Mother and Daughters - June 2013

Hi Kathy,

I want to thank you for planning such a terrific Tuscan experience for our milestone birthday celebration.  It’s not easy to please the varying tastes of 40 year old city dweller, 50 year old suburbanite and 80 year old Vermonter (who my kids have dubbed “the extreme grandma” for her activity level).

All of our accommodations were superb:  Well located B&Bs in the center of Florence and a stone’s throw from the most desired attractions as well as a meticulously appointed apartment villa in Montalcino with a beautiful garden, Turkish bath and pool that were beautiful to look at even if the weather didn’t cooperate for a dip. Thank you for scoping these all out for us.

Our guides in Florence (Ann Sophie and YOU) were excellent, knowledgeable and great company. In addition, Ellen, our guide for the beautiful hill towns of Tuscany, was a life saver.  She was an expert driver, interpreter, historian, hiker & sommelier – something for all of us!  She was able to easily rearrange our itinerary for weather, health and mood swings. Thanks to her flexibility we were able to get in 3 hikes, 2 wine tastings  and see every town you recommended - San Gimignano,  Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, Cortona, Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana - including a beautiful dinner at La Porta in Montichiello, a dip in baths at the Bagno Vignoni, a hike and wine tasting at Le Prime Donne Winery (we loved that this was the only all woman winery in the region and bought several bottles of Brunello to bring home…only one remains :)).

Our last 2 days in Florence were beautiful and sunny and we sought out the rooftop bar Sesto for our last lunch only to be surprised by an encounter with Dan Brown (I was reading his newest novel, Inferno, on the trip since it takes place mostly in Florence). A perfect ending to a perfect trip thanks to all your planning and advice!

Laura C. - San Diego, CA