Pilgrimage

TOUR: Italy Jubilee Pilgrimage with Fr. Nelson Cintra and Deacon Lou Aaron
DEPARTURE DATES: April 28-May 9, 2025
TOUR DURATION: 10 Days

Departure City: Boise (BOI)

COST:
Includes: Hotel, transportation, some meals, and site fees.  
$5,698 per person including airfare from BOI


SHORT ITINERARY:
Day 1, DEPART THE USA
Day 2, WELCOME TO ITALY- FLORENCE & SIENNA
Day 3, SIENA, WINE TASTING LUINCH & CASCIA
Day 4, ASSISI 
Day 5, LORETO, MANOPPELLO, & LANCIANO
Day 6, SAN GIOVANNI
Day 7, MUGNANO & POMPEII
Day 8 & 9, WELCOME TO ROME
Day 10, Return Flights Home

For more information or to reserve your spot contact:
Stephanie Bennett
208-908-6175
[email protected]

EXTENDED ITINERARY:

April 28 - DEPART THE USA Board your flight to Italy. Enjoy rest and meals onboard as you start your pilgrimage. 

April 29 - WELCOME TO ITALY- FLORENCE & SIENNA Arrive in Florence today and see the Piazza della Signoria with its Neptune Fountain and Vecchio Palace. Also, see, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, which houses Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietá, the Baptistry, which features Ghiberti’s famous Gates of Paradise and the Academy, where you can view some of Michelangelo’s finished and unfinished work, including the awe-inspiring David.  Check into your hotel in Siena for dinner and your overnight stay. 

April 30 - SIENA, WINE TASTING LUINCH & CASCIA Traverse through the town of Sienna this morning and visit the city’s Romanesque, Gothic Cathedral. Enter the Sanctuary of St. Catherine of Sienna which houses the crucifix from which she received her stigmata. Wander through the Piazza del Acmpo and see its architectural treasures. Continue your time in Sienna viewing the incorrupt relics of St. Catherine of Sienna at the Basilica of St. Dominic. This afternoon enjoy a wine tasting & lunch at a vineyard on your way to Cascia and celebrate Mass while visiting the Monastery and the Shrine of St. Rita, one of the most popular Italian saints. The Basilica of St. Rita contains her incorrupt body and several relics from her life. Dinner and your overnight stay will be in Assisi. (B, D) 

May 1 - ASSISI This morning, explore the Basilica of St. Francis. First, the upper Basilica, with Giotto’s frescoes representing the life of St. Francis, and then the lower Basilica and the Tomb of St. Francis. Mass will be celebrated in one of the chapels of this magnificent Basilica. In the afternoon, you have some time at leisure before you visit the Basilica of St. Clare and the Chapel of San Damiano, where St. Francis received his call to rebuild the Church and where St. Clare lived and died. Your last stop of the day is the Sanctuary of the Spoliation to see the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in the Church of St. Mary Major. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Assisi. (B, D) 

May 2 - LORETO, MANOPPELLO, & LANCIANO Celebrate Mass in Assisi. Depart for Loreto to see the Holy House of Nazareth, which was transported here from the Holy Land. In it, you can view the most reproduced Madonna in the world: the Black Madonna of Loreto. Depart for Manoppello to see the Holy Face of Jesus. When this incredible image on the Veil is laid over the image of the face on the Shroud of Turin, the two images match perfectly! A true treasure of our faith. Then, we’re on to Lanciano to see the Miracle of Lanciano, The Catholic Church’s f irst recorded Eucharistic Miracle. The Host of Flesh, which is still in one piece and has retained the dimensions of the original. The Eucharistic miracle is preserved in the second tabernacle found on the high altar in the Church of St. Francis. The host of Flesh is contained in a silver monstrance. Now changed to Blood, the wine is contained in a crystal chalice. Then we finish our day traveling to San Giovanni Rotundo, enjoying dinner and staying overnight at the hotel in San Giovanni.  (B, D) 

