I am just back from this tour and would like to record my thoughts on it, which might prove helpful to those still to go on the tour.
First of all, some background info, which gives an indication as to where my comments are coming from.
I graduated in Hotel Management and ran my family hotel in the west of Scotland for 20 years - AA 3 star, 50 bedrooms, 2 lounges, 3 bars, 300 seat restaurant and ballroom for 500.
After selling my hotel I moved to Edinburgh and set up my own Destination Management Company providing services for US Tour Groups coming to Scotland ie Hotels, Coaches, Guides, Entrances etc. I ran this company until I retired in 2007. I was also a member of the VisitScotland industry committee which oversees all aspects of the quality grading of accommodation sector and just came off the committee last year.
Flights / Transfers.
Coming from Edinburgh, it was an early afternoon flight to Gatwick and then the early evening flight to Pisa. We did not get to the hotel until about 10.30pm and then had a meal. It was nearly midnight before I got to my bedroom. A long day - the rest of the group had been at the hotel from early afternoon. This was a most disappointing start to the tour. I would have preferred to have flown down to Gatwick on the Wednesday night and stayed one night at a Gatwick Airport hotel.
Both transfers from / to Pisa Airport took about 50 minutes.
Coaches / Drivers / Guides.
We had 2 different coaches for the tour: Thurs/Sat & Mon/Thurs. Both were excellent modern coaches, fully air-conditioned and fitted with seat belts.
The drivers were very good - either on the autostrada or the hilly rods of Tuscany. The ferries to / from the Island of Elba were also good. Roads on Elba were "interesting" - not many straight sectors - all bends!
Due to local tourism regulations, we had local guides in Siena and Florence. We also had little headsets to hear the commentary of the guides.
The lady in Siena (whose name I have forgotten) had plenty of knowledge but a rather dry presentation. She was also difficult to hear - some others in the group also had this problem. Tried to increase the volume control on the headset but this did not work.
In Florence, our guide, Sierro, was excellent - clear, interesting and also had a sense of humour.
One thing that could be improved would be to ensure that the guides carried a "flag / banner", which was held up at all times. Due to the very high volume of tour groups in Florence, it was difficult to see him, especially if you stopped to take a photo. I "lost him" couple of times.
Cecina di Mare.
This is a lovely small Italian seaside town. The Hotel is on the main road along the sea-front. There are lots of small bars, cafes and restaurants. The beach is just across the road from the hotel. The local Sunday market is worth a visit.
Sightseeing.
All places visited were very interesting - in different ways. There is a lot of walking involved. Plenty of opportunities to shop and also have a leisurely lunch in a square.
The Italian ice cream - magnifico! You must try the ice cream in the award winning gelataria in San Gimignano.
I would also highly recommend the two optional excursions to Lucca and the Island of Elba.
However be prepared for some long days - a 12 hour day, a 11 hour day and a 10 hour day - the sightseeing is well worth it!
Hotel il Settebello.
This is an excellent family run 3 star hotel. Salvatore and his staff are superb - always smiling. The rooms vary in size but all have showers, wc, air-conditioning and TV with CNN and BBC World News.
The food in the restaurant, which is across the road from the hotel, is good simple Italian cuisine.
For breakfast, there is a large buffet with cereals, yoghurt, bread, cake, croissants and some cold meat. There are also 3 self-machines - one for fruit juice and two for coffee. The one on the left is for stronger coffee and the coffee is hotter than the one on the right.
Dinner starts with an extensive cold buffet - 15 / 20 choices of vegetables, potatoes etc. This is followed by a 3 course menu with 3 choices for the second course and the main course. You choose the what you want for these two courses at breakfast. Second course includes pasta and soup - the best pasta that I have ever tasted. Main courses are meat, veal, and a variety of fresh fish. There is just one dessert.
Coffee, after dinner, is available in the hotel - either on the terrace at the front door or in the lobby - ordered from the bar. Watch out for the size of the drink measures from the bar!
There is a roof top terrace for sunbathing.
However, if you are expecting a 4 star hotel, you will be disappointed.
Tour Manager.
The Tour Manager is Jonathan Clarke. What a wonderful Tour Manager. Apart from carrying out the "normal" duties of a Tour Manager ie checking us on / off the coach, advising of meeting times etc, his knowledge of Tuscany - the places that we visited, its people and history is immense. He was equivalent of a highly qualified Blue Badge guide in the UK.
The two quiz nights are great fun.
And, finally, is there any way that the tour might be improved? I was quite disappointed to find that we did not have name badges. They are not need on the excursions, but it would have been good to have them for the evenings - even if they only had our first names on them.
You spoke to a lot of people on the tour, but did not always ask or remember their first names.
A wonderful tour.
Grazie - JustYou.
;)
