Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria: Southern Italy From “Heel” to “Toe”

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

Italy is a member of the Schengen Agreement, a set of European and national standards governing different types of visas. As a result of this agreement, Americans may visit the country for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they have a US passport valid for at least six months from the planned date of departure from the EU.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on September 14, 2027

Meet the group at Best Western Plus Leone di Messapia Hotel in Lecce

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 6:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: To reach the program site from the airport on your own, you have a few options. At the airport arrivals terminal information desk, you can get the most updated bus timetables. Please check Brindisi Airport website for more info: www.aeroportidipuglia.it/brindisi/bus -Bus: Sita Sud S.R.L. provides bus shuttle every 2 hours from Brindisi Airport to Lecce Central Bus Station (in Piazza Carmelo Bene). The ride is approximately 40 minutes. To purchase the bus ticket, you can click on www.aeroportidipuglia.it/brindisi/bus and select “buy your ticket online”. Or use the following link: www.cotrap.it and select “book”. The Best Western Plus Leone di Messapia Hotel is about 4 miles from Lecce Central Bus Station (Piazza Carmelo Bene). -Take a taxi from the central bus station to the hotel. The ride is approximately 10 minutes. Please book the taxi before you leave Brindisi airport at +39 393 0306000. The cost for the ride from Piazza Carmelo Bene in Lecce to the hotel is about € 15 per person and you will pay directly to the taxi driver. Or you can call the hotel and they will provide the shuttle. The cost is about € 20 per person. There are taxis outside the airport arrival area. The ride from Brindisi Airport to the Hotel in Lecce is about 35 miles approximately 40 minutes. We cannot quote this service as this is a public transportation. Private transfers can also be arranged at an additional cost by: - Best Western Plus Hotel Leone di Messapia: www.leonedimessapia.it - info@leonedimessapia.it - +39 0832 613102 or -Baglivi Bus: baglivi@baglivibus.it - www.baglivibus.it We are not responsible for the hotel private services and the motor coach private services.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Buses are available to site.

Your trip ends on: Wednesday, September 29, 2027 in Reggio Calabria at Grand Hotel Excelsior

End of Trip: 10:00 a.m. after breakfast; 11:00 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: To reach the airport from the last program site on your own, you have the option to take a taxi/cab, which may be more cost efficient, however we cannot quote this service as it is a public transportation. The ride from Reggio Calabia to Lamezia Terme Airport is about 1.5 hours. Private transfers can also be arranged at an additional cost by: - Grand Hotel Excelsior Web: www.grandhotelexcelsiorrc.it - E-mail: info.excelsior@montesanohotels.it - Ph. +39 0965 812211 Or - Andirivieni bus: info@andirivieni.it - www.andirivieni.it We are not responsible for the hotel private services and the motor coach private services.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.