News
Trends
Celebrities
Interviews
Jet Set Pet
Suite Dreams
Top 5
Weekend Away
Specials
Family Vacation Packages
Romantic & Honeymoon Packages
Spa & Wellness Packages
Destination Weddings
Girls Getaways
Spring Specials
Summer Specials
Winter Specials
Destinations
Articles
Hotels
Hot Hotel Openings
Beach & Island Resorts
5-Star City Hotels
Adventure & Eco Lodges
Boutique City Hotels
Country House Hotels
Family Resorts
Romantic Retreats
Guest Ranches
Safari Camps & Lodges
Golf Resorts & Lodges
Spa Resorts & Wellness Retreats
Ski Resorts & Lodges
Wine Country Getaways
Villas
Beach Villas
Country Villas
Golf Villas
Ski Villas
Villas
Residences
Trips/Cruises
Cruises & Yachting
Rail Journeys
Ultimate Adventures
Private Jet Travel
Safaris
Family Travel
Travel Tips
Business Travel
Airline News
Arts/Culture
Events
Food/Wine
Restaurants
Bars & Nightclubs
Afternoon Tea
Coffee
Culinary Travel
Wine Travel
Spa/Sport
Spa & Wellness Retreats
Yoga & Hiking
Golf Getaways
Ski Vacations
Shop/Style
Gift Guide
Beach and Resortwear
Beauty and Fragrance
Books
Fashion
Home Style
Luggage and Handbags
Luxury Autos
Men's Style
Travel Essentials
Watches & Jewelry
Wine and Spirits
World's Most Expensive
Home Page
News
Orient-Express Hotels Introduces New Cultural Experiences in Italy
May 3, 2013
Set in the beautiful towns and cities of Venice, Portofino, Ravello, Taormina and Florence, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. has launched a series of experiences aimed at showing a different side to these much loved destinations. From exploring Amalfi by night, to driving through the wine regions around Venice in a motorbike sidecar or rafting on the Arno River in Florence, each hotel is offering guests new tailored ways to discover Italian classics.
Hotel Caruso, Ravello– Amalfi By Night
Set on a verdant cliff-top overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean, night owls staying at Hotel Caruso can uncover the hidden gems of Amalfion a star-lit guided stroll, away from the crowds when the city is quieter and taking in some of the city's most memorable sights. The trip starts in true Italian style, on board a Vespa as a driver whisks guests to the tour's starting point. Once in Amalfi the guide will share legends and anecdotes, while winding through storied medieval streets by foot and stopping on secret terraces to admire the harbour below. The experience concludes with a visit to nearby Atrani, the smallest city in Italy, to toast the night with a cool glass of sparkling Prosecco.
Nightly rates at Hotel Caruso start from £356, based on two sharing a Village View Double Room with breakfast. The AmalfiBy Night experience costs £136 for two people and lasts two and a half hours.
Hotel Cipriani, Venice – Wine Tour By Sidecar
With so many bespoke blends a visit to Italy's wine country is a must for the to-do list. The iconic Hotel Cipriani can arrange a guided wine tour with a twist to the nearby Collio region, an area that is thickly blanketed by vineyards that are gaining an international reputation for their crisp white wines and tasty red options. This experience is ideal for those visiting Venice for longer periods or who have stayed in the city before. Adding an extra thrill, wine connoisseurs can cruise between tastings on a motorcycle with sidecar while soaking up the surrounding vine-covered hills. The relaxing day is rounded off with a scenic drive through the nearby Carso plateau, the scene of major First World War conflicts, while learning about the region's dramatic past and how its 2,500 year-old wine making tradition survived and continues to flourish to this day.
Nightly rates at Hotel Cipriani start from £600, based on two sharing a Double Garden View Room with breakfast. The Collio Wine Tour By Sidecar experience starts from £264 per person, for two people and includes transfers, private guide, motorcycle and sidecar when in Collio and lunch in Michelin starred restaurant ‘La Subida'. For those not wishing to use a motorcycle and sidecar, chauffeur driven transfers between wine tastings can also be arranged.
Villa San Michele, Florence – Rafting In Florence
Guests staying at Villa San Michele, a former 15th century monastery with unparalleled views over Florence, can now take in the city's sights from a thoroughly different perspective. Travelling by raft expert guides will lead adventurers along a 2km urban stretch of the Arno River, passing under the glorious Ponte Vecchio and three more magnificent bridges that cross the city. For a more heart-thumping ride, adrenaline junkies can partake in a full day excursion to the Sieve River, a tributary to the Arno. Here it is possible to take in the stunning natural wonders of Tuscany before speeding through the rapids. Afterwards rafters can relax with a dip in the crystalline waters of the Sieve and a delicious picnic on the rivers verdant shore.
Nightly rates at Villa San Michele start from £513, based on two sharing a Classic Double Room with breakfast. The Rafting in Florence experience starts from £68 per person. A minimum of four people is required.
