Experience Europe's Finest: Switzerland, France, Italy!

Package 44 - Experience Europe's Finest: Switzerland, France, Italy!

16 Nights / 17 Days

Local Tours

Price from€22.900or less

Package 44 - Experience Europe's Finest: Switzerland, France, Italy! — View more photos

PRICE LOCKED

Price locked at 22.900€ (or less) per person for a private party of two in a 4 or 5-star hotel in a standard double occupancy room. If there are additional guests in your party, the price per person decreases.

INTRO

Embark on a captivating 17-day journey through Europe
Explore iconic landmarks with guided tours of Paris, Giverny, Versailles, Lucerne, and Pompeii
Delight in exclusive access to renowned attractions such as the House of Claude Monet, Musée des Impressionismes, Louvre Museum, Saint-Chappelle, Musée Marmottan-Monet, Musée de l'Orangerie, and Pompeii Ruins
Experience the allure of scenic lakes with private boat tours on Lake Lucerne, Lake Como, and Lake Garda, as well as journeys to Ischia, Procida, and the Amalfi Coast
Traverse the Alps in style aboard the Glacier Express, enjoying a three-course lunch en route
Indulge in wine tastings and light lunches at local wineries, and unwind each night in hand-picked 4 or 5-star accommodations with breakfast included

HIGHLIGHTS

The Essence of Europe: Italy, France, and Switzerland Tour - 16 Nights/17 Days

17 day tour visiting Paris, Giverny, Versailles, Dinoze, Epinal, Lucerne, Andermatt. St. Moritz, Bellagio, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Florence, Chianti Region, Montepulciano, Pienza, Sorrento, Ischia, Procida, Pompeii, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Rome
Guided tours of Paris, Giverny, House of Claude Monet, Musée des Impressionismes, Saint-Chappelle Chapel, Louvre Museum, Musée de Marmottan-Monet, Musée de l'Orangerie, Versailles Château, Lucerne and Pompeii
Entrance tickets to access into House of Claude Monet, Musée des Impressionismes, Eiffel Tower Lift, Louvre Museum, Saint-Chappelle, Musée Marmottan-Monet, Musée de l'Orangerie, Château de Versailles and Pompeii Ruins
Private boat tours on Lake Lucerne, Lake Como, Lake Garda
Private boat tours to Ischia, Procida and the Amalfi Coast
Train tickets for the Glacier Express, the famouse train ride through the Alps, from Andermatt to St. Moritz, three course lunch included
Wine tasting and light lunch in a local winery
Hand-picked 4 or 5 star accommodations with breakfasts included

our safety measures

English speaking driver at your disposal for 10-11 hrs per day
New luxury mercedes vehicle
Vehicle sanitized prior to pick up of guests
The vehicle will be used exclusively for you for the duration of the vacation/tour
The driver and vehicle is exclusive the same from the start till the end of the vacation.
Our tours frequent off the beaten path locations, less frequented by tourists with a greater authentic feel.
No hidden costs: guides and tickets are always included in our packages
Company representative available by phone 24 hrs per day
Flexible, risk free bookings and penalty changes*
Changes to land portion of tours up to 30 days prior to the travel date without penalty*

Why choose our tours vs big groups

Customize your days and timing at sites directly with your driver
Private, comfortable luxury vehicle exclusively for your party for the duration of your tour
Our private vehicles (which can hold a maximum of 8 guests) can arrive directly in the main center of the cities, while taking a bus involves a considerable amount of walking which is a significant amount of lost touring time.
No need to wait around for groups members to arrive and designated meeting times
More time to spend actually visiting sites
Air conditioning (temperature control) and wifi on board
Water, snacks and refreshing cotton wipes with aloe vera, provided everyday
Friendly, local, english speaking driver/guides who engage with guests and share information to optimize your touring experience
24/7 assistance and support from our ground operational office in Italy
Private small groups of 3, 4, 6 and 8 + price per person will be lower
For groups more than 8 guests, we’ll use 2 minivans and the service provided will be the same
For custom made tours we work with any reasonable budget

