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Women’s Tuscany Tour Hub  

October 21st-29th, 2023

All the info you need for your upcoming trip in one place! 

Getting to Italy 

Most direct international flights will go to Rome (FCO) or Milan (MXP)

Florence airport (FLR) is a smaller one with less service but you may be able to find a route directly there.

After you land and pick up your luggage it’s a 40-minute ride and ~60 euro cab ride to the Rome Termini Train station in Rome. 

 

Cabs all take Visa cards so there’s no need to worry about getting out euros. Please note your American Express card will not be accepted throughout Europe. Ubers are not as commonly available in Italy other than in Rome.

 

Trains depart frequently from Rome to Florence – you can view the schedule and purchase your ticket ahead or at the station at this link or on ItaliaRail.com. It’s approximately 1 ½ hours and ~50 euros for the trip on a high-speed train.

 

Once at the Florence train station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella), there are cabs waiting outside to take you to our hotel Palazzo Castri.  It’s an 8-minute ride and ~15 euros.

It’s a 48-minute and ~90 euro ride to the Milan train station (Milano Centrale)

 

Cabs all take Visa cards so there’s no need to worry about getting out euros. Please note your American Express card will not be accepted throughout Europe. Ubers are not as commonly available in Italy other than in Rome.

 

Trains depart frequently from Milan to Florence and it’s approximately a 2-hour trip and ~56 euros – you can view the schedule and purchase your ticket ahead or at the station at this link.


Once at the Florence train station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella), there are cabs waiting outside to take you to our hotel Palazzo Castri.  It’s an 8-minute ride and ~15 euros.

If you’re having a hard time communicating with your cab driver just show them the address on your phone to read.

 

The address for Palazzo Castri is:

Piazza dell’Indipendenza, 7
50129 Firenze

 

welcome@palazzocastri.com
Ph.+39 055 472118

Italy Arrival Instructions

You’ll need to be in Florence and checked into our hotel “Palazzo Castri” by Saturday 10/21 at 5 pm for the tour kickoff dinner that night.

Please notify Julie IMMEDIATELY via Whatsapp if you are experiencing any travel delays on your way to Italy.

Early Arrival

Our tour officially starts at the Saturday night kickoff dinner at 6 pm at our Florence Hotel.

If you’d like to arrive before our tour starts on Saturday night 10/21,  we have a block of rooms on reserve at our Florence hotel Palazzo Castri for Friday 10/20 under “Julie Hartigan Group, Arranged by Greta Guercini at S-Cape”. 

The rooms range from 360-390 euros per night but the hotel has agreed to give us a 10% discount AND to try to arrange so that you won’t need to switch to a new room for Sat 10/21 and Sun 10/22 while you’re there as part of the tour. Note: that is not guaranteed depending on the hotel room arrangements.

WHAT TO DO:

Please email Teresa and Stefania at welcome@palazzocastri.com to request your early arrival room in the “Julie Hartigan Group Block” for 10/20 at a 10% discount.

cc juliehartigan@gmail.com  &  greta.guercini@s-cape.it  so we can make SURE you’re well taken care of!

If you want another hotel option for early arrival, the Hotel Caravaggio is RIGHT next door to our Florence Hotel Palazzo Castri.  It’s a 3-star vs a 4-star hotel so their rooms are a lot less expensive ($200-$240 per night) if you just want a place to crash or if Palazzo Castri is booked.

Tour Hotel Overview 

Throughout your tour, you’ll be staying at 3 different hotels in Tuscany.

In Florence

Saturday October 21st – Monday October 23rd, checking out the morning of Tuesday October 24th

 
Palazzo Castri

A 4-star luxury boutique hotel in the center of the city with a huge backyard garden, heated pool, spa, optional massages, facials, and pampering treatments.

Piazza dell’Indipendenza, 7

50129 Firenze

welcome@palazzocastri.com

Ph.+39 055 4721

Near Siena

Tuesday October 24th – Wednesday October 25th, checking out the morning of Thursday October 26th 

 
Relais della Rovere

Located in Colle di Val d’Elsa just outside of Siena, this posh hotel sits on a property that was originally home to Benedictine Monks who built the estate in 1100. It was later home to popes and cardinals and now features a pool, wine cellar, and park-like grounds to explore. 

