Made in Italy: Venice, Christmas Edition
December 8 - 15, 2024
Join us for a women-only getaway that's a classical Venice tour with an extra twist!
"Made in Italy: Venice Christmas edition" will focus on local artisans, the art of Venetian masks & Carnival dresses, Murano glass, Burano lace, and a special Carnival-themed dinner celebration with a surprise.
Picture yourself admiring the beauty of Christmas lights reflecting in the Venetian canals, visiting lovely Prosecco hills with a chilled glass in hand, or sipping a lovely glass of wine with a view of the iconic St. Mark's Square.
A trip to remember!
Your investment to make this dream come true:
$10,497 USD
per person
Double occupancy
$9,997 - $10,997 USD per person
Single occupancy
Bring a friend and SAVE
$250 EACH!
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Arrive: Dec 8, 2024
Venice, Italy - Airport Marco Polo (VCE airport code)
Depart: Dec 15, 2024
Venice, Italy - Airport Marco Polo (VCE airport code)
*Airport transfers are not included in the itinerary but we can arrange them for you at extra cost.
Our hotel - a Venetian Palace!
THE TRIP AT A GLANCE
DAY 1 - DEC 8
Welcome to Italy! Get to know Venice.
A mixology class + a group welcome dinner!
DAY 2
Venice city tour, a gondola ride, a tasting lunch, & a visit to a Carnival costume atelier
DAY 3
Explore Venice's famous islands: Murano, Burano, and Torcello
DAY 4
Visit the Prosecco hills, wine & grappa tasting
DAY 5
A private cooking lesson, a Venetian mask workshop, and a special Carnival dinner gala
DAY 6
Artisanal tour - mosaics, ancient weaving mill and museum
DAY 7
Visit Verona and Valpolicella
DAY 8 - DEC 15
Departure day
Welcome to Italy!
- Kick off your journey with a walking tour in Cannaregio with an aperitif and cicchetti (Venetian small plates, the local version of Spanish tapas)
- We'll have a short mixology class to learn how to make a traditional Venetian aperitif
- Enjoy a delicious, 3-course group welcome dinner
Explore Venice - a city tour
- See Venice’s main highlights and historical treasures on our city tour
- The experience of a lifetime - a gondola ride along the famed Venetian canals
- We will have some free time at leisure so that you can explore Venice and do some shopping
- Enjoy an aperitif and group dinner with a view of the Grand Canal
Venetian Carnival Costumes
- Visit a prestigious Venetian Carnival costume atelier, where skilled artisans breathe life into the exquisite costumes
- Explore the atelier's inner workings during a one-hour visit.
- Rare opportunity to try on authentic Venetian costumes as you transform into a character from Venice's opulent past.
Let this experience come to life -
click to watch a video!
Murano, Burano, & Torcello
- Visit the island of Murano for a private visit to a Murano glass factory to discover the art of making world-famous Murano glass.
- Visit a winery for a tasting of local Venetian wines and have lunch at a local restaurant
- Explore the colorful island of Burano and its old tradition of making the most coveted lace in Europe.
- Visit Torcello, famous for the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca.
Visit the Prosecco hills
- Head to the Prosecco hills and visit the towns of Asolo and Bassano with a guide
- Visit an osteria for a wine tasting with an incredible view of the hills
- Explore the town of Asolo for a guided tour followed by lunch at a local restaurant
- Visit Bassano for a grappa tasting. Grappa is an Italian grape-based brandy
A private cooking lesson & a Venetian mask workshop
- Visit a local market with a private chef, followed by a hands-on, private cooking class and lunch
- Enjoy a Venetian mask-making class. Masks are an important feature of the Venetian Carnival and part of Venetian historical craftsmanship.
- This evening, we will host a special Carnival dinner gala!
A private Carnival Gala!
Enjoy a special Carnival Party with musical entertainment, a 4-course gala dinner, dancing, an open bar and historical Venetian costumes from one of the local ateliers.
**Costume/dress rental is included!**
Explore Venice’s artisanal history
- Visit the Orsoni furnace - using the same methods passed down since 1888, Orsoni is the only remaining mosaic factory in the Venetian lagoon
- Explore the Fondazione Bevilacqua, an ancient Venetian weaving mill whose foundation dates back to the end of the 19th century and its famous velvets and brocades
- Visit the Fortuny Museum, one of the most evocative house-museums in the world
Verona and Valpolicella
- Explore Verona, famous because of two of William Shakespeare's plays: Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. A Verona city tour includes Palazzo Maffei & the funicular to Castel San Pietro.
