Tips On Planning a Trip to Tuscany in 2016
2016 is upon us and as we sit at home eating leftover panettone cake and filling our agenda with work appointments, the thought of what this year has to bring fills ours busy mornings. Each year at Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort, we seek to bring about a more unique, hands-on approach to travel in Tuscany. Helping our guests to see what we see, and get them involved in our everyday life. From making fresh pasta, to learning art of beekeeping or painting the majestic hills of the Mugello valley where we are located.
Our reopening is this March 18th 2016, and we hope to see you at our Resort for an experience you will never forget.
Since this is our home and we want to share the best advice for those visiting Tuscany, have a look at the following tips for making the most out of a 2016 Tuscan vacation.
Fly for cheap! There are more flights than ever from numerous European and International destinations to Pisa or Florence, which are both in the heart of Tuscany. Our best resources for finding a deal on a flight include checking the cheapest airport of arrival via google flights, cheapflightsuk and lastminute.com. You can download special apps and check from your smartphone often.
Book ahead for deals on hotels! While it is true that at times you can find a cheap room last-minute, 2015 saw an arrival or tourism in Italy that we haven’t experienced in years. The better (and less stressful option) is too book well in advance and secure your spot. Also do your research on popular weekends in Tuscany (Easter, big trade conferences) so that you don’t overpay. We offer a 20% off advance reservation discount for those coming in spring, big savings for a very popular period.
See art without breaking the bank. In cities like Florence, there are so many important museums it can be overwhelming to try and go to them all (and expensive). Luckily there are ways to save money on seeing some of the most important attractions, such as the Firenzecard, which includes the Ticket for admission + ticket for exhibitions + 1 priority access for every museum of the Firenzecard Circuit for 72 hours. Also for those who want to see the Duomo cathedral, get the cumulative ticket which costs 15 euros and includes Museo dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Baptistery of San Giovanni, Ruins of Santa Reparata. The same goes for the city of Siena. Also keep in mind that the first Sunday of every month, state museums are open to the public for free!
Now that gas prices are lower, rent a car! While many might say that driving in Italy is a spectator sport (which can be true), if you really want to see the best of Tuscany, you need a car. This way, you can discover more hidden towns and villages (like Monteriggioni, Scarperia, Trequanda, Petroio) and be independent at the same time. Unless you are in Florence or Siena, bus service can be highly unreliable in the countryside. When you visit the bigger cities, just park in one of the many lots in and around the city and discover the town by foot, or if you are at our Resort, you can leave the car at the Borgo San Lorenzo train station and just commute in. Keep in mind of the rules so you don’t get fined, the speed limits are 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h in secondary roads, 110 km/h dual carriageways, 130 km/h on motorways (autostrade). More tips on parking can be found here.
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