Buon giorno Reader! I just rfeturned from a week in Tuscany and so we wanted to give you the full lowdown of how the trip went down before any content goes up on the site so this'll be true early access.
Here's what we have in this month's newsletter:
- ๐ฎ๐น What I learned from our trip to Tuscany
- ๐ค Latest travel deals
If you haven't yet, make sure to check out the latest on our social channels: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.
A Week in Tuscany
This was a unique trip with the boys. We were looking to go somewhere that met a few of our requirements:
- Somewhere none of us had been before.
- Cottage vibes in terms of being bale to have a place we could "hang out".
- Great food and drink.
- A laid back spot.
We threw in a lot of ideas in the hat but when the idea of Italy came up, it seemed like the perfect fit. I haven't been back since my backpacking days!
Highlights
If I were to pick 5 of the most memorable things we did, it'd be:
- Learning about truffle hunting with Mattia of Oressea.
- The ultimate steak experience at Dario Cecchini's restaurant.
- Tuscan cooking class in our villa with Chef At Home.
- Sunrise at Podere Belvedere just outside of San Quirico d'Orcia.
- Wine tasting at Podere Le Ripi in Montalcino.
Tuscany Travel Tips
With travel, planning it is one thing but things don't always go according to plan because on-the-ground, things work differently than how you imagine it. We came away with a lot of learnings that might be useful for your future trip.
- Car Rental - We rented our Fiat Panda from National at Rome's airport which was quite affordable through the use of car rental coupon codes (especially if you drive manual transmission). For us 3 guys and each having a check-in suitcase, it was JUST enough to fit everything in. If you have more people, definitely get a larger car.
- Driving - There's a lot of driving in Tuscany. Even if you're based in the Chianti region, most towns are easily 30-40 minutes away. This is because most of the driving are rural (paved) winding roads. With how up and down and side to side the roads are, if you get nauseous easily, it's probably a good idea to pack dramamine/Gravol. Another thing to pay attention to are speed cameras. Google Maps is great at pointing them out.
- Space Things Out - With those long driving times, I quickly realized that I couldn't fit in as much in a day than I thought, requiring us to adjust our itinerary on the fly. You definitely want to build in that driving time.
- Wise Card - My friend, Jack, used Wise for the first time and was super impressed with how easy it was to use and how good of an exchange rate he got.
- Book Early - If you're wanting to do a tour of a popular winery such as Antinori nel Chianti Classico, they seem to sell out 3-4 months in advance so make sure to book early. Cecchini's restaurant is another you want to book early.
- Parking - There are paid and free parking lots in most of the towns you'll visit. Research ahead of time which ones they are so you can pin them on the map. In larger towns like Siena, it's good to know that white lines mean free parking, blue lines mean paid parking, and yellow are reserved for taxis/official/accessible vehicles.
- Villa Time - If you're staying in a villa, build time in your schedule to spend time there.
- Spring Time Weather - The start of April was cooler to start but warmed up by mid-month. This seems like a fantastic time to come overall because it doesn't get really hot yet and the crowds are still low.
- Luggage Space - You'll want to buy lots when you're here whether it's cheese, truffles, wine, olive oil, ceramics, and other souvenirs. Make sure you go to Italy with empty suitcase space and you know how much you're allowed to bring back.
- Tolls - Don't be afraid to use the tolls in Italy. You won't be allowed to use their fast pass (called Telepass) but their other lanes allow credit cards and it works seamlessly. To do this, make sure to turn back on "allow tolls" on your map app.
- Tuscany Region - Before planning this trip, I always thought that Tuscany was a small area. Boy was I wrong. Even with a week, we had to really hone in on the area that we were in. This meant that it didn't make as much sense to go up to Florence, the northern regions including Lucca, Bolgheri (we learned while there that this is another great wine region), and Livorno. Places are farther than you think they are by looking on the map.
- Vespas and Bikes - We looked into this initially as it seemed fun but this is less of a thing in the countryside because of the mountain-like roads and long distances. Cycling tours are popular but I don't think this is for casual bikers with all of the changes in elevation.
- Cash - Make sure to have Euros with you. While most places take credit card, there were several activities such as truffle hunting and the cooking class that were cash-only.
