Join Amy Hanten, The Cooking Mom, & Bon Voyage Boutique Travel LLC on our next culinary adventure!
This trip through Tuscany will be one that you won't forget! Flying directly into Florence, we will spend a week exploring the beautiful Tuscan countryside. We will be staying at a beautiful local Villa Resort, Villa Casagrande, known for its beautiful views and authentic Italian experience. From our accommodations we will be a short walk to a quaint local town, giving you the opportunity to live like the locals do and get away from the hustle & bustle of the city! We have amazing experiences planned like cooking classes with a local Mama who will teach us to make pasta like she learned from her mother & grandmother; visiting a few wineries for tours and wine tasting; hunting for local truffles, learning about their versatility and the art of foraging these high-demand mushrooms; a night of cooking & wine tasting at a local Farm; meeting a local Gelato maker in San Gimignano & taste his world famous Gelato including locally inspired flavors. We also have an optional day trip to Cinque Terre to cruise past the picturesque cliffs for those who want to see this iconic city. This trip is not to be missed, and will fill up quick so reserve your spot today! The dates are September 17th - 25th, 2022 Trip cost is $2780.00 per person (double occupancy) land only *OPTIONAL AMALFI COAST ADD ON $910 PER PERSON!*
This trip will be hosted by Amy Hanten (the Cooking Mom) and Brittany Bartelt (Bon Voyage Boutique Travel advisor). Both will be traveling with the group. In the event that Amy or Brittany are unable to travel, the group will go as planned and be hosted by a Bon Voyage Boutique Travel team member.
Keep scrolling for the day by day itinerary!
September 17 - 25th, 2022 | A Taste of Tuscany
Day 1 | Saturday September 17th Depart US
Day 2 | Sunday September 18th Welcome to Florence. As long as the flight arrival time permits, you will begin your journey in Tuscany with a guided visit to a local farm/vineyard. There you will have the opportunity to taste test the finest olive oils and wines. Join your tour leader and fellow group members for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant such as Perlamora or similar. Hotel Villa Casagrande 4* for the 7 nights . Overnight at the hotel. Meals: Afternoon Snack / Dinner
Day 3 | Monday September 19th Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and journey to Arezzo afterwards. There, you will embark on a two hour guided visit of the beautiful city that holds an abundance of history. With a local expert, visit the Basilica of San Francesco, well known for its wonderful cycle of frescoes and the “Legend of the True Cross” a masterpiece by Piero della Francesca. Then visit the Piazza Grande, famous for being the set of Roberto Benigni’s movie “Life is beautiful”. Later, be ready to get cooking! You and your fellow travelers will learn the fine art of making pasta, pizza, or risotto and dessert during a 2 hour traditional cooking class ending with dinner and local wines. Travel back to your hotel and relish in rest. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 | Tuesday September 20th Have breakfast at the hotel and then embark on a journey to the captivating hill town of San Gimignano. There, enjoy an gelato tasting with award-winning, master ice-cream maker, Sergio Dondoli. After having some time to explore at your leisure, you and your fellow travelers will be transferred to the medieval town of Siena. In Siena, walk with a local expert to the Piazza del Campo and explore town. You and your fellow travelers will make a stop to taste some excellent local specialties in Sienna. After the tasting of local specialties, venture to a wine tasting in a local winery. Return to the villa for dinner on your own and overnight. Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Snack
Day 5 | Wednesday September 21st Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today you will be taken to the capital of the region of Tuscany which you’ve been getting to know so intimately. Your tour of Florence will be a guided culinary tour. Relish in tastings of different traditional Italian delicacies as you walk through the heart of this charming historic city with a local expert while admiring the marble-clad cathedral, bell tower and Gates of Paradise on the baptistery. In the evening, you will depart for another culinary experience: dinner at Antico Casale Toscano. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Snack, Dinner
Day 6 | Thursday September 22nd Have breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will have the privilege of experiencing an optional Cinque Terre and its beauty. It will be a longer day- with 8/9 hours of excursion time. Your group will be transferred to La Spezia, and from there trains and boat rides will transport you to the villages. After the full day at Cinque Terre you will get back to your villa and overnight. Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 | Friday September 23rd Have breakfast at the hotel. This morning, we will travel to San Miniato, home of the World’s best white truffles. You will join a local expert who will take you through the Tuscan forests where the white truffles are found. After your walk, enjoy lunch based on fresh truffles. In the afternoon, embark on a guided visit of the vineyard and relish in tastings of 3 locals wines accompanied by snacks. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Snack
Day 8 | Saturday September 24th Have breakfast at your hotel. Today you will enjoy Tuscany from the comfort of your own home with a cooking lesson by Chef Mamma Anna at our villa. She will arrive at your villa and teach you how to prepare typical Tuscan dishes and other Italian specialties, sweets, and Tuscan cakes. Afterwards, you will eat your created lunch along with some wine. Tonight, sit down to a sumptuous Celebration Dinner with wine, sampling the local specialties at an outdoor venue outside of your hotel. Overnight at the villa. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 9 | Sunday September 25th Wake up to your last breakfast at the hotel and say “see you later” to the amazing experience that was Tuscany. Take your group transfer to the Florence airport. Safe travels! Meals: Breakfast
Trip cost Land cost - $2780.00 per person (based on double room) land only Airfare will become available around November and will be added at that point. If you pay by credit card there will be an additional 3.5% non-refundable credit card fee.
LAND PRICE INCLUDES: ACCOMODATION 7 Nights Accommodation in Figline Valdarno Villa Casagrande TRANSPORT Transfers & transport with a private coach according to the above itinerary. Travel Expert Guide with step-on city guides as listed in above itinerary ACTIVITIES & VISITS according to the above program Guided visit to local Farm / Winery with tastings Welcome Dinner at local restaurant Guided Tour of Arezzo Cooking Class Visit to San Gimignano Gelato tasting at award winning shop in San Gimignano Foodie Tour of Siena with tastings Wine Tasting in Siena Florence Foodie Tour Dinner at Antico Casale Toscano Visit to San Miniato Local Expert guide through Tuscan Forests for truffle hunting Lunch based on fresh local truffles Wine & Relish tasting at local vineyard Cooking lessons at Villa with Mamma Anna Celebration Dinner at Hotel
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICES Any meals not listed above, optional experiences, tips or personal expenses Accommodation taxes Insurance (non-refundable) Estimated $100 per person bus transfer from Appleton to Chicago and return Deposit Schedule $750 per person deposit for the land due at time of reserving space Final Paymentdue June 15th, 2022 Deposit payable by check. If you pay by credit card there will be an additional 3.5% non-refundable credit card fee added onto your trip payment. Final payment due June 15th, 2022
* We reserve the right to adjust itinerary as needed to accommodate needs of the group.
