June 1, 2004 -- From the leaning Tower of Pisa to the leaning drinkers of Chianti, Tuscany is steeped in tradition, ranking as one of the top tourist destinations from traveling Americans. We've researched some deals for traditional means of touring and immersing yourself this cultural and culinary touchstone, all at our usual discerning taste for value. Look for air and hotel packages, weekend hotel stays in Siena, weeklong walking tours through Tuscan gardens, and -- moving farther afield -- learning how to speak, cook and eat Italian in Sicily.
Not Outrageous Air and Hotel Under the Tuscan Summer Sun
Ever-ambitious Go-Today.com, one of the leaders in value vacation packages to Europe, has several summer packages to Italy, if you book by July 1. All the company's bargains include roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, daily continental breakfast, hotel taxes and service charges, and, sometimes, even more. A typical program is the six-night Rome Special, operating from June 1 through August 31, costing from just:
- $949 out of New York or Newark
- $1,029 out of Boston or Washington, D.C.
- $1,089 from Chicago or Miami
- $1,169 from Los Angeles or Seattle
Other trips include three nights in Milan, four nights in Venice, Amalfi or Florence, six nights Taste of Italy program and four nights in Tuscany with a rental car. To see all their specials to Italy (and Iberia), go to www.gotoday.com/gt_as.asp#CD00 or phone 425/487-9632 (note that there is a fee of $20 for booking on the phone).
In the Tire Treads of George Clooney
The Park Hotel in Siena, housed in a 1530 villa and transformed into a hotel in the 1960s, is proud that George Clooney and five of his Harley-riding friends stayed there on holiday, proving, they say, that the area is "perfect for bikers." They want you to admire the skyline of Siena (including the Duomo) while dining by the pool, but you are also likely to be impressed by their weekend package, valid until October 16. For €205 (including VAT), you get one night in a superior double room, buffet breakfast, fruit and flowers in your room, daily newspaper, dinner for two at the hotel restaurant with wine, use of pool and tennis court, free parking, and free entrance for two to the museum at Santa Maria della Scala. Contact them at www.phs.royaldemeure.com, e-mail reservations.phs@royaldemeure.com.
Walking Tours
The Wayfarers have an end-of-summer Gardens of Italy pair of walks through Tuscany, with gardening expert Alessandro Tombelli, formerly of the noted La Foce gardens. One takes place September 12-18, the other September 19-25, 2004. You stay at the 13th-century Borgo Pretale and at a villa with a working farm and vineyard near Siena. The crowds will be gone, they say, and the weather remains clear and sunny, the better for you to meet local residents on your tour. Priced at $2,895 (land-only), each program includes the itineraries, personal guides, lodging, regional cuisine, sightseeing and easy walks of four to five miles daily. Contact them at www.thewayfarers.com, e-mail info@thewayfarers.com, phone 800/249-4620.
Parliamo Italiano & Dig Right In
You can learn the language of Italy with the National Registration Center for Study Abroad's summer programs. Even better, you could take a two-week language and "Family Style" Sicilian Cooking Course in beautiful Taormina this summer. In this new-for-2004 program, you study with a Sicilian host mother for 10.5 hours per week learning how to cook a full-course meal, and take 20 group language lessons per week in classes of from six to eight students. The two weeks cost $1,454, each additional week of language and cooking lessons setting you back another $641. Prices include tuition in both language and private cooking lessons, lodging in a student apartment with a single room, insurance, texts and materials, and entry and exit placement exams. They say only a few spaces remain for starting dates in June, July and August. Contact them at www.nrcsa.org or phone 414/278-0631 (Milwaukee) or 202/338-5927 (Washington, D.C.), e-mail study@nrcsa.com.
Have you traveled through Italy with these outfits? We'd love to read your trip reports on our Italy Message Boards. Our boards our free, and they're one of the best ways to share your knowledge.