Travel and Cultural Experiences to fit different budgets.
"For anyone even THINKING about doing this. GO!!! Nicole is an amazing host and photographer. This trip looks even bigger and more amazing than before." -Sarah, Wisconsin.
6 Full Days, 7 nights in Cinque Terre Italy: May 6-13
8 Full Days, 9 Nights Cinque Terre and Tuscan Villa: May 16-25
8 Full Days, 9 Nights Cinque Terre and Tuscan Villa: May 16-25
*If you and a friend (or 2) book and stay together, you can save between $300-$600 per person depending on room/apartment you choose.
Book by September 30, 2022 and receive a massage (on me!) in the castle of the village we are staying in!
"I left my husband and kids and went on an adventure with Nicole O'Neil and it was magical! We put our feet in the water, meditated in nature, ate fantastic food and Nicole took complete care of us throughout. I feel like a human again. She basically changed my life in 5 days." - Kate, NH
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This Trip is for YOU!
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Envison this:
You are sitting at a local cafe, enjoying a coffee, surrounded by colorful buildings feeling relaxed and refreshed.
You head out to hike among vineyards and ancient walls, taking in the breathtaking scenes of villages below you where they touch the sea.
You enter a village to find a refreshing gelato and fruit shop, choosing the perfect fresh treat to walk through the ancient streets, popping into small shops.
You take a dip in the clear blue sea and enjoy the sunset before indulging in a 5 star dinner with local ingredients, flavors to delight your senses and mouth watering desserts .
This is just ONE day of your 6 day experience.
You are sitting at a local cafe, enjoying a coffee, surrounded by colorful buildings feeling relaxed and refreshed.
You head out to hike among vineyards and ancient walls, taking in the breathtaking scenes of villages below you where they touch the sea.
You enter a village to find a refreshing gelato and fruit shop, choosing the perfect fresh treat to walk through the ancient streets, popping into small shops.
You take a dip in the clear blue sea and enjoy the sunset before indulging in a 5 star dinner with local ingredients, flavors to delight your senses and mouth watering desserts .
This is just ONE day of your 6 day experience.
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We will spend 5 days exploring these magical villages and immersing in the culture. You will have one day where you can choose your own activity or spend it with others/the group.
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What do our days look like?
Hiking among the local vineyards, above the sea. Exploring each village's uniqueness. Learning about the local culture. Eating all of the local specialities. Enjoying a wine tasting (if you wish) Cooking class overlooking the sea Sunset boat ride with a dip in the ocean Relaxing on a beach chair at the local beach resort. Day Trip to Lucca |
Optional activities (you can choose for the free day/ free times or instead of one of our planned activities). Massage Kayaking Snorkeling Beach Chair Rental Additional cooking classes/wine tastings Hiking (there are many more trails than we could ever cover) Biking through ancient tunnels |
For the detail oriented, here is a breakdown of everything included.
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Nicole will host two zoom calls before the trip so that those attending can get to know each other a bit.
✨Private Room with Bathroom in the village near the central street (not a hotel). You may upgrade to a small apartment. Ask Nicole about the additional fees. ✨Breakfast each day. ✨One Lunch and ONE dinners throughout the week (tips included)** ✨Train Tickets for the entire week including day trip ✨Beach Chair Rental ✨Cooking Class (Large meal and tips included) ✨Sunset Boat Ride ✨Bike Rentals in Lucca ✨One Wine Tasting (if you do not drink, we can arrange something else) ✨Some goodies to welcome you when you arrive. **Not Included: ✨Airfare and travel insurance ✨Alcohol beyond wine tasting and occasional wine at some of the dinners. ✨The rest of your meals, though Nicole is happy to add this in up front for you and give you back the difference later. Nicole is also a professional photographer so you will receive MANY photos from your trip, complimentary! |
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**In the spirit of wanting to accommodate different budget and dietary needs plus allowing for collective conversation and decision around where and what to eat on given days (I will give options), I did not want to charge the max amount we would need per day. This way, people have options and flexibility when it comes to food and budgeting for the remaining larger 2 meals of the week. See video above for more info.
I'm launching this almost a year ahead to be sure people have time to make smaller payments throughout the year. Total price for the trip including all of Nicole's planning and guidance as well as her presence for every bit of your stay is $3300 to be paid in a $600 deposit plus monthly payments, to be fully paid by March 15, 2023. You may also do a deposit with 2 or 3 payments, every few months. You may also choose to pay in full at booking.
