Tuscany Independent Tour – Just Tuscany

 
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 from $3,471*  

Departures from April 2020 – October 2020

Tuscany Independent Tour: 9 Days/ 7 Nights

Fall in love with Tuscany!  Experience fine art, excellent food and wine and amazing scenery.  Stay in a classic Tuscan Villa.  Participate in a cooking class in Florence*!

Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Montepulciano, Chianti, Pienza

ITINERARY:

Note: First day of tour is your departure date from the USA. Actual tour in Italy begins the next day.

Day 1:
Departure from USA to Italy – with your own purchased airline tickets.
Day 2: Florence
Welcome to Italy!
Upon arrival at Florence airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Meet your driver at the airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in central Florence, where you will be left to explore the Renaissance city.
Overnight in Florence.
Day 3: Florence
After breakfast at your hotel, take in Florence during a private walking tour, including a visit to the Accademia Gallery, home of Michelangelo’s famous “David” statue. In the afternoon, join a group tour to Pisa, where you will see the famous Leaning Tower. Return to your Florence hotel for the evening.
Overnight in Florence.
(Breakfast)
Day 4: Florence
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before meeting your Chef for the day, who will take you to the food markets before proceeding to the kitchen for an amazing cooking class*. Prepare classic Tuscan dishes in a fun, no-pressure environment before sitting down to enjoy your work. Spend the rest of the day at your own pace, roaming the quaint cobblestone streets of Florence. Overnight in Florence.
(Breakfast)
Day 5: Tuscany
Tuscany awaits after breakfast at your hotel! Our driver will transfer you to a Tuscan villa which you will love calling home for the next few nights. Relax and explore the lush grounds, while getting a taste of the famous Italian countryside.
(Breakfast)
Day 6: Siena & San Gimignano
Our English-speaking driver will take you through the scenic hills of Chianti en route to Siena, a Medieval town known for its Palio horse race. A local historian will show you Piazza del Campo, Torre del Mangia, Palazzo Pubblico, and the cathedral. Dine on typical Sienese pici pasta at a trattoria or opt for a lunch excursion to the beautiful Monteriggioni Castle. After, travel to San Gimignano to enjoy a pleasant walk through this enchanting village, admiring its famous Medieval towers. Sit back for a relaxing drive to your villa.
(Breakfast)
Day 7: Montepulciano & Pienza
After breakfast, start your day in Montepulciano, a wine town built on volcanic rock. Meet your expert historian for a tour of this Renaissance town, known for its beautiful churches and Vino Nobile, one of Italy’s oldest wines. After a three-course lunch, the tour will continue with a panoramic drive to Monticchiello and Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. En route back to your villa, stop in at a local winery for a visit and tasting.
(Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 8: Tuscany
Today is at leisure at your gorgeous Tuscan villa; indulge in an optional spa treatment, or walk along the scenic grounds and enjoy the beauty.
(Breakfast)
Day 9: Florence/US
After breakfast transfer back to Florence, enjoying one last picturesque drive before your tour concludes.

Includes:

• Hotel accommodations  seven  nights (Florence – 3 nights in a 4* hotel, Tuscany – 4 nights in a 5* hotel) based on 2 persons sharing a room.
• Private transfer from Florence airport to your hotel in Florence.
• Breakfast daily.
• Half-day private walking tour of Florence, including  entrance to the Accademia.
• Group tour to Pisa.
• Cooking class in Florence*.
• Private transfer from Florence to your villa/hotel in Tuscany.
• 2 private full-day tours with an English-speaking driver.
• 2 lunches.
• 1 wine tasting.
• Local tour guide in Siena and Montepulciano.
• Private transfer from your villa/hotel in Tuscany to Florence
• Hotel taxes and service charges.
  * Cooking class not available on Sundays in Florence.
  **Tours are run by local city tour operators with certified, professional local tour guides.

Does not include:

• Round-trip air transportation from USA or Canada to Italy.
• Porterage at airports.
• Beverages and meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Tips and optional excursions.
• Transit tax to be paid locally.
• Travel Insurance.

Optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further while giving you the flexibility you want in a vacation. Click here for some must-see sights and experiences.

*****Please note that for operational reasons it may be necessary to substitute hotels and adjust itineraries due to local conditions. Some tours may not be available certain seasons and alternates will be offered.  Black out dates apply during trade shows, holidays and events.*****

DEPOSITS/PAYMENTS:
We accept American Express, Visa, Master Card and Discover credit cards as well as checks as forms of payment. A deposit of 25% of the total price of the land services, inclusive of taxes and fees or full payment (depending on departure date) is required to confirm a reservation. Final payment is due no later than 90 days prior to departure. Airline tickets must be paid in full prior to issuance regardless of departure date. Ticket prices cannot be guaranteed until paid in full and ticketed. For full Terms and Conditions please click here.

Tour operated by Ciao Italy & Carrani Tours     (222107)

TRAVEL TIPS:

Gratuities:
Tips to waiters, chambermaids, and to the Tour Directors, local guides, and drivers are not included. The following is a suggested guideline on tipping:
(a.) Euro 1.00 per person/per day for waiters and chambermaids
(b.) Euro 2.00 per person/per day for drivers and local guides
(c.) Euro 3.00 per person/per day for your Tour Director
Transfers:
Add transfers to your tour so you don’t have to worry about how to get to your hotel and back. Prices available upon request.
Transit Tax:
As of July 1, 2011 all visitors to Italy are required to pay an additional tourist tax for their hotel stay. The new tax has been created mainly to help re-build the ancient cities and is based on how many stars a hotel has. This tax may vary by city and can range from 1 to 6 Euro per person, per night, for a maximum of 10 consecutive nights. This must be paid by the visitor, in Euro, directly to the hotel at time of check-out. It will be presented as a separate charge from any other charges accrued at the hotel. (Children under the age of 10 are exempt from this tax.
Baggage:
First piece of baggage (up to 23 kilos and 158-203cm) is free. Second piece has an airline imposed fee of $55. Third piece $200. Baggage allowance is per passenger, each way. Different airlines may have other policies. For information on specific airline policies, please check your carriers web site.
Air Transportation:
Air fares change often and vary by gateway city, season, day of week and seat availability. Our air fares will be quoted to you within two business days of your tour reservation and will include the air fare, fuel surcharges and government taxes as quoted by the airlines. You are under no obligation to accept our airfare quote and may elect to use your reward miles or your preferred airline. Typical airfares from New York to Rome varies from $1200 in March – May and September – October to $1500 in June – August but can change without prior notice. We highly recommend to reserve your seats early in order to obtain the best air fare.