May 3 - SAN GIOVANNI Visit places associated with Padre Pio, including his tomb and cell, the old church where he received the stigmata, his confessional, and the new church of Santa Maria Delle Grazia. In the afternoon, see the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel, and celebrate Mass. Dinner and your overnight stay are in San Giovanni. (B, D) 

May 4 - MUGNANO & POMPEII Say farewell to San Giovanni and travel to Mugnano to visit St Philomena, and see her remains. After lunch on your own, depart for Pompeii to visit the Rosary Basilica and celebrate Mass. Enjoy a tour of the ancient volcanic ruins of Pompeii. Stay overnight in Pompeii. (B, D) 

May 5 - WELCOME TO ROME Depart this morning for Rome. Before arriving at your hotel, the coach will take you to St. Paul Outside the Walls for Holy Mass and a visit. Check into your hotel in Rome for dinner and your overnight stay. Enjoy time to explore Rome on your own. (B, D)

May 6 - ROME This morning, visit St. Peter’s Basilica and be amazed at the magnificence of the largest church in the world. Mass will be celebrated at one of the chapels inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Continue the Christian Rome tour with visits to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major & St. John Lateran, the Holy Stairs and the Holy Cross in Jerusalem to see the relics of the true cross and the sacred thorns. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel in Rome. (B, D) 

May 7 - ROME / PAPAL AUDIENCE Today be Blessed by the Holy Father during the Papal Audience. Celebrate Mass and then enjoy a walk-through Piazza Navone to view the magnificent Four Rivers fountain by Bernini and then walk to the Pantheon. On this route, you also visit Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the only true Gothic church in Rome, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. See the shrine dedicated to the Virgin of Revelation, the site of an apparition which, though not formally approved by the Church, was acknowledged by the Pope. In the afternoon, see the ancient ruins of the Coliseum (outside view), Piazza Venezia, and many other landmarks which you may have seen only in pictures. Dinner is on your own this evening. (B) 

May 8 - FREE DAY IN ROME Explore the city on your own today. Shop, relax or even visit the Vatican Museum on your own (tickets may be purchased online separately). Tonight, we will all enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Italian restaurant where we can sing along with local music and savor home-cooked dishes and regional wine. Mass will be celebrated today. Stay overnight in Rome (B, Special farewell dinner) 

May 9 - Return to the USA After breakfast, transfer to the Rome airport for our flight home. (B)



TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAIN TOUR PRICING BASIS:


EXTENSION PRICING BASIS:

BASIC TOUR ARRANGEMENT PRICING BASIS: The pricing is based on double occupancy, and on a minimum of full-paying Clients/passengers listed above. If tour or extension totals are less than that number of full-paying passengers/Clients, ETS may not be able to secure group rates from the airlines, operators, cruise lines, or hotels and will then be forced to cancel the tour arrangements or combine you with another group to operate the program. If tour is below minimum number to operate, additional charges will apply, and existing contract prices will be void and will require new contracted prices based on the lower passenger volume.

TOUR CONDUCTOR CREDITS: 1 Complimentary set of tour arrangements, described as Tour Conductors in this document will be awarded to the agent to give away to their group leaders and/or they may use the Tour Conductor credits themselves to travel with the group, based on the number of full-paying Guests listed below. These credits are not pro-rated.
TOUR CONDUCTOR RATIO: 1:10

ADDITIONAL BENEFIT TERMS:
TOURING & HOTELS: Confirmed touring and hotel schedules will be sent to you approximately 30 days prior to departure. Your tour passenger/guest list will be available at any time and can be e-mailed at your request to your office. Dietary requests must be submitted in writing and are not guaranteed. Gratuities to Restaurant Staff and Hotel Porters are included. Tips for the guide and driver are not included. The suggested amount is $6.00 a day to the guide per person and $3.00 a day to the driver per person which should be presented at the end of the tour. Travel Agent must submit a rooming list 105 days prior to departure. Passengers without a roommate will be assessed the single room supplement. Pricing for 3rd & 4th Clients in a room is available upon request at some but not all hotels. Contact our office if you have any Clients/passengers that need larger rooms for 3rd/4th occupancy. Rates will be quoted upon request. Suite and upgraded room pricing are also available upon request.