Via Piemonte, 10 – 53034 Colle di Val d’Elsa (SI)

Tel: +39 0577 1700305

Email: info@relaisdellarovere.it

P.Iva 01116290527

In Cortona

Thursday October 26th – Saturday October 28th, checking out & returning to Florence Sunday October 29th

Villa Borgo San Pietro

A 17th-century villa with a pool, gorgeous gardens, and panoramic views just outside charming Cortona, famous for the book and movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”.

Soc.Agr.Residence IL BORGO s.r.l
Viale Regina Elena 11
Cortona (AR) – ITALY
P.IVA: 01519660516
Cod. Univoco: M5UXCR1​
info@borgosanpietro.com
+39 0575 612402

Emergency Contacts

Julie Hartigan

Email: juliehartigan@gmail.com 

Phone: 201-780-4176

Greta Guercini

S-Cape Travel

Email: greta.guercini@s-cape.it

Phone: +39(0)552345334

Official Tour Day-by-Day Itinerary

Please note: While on the tour we’ll have daily meetings with our designated Italy guide to go over ALL the details for the day, including where and when to meet and when we’ll be going place to place together.

Throughout the entire tour, you’ll be accompanied by Julie as well as our full-time bilingual, local resident guide Esther to answer all your questions and help you have the trip of a lifetime! 

Please ask for anything you may need so we can help you.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

Arrive in Florence + Check Into Hotel

You’ll need to be in Florence and checked into our hotel “Palazzo Castri” by Saturday 10/21 at 5 pm for the tour kickoff dinner that night at the hotel.

If you arrive early the hotel will be happy to store your bags. They also have a beautiful backyard garden La Limonaia with comfy lounge chairs and tables as well as a spa you can rest in from your travels. 

You can also treat yourself to a spa treatment here by contacting the hotel ahead of time.

welcome@palazzocastri.com

Ph.+39 055 472118

The spa menu can be found here! 

6 pm – Meet & Mingle Welcome Dinner in the garden at the hotel

Overnight at Palazzo Castri 

DAY 1 – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

The Beauty of Florence

Get ready to deep dive into the arts and beauty of Florence today! After a hearty breakfast at our hotel we’ll start our day with an exclusive tour of  “Atelier of Female Arts in Florence” to meet a local artisan collective including a hands on demonstration.  Afterwards we’ll stroll the artsy and hip Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence (fun fact: oltrarno means “other side of the Arno”) and visit an only-in-Florence Medieval Wine Window.  Lunch is on your own today to give you time to shop and explore Florence including a walk over the historic Ponte Vecchio bridge. PS: We can recommend the best spots for leather jackets, bags, chocolates, jewelry, scarves, clothing, you name it! The shopping in Florence is incredible.  That afternoon you’ll tap into your creative side with your choice of a tour of the historic Uffizi Museum to see Renaissance artist classics OR try your hand at oil painting in a private class.  Afterwards you’ll enjoy a fabulous 3-course wine-tasting dinner in a beloved local ristorante. 

What to wear: There’s LOTS of walking today so comfy shoes are a must!

7:30 am – 10:00 am

Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel

 

9:00 am – 10:00 am 

Welcome briefing – you can bring your breakfast if you want to sleep in

Location: Palazzo Castri garden “La Limonaia”

 

10:00 am – 10:30 am 

Walk to the Atelier of Female Arts in the artsy Santo Spirito/Oltrano neighborhood of Florence

 

10:30 am – 1:00 pm  

Visit the Atelier of Female Arts in Florence to meet the artists and do hands-on demos

 

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm 

Stop at the historic Medieval Babae Wine Window

 

1:30 pm – 3 pm

Free time in Florence for lunch, shopping, & to explore

 

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm 

Guided Tour of the Uffizi Gallery OR Oil Painting Class 

 

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm 

Walk back to our Hotel Palazzo Castri to refresh 

 

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm 

Walk to dinner

 

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm 

Tuscan Wine Tasting & Dinner at Osteria La Pastella 

The walk from La Pastella back to Palazzo Castri is approximately 15 minutes. 