When

All year

Price From

22900.00

Level

Very Easy

Service Type

Vehicle + Walking Tour

What’s included

16 Nights in 4 or 5 star hotel
16 Breakfasts
Private driver and vehicle for the length of your vacation
Water - snacks - refreshing cotton wipes with aloe vera
Private guided tours with professionally licensed English speaking guides and entrance tickets as mentioned
Private boat tours on Lake Lucerne, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Ischia, Procida and Amalfi Coast
Cellar visit, wine tasting and light lunch at a winery in Tuscany
Glacier Express train tickets with lunch included

Not included

Gratuities
Any meal or beverage not mentioned
City taxes at the hotels
Flight tickets
Transportation or expenses in Ischia, Procida, Amalfi Coast

Itinerary

Parigi
Giverny
Versailles
Épinal
Lucerna
Bellagio
Lago di Como
Lago di Garda
Firenze
Sorrento
Costiera Amalfitana
Fiumicino

Parigi

Paris, Francia

Giverny

Giverny, Francia

Versailles

Versailles, Francia

Épinal

Épinal, Francia

Lucerna

Lucerne, Svizzera

Bellagio

Bellagio, CO, Italia

Lago di Como

Lake Como, Italia

Lago di Garda

Lake Garda, Italia

Firenze

Florence, FI, Italia

Sorrento

Sorrento, NA, Italia

Costiera Amalfitana

Amalfi Coast, Amalfi, SA, Italia

Fiumicino

Fiumicino, RM, Italia

Enchanting Europe's Treasures - 16 Nights/17 Days

Day 1	Arrive into Paris at CDG Airport. Meet your driver outside the luggage claim area and transfer to a 4 or 5 star hotel in Paris for a four night stay. Remainder of the day/evening at your leisure.
day 2	Today you will visit Giverny with a professionally licensed English speaking guide. Visit the House of Claude Monet, the former residence of the renowned Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Surrounded by beautiful gardens which served as Monet's inspiration for many iconic paintings. Visit the Musée des impressionnismes and Jardin di Musée des impressionnismes. Entrance tickets included.
day 3	Intro to Paris city center tour with your professionally licensed, English speaking guide. See sites such as the Saint-Chapelle Chapel and the Ponte Neuf. Private guided tour of the Louvre with entrance tickets included. Visit the Eiffel Tower, take the elevator to the top.
day 4	Continue exploring Paris with your professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Private guided tours of Musée de l’Orangerie and Musée Marmottan-Monet. Entrance tickets included.
day 5	Check out of Paris hotel, meet your guide and driver. Day tour to Versailles (about 4-5 hours). Guided tour of the Château de Versailles. See sites including the Garden of Versailles, The Royal Chapel of Versailles and The Temple of Love. Continue on to Epinal for an overnight stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel.
day 6	Check out of hotel after breakfast and continue on to Dinozè. Visit the American Cemetery in Dinozé, spend about 2-3 hours (flexibility here). Continue on to Lucerne, Switzerland. Arrive in Lucerne, check in to a 4 or 5 star hotel for a two night stay.
day 7	Day tour of Lucerne with your professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Boat tour on Lake Lucerne, surrounded by picturesque mountains, charming towns and lush landscapes. Remainder of the evening at your leisure.
day 8	Check out of hotel in Lucerne. Transfer from Lucerne to Andermatt where you will take a train ride through the Alps (about 4.5 hours). Three course meal on board included. Meet your driver upon arrival in St. Moritz and continue on to Bellagio. Upon arrival in Bellagio, check in to a 4 or 5 star hotel for a two night stay.
day 9	Full day (8 hour) boat tour on Lake Como. Glide across the azure waters as you soak in breathtaking views of the surrounding Alps and charming lakeside towns. Stop in three locations of your choice during the touring day.
day 10	Check out of Bellagio hotel. Transfer to Florence via Lake Garda. Half-day in Garda, including a private 2 hour boat tour on Lake Garda. Time for lunch on your own in Garda. Continue on to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, check in to a 4 or 5 star hotel for a two night stay.
day 11	Day tour outside of Florence, exploring the Chianti Region. You will have the chance to stop in several small towns, the most famous one being Greve in Chianti. Visit a local winery for a wine tasting experience and light lunch.
day 12	Check out of Florence hotel. Transfer to Sorrento via the Val d’Orcia. Visit the hilltop towns of Pienza and Montepulciano. Upon arrival in Sorrento check into a 4 or 5 star hotel for a four night stay.
day 13	Today you will sail to Ischia and Procida. Private boat with English speaking skipper. Drinks, snacks, towels, snorkeling equipment included. Day at your leisure on the boat. You can discuss your preferences with your skipper directly on the day.
day 14	Meet your driver at the hotel. Enjoy a two hour guided tour with a professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Entrance tickets included. Remainder of the day at your leisure in Sorrento.
day 15	Enjoy a boat tour to the Amalfi Coast with stops in Positano and Amalfi. Private boat with English speaking skipper. Drinks, snacks, towels, snorkeling equipment included. Day at your leisure on the boat. You can discuss your preferences with your skipper directly on the day.
day 16	Check out of Sorrento hotel. Private transfer from Sorrento to Rome with a stop along the way. Enjoy an overview of the beautiful city of Naples and a delicious Pizza lunch. Check in at the Rome FCO Airport hotel.
day 17	Have your breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from Rome Airport Hotel to FCO Rome airport. Departure from Italy 😔

