Luxury hotel holidays to Tuscany

Tuscany - Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Tuscany holiday from Expressions different from booking it yourself?

We have been working in Tuscany for over 35 years, and many of the hotels in our portfolio have been partners of ours from the very beginning. That longevity matters: we know these properties intimately, we know the owners and managers personally, and we know which room, which season and which combination of hotels will suit which kind of traveller. At the same time we continue to add to the portfolio, so alongside long-established favourites you will also find newer properties that we have carefully assessed and chosen to recommend. When you book with us, you benefit from that accumulated knowledge rather than relying on reviews written by people whose priorities may be very different from yours. We also handle every practical element — flights or train travel from the UK, hire car, hotel bookings, any included experiences — so that the holiday arrives in your hands as a coherent, well-considered arrangement rather than a collection of separately booked parts.

What kinds of hotel and accommodation can we expect in Tuscany?

Our Tuscany portfolio reflects the diversity of the region itself. In the countryside, many of our finest hotels are converted country estates, historic villas or borghi — the term for a hamlet or small settlement that has been sympathetically restored into a hotel while retaining the character of its original buildings. Properties such as Borgo Scopeto near Siena, Castel Monastero near Siena, and Borgo Santo Pietro in the Val di Merse are fine examples: each occupies a distinct landscape, has its own estate of vineyards or farmland, and offers a depth of experience — cookery, wine-tasting, walking, guided cultural visits — that a city hotel simply cannot. For those who want to combine countryside stays with time in a Tuscan town or city, we also offer hotels in Florence, Siena, Lucca and other smaller centres, and it is perfectly possible to build an itinerary that moves between the two. A typical Tuscany holiday with us involves a hire car, a week or more, and at least two different bases.

Do we need a hire car, and what is the best way to get to Tuscany from the UK?

A hire car is essential for any holiday that ventures beyond Florence or the main cities. The Tuscan countryside — the vine-covered hills of Chianti, the cypress-lined roads of the Val d’Orcia, the white gravel tracks leading to hilltop villages — is simply not accessible without one, and driving it is one of the great pleasures of the region. We always include a hire car in our country-based itineraries. For getting to Tuscany from the UK, the most straightforward option is to fly into Florence or Pisa and collect a car at the airport. However, for travellers who prefer to avoid flying, the train from London St Pancras to Florence via Paris is an excellent alternative and takes the best part of a day: a civilised and comfortable journey that sets the tone for the holiday well. We are happy to arrange either option, or a combination — train one way and fly the other, for instance — depending on your preference.

What is there to do on a Tuscany holiday beyond relaxing at the hotel?

Tuscany rewards the curious traveller at every level. Culturally, it is one of the richest regions in Europe: Florence alone contains more Renaissance masterpieces than most countries, and smaller cities such as Siena, Lucca and Arezzo offer world-class art, architecture and atmosphere without the crowds. Many of our country hotels organise guided visits to their vineyards and cellars, olive oil tastings, cookery lessons using estate-grown produce, and truffle-hunting excursions in season. For those who enjoy walking, Tuscany has an excellent network of waymarked paths across the countryside, from gentle vineyard walks to more demanding routes in the Apennines and the Apuan Alps above the coast. The famous Tuscan gardens — Villa Reale near Lucca, the Giardino Giusti, the gardens at Brolio — are rewarding at any time of year, and particularly lovely in spring. Wine-tasting in Chianti, Montalcino and Montepulciano is an obvious draw, and we can arrange private cellar visits with an oenologist rather than the standard group tour. A well-constructed Tuscany itinerary weaves all of these together around your hotel bases, giving shape and variety to each day.

When is the best time to visit Tuscany?

Tuscany is a rewarding destination for most of the year, and the right time depends on what you want from the holiday. Spring — April to early June — is many people’s favourite: the countryside is at its most vivid, wild flowers are in bloom, the gardens are magnificent, and the crowds have not yet arrived. Early autumn — September and October — is equally beautiful and has the added appeal of the grape harvest, when the vineyards are at their most atmospheric and the wine estates are in full activity. Summer is hot, particularly in July and August, and the most popular sites can be very busy, but the long evenings, the outdoor dining and the warmth of the Tuscan light have their own appeal, and the coast and hills offer relief from the heat. Winter is quieter and cooler but Florence and Siena are far more pleasant to explore without summer crowds, and the cities are at their most authentic. We will always advise on the best timing for the particular combination of hotels and experiences you have in mind.