Hotel Splendido, Portofino – Up and Down Tour of Genoa
Located 45 minutes away from the glamorous Hotel Splendido, Genoa is a buzzing vibrant city and a popular day trip from the property. For a more unusual experience, Hotel Splendido can arrange for guests to visit two extremes, some of the most spectacular rooftops and some of the most fascinating underground buildings in Genoa. The buildings in this UNESCO-protected city were built so close together that in some places their roofs gently touch and lean on each other for support. The tour includes a stopover at the dramatic terrace of Palazzo Rosso, which is normally closed to the public and where it is possible to have full views of the city and also the Museum of the Treasure of San Lorenzo, which located underneath San Lorenzo Cathedral is one of the city's best kept secrets. One of many highpoints in the day is a ride in the Monte galletto Elevator, built in 1929 it is a remarkable lift which starts off horizontal and then turns vertical, creating a totally fascinating journey.
Nightly rates at Hotel Splendido start from £394, based on two sharing a Garden View Room with breakfast. The Up and Down Tour of Genoa tour starts from £187 per person for a full day or £119 per person for a half day.
Grand Hotel Timeo& Villa Sant'Andrea, Taormina – Chocolate Making in Modica
Sicilian Baroque architecture abounds in the beautiful historical town of Modica, in Southern Sicily. An easy day trip from Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant'Andrea, Modica makes an interesting alternative for those looking to explore further than the quaint town of Taormina where the properties are located. Following a guided tour of the city, guests are taken to renowned Sicilian chocolate shop ‘Antica Dolceria Bonajuto' where the owner proudly presents home-made chocolates that have been made lovingly by six generations of the family. Here he teaches antique Aztec techniques and recipes for making chocolate brought to the island by Spanish conquistadors when Sicily was under Spanish rule in the 15th and 16th Centuries and that are still in use today.
Nightly rates at Grand Hotel Timeo start from £490, based on two sharing a Double Classic room or at Villa Sant'Andrea start from £480 based on two sharing a Double Classic Room with breakfast. The Chocolate Making in Modica experience lasts 8 hours and starts from £366 including transfers, guided tour and chocolate making.
All prices are converted from Euros and may vary.
More information:
www.orient-express.com
Like Us
Facebook
Follow Us
Twitter
Follow us
Instagram
Sign-up for Our Email Newsletter
FIND A LUXURY HOTEL & BOOK WITH EXCLUSIVE PERKS!
Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bhutan
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
England
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji Islands
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Galapagos
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Martinique
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Oman
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Russia
Scotland
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St Vincent & the Grenadines
St. Barthelemy
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Martin
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Turkey
Turks & Caicos
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wales
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Beach
City
Coastal
Countryside
Desert
Golf Course
Island
Jungle
Lakeside
Mountains
Remote
Waterfront
Wilderness
Adventure/Eco/Nature
Culture
Business Meeting
Casino/Gambling
Food & Wine
Family Vacation
Golf Getaway
Pet Friendly
Romantic Getaway
Safari
Scuba Diving
Shopping & Fashion
Ski Vacation
Spa & Wellness
Villas
Wedding
Wineries / Wine Tasting
Luxury Partners
Villa Lala — Romantic Boutique Hotel in Puerto Vallarta
Cabo Platinum - Cabo San Lucas Luxury Villas, Yachts & Concierge Services
Villa Firenze Costa Rica
JUP - Personal Service for Buying and Selling Real Estate in Jupiter, Florida
Polaris Slingshot - A three-wheeled sensation that re-ignites your love for driving
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa - Rancho Santa Fe, California - One of the West’s most sought-after five star resorts
Tuscan Dream - Immerse Yourself in the Tuscan Villa Vacation Experience
Grand Hotel Portovenere - Cinque Terre - Discover this beautiful region of Italy!
Dude Ranchers Association - An all-inclusive vacation experience like no other
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel - Santa Barbara, California - Experience timeless Californian glamor.
The Ranch Italy at Palazzo Fiuggi - The Ranch Malibu brings its award winning wellness program just 50 minutes from Rome.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa - Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii - Beachfront Resort
Culture, Spirituality, and Wellness in Japan's Tochigi Prefecture
Blue Waters Resort & Spa - Antigua - A hidden gem nestled in a private bay on Antigua's northwestern coast with sunset views
A.M.A Selections - Luxury Villa Rentals throughout Europe
Come Together Wellness - Rest, Restore & Explore on Kauai
Red Savannah: Luxury Villas and Tailor-Made Holidays
Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun, Mexico - Adults Only, All Inclusive
Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort - Porto Ercole, Tuscany, Italy
The Kayon Jungle Resort - Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - a sanctuary of tropical indulgence.
Porto Zante Villas & Spa - Zakynthos, Greece - The leading villa resort in Europe
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac - Quebec City, Canada - Breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and the UNESCO Old fortified city