Tour Dates: July 11 - 21, 2027

Sample Itinerary – Subject to Change

Experience the best of Italy on this softball adventure, combining international tournament competition with unforgettable sightseeing, incredible food, and Italian culture. Represent your team on the field in Reggio Emilia, explore the colorful coastal villages of Cinque Terre by boat and train, and discover the beauty of Tuscany and Florence. Travel to Rome for a hands-on pizza-making class, guided city sightseeing, and a visit to the iconic Colosseum and Vatican City. From breathtaking coastlines and historic landmarks to delicious local cuisine, this trip brings together softball, culture, and adventure for an unforgettable Italian experience.

Trip Highlights

• Compete in an international softball tournament in Reggio Emilia

• Explore the colorful coastal villages of Cinque Terre by boat and train

• Discover Florence on a guided walking tour of its historic center

• Make your own pizza in a hands-on Italian cooking class

• Explore Rome on a guided city tour

• Visit the iconic Colosseum

• Discover Vatican City on a guided visit

This is an Active Tour

Italy is best experienced on foot! Travelers should expect a significant amount of walking throughout this itinerary, including uneven streets, cobblestones, stairs, hills, and extended walking tours.

Travelers should be comfortable walking several miles per day.

This itinerary may not be appropriate for individuals with significant mobility limitations. ABSA does not provide or facilitate alternative transportation for travelers who are unable or choose not to participate in scheduled walking portions of the itinerary.

We generally recommend this tour for children over the age of 10.

If you have questions regarding the physical requirements of the trip, please contact Casey at 817-637-5299 before registering.

Travel Expectations

International travel is part of the adventure!

When traveling outside the United States, you will experience different customs, traditions, foods, accommodations, sporting facilities, transportation systems, and ways of life. Things may not always operate or look exactly as they do at home—and that's part of experiencing another country.

Gyms, fields, facilities, equipment, competition levels, match formats, and game-day experiences may differ from what athletes are accustomed to in the United States.

Some games may be highly competitive, while others focus more on cultural exchange, sportsmanship, and sharing our love of softball with athletes from another country.

Regardless of the opponent or facility, ABSA athletes are representing their team, their families, the United States, and ABSA. We expect athletes and travelers to approach every experience with respect, flexibility, and a spirit of adventure.

We encourage you to research your destination to enhance your experience. Tools like Google Street View are a great way to explore the area in advance.

Traveling With Children

All travelers under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian unless an alternative arrangement has been specifically approved by ABSA.

Parents and legal guardians remain responsible for the supervision of their minor traveler throughout the tour.

Protect Your Trip

Travel insurance is strongly encouraged for all ABSA travelers.

ABSA does not provide individual or group travel insurance. Travelers may purchase coverage from the provider of their choice.

ABSA partners with InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison platform that allows travelers to compare plans from multiple insurance providers and select coverage appropriate for their individual needs.

When comparing policies, travelers may want to consider coverage for:

• Trip cancellation

• Trip interruption

• Airline delays or cancellations

• Lost or delayed baggage

• Illness or injury

• Medical treatment while traveling internationally

• Emergency medical transportation or evacuation

• Other unexpected circumstances that could affect travel

Coverage varies significantly between policies. Travelers should carefully review the policy's terms, exclusions, coverage limits, and eligibility requirements before purchasing.

We recommend speaking directly with a licensed travel insurance representative if you have questions about the coverage appropriate for your circumstances.

Purchasing travel insurance is the individual traveler's responsibility.

International Travel Documents

A valid passport is required for international travel.

To travel to Italy, you must have a valid passport. U.S. citizens traveling to any destination outside the United States are required to present a valid U.S. passport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date.

Each traveler is responsible for ensuring they have all documentation necessary to enter Italy, transit through any connecting country, and return to the United States.

Requirements may include:

• A valid passport

• Required passport validity

• Visa or travel authorization, when applicable

• Transit documentation

• Entry or exit forms

• Documentation required when traveling with minors

• Any additional requirements established by the destination or transit country

The name on your airline reservation must match your travel documents.

Entry and transit requirements can change. Travelers should verify the current requirements applicable to their citizenship, itinerary, and connecting countries well before departure.

U.S. citizens should review current international travel and destination information through the U.S. Department of State at https://travel.state.gov

Travelers who are citizens of another country should verify requirements with the appropriate embassy or consulate.

Failure to obtain required documentation may result in denied boarding or denied entry and does not qualify a traveler for a refund from ABSA.

Travel and entry requirements are subject to change. Travelers are responsible for verifying current requirements before departure.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

All trip deposits and balance payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

A $250 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure a place on the tour.

Because unexpected circumstances can prevent travel, ABSA strongly encourages travelers to consider appropriate travel insurance.

Payments

ABSA offers several options to make international travel more manageable:

• Payment Plan: Remaining payments are divided according to the payment schedule provided during registration.

• Automatic Payments: Scheduled payments may automatically draft from the payment method provided during registration.

• Affirm Financing: Financing may be available for eligible travelers.

• Fundraising: Travelers are welcome to utilize fundraising opportunities to help offset their individual trip costs.

All balances must be paid according to the established payment schedule to maintain your reservation.

