|
LOCAL RESOURCES
• Florence Weather
• Currency Converter
• Driving Information
• Cell phone service in Italy
• Italian Train Reservations
• European Train Travel
SPECIAL NEEDS (Questions & Answers)
I’m planning a special birthday trip for some friends and family. Help!
Custom Tours in Tuscany can help you find a villa to accommodate the whole gang, set up tours with buses and make special reservations for meals. A cook can come to you, or you can special order meals ahead of time in a great restaurant. Gala events can be planned in show-stopping settings: a torch-lit castle, a gilded ballroom, or panoramic restaurant.
We are traveling with our kids and want to keep them happy and engaged. What tours are geared towards them?
Active kids will want days that include climbing towers (see Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca and Siena) and fortresses (Montalcino, Lunigiana, Monteriggioni) hiking and biking (Florence, Lucca, Fiesole, Chianti). Crafts-lovers can get in the artisan game and try their hand at making marbleized paper, leather books or painted ceramics. What about a cooking class? There also is a great kids’ museum & and science museum in Florence, and Leonardo’s Museum in his hometown of Vinci is fascinating. Read more in our Kids of All Ages tour pages.
My wife and I are on our honeymoon. Which tours are the most romantic?
Let’s start you off on a romantic Florence walking tour, reliving the great love stories and weddings from the Renaissance. Maybe you will finish the day with a sunset boat ride on the Arno River, followed by a candlelight dinner. For more relaxing pace, try a garden tour, Lucca, Pienza, or a wine tour. Maybe you would like unwinding at a Tuscan spa? There are several options for thermal baths, massage, mud wraps and other spa treatments. Ask us about the most luxurious hotels where you will never want to step outside! See details in our Florence Touring Collection or our Tuscan Hill Towns tours.
I have trouble walking long distances. Is this a problem?
In the cities generally we do a lot of walking. If you have special needs we can arrange for a car and a driver who has special access to the center of the city. Wheelchairs and stools are also available upon request.
VILLAS & APARTMENTS
Suzanne B. Cohen—Susan B. Cohen & Associates invite
you to enjoy a truly remarkable holiday experience. Give yourself
and the ones you love a vacation unlike any other. Immerse
yourself in the culture of Europe from your own private vacation
residence. Visit www.villaeurope.com.
Pitcher & Flaccomino—They have a large selection of apartments and villas in Florence and throughout Tuscany, and are friendly and accommodating. Visit www.pitcherflaccomio.com and give them our regards.
Villa Catering—Where ever you stay, have your villa's refrigerator stocked or a have a delicious meal waiting for your when you arrive. Vieri Salvadori, is the best traveling chef anywhere. Ask for a menu and rates. You can also stay at their property, La Selva, which sleeps up to 16 in great comfort with 8 bedrooms and 8 en suite bathrooms + lots of amenities. Vieri and his wife Rebecca also produce wonderful olive oil that they can ship to you. They are highly recommended and can be reached via email.
BEYOND TUSCANY
AmalfiLife offers 1 week escorted tours of the
Amalfi coast for you and your family and friends only, not
an unrelated group of people. Contact Laurie Howell via
email or phone (718-797-9300).
Private guide in Rome—We work with a wonderful guide in Rome who will brighten your days and enlighten your understanding of the Eternal City and beyond. Make your time in Rome most memorable by being with this guide/driver par excellence. Email us for information.
Venice Travel Advisory Service—If you are planning
on seeing San Marco from the guidebook but you are afraid
of getting lost in the labyrinth of back streets, Samantha
Durell can guide you through the unique canals and passageways. Call
(212) 873-1964, or email samveniceit@yahoo.com.
TRAVEL TIPS
We have put together some “tips” to better ensure
your comfort and enjoyment of Tuscany. We hope you find these
suggestions useful.
Dress—Daytime: comfortable shoes
(you will be walking on cobblestone streets) and layered clothing
work well for touring. Remember that you will not be allowed
to enter churches in sleeveless or off-the-shoulder attire.
Evening: Restaurants are generally casual... khakis
and collared shirts for men and slacks, skirts, or dresses
for women. If we have booked you into a restaurant that is
more formal and in which gentlemen must wear a jacket and
tie, we will be sure to inform you.
Tipping—Check your restaurant bills
closely as there is usually a tip or cover (“coperto”)
charge or service already listed on the bill. No extra tip
is required in this case. Otherwise, 15% is customary. As
for your guide, a 10-20% gratuity is customary, depending
upon your satisfaction.
Taxis—In Florence, it is not possible
to “wave down” a taxi; rather, you must find a taxi stand or have any hotel, shop or restaurant phone for one. There are taxi stands conveniently located
near large piazzas, and “radio taxis” arrive in minutes. Tipping in taxis is not necessary, but
a small offering is always appreciated. Please note: Taxis are more expensive
at night than during the day.
Coffee/Wine Bars—Be aware that you will
pay extra to sit down at any of these places. Most Italians,
you will notice, stand at the bars to drink their coffees
or wines.
Money Exchange—We have found that the
best rates for currency exchange are at the ATMs. These are
easily found both in Florence and beyond. Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards add 3% to every purchase. AmEx adds 2%, although it is not universally accepted. Bring both cards.
Safety—Custom Tours in Tuscany takes
your safety seriously and we make a point of recommending
hotels, restaurants, and shops in only the safest areas of
the city. Florence, in general, is not considered a dangerous
place. Violent crime is not the norm. However, please be careful
of your belongings while at the train station and whenever
standing in or walking through crowds ... two instances where
you may encounter pickpockets. When walking along the street,
make sure your camera and bag are on your inside shoulder.
Telephones—We recommend bringing your US cell phone and making sure it operates in Italy. You may be able to purchases inexpensive phones with a prepaid card. For making calls from your hotel, purchase a phone card from any newsstand (for 10 euros you may get up to 6 hours of talk time).
Traveling with a lot of luggage—Traveling by train is a nightmare with heavy luggage. Most train stations do not have porter service and you will find yourself hauling your own bags. Think about using our transfer service!
Language—Italian not required! Hand language,
facial expressions , high school French or Spanish......all
is welcome and with good humor. We have yet to encounter an
Italian who is unable to communicate somehow!
Museum Entry—Museums and even some churches
nowadays have an entrance fee. These fees are generally in
euros. Some fees are: Uffizi Museum (E.6,50), Accademia Museum
(E.6,50), Church of Santa Croce (E.4), the Duomo (free), the
Duomo Bell Tower (E.6), the Opera del Duomo (E.6), Brancacci
Chapel (E.4). Reservations can be made at the Uffizi and Accademia
for a charge of E.3,50. See the Official Florentine “Polo Museale” web site for up to date information: www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/
Time Change—Florence time is:
+6 hours Eastern Time
+7 Central Time
+9 Pacific Time
Weather—Spring arrives in late March
in Tuscany and Fall is mild...sweater or light jacket weather.
Bring a raincoat and travel umbrella! Summer can be quite
hot and winter can be cold in December and January. | Prices & Policies
~ Top of Page ~
|
