
Afternoon snacks and tea/coffee 2 afternoons at the Portici Hotel
4 course Christmas Eve dinner with live music
Traditional Turkey Christmas lunch
Coach excursions as described
Fully escorted throughout
Passports are required.
Please note: All programmes supplied by hotels for festive breaks are based on the previous year and are subject to change.
*Holiday itineraries are subject to change. All prices are per person. Single room supplements are subject to change.
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Please find below our pick up points (not all pick up points will be available on all departure dates). View the pick-up point you require, then you’ll see a list of dates which are/aren’t available from your pick up point.
Please find below our pick up points (not all pick up points will be available on all departure dates). View the pick-up point you require, then you’ll see a list of dates which are/aren’t available from your pick up point.
Name | Address | Times |
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Barking | Station Parade, IG11 8TU | View |
Barkingside | Fullwell Cross, Bus Stop A - IG6 2EA | View |
Basildon | Cherrydown East Bus Stop, SS16 5GT, Basildon | View |
Brentwood | Brentwood, Outside The Dairyman | View |
Chalkwell Park | Chalkwell Park Bus Stop, London Road | View |
Chelmsford Victoria Road | Victoria Road CM1 1JR | View |
Collier Row | White Hart Lane - Bus Stop out Tythe Court RM7 8LZ | View |
Corringham Town Centre | Gordon Road, Bus Stop near Grover Walk SS17 7EY | View |
Cranham | Front Lane/Moor Lane Junction Bus Stop RM14 1XJ Outside Restaurant Opp. Car Park | View |
Dagenham | Church Elm Lane, Bus Stop L - RM10 9QS | View |
Depot | Depot, Princess Road, Rayleigh | View |
Galloway Pickup | Pickup tba for Galloway | View |
Hadleigh Church | Hadleigh Church, Bus Layby | View |
Harold Wood | Bus Stop A, Gubbins Lane, RM3 0DR | View |
Hockley Spa | Hockley Spa, Bus Stop outside the Library | View |
Holiday Inn, Brentwood | Holiday Inn Brentwood | View |
Hornchurch. | Hornchurch Town Centre, outside Sutton Arms | View |
Hutton | Hutton, Bus Stop just past the Chequers Pub | View |
Ilford | Ilford, Bus Stop outside 6 Clements Road, IG1 1BA | View |
Kavanaghs Rd | Kavanaghs Road/London Road, Brentwood | View |
Palace Theatre | Palace Theatre Bus Stop | View |
Pitsea | Outside what was Gala Bingo Hall, Pitsea | View |
Queensway | Queensway Bus Stop (Behind the Odeon Cinema) | View |
Rayleigh Stn | Rayleigh Railway Station | View |
Romford | St Edwards Way - Bus Stop H - RM1 3DQ Out: Romford Shopping Hall | View |
Sadlers Farm | Bus Stop on A13, just before Sadlers Farm roundabout, nr Romsey Road | View |
Shenfield Stn | Shenfield Station, outside what was Barclays Bank | View |
Shepherd & Dog Crays Hill | Shepherd & Dog, Crays Hill | View |
Shotgate | Shotgate Post Office | View |
South Green | Grange Parade Bus Stop, South Green, Billericay | View |
Stanford Rookery Corner | Rookery Corner Stanford | View |
Sun Corner | Sun Corner London Road - Billericay | View |
Thames Drive | Thames Drive Bus Stop | View |
The Elms | Bus Stop outside Elms Public House, Leigh on Sea | View |
The Oak Grays | The Oak Public House, Lodge Lane, Grays | View |
Thorpe Bay Stn | Thorpe Bay Station, Acacia Drive (opp Station) | View |
Thurrock Services, | Thurrock Services Coach Park, RM16 3BG | View |
Upminster | Bus Stop M, St Mary's Lane- Upminster Outside St.Laurence Church RM14 2QJ | View |
Vic Hse Cnr, Rayleigh Rd | Vic House Corner, (Rayleigh Road) | View |
Websters Way | Websters Way, Rayleigh | View |
White Horse | White Horse,Southchurch Road, Southend | View |
Whittinghams Grg | Whittinghams Garage, opp Rochford Railway Station | View |
Wickford | Halls Corner, opposite Police Station, Wickford | View |
Woodford Green | Snakes Lane East, Bus Stop R - IG8 7HU | View |
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