Newsletter # 4 - February 8, 1999 - 42 days and counting……
Airport Change; Flight Information
Elsewhere at this web site you will find the flight information for our trip to Italy. Please note that we will be flying out of JFK Airport, Long Island, NOT Newark Airport as originally announced. The reason is that EF wanted to give us a direct flight to Italy on ALITALIA Airlines. For those of you taking the Bus from Vincentown, this should be no problem. Anyone who did not opt for the bus and is interested now that we've changed airports, you can still sign up, but on a first come, first serve basis. The bus is a 49 passenger bus, and we have 54 people going. We will certainly assist anyone in planning shuttle service to JFK if you miss the cut-off for the bus. I have already booked the bus, and the price will remain the same: $30.00 round trip. (Those staying on in Italy can book it one way for $15.00). As of this printing, I have 45 reservations for the bus to JFK. Full payment must be received at the meeting on Saturday, February 20. As noted on page 3, we will be leaving Vincentown at 1:30 p.m. We will not be able to make any stops along the way for pickups at other locations.
Hotel Information
Along with the flight information you will also find that EF has announced two of our five hotels: the one in Venice and the one in Assisi. I will post hotels as I get the information from EF Tours. I should have a complete list for our February 20 meeting.
Meeting on Saturday, February 20 - 10:30 a.m.
Our next pre-trip meeting will be held at Burlington County College. We will meet in the Integrated Learning Resource Center (Library), in the Teleconference Center, just inside the rotunda on the left. Because the doors don't open till 10:00 a.m. and I have to set up the room, I will begin the meeting at 10:30. If you need directions, go to the BCC web site:www.bcc.edu and click on to the section on the various campuses of BCC. The College Library in Pemberton is the building with the white silo-like rotunda, closest to County route 530. Park in parking lot # 10, adjacent to the library.
At this meeting I will distribute EF trip journals, EF baggage tags, and EF back packs. I will also distribute the Italian Lira for those who requested it. All your financial accounts with me will have to be finalized at this meeting (i.e., especially payment for bus to JFK Airport). If you don't plan on being at the meeting, please mail in your payments or call me to make arrangements to pick up materials. We hope to complete the meeting by 12:30.
Optional Tours
According to my records, 32 of you are booked for Pisa, 49 for Capri and 34 for the Catacombs. Anyone wishing to book an optional who has not yet done so must have their money in to EF Tours before the 30-day cutoff, which is Friday, February 19. So if anyone wishes to still book a tour, send the money DIRECTLY to EF Educational Tours in Cambridge, MA, indicating the number of our tour (# 332556), your personal account number and the specific tour(s) you wish to book, with a check in the appropriate amount. If there are any errors on this list, please let me know. It will be too late to book the tour at our meeting on February 20. You can book Pisa and Capri in Italy at the higher rate. The Catacombs can only be pre-booked.
Packing Information
At our meeting in January I made a special point of insisting that you PACK LIGHT. That is, you are limited to ONE medium sized suitcase (preferably with wheels) and one carry on bag. I cannot stress enough the importance of packing light. Remember, we will be carting our luggage to 5 separate hotels. Our bus can only hold so much luggage -- so we are LIMITED. Dress is casual throughout the tour, and you are encouraged to be creative in the multi-use of the same clothing throughout the tour. After you lay out your wardrobe, eliminate HALF of it before packing! The weather will be similar to our end-of-March weather, so prepare to wear layers if it gets cold. No bulky winter wear should be necessary. Remember also to pack a light poncho in case of rain -- get a cheap plastic one at K-Mart or your neighborhood pharmacy.
OK to call me.
As we get closer to departure, I know you have last minute questions. Don't hesitate to contact me by phone or e-mail. My phone: 609-859-4042. E-mail: [email protected]. I will also post current information on my web page as I receive it.
Travel 2000
Elsewhere on this web site you will find information on next year's tours: Alpine Journey and Scandinavian Highlights. Early birds get the price and the guaranteed seat! Remember, we had to turn away people for this Italy tour -- and I expect the same will happen with next year's tours.