DEVIATIONS: All deviations from the tour arrangements as listed in this contract must be submitted in writing and approved by ETS and are subject to a per person assessment fee for each change plus any additional hotel, airline, cruise line, entrance, bus, guide, or operator fees.

LAND/GROUND ONLY BOOKINGS (No Air purchased from ETS): Land/Ground Only passengers must adhere to and sign the Ground Only Letter agreement: www.etstours.com/ground-only-letter. Airport transfers are not included in the Land/Ground Only selling prices.

CHANGES: All requests for changes must be submitted in writing and approved by ETS. Changes in the tour arrangements and/or optional Pre or extension arrangements may be made up to 105 days prior to the departure date without penalty, unless tickets have been written or group/individual deposits have been paid and penalties are imposed by the airlines, cruise lines, or local operators. Changes may require signing an addendum to this agreement and/or signing a new agreement. Name changes are not permitted.

ITINERARY CHANGES: Please be advised that all touring is subject to change based on the discretion of the local operator. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this contract. While you see all the sites listed on the itinerary, the order of sites and/or days may be altered to accommodate changes in airline schedules, hotel schedules, or local conditions. If the itinerary changes necessitate overnights, you will be charged a minimum of $125 per night, per person in a double occupancy room, or a minimum of $175 per night in a single room. Meals for extra nights are not included.

BAGGAGE: Due to limited motorcoach capacity, ETS requests that tour members carry one suitcase, plus one carry-on flight bag. Garment bags cannot be handled. Additional baggage is subject to a supplemental charge. Porterage for one normal sized suitcase is included at all overseas airports, hotels, and piers, and is collected in advance by ETS. Baggage insurance is recommended to cover the possible loss or damage to guest/passenger’s baggage or personal belongings.

PASSPORT INFORMATION: Names provided by your clients/passengers must be the same as what appears on the guest/passenger’s passport. If the names submitted do not match the passport information, please understand that there may be costly name change fees incurred by the client, that the agent will be responsible to collect and submit to ETS. Passports should not expire for at least 6 months from your return date. Passport information must be submitted to ETS along with a scanned or photocopy of the passport photo page no later than 105 days prior to travel. If Passport Information is not received 105 days prior to travel the Agent and their clients will be responsible for possible V.A.T. taxes imposed by the hotels. Passport information and digital copies can be submitted electronically at [email protected].

PRICE INCREASES: All prices quoted in this document are subject to change if not paid in full due to currency fluctuations, fuel surcharge increases, government taxes and fees increases or unforeseen circumstances. The agent will be notified immediately upon discovery of an increase and will have the option of paying the difference or cancelling with full refund.

ABILITY TO TRAVEL STATEMENT: Passengers registering for the tour accept the responsibility for being in good health and able to walk and travel on the tour. Because many of the sites are not accessible to the physically challenged, those needing oxygen, wheelchairs, or other ambulatory assistance will find the tour extremely limiting to their experiences. We reserve the right to refuse or revoke travel to anyone who is, in the sole judgment of us, incapable of group travel without causing undue demands upon the staff or other tour participants. Accessible rooms/cabins are limited and subject to confirmation after receiving the passenger’s written request.

CHILDREN: ETS does not allow children younger than 13. Children aged 10 to 13 may only travel with a private group with written approval from the group leader. Anyone under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. There are no discounts or special rates for children.

STANDARD DEPOSIT SCHEDULE FOR YOUR CLIENTS: $300 per person due at the time of registration. Final Payment for the tour arrangements is due at 105 days prior to the tour. Unpaid accounts will be cancelled, and cancellation fees will be applied.