Please Do Not Book Flights Yet

Airfare is not included in the tour price.

ABSA will provide the official arrival airport, departure airport, travel dates, and required arrival/departure time windows once flight parameters are finalized.

⚠️ Warning⚠️:

Do not book a roundtrip

• This trip starts and ends in different cities.

• When booking your flights, do not select a round-trip flight. Instead, search for a Multi-City itinerary so you can enter a different airport for your arrival and departure.

• A Multi-City booking allows you to fly into your starting city and depart from your ending city, rather than returning to the original airport. Multi-City flights are also often less expensive than purchasing two separate one-way tickets.

📍 Arrival:  Milan, Italy.
📍 Departure: Rome, Italy.

This is an open-jaw itinerary, meaning the tour begins in one city and ends in another.

Do not purchase a traditional round-trip ticket unless you independently arrange and pay for transportation from Florence back to Rome at the conclusion of the tour.

Once ABSA releases the official flight parameters, travelers may:

• Book flights directly with the airline of their choice.

• Use airline miles or credit-card points.

• Arrive before the official tour begins.

• Extend their stay after the tour.

• Coordinate flights with other ABSA travelers.

Travelers who choose flights outside ABSA's designated arrival or departure parameters are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation to meet or depart from the group.

Important:

Please wait for official ABSA flight parameters before purchasing non-refundable airfare.

Take your softball experience international with an unforgettable adventure through Italy! Compete in Reggio Emilia, explore stunning coastlines and historic cities, savor authentic Italian food, and discover the culture and beauty that make Italy so special. It's the perfect mix of softball, travel, and memories that last a lifetime.

Compete internationally. Experience the Italy with your family. Build friendships with softball players from across the United States and abroad. ABSA tours combine sport, culture, connection, and adventure to create experiences that go far beyond the field.

Sample itinerary. Activities, competition schedules, accommodations, transportation, and order of events are subject to change.

Depart the USA and fly to Milan, Italy as your unforgettable Italian softball adventure begins!

Kick off your Italian adventure in Milan! After arriving, enjoy a city walk to take in the sights before transferring to Reggio Emilia, your home base for the start of the tournament. Settle into your hotel and enjoy dinner as the team prepares for the days ahead.

• Arrive at Milan Airport

• Explore Milan on a city walk

• Transfer to Reggio Emilia and check in to your hotel

• Dinner at a local restaurant or the hotel

It’s time to take the field! Start the day with breakfast at your hotel before heading into the first day of softball tournament action in Reggio Emilia. Represent your team, compete against international opponents, and embrace the excitement of playing in Italy.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Day 1 of the softball tournament

• Lunch and dinner at the tournament venue

• Overnight stay in Reggio Emilia

The tournament continues with another exciting day on the diamond. Fuel up with breakfast, get ready to compete, and make the most of the opportunity to play softball internationally. After a day of games, enjoy meals at the tournament venue before recharging for the next day.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Day 2 of the softball tournament

• Lunch and dinner at the tournament venue

• Overnight stay in Reggio Emilia

Bring your team spirit to the field for the third day of tournament action!

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Day 3 of the softball tournament

• Lunch and dinner at the tournament venue

• Overnight stay in Reggio Emilia

Discover the beauty of Italy’s coastline with a day trip to Cinque Terre. Take in the colorful villages tucked along the sea, enjoy a boat ride along the coast, and travel between villages by train. After exploring this stunning coastal region, continue to Tuscany to check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Day trip to Cinque Terre

• Boat ride along the coast

• Train travel between the villages

• Transfer to Tuscany and hotel check-in

• Dinner at the hotel

Spend the day exploring Florence, one of Italy’s most iconic historic cities. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the historic center, taking in the city’s remarkable architecture and atmosphere. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace before dinner on your own.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Day trip to Florence

• Guided walking tour of the historic center

• Free time to explore Florence

• Dinner on your own

Start the day with breakfast before traveling toward Rome, with a stop at a traditional farm along the way. Then, roll up your sleeves and enjoy a hands-on pizza-making class. After arriving in Rome and checking into your hotel, gather for an optional dinner at Hard Rock Cafe Rome at your own expense.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Transfer to Rome with a stop at a traditional farm

• Enjoy a hands-on pizza-making class

• Check in to your hotel in Rome

• Optional dinner at Hard Rock Cafe Rome, at your own expense

Travel back in time as you discover the history and landmarks of Rome. Begin with breakfast before joining a guided city tour, then explore the iconic Colosseum and imagine life in ancient Rome. Wrap up the day with dinner on your own and time to unwind.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Guided city tour of Rome

• Guided visit to the Colosseum

• Dinner on your own

Discover the remarkable sights of Vatican City on a guided visit, taking in one of the most significant destinations in the heart of Rome. Enjoy free time afterward to explore more of the city before gathering with the group for a farewell dinner and a final evening celebrating your Italian adventure.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Guided visit to Vatican City

• Free time to explore Rome

• Farewell dinner at a local restaurant

• Overnight stay in Rome

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and transferring to Rome’s airport for your journey home. Take with you the memories of Italy’s historic cities, beautiful coastlines, delicious food, and unforgettable experiences shared along the way.

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Hotel check-out

• Transfer to Rome Airport

• Depart for home