Tuscany and Cinque Terre FAQ

They are currently sold out. Please sign up to stay informed on future experiences in Italy and other destinations.

Registration for experiences are done through the Solea website.

Payments can be made: 

• On the website with an additional 2.9% fee
• Via an emailed payment link with an additional 2.9% fee 
• Or by check to P.O. Box 3503 St. Augustine, FL 32085

Questions about payments? Email us! Questions about pricing? See the Italy 2025 page.

Your total registration fee covers the following:

• Air transfer to and from the Florence airport to Fattoria Poggio Alloro, or train transfer to/from the Siena train station on the mornings of May 28 and June 4th. 
  • The train is a good option for those flying into another city.
  • * If any guest arrives or departs at an off-itinerary time, transfers will be discussed on an individual basis.
• Lodging and breakfasts at our Fattoria. Breakfasts are hearty!
• Transportation to and from all activities listed in the itinerary.
• All activity fees such as tours and tastings listed in the itinerary.
• Dinners at our Fattoria on May 28th and 30th, and June 2nd and 3rd.
• If traveling to the Cinque Terre, it includes transport to Monterosso al Mare, lodging, and daily train passes.

*Please note that two events are interest-dependent. 

• The day trip to Florence on May 30th requires six (6) or more people to sign up.
• Likewise, the cooking class on June 2nd requires a minimum of six (6) people to sign up. 
• In lieu of adequate interest, other activities will be available.

It does not cover:

• Airfare
• Meals and shopping in sightseeing towns.
• This allows for maximum flexibility during our free time and with dinner menu options.
  • You can anticipate spending 25 - 35 euro per person for a simple lunch and 45 - 55 euro for a simple dinner. 
• Travel insurance.

Solea's experiences are designed for white glove treatment without the cost of luxury accommodations. Our choice of lodging reflects this philosophy.

Fattoria Poggio Alloro is a very typical agriturismo with farmland, vineyards, a regionally known restaurant serving three meals per day, and simple rooms that offer a private bath, heating and cooling, and countryside surroundings. 

You are welcome to customize your time in Tuscany as you see fit! There is much to see and do in Toscano (Tuscany), and in nearby Firenza (Florence).

Please be advised that we do not provide transportation to off-itinerary activities, and we cannot customize our cost. The listed price is for the package you are purchasing. 

We are happy to provide recommendations for personal travel ahead of time, upon request, should you be interested in customizing your itinerary.

Weather

Weather in Italy end of May into early June is typically warm. The sun is strong. 

Our lodging provides air-conditioning as does our scheduled transportation to and from activities. However, many shops and restaurants in smaller towns are not air-conditioned, nor are all municipal trains or shuttle buses.

We recommend packing light layers and a tote or backpack in which you can keep extra layers during a day of wine-tasting or sight-seeing. We also recommend hats to protect from the sun if this is a concern. A rain jacket can be handy if we experience showers during our activities.

Dress

Italy is a fairly conservative country, especially in the smaller towns and cities. 

Short shorts or skirts, see-through apparel, low necklines or ripped denim, for example, can be considered distasteful. 

Classic jeans, slacks, longer shorts, and blouses or tasteful tees are all acceptable. Men will not need suit jackets unless desired. Likewise fancy dresses are not needed unless you plan for an upscale, off-intinerary activity.

As we will be doing a fair bit of walking on some of our tours and city streets are not paved, we recommend comfortable walking shoes.

Our lodging has swimming pools and we'll be near a beach in the Cinque Terre in case you'd like to do some swimming.

Money

Many places we'll be traveling to take credit cards, and most of the experience activities are pre-paid. However you may want to bring some cash to help you be spontaneous while spending time on your own. 

For cash, many places will accept USD, conversions require a bit of mental math so to keep it simple, consider exchanging a few hundred USD to Euros before traveling. 

Airports are known for having poor exchange rates. If you plan to make a currency exchange, we recommend using your banking institution a few days before traveling. 

All of Solea's experience locations are tied to the USD which means any excess currency can be reconverted upon return to the U.S.

Information

Whether you've been to Italy 10 times or this is your first time, our information packets will help you navigate through the smaller towns and cities with landmarks and recommendations. 

We'll include information about cultural norms such as tipping and other courtesies. Train stations and run time information for the Cinque Terre will also be provided.

You may want to download Google translate to your phone ahead of time. You can also search online for common Italian phrases to learn, such as on the Trafalgar site here, or even download a language app to practice!

The cancellation and refund policy for our experiences are in part dependent on the requirements of our vendors and partners. 

The Tuscany and Cinque Terre Experiences policy is as follows:

• 90+ days prior to May 28, 2025, you'll receive a full refund.
• 60-89 days prior to May 28, 2025, you'll receive a 60% refund of your total payment.
• 30-59 days prior to May 28, 2025, you'll receive a 30% refund of your total payment.
• 29 days or less from May 28, 2025, no refund will be provided. Credit for future travel will be determined on an individual basis.

We recommend considering travel insurance for Solea Travel experiences. For example Allianz Travel, a frequently seen partner of many travel companies, offers personal travel insurance.