Spartac International Soccer
School
1052 Croton Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867
tel: (908)
806-7080 fax: (908) 806-3978
e-mail:
spartac-soccer@worldnet.att.net
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Spartac International Soccer
School
1052 Croton Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867 |
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Final Itinerary for Easter 2004 - April 7 to April 18European Tour - Easter 2004 Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany The itinerary is complete as to hotels and games planned. We may deviate from the written plan as to sightseeing and shopping, but every effort will be made to see everything and do everything within the time allowed. We have always had a wonderful experience in Italy and this newly upgraded trip will be even better. If you have any specific questions that have not been addressed, please see Heinz or myself. Remember to pack another bag in your luggage for your return, ( for gifts, etc.).The US Dollar is about 1.30 Euros at this time, so you might want to calculate one Euro to a $1.50 to figure the price of any item. Lunch is the only meal not included in your trip costs. At meals in our hotel there will be water on the table; any wine or beer will be a self-purchase. After you get to Como you will be able to go to the bank and exchange money . You can access your bank account via ATM all over Italy. You will also get excellent rates by using your credit card. Don't forget to call your credit card company to tell them you will be traveling in Italy and France. Otherwise they may not honor your card. When making telephone calls you may purchase a telephone calling card in any tourist store. There is one in the Piazza Cavour to the left of the Palace Hotel in Como. Buy only as much time as you think you will need in Italy. You can also use your own calling card, but check the code for Italy with the telephone company before you leave ( they sometimes change), as you need to enter that code before your intended number. Using the hotel phones without a card is an expensive undertaking. You can also get an American operator by dialing ATT or your home server: make sure you know that number also. In Como there are phones downstairs in the lobby as well as in your room. The phones in France are also easy to use. You will need to get the French county code and phone card code for use in that country. At the Palace in Como I am pretty sure you have access to a Fax in the lobby, and also the Internet. The hotels we stay in are three and four star with many business people, so we expect our players to behave according to the rules and regulations of the hotel, as well as upholding our standards of behavior as representatives of the USA. The impression we create will tell these people what Americans are like. Most hotel staff will speak English. The Italians in northern Italy usually speak English. If you use simple words for Thank you (Gratze) and Please ( Pore Favore); Good Day ( Buongiorno), it will make your stay more pleasant and will make you friends wherever you go. For the players: You are responsible for your own equipment and clothes. The group will not be compromised by your lack of preparedness. You must be ready when the bus leaves and stay with the group unless arrangements have been made to go off in smaller groups. Don't be lured away from your belongings in public, they will not be there when you return. Insure cameras and any jewelry you may bring, or any other valuables. Parents will keep the passports and tickets of their children, all others will give them to Heinz to hold (or an adult who is responsible for them) until they need them to return home. If an adult needs to cash money you will need your passport when you go to the bank. Banks are open in the morning and then close for 3 hours in the early afternoon and then open again later. There will be times when we will all go to the bank before taking the bus, otherwise wait until we return to the hotel after the games, or on your own time. Our uniforms will be given out to you at the outdoor practices in the Hunterdon Learning Center. Pack the designated shorts and socks with you in your carry-on bag.. Have your shoes with you also in this bag. Room lists have been given to each hotel prior to our arrival. Please consider that this arrangement will make our trip easier for everyone. If there is a problem with the rooms you get, please see Heinz after everyone is checked in, and he will try to rectify it for you, Single parents will room with another single parent of the same sex, men with men, and women with women. Married couples will be together, and small siblings will be with the parents in rooms together. We hope we have accommodated everyone to his or her liking. If you have a specific person you want to room with, pair up as the rooms are called. When we arrive at a hotel, everyone will stay outside until Heinz calls you in. Married couples and parents with small children will go first, then pairs of women; pairs of men, and then the team. The elevators are all small in