 

Overnight at Palazzo Castri

DAY 2 – MONDAY, OCTOBER 23

Taste the Magic of Florence

Today we’ll shop and taste like the locals with a private Street Food Tasting tour including a visit to the historic Sant’Ambrogio Market – built in 1873 and the oldest central market in Florence!  Later we’ll enjoy shopping, spa time, an optional massage, and if you like, we can get tickets for you to climb up the Duomo for a close up peek at frescoes. That night we’ll do as the Florentines do and stroll across the river and up to the heights of Piazzale Michelangelo to take in the sunset with wine overlooking the magnificence of the entire city. You’ll end the day with dinner at a flower-themed osteria.

What to wear: There’s LOTS of walking today so comfy shoes are a must!

7:30 am – 10:00 am

Open breakfast at the hotel

10:00 am – 10:30 am 

Walk to Sant’Ambrogio Market 

10:30 am – 1:00 pm 

Florence Street Food Tour! You’ll be sampling lots of classic Florentine dishes and visiting the oldest food market in Florence too.

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm 

Free time in Florence

This is the perfect time to get a massage, go shopping, relax in the spa at our hotel, or optionally Tour & Climb the Duomo if you chose that optional ticket. It’s an intense climb but you’ll have an amazing up close Duomo view!

We also have the spa at our hotel, Palazzo Castri, booked just for our group from 2:30 – 4 pm today

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 

Free time to shop or visit the hotel spa

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm 

Walk to Piazzale Michelangelo

We’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Duomo at sunset with wine and local musicians.

Note: The walk to Piazzale Michelangelo involves some hills and steps to reach that beautiful view – you can opt to take a private cab if you prefer.

8:30 pm – 8:45 pm 

Walk to La Beppa Fioraia Restaurant 

8:45 pm – 10:45 pm 

Dinner at La Beppa Fioraia, right under Piazzale Michelangelo 

10:45 pm – 11:15 pm 

Walk back to Palazzo Castri 

Overnight at Palazzo Castri 

DAY 3 – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

Taste the Tuscan Countryside

Today we’ll leave Florence to start our time in the Tuscan countryside. First stop! A working olive oil farm and the beautiful town of Greve in Chianti for an exclusive, ultra modern Olive Oil tasting with a family run producer making olive oil since the mid nineteenth century. After strolling Greve we’ll enjoy lunch al fresco, an afternoon wine tasting at an award winning female run winery Castello di Monsanto, before checking into our next hotel just outside historic Siena and enjoying dinner in their stunning garden.

7:30 am – 9:00 am

Open breakfast at the hotel

You’re also checking out of the hotel this morning so need to pack your bag.

 

8:45 am – 9:45 am 

Drive to visit the Pruneti Olive Oil Farm in Chianti

 

9:45 am – 10:30 am 

Private tour of how Olive Oil is made at Pruneti’s family-run farms

 

10:30 am – 11:00 am 

Drive to Pruneti’s Private Tasting Room in Greve

 

11:00 am – 12:00 pm 

Exclusive Olive Oil tasting experience and shopping time

 

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 

Stroll around the beautiful town of Greve in Chianti 

 

1:00 pm – 1:10 pm 

Drive to restaurant in Panzano for lunch 

 

1:10 pm – 3:00 pm 

Lunch outside (weather permitting) with a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside 

 

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm 

Private Tour and Wine Tasting at Castello di Monsanto family run by winemaker Laura Bianchi

 

5:30 pm – 6:00pm

Drive to our next hotel Relais della Rovere and check in

 

Time TBD

Private Dinner in the garden at our hotel 

 

Overnight at Relais della Rovere Val d’Elsa just outside Siena

DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25

Beautiful Medieval Siena!

In the 1300s this Medieval city was one of the most powerful in Europe and today we’ll take a step back in time to explore this highly walkable city including its infamous “Campo’ or town square where the annual “Palio” horse race has been held since 1482.  When we arrive to Siena we’ll enjoy a private cooking and pasta making class for lunch at a small woman owned cooking school and later do a walking tour with a local woman who’s raised her family in Siena and is part of the Contrade (or districts who participate in the Palio race)

You’ll have free time to explore and shop before dinner at your choice of recommended restaurants or your new favorite local find.

What to wear: There’s LOTS of walking today so comfy shoes are a must!

Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel

 

8:45 am – 9:30 am 

Drive to Siena 

 

9:30 am – 10:00 am 

Walk through town to our Cooking Class at a woman owned cooking school

 

10:00 am – 3:00 pm 

Private Tuscan Cooking Class with Lunch at Scuola di Lella

 

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm 

Guided tour of Siena by local Stella Soldani including an inside peek at the Contrade clubs of the Palio horse race

 

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Free time for shopping, dinner, and exploring Siena

 

8:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Drive back to the hotel 

 

Overnight at Relais della Rovere College Val d’Elsa 

DAY 5 – THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

Tiny Tuscan Hill Towns

After breakfast, we’ll head out for the day to a countryside Agriturismo (authentic working farms with in-house restaurant, events, and hotel) for a cheese-making tour and tasting, and a light farm-to-table lunch.  Next, we’ll visit Volterra, a stunning under-the-radar walled town on a mountaintop that dates back to the 8th century BC Etruscan times. Famous for its alabaster and local crafts, we’ll enjoy a private walking tour with a woman who was born and raised in Volterra,  step inside a historic palace still inhabited by the same family since the 15th century, and stop at a local wine bar!  After a scenic dinner, we’ll return to our hotel.

What to wear: Dress in layers, it may be warm at the farm but then chilly and windy at night in Volterra. 

Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel

 

8:45 am – 9:30 am 

Drive to a woman, led, family run Agriturismo (working farm) outside Volterra

 

9:30 am – 11:00 am 

Walking tour of the farm – Fattoria Lischeto and it’s adorable herds of sheep

 

11:00 am – 12:30 pm 

Cheese-making demonstration

 

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm 

Lunch at the farm

 

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm 

Transfer to the town of Volterra 

 

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm 

Guided tour of Volterra’s Artisans and Etruscan history with our local guide Claudia

 

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm 

Sunset at the scenic overlook, a stop in a woman-led wine bar “Enoteca Scali” and dinner in Volterra 

 

9:00 pm – 9:45 pm 

Drive back to the hotel 

 

 Overnight at Relais della Rovere College Val d’Elsa

DAY 6 – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 

Women & Wellness

Prepare for some pampering today as we visit an outdoor spa for a soak in natural hot Thermal Baths, popular since Roman times and formed long ago by volcanoes!  The spa also offers optional massages and treatments if you’d like to treat yourself.  Lunch is on your own at the spa. Next, we’ll tour the stunning hilltop town of Montalcino in the breathtaking Val d’Orcia famous for its Brunello wines. We’ll enjoy a private pottery demonstration from a local female artisan and then a once-in-a-lifetime art and music-themed wine tasting at award-winning Casato Prime Donne Winery. This all-woman-run winery founded by Donatella Cinelli Colombini is a flagship for equal opportunities for women in the wine world. We’ll end our day with a private dinner al fresco at our new hotel in Cortona.

What to wear: Travel to the spa in your bathing suit and coverup but bring a change of clothes, you’ll be able to change at the spa before heading to Montalcino and the winery. You’re also checking out of the hotel this morning so need to pack your bag

Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel

 

Check out of Hotel

 

8:10 am – 9:00 am 

Drive to Terme di Rapolano – pampering outdoor thermal spas!

 

9:00 am – 2:00 pm 

Enjoy Thermal Baths and lunch on your own at the spa

*Note* You can also book optional massages or other treatments if you like!  Here’s the menu.

 

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm 

Drive to the tiny Medieval hill town of Montalcino 

 

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm 

Explore Montalcino, including a private visit to a local woman pottery maker for a private pottery demo and shopping

 

4:15 pm – 4:30 pm 

Drive to the all woman led winery Casato Prime Donne 

 

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm 

Woman-led, music-accompanied Brunello wine tasting and tour. 

 

6:00 pm – 7:20 pm 

Drive to our last hotel Villa Borgo San Pietro in Cortona and Check In

 

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm 

Outdoor dinner in the garden at the hotel

 

Overnight at Hotel Villa Borgo San Pietro near Cortona

DAY 7 – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

A Final Celebration

This morning we’ll have a once in a lifetime experience being part of a Truffle Hunt (don’t worry, the dogs do all the work!), Next we’ll visit the stunning Medieval town of Pienza and the Val d’Orcia countryside followed by lunch with a view. Afterwards we’ll enjoy the park-like property at our hotel or a stroll through historic Cortona before our blow-out, final, celebratory dinner, and experience. We’ll visit Michelin-starred il Falconiere for a private wine-sabering experience and dinner with one of Italy’s most esteemed and awarded female chefs Silvia Baracchi.

