Archive for 'Travel Tips'

In this series, this author is sharing some of her recently reaffirmed thoughts and tips, gleaned from a week in Tuscany in 2017. Holidays should be all about fun and relaxation but cultural differences and unexpected surprises can ruin your vacation. To help you have a stress-free holiday in Tuscany, here are some more of my must-have tips and tricks for navigating a vacation in this beautiful region.

3. Double-check everything! Ask if you have questions!

We were in Florence, my mother (who is of ailing health) and sister (who is of little patience), were tired from the 3 hours we had made them spend in the Uffizi and my brother, father, sister's boyfriend and I were exhausted from listening to the whining: we just wanted to get on our train and go back to our villa. We missed our first train by a minute and waited a half hour for the next. Having checked the platform online, my father and I went to confirm it was correct at the ticket office.

Having just returned from a week with the family in Tuscany, I've refreshed my thoughts on travelling around Italy and compiled some tips and tricks for ensuring a pleasant trip. Holidays in Tuscany can be beautiful, relaxing things but, if you're not prepared and informed, there are differences in culture, bureaucracy and pace of life that can cause stress and, potentially, ruin your vacation. In order to have the best possible time, bear these things in mind!

1. Language

Speaking Italian really helps. Of course, not everyone speaks Italian but I've found that knowing even a little bit will make locals act friendlier and more helpful towards you.

- Be sure to let the key holder know the time of your arrival. The voucher you received has the owner/key holder contact information along with the time available for check-in. If you are delayed and will arrive after the normal check-in hours, it is urgent that you contact the owner/key holder before arrival to arrange a time to check-in.

- In the unlikely event there are any problems during your stay, contact our office immediately (contact information on voucher) to report the issue. Also contact the owner/key holder so they can resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Don’t wait until after your stay to notify us of any problems.

- Be sure you understand the local policies regarding extra costs to be paid on the spot, such as heating, cleaning, extra services, etc. In the winter months, pay special attention to the heating costs which can add up to large amount if you are not mindful of the usage. If you are unsure of these charges ask the key holder for an explanation when you check-in.

In our final post in this series, we have some final, more practical, tips on staying cool and enjoying yourself despite the heat in Florence this summer. Once you have found a luxury villa in Florence, you want to be able to enjoy your holiday despite the potential heat waves and tourist crowds. So, in order to avoid having a wonderful trip ruined by discomfort, take note of our tips for making the most of summer in Florence.

5. Take precautions before leaving the house!

Make sure to close all curtains, shutters and windows before you leave your rental property. This stops the place from turning into a greenhouse during the day and will ensure that you have a lovely cool place to return to at the end of a long day of exploring.

So, you've found the perfect luxury villa in Florence for the summer, you've booked the days off, circled the date ten times on your calendar, arranged for your cat to stay with your aunt and for your bestie to come water the plants and make sure the place hasn't burned down and now you just have to worry about having a good time.

If you are visiting in the middle of the High Season, however, you may find yourself dealing with large tourist crowds and sweltering heat waves that are bound to cramp your style and take away from all that relaxation you have been desperately craving.

Well, don't worry. Fear not, we have come up with a perfect list of things to do to make sure you stay pleasantly cool and relaxed.