Travel with us - Exclusive Food & Wine Trips

Our small group tours are for adults who love food and travel and want an intimate, “insider” experience with Italian culture. Every day, we’ll enjoy excursions and meals together as a group but also have some time to relax on your own.

This trip will be made up of 4 to 12 participants, plus your hosts, Chicca, Arnaud, Jedd and Michelle. We will also be joined on occasion by some local friends, food and wine producers, and guides.

• Hoping to travel with just your family or friends rather than strangers?
• Want a different trip length or different dates?
• Have a specific focus you want for your trip?

If you answered YES to any of the above, please contact us about scheduling a custom tour. We’ll work with you to craft an itinerary of experiences you’ll love within your timeframe.

The full team will be available October of 2023. Outside of this time period, Chicca and Arnaud can host groups as well.

Price per person:

• For 2023 the cost is €‎3495 per participant (double occupancy)

The price includes:

• Planning: All trip logistics, including pre-trip negotiations with all hotels and vendors, onsite coordination, useful information leading up to your trip, etc.
• Personalized service: Daily on-site guidance and support from Chicca, her team, and friends throughout the region.
• Accommodations: 4 nights boutique accommodation overlooking the Mediterranean, based on two people sharing a room.
• Meals:4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 4 dinners, including 3 meals at fine dining restaurants.
• Transport: Ground transportation, including transfers from Castagneto Carducci-Donoratico train station and hired ground transportation for excursions, are included.
• Activities: Daily excursions to the stunning medieval towns of Volterra, Bolgheri, Populonia, Castagneto, and others. All other activities are included. The order of the excursions may be changed due to the availability of the providers for the different days of the week and to weather conditions

The following expenses are not included in the total trip price:

• Round-trip airfare: this gives you flexibility in using airline reward miles or to extend your trip as you wish. Each guest is responsible for organizing their own airfare and transportation to Castagneto Carducci. We can provide airport transfers for an additional fee, if needed. You will be asked to share flight details at least 8 weeks before the trip commences.
• Proof of travel insurance: is required (covering emergency medical, evacuation, COVID-19, and trip cancellation).
• One dinner on your own: during one of our visits to a small town, you’ll have the opportunity to explore on your own. We’ll provide restaurant recommendations.
• Any COVID-19 tests or vaccines: required for entry into the country.
• Additional wine/beverage purchases: Each meal will be planned with great care and paired with a special selection of Bolgheri wines, defined in a certain amount.  You’re welcome to purchase extra wine or other alcoholic beverages but you will be responsible for the additional cost.
• Any additional activities: you want to book along the way or outside of the coordinated group trip: spa visits, private tours, etc.
• Spending money: there’s a good chance you’ll want to purchase souvenirs or bring back wine or olive oil.
• Additional tips for the Trip Hosts

Custom Tour Price Quotes: Will vary based on your chosen activities, number of days, and level of accommodations. Please email us to request a quote.

Yes, we offer 4-5 hour short food & wine tours in Tuscany where you will experience our medieval villages, culinary excellence, and world-class wines. We’ll walk you through our charming towns, stunning vineyards and introduce you to great food specialties while telling stories about Tuscan history and culture. Here you can learn more about our food & wine tours.

Round-trip airfare is not included. This gives you flexibility in using airline reward miles or to extend your trip as you wish. Each guest is responsible for organizing their own airfare and transportation to Castagneto Carducci. Nearby airports include Rome, Florence, and Pisa. We can provide airport transfers for an additional fee from these three airports, if needed. You will be asked to share flight details at least 8 weeks before the trip commences.

We require that all participants purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans should include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, and COVID-19 risks.

For emergency medical and Covid coverage see: Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing

You’ll pay for the trip in two payments (initial deposit and final payment):

• 
1st Payment estimated $900: $100 Non-refundable inscription fee + $800 Deposit
  2nd Payment: remaining balance

Final payment due 90 days before your trip.

This global health crisis has impacted everyone, so we want to make sure your future travel plans are safe, and reassure you that we are committed to supporting our guests in the best way that we can.

As we’ve learned during this past year, what makes sense today may not make sense tomorrow. Please understand that we reserve the right to change these policies due to this very fluid and unpredictable situation.

CANCELATION BY YOU

If you decide you need to cancel your trip, the following refund schedule applies upon written notice of your cancellation:

• Cancelations made on or before 90 days prior to arrival:
  •Your $100 inscription fee is nonrefundable.
  •Full refund minus unrecoverable costs.

• Cancelations made 89 days to 60 days prior to arrival:
  •Your $100 inscription fee is nonrefundable.
  •You will be reimbursed 50% of what you have paid to date, less the nonrefundable fee.
• Cancelations made 59 days to 30 days prior to arrival:
  •You will be reimbursed 40% of what you have paid to date, less the nonrefundable fee.
• Cancelations made 29 days prior to arrival:
  •All payments are nonrefundable.

Cancelations must be received in writing by email to club@cookingintuscany.cc.

Unrecoverable costs may include credit card fees or any deposits required by our vendors.

You are required to take out trip cancelation insurance. If you leave a tour for any reason after it has commenced, we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services. If you fail to join a trip, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund will be made.

CANCELATION BY US:

If our tours cannot operate due to COVID travel restrictions or other Force Majeure Event, we’ll give you a full refund minus unrecoverable costs. If, after the start of the tour, significant elements of the itinerary cannot be provided as agreed, suitable alternative arrangements will be offered.