What is the currency used in Italy, and where can I exchange money?

The currency in Italy is the Euro (€). You can exchange money at banks, exchange offices ("cambio"), or ATMs. Banks offer competitive rates but may have higher fees. Exchange offices are convenient but compare rates. ATMs are widespread with favorable rates, but watch for bank fees. Major credit cards are accepted, but carrying cash for small purchases and emergencies is advisable.

Do I need a Visa to travel to Italy?

Whether you need a visa to travel to Italy depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Citizens of many countries, including those in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, can enter Italy visa-free for short stays as tourists

What are hotel taxes in Italy, how do I pay them and how much are they?

In Italy, hotel taxes, known as "tassa di soggiorno" or tourist tax, are fees charged by local municipalities on guests at accommodations like hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals. These taxes vary based on location and accommodation type, usually calculated per person per night. They're not typically included in the room rate and are paid directly to the provider upon check-out, often in cash or added to the final bill. Exemptions may apply for certain guests, such as children or those with disabilities.

How do you greet people in Italy?

Greetings in Italy are typically warm and involve a handshake. It's common to greet people with a friendly "Ciao" or "Buongiorno" (good morning) during the day. In the evening or when meeting someone for the first time, "Buonasera" (good evening) is more appropriate. Italians value politeness, so don't forget to use "Grazie" (thank you) and "Per favore" (please) when appropriate.

What are the opening hours for shops and businesses?

In Italy, traditional business hours are observed, with most shops opening around 9:00 am and closing for a few hours in the afternoon (usually between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm). Shops then reopen at around 5:30 pm. Some smaller businesses may close on Sundays, so it's advisable to plan shopping accordingly.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Italy?

While major credit cards are generally accepted, it's advisable to carry some cash, especially in smaller establishments. Notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid any issues with card transactions.

How do gratuities work in Italy?

Gratuities are not mandatory and never included, but if you've been pleased with the service, it's customary to show appreciation, and workers are very thankful. Generally speaking, gratuities can be 100€ full day guides, 50€ half/partial day guides, driver 75-150€ on full day use of vehicle, skipper 150-250€ for full day tours, hotel porters 3-5€ per bag, restaurants 10-20% on the total, guest ambassadors, based on service received, 1-5% on rhe total amount. Gratuities in Italy run anywhere from 10-25% depending on the services and your satisfaction with them.

What should I wear if I want to visit some religious sites?

If you intend to visit religious sites, please have knees and shoulders covered (both men and women).

