Featured Photo Friday | Rooftop View
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Posts tagged ‘Tuscany’
Feb 1
Featured Photo Friday | Lunch Receipt Italian Style
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Travel to Italy Tip #5 | Support smaller family run businesses
Now that’s what I call a Bed and Breakfast!
A series posted last year, but the information is priceless!
I talked in previous posts about finding a home base and staying there for an extended period of time and also the benefits of traveling to a lesser known area. Tip #5 brings both of those pieces of advice together to help save you money yet keep your experience amazing.
5. Stay in smaller, family run accommodations
This is something I live by. I support these places 100%. Smaller doesn’t mean less, in fact it is usually the opposite. There is a ton of love put into accommodations run by families and that is reflected in the way guests are treated. Plus, Italian families are struggling to make ends meet just like us. I like to know that my money is helping to support them in their passion, not just being funnelled into some big corporation.
Dinner at our agriturismo
So how do you find these places? I start by looking for Bed & Breakfast’s (B&B’s) and agriturismos. A B&B normally doesn’t have many rooms and these rooms can occasionally be a part of the owners’ home. The hosts are more readily available and looking forward to answering your questions, helping with your plans plus giving great advice for the area. An agriturismo is a working farm that also accommodates guests. Many of these places have an option for meals in addition to breakfast. Being on a farm doesn’t mean you are surrounded by barnyards. Most have beautiful grounds complete with olive groves and vineyards.
I have put together all of my favorite resources here to help you get started. TripAdvisor is a great site. Real reviews from real travelers along with average prices to help you with your budget. Just remember to take everything said with a grain of salt. Sometimes the happy travelers aren’t always the ones writing the reviews. I also use SlowTrav as a place to get ideas as their travel philosophy is much like mine.
Find a smaller accommodation and you won’t be sorry. You may even find you have become a part of their family.
Instant Italian family
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copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Travel to Italy Tip #4 | Travel to lesser known areas
Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche
A series posted last year, but the information is priceless!
Another way to help save money and make your dream of travel to Italy come true this year is to think outside of the box. The majority of tourists all travel to the same areas in Italy. In major cities, the tourists can be found in the same concentrated places. Of course there are the blockbusters to see, but aside from that you really don’t need to get caught up in the masses. To increase your enjoyment, see more of the real Italy all while saving money, follow tip #4.
4. Travel to a Lesser Known Area
Most guidebooks lead people to the same places over and over. When I travel I make sure not to miss the important sites and places that are a priority to me, but when I am done I make a beeline for the opposite direction of the other tourists.
An alternative to Tuscany is Umbria. You are still within easy driving range if you want to still explore Tuscany. Umbria is like Tuscany’s shy little sister and once you get to know her you find she has just as good of a personality. I love Umbria. It is full of hill towns, churches, parks, lakes and experiences. This area is a marvelous home base.
Quaint and out of the way
Feeling even braver? Then I encourage you to try Le Marche. You will be lucky to find much more than a few token pages about this in mainstream guidebooks. Le Marche feels like my personal secret, one that I can’t keep. You can have it all here, from beaches to quaint villages. The best part is that you won’t get run over by a herd of tourists snapping pictures. The area is still close to places like Gubbio and Assisi making them an easy day trip. Another area under the radar is Abruzzo, a mountainous region that is my next project. Drop dead gorgeous country at a better price with less commotion.
You don’t have to skip the well known areas if you don’t want to. Just try finding a city or town that is a little less popular and you will save money. For example: When traveling to the Amalfi Coast (where nothing is cheap) stay in one of the smaller but just as amazing towns further down. Instead of Positano, try Ravello or Furore. An alternative to this coast line is the Italian Riviera and my favorite the Cinque Terre. Here prices are better and they would love a visit as they recover from the flooding. Staying in Venice? Try the Accademia District. It’s just one bridge away from the action. Florence on the ‘other side’ of the river is a completely different place.
Looking for places in lesser known or visited areas is just another tip to saving money and making that dream trip come true this year. Stay tuned, I’ve got more tips on the way.
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copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Travel to Italy Tip | Find a home base
Candle light dinner in Tuscany
A series I posted last year, but the information is priceless!Now that you have Committed to Travel (if you missed that post, read about it here) and have looked into the benefits of Off-Season Travel (read post here) its time to start talking about the logistics of your itinerary. About 90% of people who hire me to help plan their trips to Italy have a To Do List a mile long. Very rarely do people plan to stay more than 2 or 3 nights in one location. I understand. On my first trip to Italy I bounced around the country like a little kid set loose in a candy store. I wasn’t sure when I would ever get back and I wanted to see everything. Most travelers have that same urgency. I spend much of my time helping people to slow down and prioritize their itinerary. This is my next huge and most important travel tip.