ADDITONAL AND/OR ALTERNATIVE DEPOSIT TERMS:

FORMS OF PAYMENT ACCEPTED: ETS will accept either business or certified checks for deposits and final payments for all tour programs. ETS will also accept AMEX, Visa, MasterCard and Discover for deposits and final payments on all tour programs. Checks or credit card payments will not be accepted from 105 days prior to the program departure. During this period ETS will only accept either bank or cashier’s checks for any outstanding payments.

REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED 105 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OR LESS: ETS welcomes registrations after 105 days prior to departure or less. These registrations may incur an additional fee based on airline ticket and hotel availability. Additional fees will be advised upon registration.

STANDARD CANCELLATION POLICY: 100% of cancellation Fees are covered by the optional Travel Protection Program, provided the premium has been paid by the final payment date and the reason for cancellation is insurable. Clients/passengers who do not take travel protection should be aware of the following cancellation penalties.
From day of registration to 105 days prior to departure, you will be charged the $100 non-refundable administrative fee plus any airline fees. Additionally, thereafter, you will be charged any airline penalties and a single room supplement if your cancellation forces your roommate into a single plus the following charges:
104-60 days prior = $400 per person
59-45 days prior = $600 per person
44-31 days prior = 40% of total tour package cost
30-0 days prior = 100% of the total program cost
All cancellations need to be submitted in writing. On or after day of departure, no refund will be paid for any services not used.

AIR POLICIES:
● Group Block: ETS blocks group space for most departures as soon as it becomes available (typically 11 months prior to departure). As the final payment date approaches, ETS looks at the groups that have developed and matches them to the space being held.
● Pricing: Although pricing is “Based on New York Prices”, ETS will look for the best routing for the group from the city(s) the group is coming from.
● Deviations: Passengers who choose to depart from a different city than the group, deviate from the group or travel on a pre or post tour will be on a different flight(s) from the group.
● Late Changes: At final payment, ETS begins cutting back group space (releasing unsold space). Any changes after the final payment date (name changes, flight changes, late additions,
cancellations etc.) will incur fees.
● Ticketing: Starting at the final payment date, ETS reserves the right to ticket at any time.
● Name change fees will be a minimum of $200 and as high as full ticket replacement.
● Seat selection: ETS is not responsible for seat assignments. Seat assignments are secured on select carriers, but due to carrier restrictions cannot be guaranteed. Airlines reserve the right to switch seats up until boarding. ETS is not responsible for seat assignments and changes. ETS is not responsible for airline cancellations, baggage fees, re-routings or any disruption of scheduled services or accommodations.
● Upgrades & Deviations Pricing:
The cost of upgrading international flights start at:
○ Economy Plus / Premium Economy: $2000+
○ Business Class: $4000+ Costs can be much higher depending on the airline and/or routing Procedures: Any passenger choosing to upgrade or deviate from the group:
○ Will not travel with the group
○ Must submit a passport copy before the request can be quoted
○ Once quoted, seats can only be held for a certain period of time (typically by 1 p.m. the following day). Once quoted, guests must pay immediately upon accepting the terms of the upgrade or deviation. If the payment is not made within the specified time-period, it will have to be re-quoted
○ Most deviations require separate transfers to and from the group hotel. ETS can arrange these transfers ahead of time for an additional cost.
○ Travel Protection costs will increase because of upgrades or deviations. Increases must be paid with upgrade/deviation payment.

TYPICAL AIR SCHEDULE:
● 11 months prior to departure ETS blocks group space on multiple airlines with many routings options
● 105 days prior to departure ETS looks at groups booked and matches it with air space being held ETS drops unsold space (any changes or additions after this date will incur fees)
● 45 to 30 days prior to departure Groups are ticketed and flight letters are sent with final documents