Automotive Traveler Launches Escorted Vintage Car Tours of Italy

Come join the editors of Automotive Traveler this March on a 12-day tour of Tuscany and Abruzzo, behind the wheel of a classic European roadster. Choose from more than 20 different models from Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Porsche, MG, Morgan, Triumph, Matra, Innocenti, Citroen, and Volkswagen to transport you back to truly experience La Dolce Vita. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) January 22, 2009 - Over a year ago, on a visit to Tuscany and Abruzzo, touring Italy in a classic Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Automotive Traveler Editorial Director Richard Truesdell had an idea. "I was sitting on the terrace of my hotel, having breakfast with my friend of more than 30 years, looking out over the spectacular Tuscan countryside and said, 'Susan, we need to find a way to share this experience with others.' She said, 'What's stopping you?' Now, a little more than a year later, we're ready to share our experience with others on the first Automotive Traveler classic car tour of Tuscany and Abruzzo."

"We are working with a local supplier who has more than 30 different cars available," says Truesdell who has visited Italy many times in his primary job as an automotive journalist. "I want to not only show others the Italy I've come to know and love, but to give guests the experience of living the life of an automotive writer – at least for 10 days – participating in the kind of trips they read about in their favorite magazines."

Making the program work is an experienced team on the ground in Italy, in this case Nicky Pellicciotta and Leonardo De Flaviis and their organization "Sapori e Colori d'Abruzzo" who are coordinating the arrangements and with Truesdell, developing the itinerary. “It’s one that gives a true sense of Italy in the fifties and sixties, something like you remember from your favorite movies” says De Flaviis who calls Pescara on the Adriatic coast home. “All while not being too challenging for the vintage cars, some of which are now more than 40 years old.”

The first trip is scheduled to start March 29 and is limited to just six couples, to insure a completely personalized experience. And even before the first marketing and publicity efforts were initiated, two slots were immediately spoken for. "Word of mouth within the Italian car enthusiast community got the early buzz going," say Truesdell. "And with the dollar gaining strength, we were able to add a day in Abruzzo to the original itinerary and still keep the price under $10,000 per couple for everything except for airfare. With trans-Atlantic airfare now so reasonable, I'm certain that even with just six weeks available that we will no difficulty selling out the remaining four openings for our first program."

And when Truesdell means all inclusive, he means it. The package price includes four-star accommodations in Rome (two nights), Abruzzo (five nights) and Tuscany (four nights), a choice of one of eight different cars with fuel and insurance, three gastronomic indulgences daily including wine, maps and guidebooks, all activities (tastings, cooking schools, truffle hunting), guides who know Italy but speak impeccable English, all transfers (including luggage valet services), gratuities, local taxes, and a complementary spa treatment for you and your significant other at the Villa Danillo in Abruzzo.

The complete itinerary and additional details are now posted on the Automotive Traveler website. While the program is currently set up for just participants, with a second tour already scheduled for the fall, editors with an interest in assigning a writer and photographer to cover the trip for confirmed editorial placements are invited to contact Truesdell for additional details.

Now two years old, Automotive Traveler has established itself as the Internet’s premier portal serving the expanding automotive adventure travel category. With an eclectic editorial package of automotive and travel news and commentary, exclusive automotive spy photography, destination stories, travel tips, and links to related automotive and travel websites, automotivetraveler.com is the place to go first when planning your next road trip.

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