3. Find a Home Base
Most travelers spend two weeks in Italy. I recommend no more than three stops, staying one week in one place. Gasp! I said it. Now like me explain why this works so well.
- You will find better rates for week long stays.
- If you book somewhere with a kitchen, you will save money by cooking and eating in several times during your stay.
- Unique places often only accept week long reservations. Dreaming of a stay in a villa or farmhouse? You won’t be able to for just a night or two.
- Being in one location, you become a temporary resident and truly begin to get the feel of Italy. You get to experience a place, not just see it.
- You save time and money by not constantly travelling to a new location.
- You save time by skipping the checking in-checking out process.
Time is also as valuable on a vacation as money. The process of changing locations is very time consuming and depending on the distance can take an entire day. Italy may be small on the map, but nothing here happens quickly or easily. If taking public transportation you are at the mercy of the train/bus schedules (or lack there of).
Also, the value of an experience is priceless and should be taken into great consideration during planning. I would rather miss a few items on my to do list in order to have a higher quality trip with more touching memories.
My favorite little grandma
The two biggest arguments I hear about this style of travel are the following: 1. There will not be enough to see or do in one area for a week and 2. I need to see everything because I will not ever be back to Italy. I assure you, one week will never be enough time to see and experience one place in Italy. Never. I have stayed many days in places that have absolutely no blockbuster attractions yet found myself wishing for more time. The beauty in Italy is found in the nooks and crannys. The tourist destinations are breathtaking and I am not saying you should forgo these places, but your memories that will be the most significant and lasting will be the unexpected ones. These are best found and made when traveling slowly. And the best way to travel slowly is by sticking to a home base. Now I can’t promise that everyone will be able to return to Italy, life gets complicated. You may never have the chance again, but that should not be your reason for rushing your trip. Make your to do list as long as you like, then look it over and pick only your absolute favorites. Put the rest on the back burner and tell yourself you will be back. Try and remember that quality is far better than quantity in this situation. Now close your eyes and imagine your ideal day. Is it savoring a meal or experiencing mass? Maybe actually sitting down next to those little old ladies on the bench instead of just furtively snapping pictures. Put whatever you dream about next to the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s David. Now that’s a list worth following!
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Apartment with kitchen and fireplace
It’s a long story and a favorite memory
copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Best places to homebase in Italy with a rental car | Part Two
More on my favorite places to stay if you have a rental car. Part One found here. If you missed my favorite cities to home base in using public transportation click here and here.
Tuscany
Tuscany is a stop on almost everyone’s list when traveling to Italy. While it is possible to see many areas without a car, to truly get to the places and roads less traveled you need your own set of wheels. You will have no trouble finding hundreds of places to stay and it can be very overwhelming trying to choose. My area of choice when traveling here is the area known as Val d’Orcia.
This area has made appearances in movies like Gladiator and The English Patient. Just driving through here is enough to fill an entire day. Drop dead gorgeous! I have some very special and unique places ran by people I now consider dear friends. Prices and accommodations vary to fit any budget and luckily I am usually given a price break when I send people. Cretaiole is an all-encompassing agriturismo just near Pienza and loving run by the family Moricianni. This is not just a place to stay, it is an experience. Isa arranges tours, cooking lessons, olive oil tastings and dinners for her guests. This is where I put my parents and young daughter when I had to be elsewhere on tour.
Day trips from this area are limitless with a car! The big sites are Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza. A little further and you can add Volterra and the touristy San Gimignano. The beautiful Sant Antimo and San Galgano as very close. I also love simply popping in and out of the small villages not normally seen such as Bagno Vignoni and San Quirico D’Orcia.
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![353_46706148200_3426_n[2]](http://onceinalifetimetravel.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/353_46706148200_3426_n2.jpg)
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To be continued…….
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Best towns to homebase in Italy without a car | Part Two
If you missed my first post, click here. Below are a few more of my favorite towns to home base in without using a rental car and relying only on public transportation. These are places with quick and easy transportation connections. Again, I believe there is no better way to get to know Italy while saving money than staying put in one location for an extended period of time.