To ensure a trip is safe for guests and the local community, we will consider:

• Government safety and travel advice
• COVID-safe requirements and protocols
• Entry and exit requirements for travelers to Italy, including testing and quarantine
• Current medical facility and healthcare availability in Italy
• Flight and airline accessibility in and out of a Tuscany
• Ability for our travelers to get travel insurance protection for, and regularly scheduled, reasonably priced flights to Italy
• Accessibility to everyday services, such as restaurants, public transport, cultural sites, etc.

Due to the ever-changing nature of travel restrictions, we will continue to evaluate the ability to run our tours between one and two months before the scheduled tour dates. This is in order to keep the possibility of traveling viable for any guests who may be in a position to do so. All travelers will be notified of their options at least one month before they are scheduled to depart, to allow them time to make any changes to their current arrangements. However, at times it may be necessary to cancel a trip at late notice should the factors listed above change.

Our tours require a minimum number of participants (6) in order to take place at the stated price, since it takes into account group discounts, shared accommodations and other factors that create cost efficiencies. If a trip does not have enough participants, or if someone unexpectedly cancels, we will contact you with possible options.

In addition, we reserve the right to cancel your spot if we have not received your balance payment within one week of your balance due date.

Trip hosts are not responsible for additional expenses incurred by you in preparing for the trip, including air tickets, gear, medical equipment or travelers insurance. You are strongly advised to take out trip cancellation insurance at the time of booking.

CANCELATION BY US:

If our tours cannot operate due to COVID travel restrictions or other Force Majeure Event, we’ll give you a full refund minus unrecoverable costs. If, after the start of the tour, significant elements of the itinerary cannot be provided as agreed, suitable alternative arrangements will be offered.

To ensure a trip is safe for guests and the local community, we will consider:

• Government safety and travel advice
• COVID-safe requirements and protocols
• Entry and exit requirements for travelers to Italy, including testing and quarantine
• Current medical facility and healthcare availability in Italy
• Flight and airline accessibility in and out of a Tuscany
• Ability for our travelers to get travel insurance protection for, and regularly scheduled, reasonably priced flights to Italy
• Accessibility to everyday services, such as restaurants, public transport, cultural sites, etc.

Due to the ever-changing nature of travel restrictions, we will continue to evaluate the ability to run our tours between one and two months before the scheduled tour dates. This is in order to keep the possibility of traveling viable for any guests who may be in a position to do so. All travelers will be notified of their options at least one month before they are scheduled to depart, to allow them time to make any changes to their current arrangements. However, at times it may be necessary to cancel a trip at late notice should the factors listed above change.

Accommodations will be at a modern, locally-owned boutique hotel within walking distance to Castagneto Carducci village. The family-run hotel/bed and breakfast sits atop a hillside with stunning views of the valley below and the Mediterranean. Daily breakfast will be provided on site.

Each room in the hotel is unique. Rooms will include a private bathroom with hot water. WiFi, heat, and air conditioning will be available. You’ll be able to unpack and make yourself at home in the same room for the duration of the tour.

Physical ability: Guests should take personal responsibility to ensure they are physically able and healthy to participate in all group activities, such as:

• walking on uneven surfaces for up to 3 hours over the course of a day,
• climbing up and down up to stairs during excursions,
• riding in and getting on/off buses or vans.

Trip activities are not strenuous, however some days we will be out and about for long periods of time. Accommodations are located in the medieval village which is located on a hill. You will encounter some steep walks uphill as well as many stairs when exploring the town.

Dietary restrictions: Consult with your Trip Hosts to discuss dietary restrictions, or preferences, that would need to be accommodated in order for you to enjoy this experience. We can generally accommodate vegetarian diets, but we cannot accommodate other restrictions (gluten-free, vegan, lactose intolerance).

Prescriptions and medical issues: If you have a condition which may require professional attention, special equipment, or prescriptions during the trip, you must bring and be fully responsible for all necessary items related to your condition. Please consult with us prior to booking to determine if our tour is a good fit for you. Failure to advise us shall release the hosts and all professional personnel from any liability related to such condition or its treatment. We cannot accommodate women past their sixth month of pregnancy. We also cannot accommodate passengers requiring wheelchair assistance, as most features of our trips are not wheelchair-accessible – please contact us directly for more information.

You should consult with a medical doctor to determine if you are healthy and physically able to participate.

COVID requirements: 

• All guests and trip hosts are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before the tour begins, in addition to any requirements that Italy has in place at the time of the tour.
• You will need to bring a COVID-19 vaccination card or photo copy to access venues on the trip.
• Mask use may be required according to the local regulations at the time of the trip.
• We will update you of any changes to health and safety protocols as the trip dates approach.

We will be eating regional Italian dishes and sampling many of the local wines. This will typically include wheat/gluten, dairy, and meat. We’ll dine at several fine restaurants as well as casual cafes and a pizzeria. Breakfast at the hotel tends to include baked goods, eggs, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, along with coffee, tea, or fruit juice options.

Temperatures in Spring and Fall are pleasant in Tuscany, averaging 50°-70°F. It can be rainy on occasion, so be prepared with some rain gear. Also consider bringing layers like sweaters and jackets to keep warm.