these hotels, the team will take the stairs to avoid a crush while checking in. You can see why we insist that you do not take a lot of luggage. Our intent is to get everyone settled in the best and most timely manner, so if you have a problem, wait until everyone is in before coming to us. After the first day we will have all these things sorted out and we can concentrate on playing Soccer. Any parent going on this trip should remember this important basic: this is a Soccer tour for your children and you have been invited to participate and cheer them on. Any conflicting agendas or plans should take this into consideration. Please be considerate of the group as a whole, for by being a group we have simplified many things and will enjoy the trip more. Remember to pack all your soccer equipment in your carry-on bag, the uniforms we will give you ( our players and those who went last year have a black uniform, a white with blue and red detailing and a warm up and bag) the white and black shorts, two pairs of cleats and white socks. You must have your passport and we will meet you at the airport at Terminal C in Newark with your ticket. We ask that you supply us with 4 copies of all your passports (the first page) so we can give them to each hotel. We will check in inside the airport building, so come inside to check your bags, do not try to use the outside check-ins. Make sure you are there 2 hours ahead of time. The following information is for the hotels and the games we will be playing. April 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12: In Como: Hotel PALACE - Lungo lago Trieste, 16 - 22100 Como. Fax: 01139-031-303170 ; telephone: 01139-031-303303. Internet website: www.palacehotel.it Email: aproser@tin.it Games: Thursday: tentative game with local team. Friday: Game with Monza team. Tournament on Saturday and Sunday and Monday with teams from Italy, Belgium and Switzerland and Germany, England and Romania ( we do not know yet who is our opponent). April 13 and 14: In Forti di Marme: Hotel Paradiso al Mare: fax: 01139-0584/787435; telephone 01139-0584/707051 Game on Tuesday with a local team. Wednesday: Sightseeing in Florence in the morning and early afternoon, late afternoon stop in Pisa. Dinner at the hotel. April 15: Departure to Como: lunch in Santa Margherita ligure. Arrival in Como in late afternoon. Night at Palace Hotel. April 16: Departure to France: Hotel Cep de Vigne near Colmar: fax: 0033-3-88957973; telephone: 0033-3-88957545 Games in town with a local team. Or we may stop in Mulhouse prior to going to our hotel to play there. April 17: Sightseeing in area (Strasborg) and a game in the afternoon. April 18: Sunday transfer to Zurich, Switzerland. Depart Continental Airlines to USA. Sunday: A special Easter dinner will be arranged at Don Lisander Restaurant . As you will see, this trip will be packed with things to do and places to go, and games to be played. We allow one day in Como to relax a little bit, and you will need it. We are very happy with the places we will visit and the accommodations that have been arranged for you. The hotels are all slightly different: a family hotel in Colmar, France with old friends who love serving you, a hotel on the sea in Forte di Marme; a beautiful hotel : the Palace, on the Plaza in Lake Como, within walking distance of everything: the lake, the old town, the cathedral, the funicular and the Easter Market. Make sure you have your passports ( make copies of the numbers for reference, or the first page with your picture, etc. and keep it with you in case you lose your real passport.) Put your name on the outside and INSIDE of all your luggage. Bring one suitcase and a smaller carry-on, with another folded duffel for your return, ( then you will have two checked bags and one carry-on) Remember, layers of clothing: plan to wear everything twice. There is no laundry facilities for regular clothes on this trip, so bring quick-dry garments. We are not in any town long enough to send things out and you do not want to spend your sightseeing time washing, do you? Pack comfortable shoes: you will do a lot of walking. Don't overpack. Remember to be at the airport 2 hours ahead of time. We will meet you there with your tickets. We will leave from Newark Airport from TERMINAL C on Continental # 44 April 7, at 6:05 pm. This is a Wednesday . We will return to the USA on April 18 (Sunday) into Newark on Continental Flight # 79 at 1:50 pm AT TERMINAL C We are looking forward to seeing you at the airport.. DON'T FORGET: BE AT NEWARK AIRPORT AT 4:00 pm ON APRIL 7 WEDNESDAY, 2 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.TERMINAL C: CONTINENTAL AIRLINES We will pass out the tickets at the airport in the lobby as you enter. We are looking forward to seeing you all, and having a wonderful trip. Heinz and Binnie Consten Flight Information: Leave USA: Wednesday April 7: Continental Flights 44: Newark Airport at 6:05PM : Terminal C Arrive Milan, Italy: Thursday April 8: 7:55 AM Depart Zurich, Switzerland: Sunday April 18: Continental Flight 79 at 10:45 AM Arrive USA: Newark Airport: Sunday April 18: 1:50 PM Terminal C |