Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Tuscany with Me’

The tours of Tuscany are among the most sought after destinations in the world.  The popularity of region was helped by the best-selling novel “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Now everyone wants to experience renewal and rebirth that comes from this beautiful part of the world.

There are as many ways to tour this region of Italy as there are people to experience them.  There is truly something for everyone “under the Tuscan sun”.   A sample itinerary includes a hotel in the historic center of Florence where you can walk to see the art of the Renaissance.  You can visit Chianti and sample the wine of the same name, sold around the world.  Siena is a must-see locale with its stunning gothic cathedral.

Large tour groups are common all around Italy and are identified by their familiar colored umbrella held high so that no one straggles from the group.  However there are many smaller, more personal tour companies that specialize in intimate groups.  These companies can gain access to more authentic local hot spots like cafes and restaurants where a large group could not be accommodated.

Like the large tour companies, smaller firms can take you anywhere you want to go and they’ll provide a custom presentation along the way such as slide shows preceding new locations.  A one-week tour like this costs approximately $3,400. for the land costs of hotel, most meals, and entrance fees to museums, galleries and monuments.

There are times when travelers wish to remain in the country to make other plans after the structured tour is completed and most tour companies will help you with transportation to your next destination.    Whatever method you chose, a large tour company or a small one, make sure you bring your camera for tours of Tuscany because the sights are too lovely to pass by.

You will be able to have a completely custom designed itinerary by selecting our blog sponsor, Tuscany With Me.  There is no better way to enjoy your trip than to see just exactly what you have always dreamed of.

There are northern Italy tours for nearly every interest under the sun.  If your hobby is food, wine, art,  or cathedrals, a tour company has an itinerary just for you.

For the best dedicated travel to Italy, small independent operators who are Italian-based offer the most knowledgeable ideas and the internet is a good way to start.

The sponsor of this blog is TuscanyWithMe.it. When you choose the services of a custom tour guide company such as this you will maximize your enjoyment by being able to visit exactly what it is you came to see.

For instance if you were to take a tour bus trip you would see things of interest that the tour operator has decided would be of interest to the most visitors.  However when you select Tuscany With Me you will describe in detail what it is that you would prefer to see and your days of visiting Italy will be filled with just your own choices.

If you are signing up for a guided tour, request a schedule of activities. Ask about the size of the group you’ll be part of and get information on the nature of the group; is it for college kids?  Or retirees?  This will impact the entire tour.

Inquire about the options for accommodations and the prices.  Research these hoteliers on the many online travel sites for feedback from prior patrons.   See what is included in the price such as meals and admission to museums.  Are there hidden fees such as taxes and airport fees?  These are usually tacked on after you’ve committed to the total amount.

Escorted tours are a great way to see a new country as they manage a large number of activities and sites in a short period of time.  All the work is done for you; you simply leave all the planning to the tour guide and enjoy the experience.  Vacations involving northern Italy tours will leave you wanting to return again and again.

Your search for Tours Tuscany ends here, with some of the best kept secrets of this marvelous region of Italy.  Old world charm is very much the order in the Tuscan region.  Hotel prices have come down a bit from 2008, making this the best time to make that trip you’ve always dreamed of.

While everyone is going to Florence, you might want to try Siena.  The Palazzo Pubblico boasts the best secular fresco in all of Italy.  Significant artists such as Domenico Beccafumi, Simone Martini and Duccio are evidenced throughout the city with their works dispersed in private and public arenas.

If your visit is long enough to travel to Florence, be sure to look at the Cappella Brancacci at the Piazza del Carmine.  Created by Masaccio, Michelangelo himself studied the work when he was alive.  Masaccio is considered the finest Tuscan painter of all time even though he died at the age of 27.  Many of his works are housed at the Uffizi Gallery.

Public transportation is the normal way to go in Europe.  To rent a car can be quite costly, thanks to lofty insurance rates. A far better way to travel is to rent a car with a driver.  This is a way that every little detail that you would be otherwise concerned with will all be taken care of for you.  Your personal tour guide at “Tuscany with Me!” will be happy to make the arrangements for you.

For rail transportation you may check train timetables at http://www.trenitalia.it.  Train service is ideal to Arezzo, Lucca and Prato as well as Le Crete and Val d’Orcia.   Again, these details will be arranged for you by your personal tour guide.

Smaller areas are best accessed by bus and a pdf. schedule is available for download at http://www.lfi.it, and http://www.sitabus.com/.

As you will likely rely on your tour guide, try to plan as far ahead as you can.  The best accommodations and prices are usually available to those who plan their trip 6 to 12 months in advance.

Tell your tour operator your preferred budget of price for your hotel and it will all be taken care of for you.  The same goes for meals, a guide with experience in Tours Tuscany is invaluable in helping you navigate this beautiful and historic country.

When planning a trip to Italy the first thing you’ll want to decide is the time of year for your travel.    Summer is the most popular time.  Temperatures are attractive and the country with its flowers and gardens is its most beautiful.

The downside is prices for everything are generally higher in the peak season and many of the locals leave to take vacations for themselves.  This is particularly true in the large cities like Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and Venice.  Europeans typically enjoy six weeks of vacation time and they think nothing of leaving home for an entire month.

However even when residents are vacationing elsewhere, there are millions of Italians ready to welcome you to their proud and beautiful country.

Do you want to plan your trip so you have total freedom to venture where you want at will?  Many Americans do this and come home with memorable stories and photographs.  Still others enlist the services of a guide service which can organize large group travel or small.

Large companies rent tour buses for their group which hails from throughout the U.S.  They have a regular schedule of trips and they enjoy a relationship with various hotels and restaurants that ensure large blocks of space for a busload of tourists.

Or, you may chose to find a smaller, more personal tour guide such as the sponsor of this Blog at Tuscany With Me.  This company excels at a small group of friends who enjoy traveling together.  It may be a family reunion as the reason for the holiday travel and the tour guide can learn in advance the nature of the trip before selecting sites and locales.

Whether you are celebrating a wedding, or an anniversary or a graduation, planning a trip to italy is a wonderful way to mark a rite of passage.

Traveler’s vacations to Italy needn’t be complicated or overwhelming.  With a little time and research, anyone can plan an excellent trip that will provide a lifetime of memories.

First of all, begin by asking friends and colleagues about their experiences in Europe.  Do they have a travel agent they recommend or did they rely on a website for their planning?  More and more vacationers are turning to the web for all their research, whether it’s the history of the country, flight schedules or prices and hotels and itineraries.

Americans often book trips to Rome, Florence and Venice, and with good reason.  These ancient cities are the cultural capitals of Italy housing centuries old works of art in classic structures built for the ages.  Likewise, the cuisine in these cities is remarkable.  You won’t go home hungry.

However you would do yourself an injustice to overlook the lesser known villages in this beautiful country.  Rustic and charming, life in the places off the beaten path is often the most memorable.   Locals welcome tourists to their little corner of the world and it is not uncommon to be invited into the home or vineyard of an Italian-born citizen.  The Italians take great pride in their offerings and are eager to share.

If you are not invited into a private home or winery, why not give your tired feet a break with an afternoon spent at an outdoor café.  Europeans have talked politics and gossip from the little metal chairs and tables that are set out in all weather except rain.

If you plan to travel extensively in the country you will want to enlist the services of a local guide, many of whom are on the internet.  They make vacations to italy pleasurable and stress-free and would be happy to serve you.  We recommend that you contact “Tuscany with Me” for a fabulous and unforgettable vacation.