- See Verona’s Roman amphitheater (third-largest in Italy) and Juliet's House, with its famous balcony and Juliet statue
- Visit Valpolicella for a wine tasting and lunch in a winery
What’s included in your experience of a lifetime:
Accomodations
- 7 nights in a Venetian palace hotel
Tours & Activities
- Per itinerary
- Entry fees for all activities listed under Itinerary
Food & Beverages
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 group lunches
- 4 group dinners - including a farewell gala dinner
Transportation
- Private group motorcoach/bus transportation to/from all activities unless stated otherwise
Your investment to make this dream come true:
$10,497 USD
per person
Double occupancy
$9,997 - $10,997 USD per person
Single occupancy
Bring a friend and SAVE
$250 EACH!
Here’s what our guests said about
our past trips:
"Anna and her team in Italy did a fantastic job in making sure we had an amazing time visiting Puglia. There were so many “out of the box” experiences that made this trip unique & wonderful.
The group of women brought together by Anna made the trip fantastic! Thank you for a memorable trip!"
- MJ
"I can't say enough about Anna and Olegana Travel Boutique!!! What an awesome trip first off, and the ladies I met OMG!!!
She helped me plan an AMAZING and PERFECT itinerary.
This will not be my last trip with this Boutique."
- Lucia
"I went on the incredible Spain trip in the fall of 2023 and I was very impressed with the high quality of the tours, the guides and the accommodations.
Anna did a great job, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book another tour with her company."
- Lin
I hear it all the time - "I would love to come with you BUT..."
BUT I've never traveled alone!
This is a perfect option if you’re a solo traveler on a journey of self-discovery: you can be part of a larger group of women (usually 50+) that share your interests and have likely been in your shoes before, while going through a new stage of life like retirement, divorce or loss of a partner. Everyone is as excited to be on this trip as you are so you're not alone.
BUT I've never been to Europe!
That's ok - that's the beauty of travel and exploring new places! With our group, you don't have to worry about the logistics in an unfamiliar, new place. You're part of a small group that travels together with a professional, English-speaking guide and you get to know one another.
How amazing would you feel on the return flight home, knowing that you SEIZED the chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime, authentic European experience and met some new friends along the way?
Ready to explore Venice?
Yes! Let's make it happen.
Here’s how:
P.S.: Due to an overwhelming trip interest, we can only accommodate requests on a first come, first serve basis.
Hi, I’m Anna!
I’m the owner + founder of Olegana Travel Boutique.
I’m a travel addict, wife, mom of a little jet setter and another curious explorer who's growing up in my older son’s footsteps.
I curate custom made trips to Europe - for a group of women, a honeymoon, a solo traveler, or a family. Don't hesitate to reach out!
Additional information
Exclusions
- All activities, food and beverages not listed under the itinerary
- All items of a personal nature and anything not expressly stated as included
- Airfare to/from your arrival city and departure city
- Airport transfers in your departure city
- Airport arrival and departure transfers in Venice - can be arranged at extra cost
- Pre-paid gratuities of $200/person - will be collected approximately a week before the trip starts.
Insurance
- Insurance is strongly recommended. We can offer travel insurance for American travelers. Please let us know if you would like a quote for your travel insurance policy.
This trip is NOT for you if:
- You don't like to be on a set schedule and you don't feel comfortable traveling in a group.
- You enjoy a lot of down time. Although we are proponents of slow travel, we feel it would be a disservice to skip any of the included destinations or activities. There will be time for rest, but most days will included planned activities.
- You have mobility issues.
- You are under the age of 21 yrs old.
FAQs
Is this a women-only group?
Yes, only women / (she/her) are welcome to join the group.
Are children allowed on this tour?
No, this is an adults only group, for people 18 years old and older. If you’re under 50, don’t shy away - everyone is welcome! If you are interested in a family friendly adventure through Italy or any other country in Europe, we would be happy to create a custom trip for you. Please book a time on Anna's calendar here to discuss further.
Where does the group leave from?
The group will meet at the hotel in Venice, Italy on December 8, 2024. Everyone will be responsible for purchasing their own plane tickets to get to Italy. We are happy to help find the best airfare options and plan a trip extension before or after the group trip. The traveler will be responsible for any extra costs associated with that.
What weather and dress code should we expect/pack for?
We will provide a packing list closer to travel dates with suggested attire and useful gadgets. The trip is very casual, so as long as you are comfortable, you will be fine.