Archive for 'Travel Tips'

Most people plan their vacations during the summer months because the kids are out of school and the weather is perfect for exploring the great outdoors. But before you book your next holiday you should seriously consider taking a vacation to Tuscany during the winter months. While it will be cold, it will not be nearly as unpleasant as many other European cities and the Tuscan countryside is a sight to behold during the winter months!

During your winter trip to Tuscany, you can take a moment to warm up at one of the many free thermal baths. If you are a wine lover, why not enjoy some delicious red wine while you cuddle up to a loved one next to a fire in the beautiful Italian countryside?

If you are thinking of booking your first holiday to Italy, you may be a little frustrated by the fact that you simply won't be able to see everything during just one trip. But you can start making exciting plans to see as much of the Italian countryside as possible.

One of the best ways to do this is to check out luxury villas in Tuscany. Because of its location along the coast and more or less in the centre of Italy, it’s centrally located to just about all that you could possibly want to see and do!

One of the best things about vacation rentals in Tuscany is that you do not have to rely on expensive rental cars to get you from one tourist destination to the next.

The high-speed rail road in Italy connects all of the major cities so that you can go from one place to the next as quickly or as slowly as you wish. Rather than spending all of your time traveling, you'll be quickly whisked away to the next site on your itinerary!

Today Chris Christensen of the Amateur Traveler Website tells us about his experience at a villa in Tuscany. The villa is located in Montalcino which is well-known for its award winning wines. Enjoy...

It never occurred to us to go to Italy. That strikes me as particularly odd considering how much we have discovered we love the place.

We certainly were aware how much we loved the food. As a history buff I knew the history. But for some reason, it hadn't been on our roadmap of places to see - until we got the call.

A friend of ours, Chris, was planning on celebrating his 40th birthday and had decided to do it at a villa in Tuscany. With the proceeds of a recent bonus he had rented out a villa in Tuscany near the mountain top town of Montalcino and was now putting out the word to come and join him. That's the sort of offer that does not happen that often so even though we didn't know a  Vino Nobile from a Brunello, even though we hadn't read 'Under the Tuscan Sun', we booked our tickets nearly immediately.

I recommended everyone check out the Tuscany Chic Travel Blog. It's full of great information about Tuscany including articles about travel, accommodations, food and itineraries.  A recent article about Siena is packed full of  places to visit while visiting Siena.  There is also an excellent article about Cortona, one of my favorite cities in Tuscany.

The Tuscan recipes all look amazing and I can't wait to try a few myself starting with a dessert called Zuppa Inglese – Trifle cake!.

Please take a few minutes to visit the Tuscany Chic Blog -- you'll be glad you did.

Would you like to learn of all the good things and the good places to eat from the very start of your holiday?

If so then why not learn about the best places to eat around Florence from 10am - 2pm Monday to Saturday by taking part in the Taste Florence tour?

This tour will take you all around Florence, introducing you to some of the local, regional and national Italian specialities, including wine and sweets.

They visit more then 6 locations for a wide variety of tastings and it is recommended that you take the tour on your first or second day in Florence so that you know what to eat and where you can find it.

Taste Florence has been ongoing for years and it is the original tasting walk. It's hosted Chefs, Journalists and food bloggers, Gourmands, Foodies and also Vegans, Coeliacs and more. They can accomodate anyone and the aim is to bring a better cultural feel to your holiday so that you can taste the essence of Italy rather then just coming to see the sights. In fact, it’s so highly rated that Tripadvisor have given it a certificate of excellence! So don’t hesitate, act now and take the tour!

If you are booking a vacation rental near or in Florence then don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to treat your palate.

We look forward to seeing you here!