SIENA
Siena is the best of both worlds in my opinion. It has the heart of a small town, but the energy and variety of sites like a bigger city. Many people stay in Florence and day trip into Siena, but I prefer doing the exact opposite. Siena is busy during the day but the evening is absolutely magical. Easy connections to Florence, San Gimignano, Montipulicano, Montalcino and Pienza.
SORRENTO
The Amalfi Coast is one of the highlights of most travelers’ itineraries. Sorrento as a home base makes seeing the surrounding area an absolute breeze. While this is the biggest town on the coast, it still holds much charms and beauty! Easy day trips include Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Town, Ravello and Positano.
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Best towns to homebase in Italy without a car
I love finding a place in Italy and parking it there for an extended period of time. I believe this is THE best way to connect with the people and have as close to a true cultural experience as a tourist. Not to mention this is a great way to save money, decrease travel time and get to actually relax.
I will be listing a few of my favorites towns to home base in for travelers that are using public transportation only. Unlike the US, it is fairly easy to get around using just the train systems.
CORTONA
I love Cortona. One of my favorite restaurants is here. Also my favorite weekly market. And wine store. And antique store. You get the idea. The town itself can keep you busy for a few days. Florence, Assisi, Orvieto, Spello and Perguia are all within easy train distance.
ORVIETO
My very first hilltown I visited when I was 19. You can never shake your first love. Orvieto gets loads of attention because of its location near the autostrada, but it still maintains its beauty and charm. Evenings are exceptional here. My favorite handbag store in within the walls of Orvieto. The views are some of the absolute best. Easy connections from Orvieto by either bus or train are Rome, Florence, Cortona, Civita, Bolsena, Chiusi and Montepulciano.
VERNAZZA
If you are planning time on the coast, stretch it out and really make a vacation out of it. So many people rush in and out of this area. Vernazza is my favorite home base for seeing the other four villages of the Cinque Terre. There is more to be visited in the area by easy train connections like Portofino, Portovenere and Sestri Levante.
To be continued…….
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Copyright 2012 Andi Brown, Once in a Lifetime Travel
Featured Photo Friday | Siena’s Il Campo Detail
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Top Ten | Cheap Thrills in Italy
Who says you need to spend a fortune to enjoy yourself when traveling. The following are my very favorite and very affordable experiences.
10. Crossing the street. If anyone disagrees with me here, they have obviously never tried to do so in Rome.
9. Driving on the Autostrada. The thrill goes both ways. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and out in the open. It seems though, no matter how well I’m doing or how fast I’m going, some Italian is on my butt.
8. Ordering an espresso (or two) in the afternoon. I just can’t get enough of coffee in Italy and I find myself sneaking in and out of bars through the day indulging in my addiction.
7. If coffee isn’t your thing, then I dare you to double down on gelato. Ignore those raised eyebrows and go back for seconds or order a triple to begin with. My mouth watering combo? Pistachio, hazelnut and something chocolate!
6. For you ladies wanting to live on the edge and believe in fashion at all costs, try an evening on the town in heels. There is nothing more amazing or sexy than watching the Italian women strut along the cobblestones. I have tried this myself and….well, not so sexy but I didn’t break anything.
5. Passeggiata. Probably my favorite time of the day, when the day trippers have gone home and the locals come out to catch up on the day’s news. There is no better time to people watch and be watched! Even in the smallest of villages, people can be found out and about during the evening right before dinner. Couples holding hands, old women arm in arm. Magic.
4. Sagra. These food centered festivals are everywhere, in every town or village. Love garlic, cheese or olives? You are in luck because there are a handful of places across Italy ready to celebrate.
3. Festivals. Each and every town has some festival rooted in tradition that you can be a part of with the right timing. The activities vary widely, from pushing wine barrels up the steep city center to decorating the ground with elaborate works of art made from flower petals.
Another perk to flirting: better prices
2. Flirting. It’s free and it’s everywhere. The men in Italy love women and not just the Victoria Secret model women. Feeling bad about the extra weight you can’t seem to get rid of? Having trouble hiding the grey? No worries! Italian men are professionals when it comes to making a woman feel beautiful, any woman. Flirting taken with the right frame of mind can be a great ego boost. Of course, if they go too far I’m not afraid to let them know they’ve crossed a line.
1. Battling the old women during the morning market. You have to mentally prepare for this scenario. They are plump and sweet on the bench in the piazza, but they are shrewd and as stealthy as any ninja at the vegetable stall.
Sweet and innocent? Don’t be so sure
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