MY TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY AND THOUGHTS ON DIFFERENCES IN ITALY
AND WHY I STARTED "ITALY WITH FRIENDS".


Well first of all, I truly do love to travel.  (Don't all Flight Attendants love to travel?)  I believe I was born with a wanderlust.  I also love the study of history and art.  Put all that together and Italy is the perfect place for me.  I have traveled to Italy many times, and if I had my way and could afford it, would purchase a piece of it and spend half the year there.  Italy has many lovely regions and it just happens that Tuscany is my favorite.  No matter where else I travel, (even in Italy) I always dream of returning to Tuscany.  I love seeing beautiful landscapes, both natural and manmade.  I also love the smaller towns, especially the hill-towns, and Tuscany has many.  Florence is definitely a larger city, but still has a warm feeling amid all its ancient, winding streets.  I could go on and on forever about why I love Tuscany.  I suppose that love is really the main reason I started guiding tours.  I wanted to share my passion with others.  I have read many books about the area, about the food and wines, the art and the culture.  I probably own almost every guide book written about the area.  When I travel alone I usually end up talking to other people along the way and always find out about some new, wonderful sight or place to visit.  All the best restaurants I have found were suggested by other travelers.

I also believe that traveling, especially in other countries, can be a freeing experience.  We all need recess from our busy lives and a trip to a place like Tuscany is the perfect solution.  I believe travel is a priority and yes, it can be expensive, but well worth it.  Travel can help us appreciate other cultures and maybe become better Americans in the long run.

After many travels I have come to realize that there will be ups and downs.  Believe me, I have been frustrated many times.  It is hard to accept that some of our simple, everyday items are not available, such as modern bathrooms and ICE!  Italians still take a siesta everyday and shops close up midday for several hours.  Travel however, can open our eyes to the fact that there are other ways to do things, some very practical and logical.  An open mind and heart is essential while traveling in Italy.  Go ahead and see things as different, just not better or worse.  I can assure you will be rewarded tenfold by the open warmth of a people and culture that has been around much longer than ours.

Also, it is very important that I mention that I am not necessarily a budget traveler.  I do love to get down with the locals and really experience the true Italy, but I still want to have a certain amount of comfort while doing so.  This is mainly in accommodations.  Many people say that a hotel doesn't matter.  Well, I disagree.  As it happens, accommodations can eat up ones trip budget quickly.  Since I spend so much time in hotels with my job, I certainly expect somewhat the same quality in accommodations when I travel for pleasure.   I have spent a lot of time choosing the right hotels and I think you will be pleased with them as well.  In fact, most guests on my tours are pleasantly surprised at how great my hotels are.  Standards vary greatly in European hotels, especially in Italy.  Many hotels are older and some even feel a little creaky.  Rooms are usually small and they will not all be exactly alike.  It is more like staying in someone's home at times.  Sometimes there are steps to the bathrooms or to another area in the room.  Furnishings may be a mixture of styles.  Many will not have air-conditioning and if they do, it will not run as cool as here, or all the time.  All of my hotels do have A/C, but be aware the Italian government regulates when the A/C is turned on and off.  Also most of my hotels do have elevators, but there may still be some stairs to climb to certain floors.  Actually, you can look at this as a bonus.  Now you can eat more gelato!  And then there is the plumbing.

Plumbing deserves a whole paragraph.  Most hotels have either a bathtub, sometimes with a hand held shower or either a very tiny free standing shower stall.  Water may or may not be hot.  Once the boiler broke in our hotel in Florence and we just had to make the best of it.  Most bathrooms have a bidet that really just takes up room in an already cramped space.  (I usually use it for an extra spot for my toiletries)  Towels are smaller and not as absorbent.  Hand towels are thin like our dish towels and wash cloths are nonexistent.  Now don't get me wrong, there may be some differences, but none would keep me from loving Italy.  This is just an area that can be a little upsetting to someone who is used to the most modern of conveniences.  I think it is helpful to know in advance what to expect.  Hotels at least never have the "hole in the floor" toilets that you find in some of the older buildings. (Believe me your first experience with one of those will be one to remember)

Even though it does add to the cost of a trip, I have chosen to stay in only 3-4 star hotels.  I have personally stayed in all hotels that we use.  The hotels are located in the heart of the towns, so they are convenient to all historic and cultural sights, shops, and restaurants.  I also look for charming hotels with personalized, attentive service, and especially warm hospitality.  A great view doesn't hurt either.  A real plus in the countryside is a hotel with good access to highways, making daily excursions easily reachable.  Driving in Tuscany can be a bit time consuming.  There is no such thing as a straight road, well almost none.  I have tried to keep our time in the van down to a maximum of a few hours a day.  I do not think anyone wants to spend their vacation in a vehicle, even if the scenery is magnificent.

