The Cooking Mom's Culinary Vacation to Tuscany - September 2023

Announcing The Cooking Mom's Culinary Vacation to Italy in September 2023!

Hi friends! I’m so excited to announce the next Cooking Mom Vacation! I know you have been waiting. Thanks for your patience!

I wanted to make sure my next trip to Italy was just perfect! I’ve been working hard to plan every last detail.  I decided to add one extra day in Tuscany next year! So instead of 7 days, my next trip will be 8 days to give us all a little more time to see and do even more! The trip is going to be AMAZING! I mean it's OVER THE TOP!

We’re staying 8 nights in Tuscany in the most beautiful old Tuscan Villa resort!  We just stayed there and and my entire group absolutely loved it!  It’s lovely! We’ll wake up to gourmet breakfasts and wonderful coffee every morning.   Our resort has two pools, a spa, a winery, and even a cooking school! We’ll put on aprons and learn how to make Italian classics like the best ever lasagna, homemade focaccia,  biscotti and more! This is just one of 3 different cooking classes I’ve planned for this trip! All of them are wonderful but one will be extra special! We’ll visit my friend Mama Teresa’s beautiful farm.  We’ll pick all the vegetables for our Tuscan meal.  We’ll learn how to make the freshest tomato bruschetta,  homemade pasta and so much more! This will be a magical day you’ll never forget! 

We’ll get explore several towns in Tuscany, like Cortona, where the movie Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed! We’ll get to taste the best gelato in the world in the quaint hilltop town of San Gimignano. 

We’ll shop and eat our way around the beautiful big city of Florence! The central market and food scene there is incredible!  We’ll also visit Sienna, one of my favorite Italian towns. It’s got so much charm! Great shopping too! 

For wine lovers you are in for a real treat! We’ll go to some of the best wineries in Italy. We’ll taste so many amazing Italian wines on this trip!  We’ll even get to enjoy a Tuscan Steak dinner one night in a gorgeous vineyard! 

Speaking of wine, on this trip we’ll visit Montepulciano.  I’ve always wanted to go to this area! They produce some of my favorite wines.  We’ll spend the day exploring vineyards and tasting wines from 3 different wineries! I can’t wait! 

Have you always dreamed of visiting Cinque Terre?  I’m sure you’ve seen pictures! It’s a string of colorful seaside villages on the rugged Italian coastline.  It’s spectacular! 

One of the highlights of my last trip was truffle hunting! It was was so fun I just knew we had to do that again too! Then, we’ll enjoy a truffle pasta lunch at the most beautiful hilltop restaurant!   

After our 8 day trip to Tuscany, you’ll have the opportunity to extend the trip and travel with me around Italy for a few more days! We’re in Italy already, so why not see and eat a bit more!  We’ll have more information on where we’ll be going for a few more days real soon! Stay tuned for our our “add on” itinerary.   But, for now I hope you’ll join me for a magical trip to Tuscany! 

If you're interested don't wait!  We have a big list of people who want to go.  This trip ALWAYS sells out and will book up super quick!  We have a limited amount of rooms and I don’t want any of you to miss out on the fun! 

I hope you’ll all join me for this trip of a lifetime! Cheers to traveling and eating our way around the world together!   

-Amy Hanten/The Cooking Mom 

What's not included:

1. Flights
   1. Flights can be quoted individually, or you are able to schedule your own flights. SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
2. Private Transfers
   1. Private transfers are an upgrade, and we can book those for you if needed. These will be needed if you are not going to be arriving around 2:30 pm on September 9th at the Florence airport. You are welcome to wait if you arrive a little early, but we are able to add a private transfer if you're not arriving at this time. Private transfers from Florence will be around $186 for a car for 1-3 people. 
3. OPTIONAL tour to Cinque Terre
4. City taxes to be paid upon check out (€ 1 per night per person in Figline);
5. Porterage (not requested);
6. Tips; meals and drinks not mentioned;
7. Entrance fees not mentioned in itinerary and anything else not mentioned in the inclusions

Itinerary:

• Click HERE to view full itinerary

• Flights will be on your own, but I am always here to help if you need it! 
• For reference, The Cooking Mom will be flying out of Milwaukee on September 8 at 5:45 pm on Delta Flight 474. She will be arriving into Florence at 2:30 pm on September 9. This would be a great flight to get if you are flying out of Milwaukee.
• If flying out of Minneapolis, check out Delta - there is a flight that leaves at 7:40 pm and gets to Florence at 2:30 pm, which is the time Amy is arriving. You can hop on the group transfer at be at the villa shortly after!
• If you would like me to price out anything individual, please let me know. I am happy to assist. Call me at 720-884-7913 or email at sara@rosetravelgroup.com.
• DON'T FORGET - if you are adding the Rome extension, make sure you have your flight leaving on that day from Rome! 

 

****Note: The host for this trip is The Cooking Mom, Amy Hanten.  In the event that the minimum amount of travelers is not met for this trip and Amy cannot host, the trip may cancel with a full refund. 

 

 

****Don't forget to add the Rome extension after the trip!****

 

Don't miss this great add-on trip to Rome after the Tuscany trip!

 

 

You will l have the option to stay an extra three nights after Tuscany to go with me to explore Rome! It’s actually quite a bit cheaper to fly home from Rome, so why not extend your stay so we can see even more of Italy?!  On Sunday 9/17, after we check out of our beautiful Tuscan Villa resort we’ll make our way to Rome.  But first, we'll stop in the charming town of Orvieto.  We’ll have a guided tour of this beautiful town.  After our tour, we’ll stop at a beautiful nearby vineyard for a wine tasting and delicious lunch!

