Archive for 'Travel Tips'

Want to find out more about Tuscany? Well of course you do, why else would you be here? I've recently come across a great resource for anyone that wants to learn more about it and not by reading volumes of text, or lengthy traveblogs that may not be covering what you are interested in. Tuscany.Podtravels.tv has a lot of videos that may be of interest to you, they go into a lot of depth and highlight specific stores and cities that you can mark down as a must-see or a must-skip. Either way, they're informative and very helpful.

Planning a vacation in Tuscany can be a daunting task, especially for first-time travellers to Italy. We have observed in the past that the first place to start is in deciding on the type of vacation you'd like to experience.

There are basically four types of vacations. First is one of the most popular types of travel - The Guided Tour. There are many companies offering this type of vacation including Perillo Tours and Trafalgar to mention just a few. Tours in Italy are great for people that want to see a large part of the Italy, moving from hotel to hotel every few days and prefer to have their itinery planned for them. We recommend tours for many first-time travellers that don't have a lot of time to spend in one area.

The second type of travel is the cruise. In recent years, more and more cruise operators such as Cunard and Hollard America began offering cruises of the Mediterranean Sea with stops in Italy including the Tuscan coast. For the cruise lover this could be a great choice.

What is the difference between a farmhouse and villa rental?

This a question we are frequently asked and the real answer is hard to but into words. Not because it's hard to define a difference but because so many property owners mix up the definition. At Tuscany-villas.it we have decided to merge the properties into a single category called Villas/Farmhouses. For the Tuscan marketplace this works well because, in fact, most properties that people call 'villas' are actually restored farmhouses. In other markets it might not be so, like the Caribbean where most properties are new and are commonly referred to as villas.

The destinations that attract people to visit from across the globe also attract something else: pickpockets. Its sad but true, but not something that should keep you away from the beauty and majesty of Tuscany. Please take these cautionary tips to heart and go into the fray armed with this knowledge. Millions of people visit Tuscany each year and only a small percentage will have a problem like this, but make sure you do all in your power to make sure you are not in the small percentage! Europe has a very low rate of violent crime, which is great by any measure, but the theft rate is elevated from this practice of preying on tourists.

As the days been to grow shorter and the evenings get cooler, you can be sure that Autumn is here. The vendemmia begins as the grapes are finally ready for the picking and the wine makers start their almost magical craft. Travelers who visit Tuscany in Autumn can typically expect several things...

First of all, the weather is ideal. The heat from the summer is fading while the cool of the winter is creeping in, leaving visitors with a wholly pleasant mix of the two. Many days will see highs in the 70°F's and lows at night in the mid 50°F's and 60°F's.


Cool breezes through the hills will keep you comfortable while the grape harvest continues, as many Tuscany villas that produce wine will often allow or even encourage visitors to help if they want. You won't be able to enjoy the wine you help with that day, but there is sure to be plenty of it in the dinners after the harvest from previous seasons.

Tuscany is well known for its many small towns and the rolling hills and valleys that make it such a beautiful region. Autumns arrival brings a change to these trees and hillsides that only serve to make them even more of an attraction. What better time to see the many trees, forests, and groves than when the leaves are changing and beginning to paint the ground with their natural palette of reds, golds, and yellows?