Trip Itinerary

Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner 

Day 1: Tuesday, April 13, 2021: Flight
We will fly from the US to Rome, Italy. Group flights can be arranged for 10+ people traveling together. (IF)

Day 2: Wednesday, April 14, 2021: Rome
On arrival in Rome, we will transfer to our charming hotel, which is a few minutes’ walk from the Vatican. The afternoon is at leisure for some gentle exploration.  We will meet for a welcome reception, then get to know the rest of the group over dinner in a local restaurant. (IF/D)

Day 3: Thursday, April 15, 2021: Rome
After breakfast, we will begin our Rome tour at St. Paul Within the Walls, also known as the American Church in Rome. This was the first non-Catholic church to be built inside the walls of Rome and dates back to 1873. Our next stop is the Mamertine Prison, where St. Peter and St. Paul were imprisoned. The nearby Roman Forum, was a clear symbol of the implacable justice of Rome and it was no coincidence that they were imprisoned in the Tullianum, a maximum security prison, before their martyrdom. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo represents a splendid example of Renaissance architecture. The church hosts some incredible masterpieces by Pinturicchio, Caravaggio and more. The evening is at leisure to dine in the restaurant of our choice. (B)

Day 4: Friday, April 16, 2021: Rome
We will take a short drive this morning to the impressive Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall. The name is derived from the location of St. Paul’s grave outside the Aurelian city wall. Tre Fontane Abbey is a Roman Catholic abbey, run by Trappists. These monks are part of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. The monastery has three separate churches, including the Church of St. Paul of Three Fountains, which is believed to be the site of St. Paul’s beheading. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 5: Saturday, April 17, 2021: Christian and Classical Rome
We’ll begin the day at the Vatican Museum, which boasts one of the world’s greatest art collections. These are housed in a series of lavishly adorned palaces, apartments, and galleries. The highlight of the museum is the Sistene Chapel.  We will then tour the Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. In the afternoon our guide will show us the highlights of old Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Colonna, the Colosseum and Piazza Navona. We’ll end our time in Rome with a farewell dinner in the Trastevere district. (B/D)

Day 6: Sunday, April 18, 2021: Rome, Sliema
This morning, we bid farewell to Rome and take a short flight to Malta. We will transfer to our luxury hotel in Sliema and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. We will meet up again for a group evening meal. (B/D)

Day 7: Monday, April 19, 2021: Valletta, Sliema
After breakfast, we will make our way to St Paul’s bay to view St Paul’s Islands and learn about the historic shipwreck which brought Christianity to Malta. We will then make our way to Malta’s capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valletta.  From the City Gates and Upper Barrakka Gardens, we will have stunning views of the Grand Harbor. Today’s lunch will be in the Artisan Baker restaurant, Nenu.  This characterful bakery features traditional Maltese foods, including the famous ftira. We’ll have a  tour of the kitchen to see the old oven and hear how it’s used for traditional bread-making. In the afternoon, we will continue exploring Valletta to learn about its historical significance and its beautiful architecture and visit St Paul’s Anglican Pro Cathedral. The Malta Experience Show will give us an overview of the islands’ history. We’ll visit the Sacra Infermeria, the old Hospital of the Knights of St. John and hear about their work. The highlight will be St. John’s Co-Cathedral, with it’s gorgeous Baroque designs, including the Caravaggio masterpiece: The Beheading of John the Baptist. We will dine in a restaurant this evening, including a 1/2 bottle of wine per person.  (B/D)

Day 8: Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Marsaxlokk, Mdina, Sliema
We will travel to the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk today, where we will see brightly colored boats. Marsaxlokk was used as a port by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. Our next stop is the Blue Grotton on the Southwestern coast. We will take a boat ride, then go up to Dingli Cliffs, the highest point in Malta. We will have a farm-to-table traditional lunch, then continue to the old capital city, Mdina. When St. Paul was shipwrecked, he stayed in the village of Rabat (near Mdina) as a prisoner. We will visit the grotto where he is said to have been held. This evening we will visit a band club for dinner. We will hear about the traditional instruments they play and the role they play in the community. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Wednesday, April 21, 2021: Gozo, Sliema
Today we will take the ferry to Gozo Island, though the Gozo Channel. The UNESCO World Heritage Site on Gozo predates Stonehenge and the Pyramids by at least 1,000 years. In Xwejni Bay, we will see the salt pans, which are part of the centuries-old tradition of making sea salt. The afternoon will be spent in Victoria, the capital city of Gozo. We will see the citadel and the 17th century cathedral. We will have a farewell meal this evening with a half-bottle of wine. (B/D)

Day 10: Thursday, April 22, 2021: Depart
We will depart Malta after breakfast. (IF)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Rome, Italy
April 14-18, 2021
Il Cantico Hotel
Via del Cottolengo 50,
00165 Rome

Sliema, Malta
April 18-22, 2021
Victoria Hotel
Gorg Borg Olivier Street
SLM 1807, Sliema,

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Transfers are automatically included if we have booked your flights.

If you have booked your own flights, we can still provide transfers, as long as we have your flight details on file and a phone number to give to the driver. We will include your transfer information in your final packet. Transfers will be arranged for each arrival, so that you won’t have to wait for other tour members if their flight is delayed. Transfers can be arranged for the day of your choosing, but we can’t arrange transfers if you arrive or depart by train.

Please note that individual transfers are booked through a third-party and you will be responsible to communicate with the company in case of delays.

Flight Information

Flights can be arranged once this tour is a guaranteed departure. We will let you know as soon as we have reached the minimum number of participants.

Group Air: If we have a minimum of 10 traveling together, we can provide a group air booking. Payment is due with the final payment.

Individual Air: If you would like assistance with alternative flights, please visit our Book a Flight page.  Please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking non-refundable airfare and send a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

Arrival: Please arrange to arrive in Rome no later than 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

Departure: You are welcome to depart from Malta at any time on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

We can arrange pre-tour nights in Rome and post-tour nights in Malta, but due to the volume of tours in 2021, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.

What’s included in the land price of $3,699?

Price based on a minimum of 20 participants

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via private, deluxe air-conditioned  motor coach
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in centrally located 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional tour director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Entrance fees included as per itinerary
•   Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
•   All taxes and tips including the tour director and drivers

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Air transportation and related taxes and fees
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Single supplement ($350)
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Insurance (see below for details)

Payment Schedule

•  Initial deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour, which can be paid by credit voucher, check or credit card payment. Please send all checks to Reformation Tours, P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in January 2021
•   Final payment is due by February 1 , 2021
•   Reservations will be accepted after February 1, 2021, subject to availability

Insurance

We will continue to assist clients who have a current policy with Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. Policies are now transferable to tours in 2021 and 2022.

If you don’t have insurance yet, we are now partnering with an award-winning company called Squaremouth, which helps travelers search, compare, and buy the best travel insurance for the lowest price. They offer excellent customer support and can help you find the best policy for your trip.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. We will make a decision no later than January 3, 2021 (100 days before departure) if the tour will operate. If the Coronavirus is still an issue, we will cancel and all tour participants will receive a full refund for land and group air payments. If we decide that the tour can proceed, then the following fees will apply, so we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance:

From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure (if not canceled by us): $100
From October 2, 2021 to March 30, 2021: $350 cancellation penalty plus any nonrefundable deposits
From March 31, 3021: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.

Terms and Conditions