Play & Pause: Italy, Switzerland & France

You’ve got 24 hours to live out all your Eat. Pray. Love. fantasies. Get out there and do your own, spontaneous, this-is-what-you-came-for thing. But if you need some local tips, we’ve got your back. Count your blessings on an optional tour of Vatican City. Hike up Capitoline Hill for awesome views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Head to the Knights of Malta Keyhole to see an alternative view of the city. Battle the lunchtime rush for a slice at Pizzarium Bonci. Hunt down the Mouth of Truth. Or simply do as the locals do and indulge in a little dolce far niente (delicious idleness) at a local cafe. You’re in Disneyland for foodies, so finding dinner tonight is gonna to be a breeze. Thought you’d tried all the gelato flavours? Head to Fatamorgana – and think again.

Prepare to make your food baby sing as we roll into Florence. This place has more stories than you can poke a stick at, more culture than a Fitzroy hipster AND it gave the world gelato – praise be. We’ll get the lay of the land on an in-depth walking tour with a local guide. Then: take your new-found knowledge and hit the streets solo. Uffizi Gallery. Ponte Vecchio. Piazza della Signoria. The Duomo. You can’t see it all, but you sure as hell can try! And tonight? Settle into a cosy bar and sip on an OG Negroni. Or head back to the hotel for some R&R. You do you.

You’ve got this morning to explore – make it count. Get to the Galleria dell’Accademia early to make eyes at David. Or head to the top of the Duomo for allll the views (get your tix in advance!). Later, we’re off to Venice. You know it as the Floating City, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). Check out the usual suspects on a walking tour with our Trip Leader – ticking off the likes of St Mark's Square, Doge’s Palace and Accademia Bridge. Dinner tonight is on you, but your Trip Leader has the low-down on where to go. What delicious carb-laden Italian meal are you going to try first? Order two.

Time to see what all the fuss is about. Centuries-old architecture. Inventive cuisine. And a bucket-load of culture. Venice is just begging to be explored – and you’ve got the whole day to do just that. Need suggestions? Jump on an iconic gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Spend some time seeking out the epic Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop. Head off the tourist trail with a trip to Giudecca Island. Or discover the maze of winding streets, grand piazzas and shimmering canals. That’s what makes memories.

From cityscapes to landscapes, prepare yourself for some I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E scenery as we make our way to the Swiss Alps. Warm up those vocal cords, we’ll be busting out some bangers on the ride into the mountains. Or plug in your AirPods and catch some zzzs. Then: cue the fairytale villages of your imagination – the oh-so-quaint Engelberg is where we'll be spending the night. After dinner, you can head to the hotel bar with the gang or enjoy some me-time relaxing in the fresh alpine air. You’re finally here: slow down and enjoy it.

This is your day. So, enjoy it your way. Ready to explore? Hiking. Biking. Thrill-seeking. It’s all here. This place should have been sponsored by GoPro. You could take the revolving gondola to the top of Mt Titlis for all the epic views (without the effort). Or head into town in search of the world's best hot chocolate and cheese fondue – unless you’re lactose intolerant. After grabbing dinner, sit back and enjoy the view. This is livin’.

Buy that mini-fondue set for mum. Down your coffee. And wave goodbye to Switzerland – we’re off to the City of Love. The home of Coco Chanel, the Mona Lisa and world’s craziest roundabout – Paris deserves its rep as the European capital for all things fashion, culture and food. Glue your face to the coach window as we pass showstoppers like the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Rue de Rivoli, the Seine and THAT Tower on a driving tour. Then, you’ve got the evening free to uncover why they call this place the City of Lights. Hint: head up the Montparnasse observation tower at night and you might get a better idea.

You wanted more time to explore – so here’s a free day we prepared earlier. Go get it. Create a solid dent in your bucket list with a visit to see ol’ Mona (book your tickets in advance!) and the Musée d'Orsay. Flash some plastic along the Champs Elysées. Discover the hidden gems down Paris’s backstreets. Walking not your thing? Give those calves a workout on an optional bike tour. Or soak up the Parisian vibes from the water while cruising the River Seine. Tonight, dress to impress for an optional cabaret show. Think: sparking lights, death-defining acrobatics, OTT costumes and the can-can (of course). For tonight’s grand finale, shake out those fat pants and enjoy one last dinner with the gang.

Today we say au revoir. But who said all good things must come to an end? There’s plenty of time to plan the reunion trip on the coach back to ol’ Blighty. Where to next?