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PACKING LIST
🛂 Passport
PASSPORT! Now would be a good time to check your passport! You must have at least six months left on your passport from your time of departure! If not, visit the State Department’s website (http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html) or visit your local post office for your renewal. US citizens do not need a visa for your stay.
☀️ Weather & What to Wear
WEATHER is generally temperate. Daytime temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s and cool nights. When it rains in Tuscany it POURS, so do bring rain gear. Visit your favorite weather app for PIENZA to check the local weather forecast before departure.
DRESS – Italian rural culture is fairly relaxed; however, short shorts and tank tops are not advised in restaurants or while sight-seeing. Please bring some smart casual attire to help you to feel more comfortable when out and about. This means longer walking shorts, skirts, summer dresses, decent jeans, and blouses or tees. Nothing fancy, just nice, easy, and casual. We highly recommend washing your bike shorts daily so plan to do laundry in the sink and hang out to dry (micro-fibers dry fastest). And do bring warmer things for cool evenings and dinners on the terrace, and for the unexpected. The hotel does provide laundry service for those looking to avoid the sink wash.
🚴♀️ Active Gear
GEAR – You are welcome to run or walk whenever you’d like and yoga will be available most mornings. Bring appropriate gear. Comfortable sturdy shoes, a swim suit, and of course bike apparel including: at least 2 pair of bike shorts, 2 jerseys, lightweight rain jacket, and 2 water bottles or a camel back. Arm warmers and cycling vests are also great to bring. The rides are not sagged so you’ll need to bring what you may need for the day’s ride, including any energy bars you like on rides. Unfortunately, Pienza does not have a bike shop to fill in any forgotten bike gear.
💊 Other Travel Essentials
OTHER STUFF – As with all foreign travel, plan to bring all the prescriptions and lotions that you will need for the trip. Make no assumptions! And if it is a critical medication, bring it in your carry on. We recommend you be current on your tetanus (check with your doctor, or if you have not had one in 5 years); otherwise, no shots are required.
✈️ Travel Tips
Expect airfares to run you from $1,800 to $2,200 depending on where you fly from and timing (you never know when you might get good deals). Try to minimize the number of transfers so that you don’t lose your baggage in transit.
Your carry-on should include: a change of clothes just in case, any medications you take, and all your essential toiletries. This way, if they do lose your bags for a few days, it won’t be as bad. Many essentials are easy to find, but bras, undies, shoes, and toiletries are difficult to replace quickly. Pack smart. Additionally, drink plenty of water on the journey. This is your best offense in staying healthy and adjusting to the time change quickly. If you can, we suggest that you plan to arrive a day or two early to acclimatize.
To get a sense of the flavor for the wonderful area we will be exploring see Cliff Notes on Tuscany, a very local guide to the areas we will be seeing.