Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey
 
 

Tour

ITALY: Venice to Florence with a Dose of TdF

Venice to Florence, Italy

June 14, 2024 – July 2, 2024 (18 nights)

$3000 Per Person Double Occupancy Does NOT include Airfare

COMPLETED


Recommended Riding Level:  Strong C* and above.  Please commit to riding 1,000 miles before 6/14/24 to be prepared for this tour.

Average Mileage/Day:  40

Terrain: Rolling

Description:  Fly into the Marco Polo Airport in Venice.  The Venice historic centre is completely pedestrian; it is not allowed to ride bikes, not even carrying them by hand.  We have allowed time for sightseeing in Venice.  From our hotel in Mestre, we will have an optional ride to Treviso.  Leaving Venice, we continue on to Vicenza passing through Padua.  Then onto Verona for two days in the land Romeo & Juliet.  Leaving the romance of Verona, we continue onto Mantua with its lake scenery.  Reggio Emillia will be our next stop for 3 nights.  Optional day rides to Parma and Maranello.  Did someone say cheese tasting and ogling Ferraris?  Then we ride to Bologna for its rich architecture.  Obviously, during the whole trip we will be living the “Eat to Ride, Ride to Eat” dream.

We’ll take transportation from Bologna to Florence to avoid 88 miles and 6,000 feet of climbing arriving in Florence on Thursday, June 27th. On Saturday, June 29th, for the first time in its history, the Tour de France will start in Florence. On June 29th, we’d get up at the crack of dawn, have breakfast, bike about 20-25 miles (the first stage is hilly), get a good viewing spot, and cheer like crazy when the Tour rides past. When the road reopens, we coast back into Florence.  Besides the Tour de France, there is time in our schedule for sightseeing in Florence or an optional day trip to Pisa.  On July 1st, we return to Venice for our flights home on July 2nd.   

Date Hotel   Miles Feet
Fri June 14   Fly to Marco Polo Airport, Venice    
Sat June 15 Best Western Tritone Sightsee in Venice    
Sun June 16 Best Western Tritone Ride round trip to Treviso or sightsee in Venice 60 1400
Mon Jun 17 Best Western Tritone Sightsee in Venice    
Tue June 18 Hotel Villa Michelangelo Ride from Mestre to Vincenza passing through Padua 46.4 1411
Wed June 19 Hotel Marco Polo Verona Ride from Vincenza to Verona  36.2 1517
Thu June 20 Hotel Marco Polo Verona Sightsee in Verona and or ride to lake towns    
Fri June 21 Hotel Casa Poli Mantova Ride from Verona to Mantua.  26 441
Sat June 22 Albergo delle Notarie - 4 Stelle Ride from Mantua to Reggio Emillia 39.9 977
Sun June 23 Albergo delle Notarie - 4 Stelle Round trip day trip from Reggio Emillia to Maranello for Ferrari car museum 41.3 941
Mon June 24 Albergo delle Notarie - 4 Stelle Round trip day trip from Reggio Emillia  to Parma for cheese tasting 35.6 782
Tues June 25 Royal Hotel Carlton Ride from Reggio Emillia to Bologna 50.1 1166
Wed June 26 Royal Hotel Carlton Sightsee in Bologna    
Thu June 27 Hotel Unicorno Transport (TBD) from Bologna to Florence    
Fri June 28 Hotel Unicorno Sightsee in Florence and scout out TDF start route.     
Sat June 29 Hotel Unicorno TDF starts at Piazzale Michelangelo  Approx 40 - 50  on the TDF course HILLY
Sun June 30 Hotel Unicorno Ride to Pisa (one-way) and return via train 57.3 1478
Mon July 1 TBD - Venice Transport (TBD) from Florence to Venice     
Tue July 2    Fly home from Marco Polo Airport, Venice    

Estimated Cost of Tour:  $3,000 Per Person Double Occupancy Includes:

  • Lodging 17 nights at 3- and 4-star hotels including breakfast
  • SAG Wagon
  • PreTrip Dinner
  • At least 2 Group Dinners in Italy
  • Bike Box Storage

The inclusion of train fares is to be determined.

Any funds remaining at the conclusion of the tour will be returned to tour participants.

Does Not Include:

  • Airfare to and from Venice
  • Bike Rental

Deposit Required:  $1,000 once you are confirmed for the trip due within 10 days of confirmation.

Make your checks payable to Barbara Klein.  Mail to 173 Skyline Lake Dr, Ringwood NJ 07456

Bikes:  We are planning to bring our bikes.  Bike rentals are expensive and good bikes are hard to come especially during a major tour like the Tour de France.

Singles Wanting Roommates:  If you are a single and want a roommate, the ride leaders will try to help you find/assign a roommate.  This tour is strictly double occupancy.

Cancellation Policy:  Trip Insurance is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recovered. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional costs as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time less a cancellation fee of $300. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a participant that is sharing a room cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the supplement for a private room of the roommate remaining on the tour. 

Full Payment Due By:  April 1, 2024

Tour Leaders :

Barbara Klein [email protected]

Bob DeMair [email protected]

Email Registration Opens Sunday, 02/04/24 to 02/06/24 at 8 PM

Email RSVP to Bob DeMair at [email protected]