- Insane Photography - If photography is a priority, make sure to do your research so you know where to go and whether it's best to go for sunrise or sunset.
- Filling Up Gas - Make sure to drive into the self-serve pumps. What's different from back home is that you have to use a centralized machine to pay first. To make it easier, look for the flags on the top right corner of the screen and change the language to English. Also, make sure to tap on "Receipt" if you want one before making your payment.
Where Did We Stay
If you're staying in Tuscany, you really should be looking to book a villa. While they can be super swanky, most of these are converted stonehouse farm estates set in some of the most stunning locations.
While we could've booked with Airbnb, VRBO, or directly with the property manager, we realized that with Marriott's Homes and Villas, we could get the same (if not cheaper) prices and on top, earn Bonvoy points as well.
We initially booked the L'Oliveta at Montebuoni but were upgraded to their Lavanda villa.
We loved having a home base in Chianti but we found that while it was convenient to get to other areas in Chianti and Siena, it was at least an hour each way to get to the towns south of us such as Val d'Orcia, Pienza, Montalchino, and Montepulciano.
Would I Do Anything Different?
If we were to do it again, I might actually recommend splitting the trip up into two parts. One in Chianti and another one further south and stay somewhere such as Borgo di Pieve a Salti. This means splitting up the week into 4 in Chianti and 3 closer to San Quirico d'Orcia.
Is Tuscany Worth It?
If you're looking to get away from the chaos of the bigger cities in Europe and seeking a sweet combination of cottaging, wine-tasting, delicious food, world-class cheese, road-tripping, and insanely gorgeous landscapes, what isn't there to love about Tuscany.
We're certainly not your typical target demographic for this part of Europe but it suited us guys perfectly โ๏ธ.
This Month's Travel Deals
Here are a few offers that we wanted to highlight for April. Remember, we have our deals group on Facebook. It's free to join if you haven't yet!
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Save On Stays
We've compiled all of the coupons and codes you need to know for all of the major hotel brands.
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โ๏ธWhat's New on the Site
In case you're not subscribed to our "let us know whenever you publish something new" list, here are our new posts, we're on a bit of a roll catching up on our Japan content and there is something big and exciting in the pipeline for any Japan adventurers, so stay tuned to find out when we launch!
Tokyo Neighborhood Guide - Where You Should Visit And Why
Tokyo is sure to please all who visit no matter what time of year you decide to go. However, to get the full experience of some of the best attractions Tokyo has to offer, the best deals, and if you're looking to avoid the heavy crowds, there are certain timeframes you may want to consider for your trip to Japan.
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Ultimate Guide To Cherry Blossoms In Japan: Best Places & Peak Viewing Times
Seeing some trees bloom may not sounds like that big of a deal, right? Well, when it comes to the cherry blossoms in Japan, that statement couldn't be more wrong. The sights of the trees in bloom are breathtaking and absolutely worth planning a trip to Japan!
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Where To Find The Best Observation Decks In Tokyo For Stunning Cityscapes
Japan has some on the best sights in the world, it's just about finding the best spot to see them. Tokyo has those spots! Home to some of the best observation decks, you can see so much from Tokyo, including Mt. Fuji if you're lucky!
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The Ultimate Guide To The Most Romantic Things To Do In Japan For Couples
Spend a romantic holiday in Japan. Stroll the streets of Kyoto, soak in hot springs at the base of Mt Fuji, or take a romantic cruise along Lake Ashi. We also tell you the best restaurants in all of Japan for romantic views and cozy atmosphere.
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โ๏ธ What's Next at Going Awesome Places
I have exciting news! We just received a sample of Peak Design's Roller Pro carry-on suitcase that just closed on Kickstarter but is extending to allow for Late Pledges.
I'm going to be working on a review soon but in the meantime, check out this beauty!
Looking forward, May is going to "kickstart" a busy season for us with projects lined up pretty much all the way into the autumn season. That means lots more great content to come ๐.
๐ช Travel Tidbits
Travel news
Here's the latest from the industry with a few articles that we think you'll enjoy.
Travel Addiction Runs Deep
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Am I the only one that thought Tuscany would be overhyped but found out that it totally wasn't? Are you thinking about planning a trip there and have questions for us? Let us know by replying to this email!
Cheers,
Will Tang
โChief of Awesome, Going Awesome Places
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