 

From there, we’ll continue on to Rome. We’ll stay in a beautiful hotel in Rome a great location! It’s near all the places we want to explore.  Our hotel has a wonderful breakfast that will will be included every morning.  On our first full day in Rome we are going to have some serious fun!

We’ll explore the city in a really fun and special way!  We’ll go a guided four hour tour of one of Rome’s beautiful neighborhoods. We’ll also get to taste the best food and wine! We’ll sample the best meats and cheeses of Rome and lots of other wonderful food too, like pizza and pasta and so much more! We’ll even visit a secret wine cellar.  It’s going to be a magical afternoon and evening filled with surprises!  This is all included!

On this trip there are two optional excursions. There will be a very special tour of the Vatican with no waiting in the huge lines. We’ll skip the line and visit the Sistine Chapel, The Basilica and Vatican museums.  I can’t wait!

You’ll also have the option to go with me on the Ancient Rome Tour with a wonderful guide. Again, we’ll be able to skip the lines and go right to the front to see the Colosseum and Forum.  

 

 

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What's included in the Rome add-on:

• Three nights at the beautiful Delle Nazioni Hotel.
• Breakfast every morning
• Transfer from Villa Casagrande in Tuscany to Delle Nazioni in Rome
• Excursion to Orvieto for walking tour and vineyard and cantina tour with lunch
• Guided Food Tour in Rome
• Group transfer from Delle Nazioni to Rome airport (individual transfers can be arranged at an extra cost)
• Expert English-speaking guide

 

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What's not included in the Rome add-on:

1. Any food and drink not included on the itinerary
2. All optional excursions
3. Gratuity
4. City taxes (6 euros per night) to be paid at the hotel
5. Entrance Fees not mentioned in itinerary
6. Porterage
7. Anything else not mentioned in itinerary

 

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Itinerary for Rome add-on:

• Day 1 (Orvieto and Rome) - Sunday, September 17th: 

  • Today departure from Villa Casagrande to Rome. On the way you will stop in Orvieto where you will meet a local guide and have a walking tour of approx. 2 hours. After the your you will proceed to Azienda Agricola Locanda Palazzo; there you will have a 2 hour tour of their vineyard and cantina followed by a light lunch (3 course meals paired with 4 wine in their historic locanda).

    Proceed to Rome and check in at the hotel DELLE NAZIONI 4*.

    The rest of the evening at leisure.

     

  • Today we have included: transfer Villa/Rome, guide in Orvieto 2 hours, 2 hours tour in Agriturismo, light lunch and overnight

 

• Day 2 (Rome) - Monday, September 18th: 

  • Breakfast at the hotel. This morning is at leisure to explore on your own or to participate in the optional Ancient Rome Tour.  

    In the afternoon enjoy a guided Food Tour of TRASTEVERE 

    Transfer from the hotel to meet your guide in the city center for the Trastevere food stroll tour. On this guided 4-hour walking food tour explore this photogenic neighborhood by night. You will sample a sumptuous blend of Italian classics like pizza and pasta, real Roman street food, less-known meats and cheeses, and amazing wine in a secret cellar – its history will blow you away. Few activities in Rome deliver as many hidden surprises and enchanting moments as this so be sure to join us for an unforgettable night in one of our favorite neighborhoods in Rome. Take advantage of Rome’s vibrant nightlife by walking through the streets of Trastevere with a local guide. In the evening return transfer to your hotel at 9:30 pm approx.

    OPTIONAL Ancient Rome Tour

    Hail Caesar! Enjoy the tour of Ancient Rome to understand the story of Rome through its most ancient monuments. Enjoy Skip-the-Line access through the arches of the Colosseum - where the guide will describe the dramatic history of the amphitheater, home to gladiators, mock sea-battles, and executions - and to the ruins of the Roman Forum with our expert guide. You will leave the Eternal City understanding how the Romans ruled the known world.

    Optional tour inclusions: roundtrip transfer; 3-hour guide; skip the line admissions for Colosseum and Forum; headsets.

     

  • Today we have included: breakfast; guide for Trastevere and tasting, overnight.

 

• Day 3 (Rome) - Tuesday, September 19th: 

  • Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have the day at disposal to explore on your own, or participate in the optional tour of the Vatican Museums. 

     OPTIONAL Vatican Tour

    Today travel to another country: Vatican! Visit its Museums to see the amazing treasures kept for centuries. In the Sistine Chapel, where the Conclave to elect the Pope is held, view Michelangelo’s "Last Judgment" and his famous ceiling paintings. Then continue your guided tour inside the Basilica, built in 313 A.D. above St. Peter the Apostle's tomb. Michelangelo’s masterpiece - The Pietà - the Renaissance sculpture is close to the entrance of the Basilica. The tour will end with the view of the monumental St. Peter’s Square.

    Optional tour inclusions:  roundtrip transfer; 4-hour guide; skip the line admissions Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica; headsets

  • Today we have included: breakfast; overnight.

 

• Day 4 (Rome) - Wednesday, September 20th:

  • Breakfast and end of your Italian experience .

  • Group transfer to the Rome International Airport.

 

 

 

****Note: The host for this trip is The Cooking Mom, Amy Hanten.  In the event that the minimum amount of travelers is not met for this trip and Amy cannot host, the trip may cancel with a full refund. 

Cancellation policy: