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Some info to ease your mind and aid your packing!

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. You do not need a visa for your stay.

WEATHER is generally temperate. Daytime temperatures in the 70’s and cool nights. When it rains in Tuscany it POURS, so do bring rain gear. Visit: www.weather.com and type in Pisa, Italy 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. 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 the unexpected.

GEAR – You are welcome to run or walk whenever you’d like and yoga will be available every morning except one.  Bring appropriate gear. Comfortable sturdy shoes, a swim suit, goggles, and of course bike apparel including: at least 2 pairs bike shorts, 2 jerseys, lightweight rain jacket, and 1 water bottle or camel back.  Arm warmers and cycling vests are also great to bring.  All rides are sagged by follow vehicles so you won’t need a fanny pack unless you want to carry your camera.  You don’t need to worry about bike tools or spare tires as the guides and the sag wagon will have plenty.

 *** You can also buy bike jerseys, shorts, gloves, shoes etc all in Italy at our local bike shop CicloSport. They look really cool when you bring them home because no one will have a jersey like yours!

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! For example, Tylenol is not sold in Italy. 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.

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. 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.