Italian Dolomites Christmas Markets
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Highlights
- Spend a wonderful few days in the Dolomites
- Included visits to Bolzano and Trento Christmas markets
- Welcome drink at the hotel on the first night
- The opportunity to visit Austrian Innsbruck on an optional excursion
Inclusions
- Four nights’ half-board accommodation at the four-star Hotel Ancora, Molina di Fiemme
- Two included Christmas markets
- Return flights to Italy
- Coach travel and transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable
Day 1
Fly to Italy, meet your tour manager and transfer to your hotel. Settle in and unwind with an included welcome drink before dinner brings the opportunity to meet with fellow guests, no doubt looking forward to a wonderful break ahead. As this is a short break, we don’t include checked-in hold luggage but do include the airline’s base-level hand luggage so you can choose how much luggage you want to add on when you check in for your flight. Some airlines include a bag under the seat as their base luggage, others include overhead cabin bags – it varies from airline to airline – and there are always different options to increase the allowance. You may wish to add a hold bag if you anticipate buying lots of gifts at the Christmas markets or consider booking one hold bag between two people. The choice is yours, as we know everyone has different needs.
Day 2
After breakfast, join today’s included excursion to the former Roman settlement of Trento, the principal town of Italian Trentino, with its wonderful mountain-backed setting looking all the more special during the festive season. Wander the colourful streets and visit the Christmas market, which is held in two places: the Piazza Fiera square and Piazza Cesare Battisti square. The foodstuffs on offer, at the market and in the surrounding restaurants, fuse the flavours of the north with the tastes of the Mediterranean south. If you have time, don’t miss the chance to visit the ancient Duomo cathedral or the vast Buonconsiglio Castle.
Day 3
Today’s included excursion is to Bolzano, a delightful town set amongst slumbering vineyards in the heart of the wine-growing Alto-Adige region, surrounded by the towering, craggy peaks of the scenic Dolomite Mountains. The town is the undisputed ‘Italian Capital of Christmas’, and the wonderful Christmas market on the central Piazza Walther lives up to this reputation. Local crafts folk – including glassblowers and wood-carvers – ply their wares to a wonderfully scenic backdrop. Every inch a wine town, Bolzano offers countless opportunities for sampling the excellent local vintages, and the chance to take back a bottle or two for your own Christmas table.
Day 4
Today you’ll have time to rest and relax at your hotel, perhaps making use of the spa facilities in the wellness centre, or join the optional excursion to Austrian Innsbruck. With its onion-domed churches and historic old town surrounded by scenic mountains, the city is the perfect winter wonderland. Explore the many stalls of the delightful Christmas market held underneath the famous golden roof, and on elegant Maria-Theresien-Strasse, before returning to the hotel for dinner and a final evening in the Dolomites.
Day 5
Transfer to the airport and return to the UK today at the end of a wonderful festive break in the Dolomites.
Hotel Ancora, Molina Di Fiemme
This warm and welcoming four-star hotel is located in a historic building in the heart of Molina di Fiemme on the banks of the Avisio River. Rooms are spacious and traditional, and come with tea/coffee-making facilities, TV, hairdryer, fridge and safe. The hotel is also home to a traditional restaurant, which uses local ingredients, together with a spa and wellness centre.
Further Information
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 2.5 hours from Verona airport and 3 hours from Venice airport
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Luggage allowance
As this is a short break, we don’t include checked-in hold luggage but do include the airline’s base-level hand luggage so you can choose how much luggage you want to add on when you check in for your flight. Some airlines include a bag under the seat as their base luggage, others include overhead cabin bags – it varies from airline to airline – and there are always different options to increase the allowance. You may wish to add a hold bag if you anticipate buying lots of gifts at the Christmas markets or consider booking one hold bag between two people. The choice is yours, as we know everyone has different needs.
Travelling to Europe
Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay. Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure. Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required. Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Terms and conditions
Save up to 10% discount applies to specific 2022-2024 holidays and tours only. All tours are marked with the discounted percentage. The ‘Share it.’ offer applies to new bookings only for 2022 -2024 departures booked between 1 September and 11 November 2022 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu, and Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have percentage discount applied on our website. The discount applies to the tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.