What to wear: Comfortable shoes and a light jacket for the daytime – the truffle hunt will involve a walk through some woods so it’s a good time for leggings, a scarf, and boots, that night wear something fun to celebrate YOU for dinner!

Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel

9:00 am – 3 pm

Truffle hunt & lunch (exact times and details TBD)

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm 

Drive back to the hotel 

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm 

Free afternoon to decompress, pack, or visit the town of Cortona

7:30 pm – 7:45 pm 

Drive to the posh resort & restaurant Il Falcionere for our Final Celebration!

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm 

Sabering experience & Michelin Starred tasting dinner by esteemed chef Silvia Baracchi

Overnight at Hotel Villa Borgo San Pietro near Cortona 

DAY 8 – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

Return to Florence

After our final breakfast together and heartfelt goodbyes to our group we’ll say Ciao for Now and head back to Florence with a full heart and memories for a lifetime!

Your tour officially ends on Sunday 10/29 at around noon. We’ll check out of our hotel in Cortona for the 1  1/2 hour trip back to Florence as a group.You’ll be brought back to Florence to be dropped off at either the Florence Airport or Florence Train Station by noon to continue your travels abroad or home. Please note that any departures booked earlier in the morning may require private transport at your cost which we can help arrange. 

You can also choose to stay for additional time in Florence, take the train to Rome for a flight back home, or book optional, additional 2-day trips to Venice, Bologna, or Rome to extend your time in Italy.  Note that most flights back to the US from Rome are in the morning so you may need to stay Sunday night in Rome. 

Complimentary Breakfast at the Hotel

 

9:00 am

Check out of Hotel and Pack for Further Travels

 

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Drive back to Florence with dropoffs at the Florence Airport and the Florence Train Station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella)

 

Note: if you need to leave early from Cortona to get back to Florence before 12pm on Sunday 10/29, you can book a private car to take you back to Florence through our trip planner Greta – just email her at greta.guercini@s-cape.it

Trip Insurance

Please note that it’s mandatory that you obtain a minimum of $100K coverage for international medical insurance before joining us in Tuscany so we’ll be able to provide you with emergency medical care abroad if something happens to you while you’re on the trip with us. 

The last thing anyone wants to think about when planning a vacation is anything that could prevent them from traveling! But a lost bag or passport, needing to cancel your trip last minute and losing your money, or getting sick can be stressful and expensive. 

I’ve partnered with IMG to provide you with a great trip insurance option if you don’t already have one. They come highly recommended by my friend’s women’s adventure travel company which has been using them for a decade now. 

With IMG’s iTravelInsured® travel protection plans, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you have protection for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs in addition to 24/7 global assistance services (including excellent medical coverage) to support you while you’re away from home. There are multiple iTravelInsured plans available (Lite, SE, LX, and GT) with varying coverages and benefit levels to suit your lifestyle and budget.

Download the PDF linked below to learn more about what each plan includes and you can book directly from the link below. If you’re interested in purchasing a plan or have additional questions you can reach out directly to your very own personal agent, Alex DeJesus at Alex.DeJesus@imglobal.com.

Spa Treatments

 

Spa Time in Florence

Our trip planners booked out the ENTIRE spa at our Florence Hotel Palazzo Castri for just our group on Monday October 23rd from 2:30 – 4pm.  The spa will also be open and available to you the entire time you’re staying in Florence (some of you are arriving early) but does require a reservation at the front desk so it doesn’t get overcrowded.  The spa has a whirlpool, sauna, steam room, etc that’s included in your stay but if you’d like a massage you can add that on too.

Your best times for optional spa treatments or massages will be Saturday afternoon 10/21 when you arrive and check-in OR early Monday afternoon 10/23 before or instead of your optional Duomo climb.

Additional Treatments at the Thermal Spa

On Thursday, October 26th we’ll all be visiting the beautiful Terme de Rapoleno between 9am and 2 pm including time to grab lunch.  The thermal baths are included as part of your tour but if you’d like to book any additional spa treatments or massages you can do that too!