**If you wish to add a large meal for EVERY day of the trip now so you have it put aside, it will be $3500. You will get anything back that is not spent.
***Should you decide not to go, you will receive all you paid back minus $500. Should I fill your spot, you will receive all of your money back.
**If you wish to add a large meal for EVERY day of the trip now so you have it put aside, it will be $3500. You will get anything back that is not spent.
***Should you decide not to go, you will receive all you paid back minus $500. Should I fill your spot, you will receive all of your money back.
Want a longer stay and the opportunity to stay in a beautiful villa with pool in the Tuscan Countryside?
The 8 Day, 9 night Trip includes all of the above (only 6 nights instead of 7) PLUS 3 nights in a luxury villa just outside of Florence.
Enjoy your own wonderfully decorated room and breathtaking views.
Enjoy two day trips to medieval cities with shops, amazing food at one restaurant each day and beauty around every corner.
Spend your last day at the villa, allowing yourself to soak in all you've experienced and resting poolside and enjoying an in villa massage.
Enjoy a meal you'll never forget by a private chef and one last evening full of laughter and fun with the group before heading home.
*Also includes private van with driver to the villa and back to the airport.
You will also receive a few surprises!
Enjoy your own wonderfully decorated room and breathtaking views.
Enjoy two day trips to medieval cities with shops, amazing food at one restaurant each day and beauty around every corner.
Spend your last day at the villa, allowing yourself to soak in all you've experienced and resting poolside and enjoying an in villa massage.
Enjoy a meal you'll never forget by a private chef and one last evening full of laughter and fun with the group before heading home.
*Also includes private van with driver to the villa and back to the airport.
You will also receive a few surprises!
Total price for the trip including all of Nicole's planning and guidance as well as her presence for every bit of your stay is $4800 to be paid in a $1000 deposit plus monthly payments, to be fully paid by March 15, 2023. You may also do a deposit with 2 or 3 payments, every few months. I.E. If you choose monthly and pay deposit in August, you will have 7 payments of ~$543. You may also choose to pay in full at booking.
***Should you decide not to go, you will only receive HALF of your deposit back plus your monthly payments. Should I fill your spot, you will receive all of your money back.
***Should you decide not to go, you will only receive HALF of your deposit back plus your monthly payments. Should I fill your spot, you will receive all of your money back.
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> I'M A PARENT AND DON' T KNOW IF I CAN LEAVE MY FAMILY FOR THAT LONG
Honestly, this experience is just as much for your family as it is for you. They will benefit from the refreshed energy you return with. You take care of every one, you give give give and the last two years has been especially taxing. YOU deserve to be nurtured and go home transformed. > DO I HAVE TO PATICIPATE IN EVERYTHING? You do not. If there is an activity that you want out bow out of, you can. This experience is about the group but it's also about each one of YOU. If you want some alone time or want to do something specific that the group is not, I can help you set that up. Additional activities available: Kayaking, massage, Yoga, shopping, extra beach time. > SHOULD I BE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THIS? You should be in decent shape as the hikes are a little challenging. Cinque Terre is made up of 5 villages, on the inside of a mountain, most of which are made up of stairways and hills. The hikes go even higher, though we will take our time. You can always opt out of the hikes we do per the previous question. > WHAT AIRPORT DO I FLY INTO? You will fly into Florence. If you decide to fly to another airport or visit another area of Italy first, I am happy to help you plan getting to us! I'm happy to help you navigate flights and may have a travel agent help us out with that. |
> WHAT DO I NEED TO TRAVEL TO ITALY?
If you do not have a passport, you want to get one asap. You also need travel insurance. > WHAT ABOUT COVID? I'd love to think it won't be an issue in 2023 but as we see, it continues. To make things easier, I'm asking participants to IDEALLY be fully vaccinated including boosters (or at LEAST a rapid AND PCR test in the days before the trip) and/or make sure to pay attention to whatever is happening at the time leading up to the trip and take whatever precautions are needed. so there are no issues as there will be no refunds if you miss the trip because of COVID. Restaurants and other activities may also require vaccination or at least good quality masks as well as public transportation which will we will use in Cinque Terre. > WILL I BE GIVEN INFO ON CULTURAL THINGS I SHOULD KNOW? Of course! There are a few things to make note of such as etiquette for churches and it will all be sent to you along with suggested packing list and other useful information. > I'd love to talk to ask questions. Is that possible? YES! See below to grab a spot on my calendar! OR email me at TheSoulfulHumanPod@gmail.com |