GOOD NEWS!

Consider touring Italy after the

 Annual Meeting in Rome!

 Tips for Travelers - click here

Beginning June 14^th in Rome - ending June 22^nd in Venice

Deadline:  Reservations must be received by April 15, 2008 !!! 

We are pleased to announce that the AAFCP Board of Directors has contracted with Pilgrim Tours to provide a wonderful tour for those wishing to extend their stay in Italy. Do not miss this unique opportunity to see the sights of Italy with a small group of people you know!

This 8 day, 8 night tour of Italy will begin immediately after the 8:00am closing Masson Saturday, June 14 and will conclude in Venice on Sunday, June 22, 2008. Those not attending the Annual Meeting can arrive in Rome on Friday, June 13 th if they wish, and still go on the tour. As you can see from the pricing grid below, the tour fees drop significantly with every 5th participant.

Price per person double occupancy:

 15-19 participants:    then the cost is   $2209  

          20-24 participants:                               $1869

          25-29 participants:                               $1679

          30-35 participants:                               $1549   

Single supplement $259

We currently have about 20 people interested in the tour, and, we would like to have more members and their families, friends, and clients participate in this tour. With five more persons, the price drops to $1679 and ten more to $1549!!! Anticipate even lower tour costs if participation climbs above 35 persons!

Included in the tour are the sights of Rome as well as some of the most beautiful cities and churches in Italy. Spectacular sights like the Cathedral at Orvieto, built to commemorate the Feast of Corpus Christi; Assisi , the city of St. Francis and St. Clare; Florence world renown for its Duomo, leather goods, art work and frescos; Padua, home of St. Anthony; and Venice noted for its Venetian lace and Murano glass, as well as the beauty of its canals.

For anyone interested in this tour package, please contact Jeanette Strebel as soon as possible. ejstrebel@yahoo.com , 716-652-4316 home, 716-474-2533 cell. Jeanette will keep you posted on all developing information related to the tour. In the meantime, complete the reservation form and send to Pilgrim Toursas directed in the instructions on the form. The tour company must have your reservation paid in full by April 15 th.

 downloadable itinerary .... here

downloadable reservation form .... here

Important planning information:  

While the tour begins immediately following the Closing Mass on June 14, it is imperative that you book the room you are staying at for the Annual meeting one extra night, with checkout on June 15. This will eliminate the need to change hotels on Saturday night. If you are unable to extend your stay by one night, Pilgrim tours will have some rooms available for us at the Waldorf Hotel in Rome.

I encourage everyone to visit the AAFCP website for a list of recommended accommodations for your stay during the conferences. Just be sure that they are in close proximity to the Augustinian Conference Center (also known as Istituto Patristico Augustinianum) on via Paolo VI 25, and St Peter’s Square.

Arrange your flights to leave from Venice (VCE) on Sunday June 22. Please be aware that we will all need to go to the airport on the bus at the same time as the earliest flight out. We are trying to arrange our flights home to leave Venice around Noon. This gives you time to have breakfast in the morning before your long flight home. Of course, we realize that this may not be possible for some, we just ask you to consider this information in your planning.

Please note that the tour is not limited to AAFCP members only. If you have interested family and friends, they may join us by choosing to register only for the tour of Italy after the conferences. If you are traveling alone and/or desire a roommate, contact Jeanette Strebel and we will do our best to put you in touch with another who may also be looking for a travel companion.

Those of us on the board who will be touring with our families (Angel Garcia, Jeanette Strebel, Nancy McGrath, and Sylvia Corson) look forward to having a wonderful experience with you as we continue our journey across the Italian countryside.

NOTE: I found inexpensive airline tickets by using a combination of a lower fare to a hub city like JFK and using the website www.cheapoair.com . Consider flying Jet Blue, Air Tran, Southwest, and some other inexpensive airline to NYC. Personally, I was able to book a round trip airfare from JFK-Madrid - Rome and Venice-Madrid-JFK for $936 on Iberian Air. For just $164 more, I booked Jet Blue to JFK. My total round trip cost is $1100.

If you would like more information, please feel free to call or email me at the phone numbers listed below. If you know anyone who is thinking of attending the Rome conference and might desire this tour information, please forward this to them and encourage them to contact Jeanette.

Remember, you will need to be paid in full by April 15, 2008.

Thank you.  See you in Rome! 

Jeanette Strebel, BS, CFCP 716-652-4316 Home

Vice President for Membership 716-474-2533 cell