Another important aspect of my tours is the physical activity.  I do not plan for my tours to be a hiking tour, but I can guarantee you that there will be plenty of walking and physical activity.  That is just how it is in Italy.  In order to really experience this country you must be willing to to MOVE!  Cities like Rome and Florence are made for walking.  Of course, Rome is huge and can really be a challenge, but you can do it!  We will sometimes walk several miles a day and you will be on your feet for 3-4 hours at a time.  A visit to a museum can take 2-3 hours.  Walking is the mode of transportation that I use in all cities and villages.  I will use a bus at times, but that is very seldom.  We do not take taxis and I do not drop you off at the entrance to a village.  We all walk from the parking lots together.  Hilltowns are just that, built on a hill.  That means you may have some strenuous climbs at times.  You will be tired and your feet may be sore, but you will have time to rest most evenings.  If you choose to use that time for rest or relaxation is up to you.  If you do not, please do not complain to me about being exhausted and needing time off your feet.  We do not start early on most days, so you have much more time than most tours to sleep in.  I will try and let you know what to expect from day to day for the physical activity level.  That way you can know just how much Tylenol or Ibuprofen you will need. Please do not worry about this however, I have never lost a guest yet and most people want to see as much as possible.  Also, when you see that little old lady climbing that steep hill in heels, you will be forced to keep up with her!

So now why do I want you to come along with me to Italy?  Sharing with others this breathtaking country and all that I have learned about it through my own travels, can truly make my experience in Italy much more enjoyable.  Seeing the look of amazement on someone's face the first time they see Monteriggioni or the smile of contentment the first time they taste pici pasta with wild boar ragu sauce is so rewarding.   One of the guests once said that the beauty of the Tuscan countryside almost made her cry.  That is how I always feel and it reminds me of that first moment I saw the same vineyard, olive grove or hill top castle.  As I said before, Italy, especially Tuscany, is full of wonders and surprises around every corner.

One of the areas I focus on is the food and wine found in Italy.  I have found through watching other travelers how important a good meal can be.  Learning about the history and process of wine making is also very exciting.  It can really enhance your opinion of wine when you learn the art of wine tasting.  There is usually at least one planned meal a day, many times with several courses and wine.  Some meals will be in restaurants in the towns we visit, while others will be in countryside locations with breathtaking surroundings.  I try to choose places to eat that provide another wonderful experience to your trip.

So now you know a little bit about my travel philosophy and perhaps can understand my passion for Tuscany.  If it has been your dream to travel to Italy, then this may be the time for you to do it and this may be the perfect way for you to do so.  I have worked diligently to design a trip that I feel is both informative and relaxing.  Because it will only be a small group (4-8 people) you will hopefully form lasting friendships with other travelers.  You will truly be "traveling in Italy with friends". 

I have done all the initial leg work.  I have taken care of the day to day details, such as hotels, transportation in Italy, most sightseeing and lots of the dining.  As far as the cost goes, I try very hard to keep it as low as possible while providing a top-notch trip.  I have had previous guests tell me over and over that they are really getting a lot for their money.  The instability of the US dollar against the Euro has not helped with planning.  Sadly, we do not get as much for our money as we used to in Europe.  I know from experience that anything you can pre-pay before you leave home really helps.  Hopefully, not having these kind of worries will make your trip much more enjoyable. 

It is also very important to me that you have at times the opportunity to do as you please.  A friend once told me and my sister that we tried to do entirely too much in one day and needed to take a little more time to smell the roses along the way.  (Of course, that really meant reading USA Today in a little cafe with a glass of wine)  I have chosen an itinerary that I feel has just the right mix of culture and fun.  Believe me this is only a taste of Italy.  It is very hard to pick and choose between all the wonderful sights, hill-towns and dining options available.  I want you to return home bitten by the travel bug and hope this trip will give you some of the skills you need to travel on your own in the future.  Or maybe, you will join me again on future tours to other magical places throughout Italy.  I now travel to Italy two times a year.  The spring trip is always a "Best of Italy" type tour and the fall will always have an "Ultimate Tuscany" type tour.  So why not join me for a chance to experience the trip of a lifetime with  "Italy with friends".

Ciao,

Suzan Rozypal


DREAMING OF ITALY?
ITALY WITH FRIENDS TOURS