Gordon C

From

Our family of four just finished a three week European vacation which was organized and executed by JBL Tours. This was the best travel experience we have had so far. This was our fourth trip with JBL but first one to include other countries besides Italy. The arrangements were complex but Cindy and Milena were awesome at meeting all of our specific needs including hotels, tours, guides and any thing else we requested. Our trip started in Paris and France, went thru Switzerland and then Italy from Lake Como to the Amalfi coast. Our driver, Antonio, picked us up at the Paris airport and served as our driver and sometimes guide managing all the details with local English speaking guides, tours, restaurant recommendations and multiple cruises over a three week period. Thanks to him and all the JBL staff, we never had to worry about any details. Antonio feels like part of our family now. We had the pleasure of meeting Joe in Sorrento and saw his dedication to individualized travel experience. We will definitely be using JBL in our future European travel.

Andrew

From

Our private tour through Italy with Joe Banana was incredible. They arranged a beautiful journey with stays in Rome, Florence and Venice, as well as side trips to Naples, Pompeii, Orvieto and Modena. Milena helped us craft a perfect itinerary and was always readily available, when we wanted to make changes. Our driver, Giulio was an absolute pleasure to be around, and he took such great care of us. The guides in each city were so fun and knowledgeable, that we were always sad to only have a day or two with each. I cannot recommend Joe Banana highly enough. There was always someone there to help us. We wanted for nothing. This was truly a trip of a lifetime!

Daniel Febbroriello

From South Carolina

I highly recommend Joe Banana and his crew for any of your vacation needs in Italy! We booked a 13 day tour with them and it was fantastic. From our first contact with Melana our entire trip was handled without us having to worry. She planned the perfect vacation for the 6 of us. All of our local tour guides were phenomenal and offered the best recommendations. Our driver Giuseppe was great and went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of. Wouldn't hesitate to book another trip with them!

U9770EOmarkb

From

We built a customized tour with Joe Banana that was centered around Sorento / Amalfi / Pompei / Rome / Vatican City. It was an INCREDIBLE trip. Everyone we interacted with from Joe Banana was great. Our main driver Raffaele and main contact Milena were always above and beyond and the fact that we found our own VRBO places to stay and Joe Banana worked that in so easily made it even better! Our local guides in Rome and Pompei were extremely pleasant and knowledgeable and we even planned a private boat day with our Captain Luigi out to Capri (HUGE BONUS)! All in all would HIGHLY recommend Joe Banana and will absolutely use them again for our next visit to a different part of Italy!

968hollys

From

Anna at JB was amazing at helping me plan a whirlwind tour of a ton of Italy. She tailored the trip to be everything I asked for and more. Their communication throughout the trip was perfect, and we had 10 days of amazing adventures that I will never ever forget. A trip of a lifetime. I am already plotting my return to Italy, now that I have a taste of so much of it. I couldn't recommend Joe Banana more. Nothing will ever be perfect, but they are as close as it comes. I don't think anyone else would have helped me cram so much in, in the timeframe we had. We were never left without communication or a guide. From the start to the finish- TOP NOTCH planning and communication. Trust me, and use JB for your Italy travel. They KNOW Italy!

31suzannel

From

We searched for the right tour and the right company to help us celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We reached out to Joe Banana based on reviews we had read and started planning a trip for August 2023. Milenia was the best person to ask all my questions and make suggestions. She calmed my fears when I was “nervous” about things and let me know she would always be in contact with us. We spent two weeks in Italy visiting Venice, Florence/Tuscany region, Sorrento/Amalfi Coast and finally Rome. We planned all private tours and drivers and none of them disappointed. They were all fabulous. At the end of the tours we felt like family. Milenia always checked in every afternoon and asked how things went. Some days we suggested a slight change for the next day and she would always try to accommodate. All do the tours guides were phenomenal and so knowledgeable about the areas. All the drivers were friendly and great. I would 1000% recommend them to anyone and should we find ourselves back in Italy I would not hesitate to work with them again.