Packing List

Note: We’ll be moving around quite a bit throughout Tuscany so please pack as lightly as you can so your bag is easy for you to handle!

Be sure to check your airline’s bag check policy and weight limits and test your bag on your bathroom scale or with a luggage scale before you go.

Leave room for the goodies you’ll be bringing back with you too!  You can even pack a small light duffle inside your main bag to bring back gifts and souvenirs.

Comfortable Shoes Only

I can’t emphasize this enough! Florence and Tuscan towns are known for their hills, steps, and cobblestones.  A cute pair of white sneakers or super comfy flat black boots will work with anything you wear.

 

Layers!

The temps in Florence and Tuscany will range from 65-70 degrees by day and drop to 50 – 52 at night.  Be sure to carry a light sweater, hoodie, or light jacket for the temperature shifts

 

A Light Tote Bag or Backpack

For some days of the tour, we’ll be out and about for much of the day so having a roomy but light bag will be helpful to carry what you need with you.

 

A Scarf or Wrap

Handy on freezing cold flights, in air-conditioned places, to cover your shoulders if you enter a church and they require it.  

 

Your Bathing Suit

All our hotels have pools or spas to soak in AND we’ll be visiting a special indoor/outdoor Thermal Spa too – no need to bring towels

 

Medications & If You’re Prone to Car Sickness

Be sure to bring any OTC medications you rely on for headaches, allergies, etc, and of course your prescriptions if you have any.  If you’re prone to car sickness bring some Sea Bands or Dramamine – the beautiful Tuscan countryside is filled with windy, hilly backroads

 

Chargers and European Converters/Power Adapter

Be sure to pick up European/Italy converters for your cell phone charger.  Note that your hair dryer/flat iron/curling irons will NOT work with a power adapter (they often blow out!)  Our hotels all have hair dryers and if you like you can pick up an inexpensive European travel flat or curling iron on Amazon.

 

Optional: One FUN Outfit or Dress

You can dress really comfortably and casually for just about all of our tour although Italians do tend to dress more urban street-smart (think a visit to NYC).  The final celebration dinner is at a posh resort and is all about celebrating YOU so if you like bring a fun but comfortable dress for that night! 

 

Pro Packing Tips

My favorite packing move when I travel for weeks in Europe is to bring one comfortable dress and tights per day plus a jacket that goes with it all. Europeans tend to wear less athleisure than Americans so it also helps you blend right in like a local.  And fewer choices of outfits will streamline things for you.

If you prefer pants opt for darker-colored pants and plan to re-wear them several times with different tops to make your life easier!  (Promise – nobody will notice!)

Packing cubes are fantastic to help you stay super organized in your luggage as you go from place to place.  And don’t forget – you WILL want to shop so leave room in your luggage!  The styles in Italy are so fun and clothing is much less expensive than in the US so it’s a great opportunity to treat yourself to some fun new things.

 
Don’t Forget

Credit Cards & Cash

Your American Express Card won’t be accepted in Italy so be sure to travel with a Visa which will be accepted everywhere, including in taxis.   You can use your ATM card at the airport or as we travel to take out Euros so no need to worry about that before arriving.  You may want to notify your bank that you’ll be traveling internationally so they don’t think it’s suspicious card activity.

 

International Cell Service

Be sure to contact your cellular service provider for an unlimited international plan for the time you’ll be traveling.  Let your loved ones know to contact you over Whatsapp while you’re away – it’s the most reliable for texts and calls. We’ll be sure to share wifi logins at all of our tour stops so you can stay as connected as possible

Group Call Dates

Tentative Date/Time – Wed 8pm EST
June 21st Kickoff Call
 August 21st – 2 months to go!

Join these Google Chats to hear more about the trip from Julie and connect with your other travel buddies for the week! 

Saturday, September 23rd
12 pm EST

We’ll be going over any last-minute questions or concerns in the weeks before we leave and also linking us all up together in a Whatsapp Group Chat so we can be in touch on our way to Italy and when we all arrive!

Restaurant & Hotel Recommendations

The Google Doc linked below has restaurant recommendations for your free time in Florence and Siena as well as hotel recommendations for any additional nights you might like to stay in Rome.