HERE IS YOUR TOUR INFORMATION PAGE! Please, especially as our Departure gets closer, check the page every few days to see if we have posted further information. (If something is urgent or very important, we will email you separately of course.) Information already sent will remain on the page for you to refer to. We will date new posts.
Check your seat on SeatGuru : To see your seat on the outward flight ( once tickets have arrived ) CLICK HERE
FLIGHT TIMES –
DEPARTURE FROM AUSTRALIA – 12th May, 2022
ex Brisbane : EK431 departs at 9.00pm ( arrives 5.10am the next day ) – Airbus A380
ex Sydney : EK413 depart at 9.10pm ( arrives 5.40am the next day ) – Airbus A380
ex Melbourne : EK407 at 10.30pm ( arrives 5.40am the next day ) – Airbus A380. ( please note this recently changed from EK409 )
( For our Southern Passion tour, Clients are flying from just three cities. )
We transit in Dubai where we will all meet at the departure gate for EK109 for our 8am flight from Dubai to Malta. We land in Valetta, Malta at 2.10pm on 13th May.
FLIGHTS HOME – 6th/7th June, 2022
Rome to Dubai – Emirates EK 098 departs on 6th June at 15.35 and arrives in Dubai at 23.25
then….after transit, you fly on to Australia on the 7th June.
Dubai – Brisbane EK430 departs 2.50am & arrives Bris 10.40pm 7th June ) Airbus A380
Dubai – Sydney EK412 departs 2am & arrives Sydney 10.30pm 7th June ) Airbus A380
Dubai – Melbourne EK408 departs 3 am & arrives Melbourne 11.20pm 7th June) Airbus A380.
OUR OTHER FLIGHTS / TRIPS :
18th May – Malta to Sicily : 7.30am – This will be by fast Catamaran to Southern Sicily. A spectacular trip.
6th June – Catania to Rome on ITA ( the new Alitalia ) – 10.15am We collect our luggage in Rome and proceed straight to Emirates check-in for
6th June – EK 098 – Rome to Dubai @ 15.25 ( arr 23.25 ).
7th June – We transit in Dubai then take our various flights ( as above) on to our home states arriving around 10.30pm on 7th June.
ENTRY & MASKS : CURRENT STATE OF PLAY BUT DO KEEP CHECKING, ESPECIALLY AFTER 1st MAY
Currently you need a separate Passenger Locator Document for Malta and Sicily so be sure to complete one for each destination.
MALTA:
Currently you must show your International Vaccination Certificate (downloaded from Medicare… We advise having a printed copy too.)
Currently masks are not required in almost all indoor public settings and but are required on public transport. ie N95 masks. You can read more about masks click here. No masks required in outdoor settings.
In both Malta and Sicily, your International Vaccination Certificate will be required for entry into many sites, venues, restaurants etc so keep this with you. (Again, this is likely to be relaxed on May 1st !!). You will not have to wear a mask in bars& restaurants, but you will in theatres.
ITALY:
For latest update CLICK HERE
1st May : We are currently checking the official information on the PLF. The previous information follows. As of today, it seems that a PLF is still required.
Entry requirements for Italy / Sicily are currently the same as for Malta ie Vaccination Certificate and Passenger Locator Document.
Masks are required only in indoor settings and public transport in Italy ( This is likely to be relaxed from 1st May. ).
To complete your PLF click here. ( select Italy in the options )
* Entry into Italy is on Virtu Ferries – No VR 120, departing Valetta at 0730 on the 18th May and arriving in Catania, Sicily at 0915am .
* The hotel is the Palace Catania UNA, Via Etnea, 218, 95131 Catania CT.
TRANSIT THROUGH DUBAI:
There are NO requirements for tests or certificates for transit itself, however keep your Vaccination Certificates and PLF Documents handy in case requested by the airline.
There is NO requirement to take a PCR test in Australia before departure.
Keep a printed copy of all documents and multiple copies of your Vaccination Certificate.
