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Thanksgiving in Tuscany, from $1,299 with Air

Save about $100 with this last-minute Tuscany package, which includes airfare, four nights in a villa, a rental car, and a guided wine tasting tour.

If you want to take advantage of a great price on a trip to Italy, Foreign Independent Tours (tel. 800/248-3487; www.foreign-independent-tours.com) is offering a last-minute Tuscany trip with airfare, four nights in a villa, and a rental car -- all from $1,299 per person. The only caveat is that the trip departs on Thanksgiving Day, but at least you'll miss the pre-Thanksgiving rush at the airport.

You'll stay for four days at Villa Il Patriarca, just outside Chiusi about halfway between Florence and Rome. The property dates back to 1800 and currently operates as a small boutique hotel with views of rolling hills. The package includes a five-day car rental, so you can explore the region at your own pace -- Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and more. You'll also be able to tour a wine cellar in the charming medieval town of Montepulciano, known for two types of wine: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Rosso di Montepulciano.

Why is this a deal? According to a Kayak search, nonstop flights start from $851 per person on Alitalia. Room rates start at $210 per person per night (or $840 per person for four nights). That brings the cost of booking separately to $1,691 per person without hotel taxes. Renting a compact car, such as the Renault Megane, will cost about €287.92 (about $400) for five days, or $198 per person including taxes.

Booking airfare, four nights' hotel, and the rental car separately will cost you at least $1,889 per person. The $1,299 package comes to $1,804 per person after you add in the taxes and fees -- saving you a solid $85 per person. We haven't even factored in the dinner at the restaurant's osteria or the wine tour and tasting, so the total savings is likely to be well over $100 per person.

Trip Type: Air-inclusive, independent

What the Quoted Price Gets You: Round-trip flights from New York-JFK to Rome; four nights at an Italian villa, a five-day compact car rental; a dinner at La Taverna del Patriarca, in the old wine cellars of the villa; a guided tour of an old wine cellar in Montepulciano; and a special wine tasting.

What Else You'll Have to Pay: Government and air taxes and fees, plus airline fuel surcharges totaling about $505

When: Nov. 24

Book By: As soon as possible to ensure availability

Other Gateways:

Los Angeles (add $185 per person), Detroit (add $195 per person), Miami (add $235 per person)

 

Single Supplement: $499

 

Other Details: Additional nights are possible from $129 per night for two people; upgrades to a junior suite are possible, based on availability, from $99 per person. You can also add sightseeing tours -- inquire upon booking.

All prices are per person and, if lodging is a component of the package, based upon two people traveling together (unless otherwise noted). The prices listed are general starting rates; see "What Else You'll Have to Pay" for details about associated taxes and fees. Base-prices, taxes, and fees can vary based on point of departure and time of travel. Blackout dates may apply. Trip add-ons like sightseeing tours and meal plans may also increase the price. Check with the tour operator for additional gateways. The single supplement is the extra cost that a solo traveler would pay to book the deal.

 

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