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.
Next Trip! 6 Full Days, 7 nights in Cinque Terre Italy: May 18-25
Another May trip will be announced that will include CT and Tuscany for 10 days.
Another May trip will be announced that will include CT and Tuscany for 10 days.
*If you and a friend/partner (or 2) book and stay together, you can save between $300-$600 per person depending on room/apartment you choose.
The sooner you book, the longer (and smaller) your payments if you need a payment plan.
This is the ANTI-RETREAT. We have this obsession with healing and even our vacations are being taken over by retreats and healing. And sometimes, that's great. But, what about adventure, supporting other cultures and communities and just having a BLAST with some new people a beautiful place. We'll have delicious, mostly locally sourced food, but we won't do any special diet (though we are accommodating for specific needs). Eat as much gelato and croissants as you want! We'll connect with each other, the culture and the land, but organically, not in workshops and specific modalities. We'll move our bodies a lot but you decide what you participate in and how.
"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, perhaps seeing the harvesting of grapes for the local wines.
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, all while laughing and chatting with new friends.
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, perhaps seeing the harvesting of grapes for the local wines.
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, all while laughing and chatting with new friends.
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 Additional Day of BeaCH Chair Rental Additional cooking classes/wine tastings Hiking (there are many more trails than we could ever cover) Biking through ancient tunnels |
If everyone decided to choose one of the optional activities, we could simply add it in rather than a free day.
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) or small apartment. You may upgrade to other options. See below for options. ✨Breakfast each day. ✨TWO Lunches and TWO 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. ✨The rest of your meals, though Nicole is happy to add this in up front for you and give you back the difference later. You would plan on a large meal 4 of the days already taken care of. Then, we'd do small bits during the day where you will need money to choose whatever take away food or packed food you want to bring along. The two days not included for a big meal, you will have an option for us to all eat together or go to a place of your choice. 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.
I'm launching this as far ahead as I can to be sure people have time to make smaller payments throughout the year. Prices have increased substantially since my last trip as they were really hurt by COVID. Prices include all mentioned above plus me as your guide pre trip and every day you are there from the moment you arrive until you leave. Also, remember some rooms may be more basic/Italian style. Some are more modern. If you want something modern, let me know. It may cost more. I can send photos of the different options if you want to see first. First come first serve!
A DEPOSIT WILL BE DUE FOR $600 AND THEN MONTHLY PAYMENT PLANS OR IN 2-3 PAYMENTS OR PAY IN FULL.
FOR A PRIVATE ROOM AND BATHROOM, NO KITCHEN (BUT USUALLY COFFEE MAKER)-
2 available with private en suite bathroom. 1 available with bathroom outside of room (but still your own private bathroom-I've stayed there before)
Price per person: $3700.
For a Couple or Two Friends who would share a bed, $2800 per person.
ONE AVAILABLE APARTMENT AT THIS PRICE for 2-4 people needing TWO separate rooms with one bed each
Price Per Person 2 bedroom (one room will hear some church bells so be a good sleeper or use white noise): $3200 per person for 2 people, $2900 pp for 3 people
Apartment with ONE large bed (2 available)
One person: $4000
Two People: $2900 each
Apartment with SEA and Countryside VIEWS: (One bedroom with large bed, plus pull out sofa in common area)
One person: $ 4300
Two People: $ 3200 each
A DEPOSIT WILL BE DUE FOR $600 AND THEN MONTHLY PAYMENT PLANS OR IN 2-3 PAYMENTS OR PAY IN FULL.
FOR A PRIVATE ROOM AND BATHROOM, NO KITCHEN (BUT USUALLY COFFEE MAKER)-
2 available with private en suite bathroom. 1 available with bathroom outside of room (but still your own private bathroom-I've stayed there before)
Price per person: $3700.
For a Couple or Two Friends who would share a bed, $2800 per person.
ONE AVAILABLE APARTMENT AT THIS PRICE for 2-4 people needing TWO separate rooms with one bed each
Price Per Person 2 bedroom (one room will hear some church bells so be a good sleeper or use white noise): $3200 per person for 2 people, $2900 pp for 3 people
Apartment with ONE large bed (2 available)
One person: $4000
Two People: $2900 each
Apartment with SEA and Countryside VIEWS: (One bedroom with large bed, plus pull out sofa in common area)
One person: $ 4300
Two People: $ 3200 each
**If you wish to add a large meal for the other two days of the trip now so you have it put aside, it will be, add on $150. You will get anything back that is not spent.
***Should you decide not to go, you will receive all you paid back minus $500 if you cancel before July 1. If you cancel after July 1, you will receive all you paid back minus $900. Should I fill your spot, you will receive all of your money back.
***Should you decide not to go, you will receive all you paid back minus $500 if you cancel before July 1. If you cancel after July 1, you will receive all you paid back minus $900. 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, 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 a last minute bout 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 so plan to have masks on hand. > 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 |
