Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

American Airlines has made available a selection of discounted fares on flights from US to Italy for travel through March 31 next year.

Fares are each way based on round-trip purchase; fares do not include taxes and fees. To enjoy these low fares flights must be booked by December 21, 2010. They are valid for outbound travel through March 31, 2011. All travel must be complete by April 17, 2011.
From Boston (BOS): Milan (MXP): $298 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $364;
from Chicago O’Hare (ORD): Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $390;
from Dallas / Ft. Worth (DFW): Milan (MXP) $335 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $398;
from Ft. Lauderdale (FLL): Milan (MXP) $319;
from Houston Bush Intercont’l (IAH): Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $373;
from Las Vegas (LAS): Milan (MXP) $427;
from Los Angeles (LAX): Milan (MXP) $358;
from Miami (MIA): Milan (MXP) $319 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $364;
from Minneapolis / St. Paul (MSP): Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $414;
from New York Kennedy (JFK): Milan (MXP) $291 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $338;
from Orlando (MCO): Milan (MXP) $354;
from Phoenix (PHX): Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $317;
Pittsburgh (PIT): Milan (MXP) $317;
from Salt Lake City (SLC): Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $436;
from San Diego (SAN): Milan (MXP) $402 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $407;
from San Francisco (SFO): Milan (MXP) $379 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $384;
from Seattle (SEA): Milan (MXP) $379 - Rome L. Da Vinci (FCO) $384;
from St. Louis (STL): Milan (MXP) $379.
Find out more of these fares here.

Among the best winter fares on flights from US to Italy, KLM offers one-way flights from San Francisco to Rome starting as low as $ 384 and from Los Angeles to Rome starting from $ 405, including fuel surcharge, fees and taxes. Tickets must be purchased by December 16, 2010.
The KLM fares are one-way based on round-trip purchase including fuel surcharge, government-imposed fees and taxes of approximately $100 - $160 (more or less depending on airports), including the September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per round-trip are additional. A minimum 14 day advance purchase is required. A maximum 1 month stay is permitted. A minimum Saturday night stay is required. Details of KLM fares are available here.

Qantas offers discounted fares on flights from Australia to Italy.

A few examples: Sydney - Rome return strating from AUD 1854, Melbourne - Rome return from AUD 1835 including charges and taxes.
The fares are available for sale until December 16, 2010.
Details of the offer can be found here.

Indian carrier Jet Airways has launched daily non-stop service between New Delhi and Milan.
Jet Airways operates this route using new Airbus 330-200 aircraft.

- Schedule
Flight 9W 142 departs Delhi at 12:55 PM arriving in Milan at 6:00 PM. Flight 9W 141 departs Milan at 9:25 PM arriving in Delhi at 09:55 AM.

Eurofly is offering flights between New York and Rome and from New York to Naples starting at $343 round-trip.

The offer is valid for select dates in September and October. The fare does include the fuel surcharge, it does not include taxes and fees.

Offer available on the below listed dates
- Rome
outbound: Aug. 29, 30; Sept. 6, 13, 17, 20, 24, 26 and 27; Oct. 1, 2, 9
return: Sept. 18, 30; Oct. 2, 16
- Naples
outbound: Sept. 16, 18, 25, 30
returns: Sept. 24, 26

Details at euroflyusa.com.

If you have just one day to visit Florence, a guided tour could be what you need. Even better if you are given the option to pick a half day tour.

The following guided tour of Florence gives you the option to choose the sightseeing and the schedule that works best for you. The options you have include: a morning tour, an afternoon tour, and a full-day tour.

- Florence morning tour
Your morning tour starts with a drive up to Piazzale Michelangelo to admire wonderful panoramic views of Florence. Next, you’ll take a walking tour of the cathedral complex in the old city center, including Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery with its bronze doors and the famous cupola by Brunelleschi. A short walk brings you to the Accademia Gallery which houses the statue of David by Michelangelo. The morning tour concludes here, or you can choose to end your morning tour with lunch at a restaurant in the town center.

- Florence afternoon tour
Your afternoon tour begins with panoramic views of Florence, Fiesole and the Arno Valley. Next, you’ll visit the old city center to see the Franciscan Church of Santa Croce. A short walk through the heart of Florence brings you to the famous Piazza Signoria, where you can see the imposing Palazzo Vecchio and the beautiful Loggia del Lanzi. Next you’ll visit the Uffizi Galleryto admire superb paintings by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Giotto. The tour concludes at the Uffizi.

- Florence full-day tour
A combination of the morning tour, including a light lunch, followed by the afternoon tour.
Here’s tour details.

Flying to Italy is getting cheaper. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are offering cheap flights to Italy for spring travel.

Delta is offering discount airfares on flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to major destinations in Italy.
Travel period: March 2 through April 2.
A minimum of one Saturday night stay is required.
Tickets must be purchased by March 2.

Below a sampling of Delta’s fares from New York JFK. These tickets are one-way, based on round-trip purchase and valid in the Economy (Coach) cabin.
- Milan (MXP) $229 ;
- Pisa (PSA) $219 ;
- Rome (FCO) $229.
Blackout Dates: From Rome: March 20-24.

If departing from New York JFK is not ok for you, you can try with United Airlines. United’s launched a similar offer on flights to Milan and Rome, from a number of U.S. airports including Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco,and Washington Dulles.