Three siblings offered their dad for his 60th birthday an incredible 4-day journey to South Italy with the whole family (the two parents, their three children and their spouses).
The call
Stanislas called us on Google Meet at the agreed time after we had booked a specific time slot on the website. The video call lasted less than half an hour, which was sufficient to discuss all the necessary details and build our upcoming tailor-made journey.
We told him we had decided to organise an out-of-the-box trip to celebrate our dad’s 60th birthday in spring. We planned to discover a fantastic destination in South Italy, where no one in our family had ever been.
We wanted this journey to be festive and, at the same time, a little cultural and active.
Stanislas took note of our interests and tabled a few ideas of destination. We agreed that Matera ticked all the boxes. It was original, fascinating and convenient for a long weekend city trip. Besides Matera, we would be able to discover the picturesque towns of Itria Valley, such as Alberobello, renowned for its trulli, and spectacular seaside resorts like Polignano a Mare.
Renting two cars for the 8 of us would be the most convenient option to travel across the region. Concerning accommodation, we wanted to stay in a one-of-kind sasso turned into a comfortable guest house in the heart of Matera. That would make our trip unforgettable !
The reservation
Stanislas emailed us a detailed description of our tailor-made journey and a quotation the following week. It included all the elements we discussed and agreed upon during our call. He also sent us helpful advice for purchasing our flight tickets.
As a result, we approved and signed the quotation electronically and paid a deposit. As soon as we booked our flight tickets, we forwarded our flight details to Stanislas so that he could arrange a smooth car pick-up at the airport. We were looking forward to travelling to South Italy!
The preparations
Two weeks before departure, we received a comprehensive travel book setting out the complete itinerary by email. It also included many other things, such as travel advice and suggestions of bars and restaurants and local food to try.
Thanks to a specific reference number sent by Velstana, it was also available online via a link and on a handy free app – that could be used in offline mode – available for iOS and Android devices.
Trip details
Arrival in South Italy
Discovering outstanding Matera
Falling in love with Itria Valley and its trulli
A spectacular coastline
Pricing and services for this journey: €550 per person
Included:
- 3 nights in a superior guest house (breakfast included) – 4 double or twin rooms
- 1 evening meal at the guest house
- 1 wine tasting with antipasti
- Rental of 2 cars, including third-party liability insurance and standard coverage in case of damages and theft (CDW and TP)
- 1 private guided tour in Matera
- 1 boat tour on the Adriatic Sea
- Travel Book accessible anywhere, anytime, including a one-of-a-kind itinerary
Excluded:
- Flight tickets
- City tax
- Museum and church entry tickets
- Meals (lunch and dinner) that are not included above
- Car fuel and security deposit for the car rental
- Additional car coverage (on request)
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
The abovementioned sample prices are for guidance only and are not binding. The total cost of your holiday will depend on a number of factors, including time of year of travel and choice of accommodation and transport. The actual cost of your holiday is as set out in the Booking Confirmation.