Are your tours all-inclusive? No. They do not include airfare, for starters. They generally include all accommodations, all breakfasts, all ground transportation during the tour, all entry fees and tour charges organized by Travel Italy the Write Way, and many lunches and dinners. We give our travelers a few opportunities to go out in couples and/or small groups, to experience the city (and meal selection) on their own.

Why don’t you include airfare? For two reasons. First, because we are not travel agents and you can probably do a lot better price-wise searching on your own online. But more importantly, we let our travelers decide whether they want to add a few days to the trip either before or after the scheduled tour and make their arrangements accordingly.

Are children permitted on your tours? These tours, while not designed for young children, might be of interest to culturally-minded or history-minded older teens. But remember that we do a lot of culinary and wine-based programming that they might not want to participate in.

Can I choose my own hotel? No. To maintain our very low tour package prices, we need to guarantee rooms to our local hoteliers. But rest assured, you will never be disappointed by our hotel selections.

What if I have special dietary needs? Let us know in advance of any food allergies or other conditions that will preclude you from eating certain foods. We will alert our restaurants and do the best we can, but there are no guarantees. Remember that we are traveling to Italy, where pasta and cheese and gelato are daily staples. It’s not difficult to avoid eating meat, if you are a vegetarian, because Italy is abundant in vegetables, pasta, and risotto!

How should I pack for Italy? As efficiently as you can! I recommend (but cannot always manage myself) traveling with just a carry-on and a piece of hand luggage. As we get closer to your tour date and know a little more about the weather during that time, I will send around packing recommendations.

Will there be free time to explore? Certainly! My philosophy of travel is that most people prefer to travel with someone who knows the lay of the land . . . and then provides some opportunities to explore on your own.