Don’t be worried. Adhering to the current requirements is all pretty easy and similar or in fact, less stringent than those we executed on our recent trip to Singapore.
RETURN TO AUSTRALIA:*
Currently a Digital Passenger Declaration is required prior to arriving back. We will all do this online in the week before we leave Italy. Here is the link to the online site. ( You can also download an App – click here for Apple and click here for Google ). As with everything, you need to register using an email address. ( you can do this part now ). We will remind everyone and assist those who need help so don’t be concerned. (Actually, this was the worst part of our trip to Singapore. Much of the form was repetitive or unnessesary and then when we arrived home….we were met with ‘Can you fill out this form….our systems are down!!’
FREQUENT FLYER DETAILS : If you have sent these to us ( Qantas or Emirates ), we should have inputted these details into your booking. It is always best to check at check in ( or look at your boarding pass ). We always suggest you say ” my Frequent flyer details have been noted ? “.
PACKING SUGGESTIONS: Click here
ITINERARY OUTLINE : Click here In the next week, you will receive by email, the detailed daily itinerary. Please let us know if you need a printed copy.
BUSINESS CLASS PASSENGERS :
If you have booked business class, then this week Stewart will be making all of your bookings for the Emirates cars to collect you from home/ take you home at the end of the tour etc. Stewart will send you a confirmation at the end of April. If you’ve changed your home address in recent times, please email us so he can check he has the updated one for your pick-up and drop-off. ( please check all details when you receive your confirmation !! ).
The day before we leave, you will receive a call from Emirates’ limousine service. If you do not receive this call, please call Emirates 1300 303 777 and quote your booking reference ( on the morning of 12th May ).
WHAT IS WHAT’S APP ? – This is an App that you can download to your smartphone if you have one. Just search for WhatsApp. This is widely used in Europe for communicating as it uses the internet rather than the phone providers. (Internet will be free at our hotels.) It is also a great way for us to contact all of you while we are on the trip ( e.g. if we want to delay a departure time the next morning ). If you are already on WhatsApp or would like to be, send us a message with your mobile number and we will make a note of it or send you an invitation to join our WhatsApp group if you are already using the App. CLICK HERE
** OPTIONAL COOKING CLASS – Siracusa: LAST CHANCE TO JOIN THOSE ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!
On the previous two trips to Sicily, we have organised for some of our clients to enjoy a 1/2 day cooking class with a fun lady, Fiora. Her classes are very well-known and book quickly. She speaks excellent English, has a beautiful home where the class takes place and where you will then enjoy the fruits of your labour over lunch – and wine. The morning starts about 9.30am when you go to the bustling produce market in Ortigia ( near the hotel ). Everyone knows Fiora and many stall holders will insist you try their cheeses etc. There is very little walking, and past clients have just loved this experience. Fiora can only take 10 people in a class. ( we have TWO places available )
The cost is €95 pp. ( payable in cash on the day- this is Italy ! ) If you would like us to book you a place, please email us RIGHT NOW!!
CITY / TOURIST TAX : Almost all Italian cities have a council-imposed small nightly ‘tourist tax’ which visitors pay in cash direct to the hotel. This will be added to your room account and you can pay it at any time during your stay. If you do not plan to charge ‘extras’ like room service or bar charges to your account, then we suggest you pay this on the day after arriving, so there is no delay at check out. We will outline these in the final itinerary.
GENERAL ITALY INFORMATION : You may also like to visit our General Italy Tour information page CLICK HERE ….
SHOPPING TIPS – Ideas on what to buy CLICK HERE
FANCY A SWIM ? A few of our hotels have pools — Malta ( a stunning infinity pool right against the city wall ), at Gigliotto ( in Sicily’s centre ) and in Taormina. There will also be the opportunity to swim off the boats when we cruise in the little bays of Giardini Naxos below Taormina. You can bring goggles or a face mask ( and a towel ). Do not rely on being allowed to take a towel away from the hotel.
SOME READING TO ENJOY BEFORE YOU GO:
