Piemonte, Italy

What is Included:

• 8 nights in a resort with gym, spa, pool, courts, restaurant, etc.
• Access to Pickleball courts directly in resort
• 2 Pro Instructors
• 12+ hours Pickleball instruction and tournament
• Transportation to and from Airport MALPENSA
• Buffet special breakfast every morning
• 7 Gourmet “theme dinners’’ in resort and 1 special dinner in vineyard
• 3 lunches in resort and 5 typical lunches outside
• Private deluxe motor coach for day trip excursions
• Day trip to Turin, Lake Maggiore, Orta and boat trip
• Tours in Biella, Mount Oropa, Oasi Zegna, Candelo etc
• Professional guided tours in each city and places visited
• 2 cooking experiences (pasta and pizza)
• Wine, chocolate, local cold cuts and cheese tasting
• Bilingual tour leader

 

What's Not Included:

• Airfare, tips, extras, personal spending, travel insurance

 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• E-bike tours, trekking, hiking, kayak, etc.

• Feel insignificant in the shadow of the Alps
• Eat Polenta while visiting in Oropa Sanctuary
• Tasting Piemonte typical Merenda Sinoira
• Have a dinner in vineyards
• To take at least one photo a day with a wonderful background and your paddle in the foreground
• How many different colors you find Conca dei Rododendri in Oasi Zegna?
• To get your face floured while making fresh pasta
• Make new Pickleball and life friends
• Experience the magic of Turin while savoring a Gianduiotto
• To get buff stretching pizza dough
• Win a Pickleball match against Italians
• Lost in beauty of Isola Bella and Borromean Island
• Enjoy ice cream in Stresa while admiring the majesty of Lake Maggiore
• Be a little buzzed after a wonderful tasting of Piedmontese wine
• Be Italian for 9 days

Michele Dabal

In 2018, Michele converted from tennis to pickleball to prepare for the US Transplant Games in 2018. She quickly fell in love with this sport.

In 2019, Michele earned the PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) Coach Certification and the IFP (International Federation of Pickleball) istructor certification.

In 2021, Michele founded MD Pickleball Academy to share her passion of pickleball with others. The academy offers programs and instruction for players of all ages and abilities. She quickly became a Sponsored Engage Pickleball Ambassador.

Michele is the co-founder and director of the All State Pickleball League, a team-based league for players with DUPR ratings ranging from 2.5 to 4.5+. She is also a DUPR Preferred Event Director, organizing and executing Minor League Pickleball Tournaments.

 

Stephen Conger

Stephen is a former tennis player who started playing pickleball in the summer of 2017. As a player He participated and won medals in local, state, regional, and national tournaments. Stephen is a certified PCI (Pickleball Coaching International) coach since 2022.

In 2022, he founded the Jersey Devil Pickleball Club to share his passion for pickleball with others. The primary focus of this club is to provide individual or small/large group introductory pickleball coaching for new and advanced beginner players. Stephen is expert in planning and conducting clinics for intermediate and advanced players. Every season he volunteers in providing youth pickleball clinics. The Jersey Devil Pickleball Club is a growing community of pickleball enthusiasts where Stephen is dedicated to promoting the sport and inspiring others to enjoy its many benefits.

Stephen is also Co-Founder and Director of the All State Pickleball League 2022: A team based league with teams of 4-12 players with DUPR’s of 2.5 - 4.5+

 

WHERE WE ARE?

We will be in Biella, UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts, one of the most important city in the Northern Italy, famous for its tradition of delicious food, wine and wool industry: this city is a perfect example of why ‘Made in Italy’ is so famous worldwide. It is located in the foothills of the Alps, and is surrounded by stunning scenery made of forests, rivers, lakes, vineyards and small typical mountain villages.

This is a perfect location for a Pickleball vacation because of its wonderful history, nature and climate.

Furthermore, the strategic position will allow us to carry out many trips during our Holiday. The home base will be a Relais Santo Stefano Resort, perfect to enjoy a relaxing holiday and play Pickleball (courts are directly in the resort).

From our wonderful resort we will start several trips and experiences during our holiday:

we will go to the Mount Oropa and its Historical Sanctuary, we will visit the Royal city of Torino, we will reach by boat the wonderful coasts of Lago Maggiore and Lago Orta; we will try many of the best Italian wines, cheeses and all the food specialties of this magnificent region. We will also learn how to make Pasta and Pizza, and much…. Much more!

12+ Hours of Pickleball activities are scheduled and distributed among all the days of the trip (except for the days where we have the entire day trip) and includes Pickleball training, open play and competitions.

 

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Malpensa/Biella Arrive to resort, optional pickleball, spa, relax and welcome dinner
• Day 2: Biella Morning pickleball, Mount Oropa, freetime and ‘theme dinner’
• Day 3: Biella Morning pickleball, Candelo, wine cellar and vineyards dinner
• Day 4: Biella Morning pickleball, Oasi Zegna, Pasta Class and dinner
• Day 5: Torino Day-trip to Torino and ‘theme’ dinner
• Day 6: Biella Morning pickleball, aperitivo and wine in Viverone and ‘theme dinner’
• Day 7: Lago Maggiore/Orta Day-trip to Orta, boat trip to Borromean Island, ‘theme dinner’
• Day 8: Biella Morning pickleball tournament, afternoon free, Pizza class and Pizza night
• Day 9: Biella/Malpensa Departures, arrive same day to US or Canada

Detailed Program

Day 1

• You will arrive to the Airport of Malpensa (MXP) and we will take care of the transport from the airport to the Resort
• You will have time to set in the structure and enjoy all the services offered by the resort (pool, spa, pickleball court etc)
• Welcome Dinner

 

Day 2

• 9- 11 am two hours at the pickleball courts for training and play
• 12-5 pm we will move to Mount Oropa Sanctuary (World Heritage Site from 2003) for typical Alps lunch: Then we will visit the biggest Sanctuary in the Alps and discover its ancient cult of the Black Madonna
• Freetime in Biella or in our resort
• Dinner in our resort

 

Day 3

• 9-11 am two hours at the pickleball courts for training and play
• Light lunch in resort (merenda sinoira) like a real Piedmontese, with tasting of local cold cuts, sauces, jams and cheeses
• 2-4 pm move to Candelo, to reach it’s wonderful RICETTO, a medieval fortified village that was once used as a refuge, a granary, and a wine cellar.
• 5-10 pm we will go to one of the most renowned wine producers in Piedmont. We will walk among their vineyards, visit their cellars, and taste their best wines. Finally, if the weather permits, we will have dinner by candlelight directly in the vineyards

 

Day 4

• 9 am -12 pm three hours at the pickleball courts for training and play
• Light lunch in resort
• 1-6 pm move to Oasi Zegna, one of the most beautiful mountain area in Italy. The Oasi Zegna is now home to a variety of forests, including beech, pine, and oak and is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and skiing.
• How to make Pasta
• Pasta special Dinner

 

Day 5

• After breakfast we will spend the whole day to visit TORINO, the first Capital of Italy and Seat of the King of Italy. Its historic center is a gem of Baroque and neoclassical art, with monuments such as the Mole Antonelliana, the Royal Palace, and Palazzo Madama. There are a lot of important museums, such as the Egyptian Museum, one of the most important Egyptian museums in the world. Torino is also the city of magic, automobiles, and chocolate. Here was invented the GIANDUIOTTO, the famous chocolate and hazelnut candy.
• A full guided tour of the city is scheduled, which will leave you speechless. The tour will be enriched by a typical lunch and a chocolate tasting.
• Dinner & Relax in our resort

 

Day 6

• 9am-12pm three hours at the pickleball courts for training and play
• Viverone lake with typical aperitivo and wine tasting in one of the most renowned wine producers in Piedmont
• Freetime in Biella or Relax in our resort
• Italian barbecue in our resort

 

Day 7

• After breakfast we will spend the whole day to visit Orta San Giulio, Stresa and a boat trip to the Borromean Island. The stunning natural scenery of this area is breathtaking and one of the most beatiful part of Northern Italy. Orta San Giulio is a small town located on the shore of Lake Orta. The town is known for its medieval architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Borromean Islands are three islands located in Lake Maggiore. The islands are known for their beautiful gardens, palaces, and churches. The largest island, Isola Bella, is home to the Borromeo Palace, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Dinner in our Resort

 

​​​​​Day 8

• Morning: Pickleball last clinic & Tournaments
• Lunch in resort
• Afternoon: Freetime in Biella or Resort
• How to make Pizza
• Pizza Party

 

Day 9

• Wake up and move to Malpensa Airport (MXP)
• Time to say Good-Bye…. And for sure, we will meet to the next Pickleball Italy Trip

 

Important information about the itinerary: Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and will make every effort to provide equally appealing alternatives when adjustments need to be made. We appreciate your understanding.

The Resort

Nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps, the Resort is a charming hotel that offers a luxurious and romantic escape. The Resort is housed in a restored 17th-century building that has been tastefully decorated in a classic Italian style. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and they offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The hotel's amenities include a swimming pool, a spa, PB courts and a restaurant that serves traditional Italian cuisine.

 

The Meals

All meals are included and carefully selected to offer the best in authenticity and taste, starting with breakfast served in the resort. Both lunch and dinner (inside or outside the resort, depending on the daily visits), have nothing to do with the classic international meals of resorts. Each meal will have a theme, it will be a real culinary journey through Piedmont and Italian cuisine, with the best wine in the world and by several tastings of typical local products.

 

110+ Days prior to arrival - deposit always refundable

71-110 Days prior to arrival- deposit non-refundable

0 – 70 Days prior to arrival – 100% of the Total Price non-refundable

PLEASE NOTE: if the number of participants doesn’t reach the minimum number of participants, the trip will not be held and the full amount paid will be refunded.

We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:

• You need to cancel your participation on the tour
• You need to cancel or change a flight
• Lost baggage during the trip
• Stolen items during the trip
• Medical costs during the trip

If you would like to compare policies here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider: Travelex Travel Insurance and Travel Guard. You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.

AIRPORT

The arrival and departure airport is Milan Malpensa International Airport, which is 50 minutes from the resort. The day of arrival must match the first day indicated and the day of departure with the last day (day 9).

We will provide the ground transportation to and from the airport! Before the trip, we will send you an email with a form where you can enter your flight information—based on these details, we will set up ground transportation.

 

Additional Information

You will need:

• Your passport
• An EU outlet adapter (available on Amazon)
• Your Pickleball paddle (if not don’t worry you can write us)

 

Recommended:

• A portable charger for longer tour days
• Travel insurance — for this trip or any other trip you take! We do not have a specific recommendation for travel insurance; this is up to you.
• 50-200 Euros to have on hand. We recommend withdrawing Euros from an ATM once you arrive. Euros will be useful for street souvenirs, cash-only shops, tips, etc.

 

You will not need:

• a Visa
• a COVID test or vaccine
• Tips are not expected by drivers/servers/staff in Europe. If you would like to tip, though, 5%-10% on your bill or a few Euros is the typical tipping range.

 

WEATHER

The average temperature in Piedmont in April and May is about 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Days are generally sunny and mild, with maximum temperatures that can reach 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Minimums, on the other hand, hover around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rain is relatively rare in April and May in Piedmont. The monthly average is about 2 inches, with a peak in the first days of the month.

In general, April and May are pleasant month to visit Piedmont. The temperatures are mild and the days are long and sunny, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, picnics, and visiting historic villages.

• Double Room – $ 5,450 (per person when sharing a room) - initial deposit $3,200 ($1,600 per person)
• Single Room – $ 5,950 (solo traveler with private room) - initial deposit $1,800
• Suite Room - $ 7,550 (per person special room with private spa) - initial deposit $6,800 ($3,400 per person)

Please note that only one deposit is necessary to reserve a double or suite room for two guests. These initial deposits will be deducted from your grand total (listed above).

If you travel alone but you selected a double room (to be shared), please note that is possible to have two beds in one room (one bed for each person). Just write it in the additional notes so that we are aware.

After placing your initial deposit, your full payment is due 70 days prior to arrival.