Scenic Tuscany & Spa Escape 9 days
About This Experience
Life is all about balance, a motto that rings true in rural Tuscany. From rolling countryside to rustic villas to world-class flavors, the region brings a little bit of everything to the table, making it the ultimate place to clear your mind (and fill your stomach). In the tucked-away town of Montecatini, find reprieve from the every day in the town’s historic and healing thermal spas. Between indulging in top-notch spa treatments—from massages to facials to steam baths—you’ll soak in the culture and traditions of Tuscany in Florence and the slopes of Fiesole.
Your Tour Includes
Round-trip airfare & transfers
9 nights in handpicked hotels
Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 2 three-course dinners with beer or wine
Private deluxe motor coach
Multilingual Tour Director
4 spa treatments & select entrance fees
Why You'll Love It
If you’re seeking indulgence, Italians do it best
Montecatini’s thermal springs restore & renew
Head out or relax poolside, you’re free to choose
Adventure & leisure come in equal measure
Authentic Tuscan cooking in rural Fiesole
The Renaissance feels alive & well in Florence
Overnight Flight1 night
Montecatini7 nights - hotel info
Day2
Tuscany brings a breath of fresh air and new friends to greet
Breakfast (in flight), Dinner
A Go Ahead representative greets you at the airport after you clear customs. You’ll then transfer to the charming town of Montecatini, located in the healing Valdinievole, or “Valley of Mists.” Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day3
These landscapes lured the likes of Princess Grace and Clark Gable
Breakfast, Light lunch
Il Tettuccio thermal baths
This Tuscany tour is the perfect combination of elegant relaxation and cultural immersion. Begin with a guided sightseeing tour of Montecatini. This picturesque hilltown, known for its spas, springs and thermal baths, lies amid the Pistoian mountains with enchanting views of the countryside below. You’ll visit the historic thermal baths of Il Tettuccio before heading to the spa for a light lunch, and the royal treatment—literally. After this luxurious afternoon of pampering, you’ll understand why European and Hollywood royalty like Princess Grace and Clark Gable frequented Montecatini for its therapeutic powers. Don your spa robe and slippers for an hour in the Natural Thermal Grotto, a natural thermal cave discovered in 1849. The thermal steam bath eliminates your body’s toxins and all traces of stress. Follow up this purifying treatment with a five-minute hydro jet massage to prep your body for a 20-minute, full-body therapeutic massage with essential oils.
Day4
Olive oil to world-class wines, uncover more of Tuscany’s luxuries
Breakfast
This morning, return to the spa for another series of rejuvenating treatments. Relax by the outdoor thermal pool or sit beneath a waterfall for a truly natural massage. Then, choose one treatment from the spa’s wide selection of therapeutic options. You may choose the Aromatherapy Massage, the Anti-Stress Massage, Spa Facial, Aromatherapy Facial or the Citrus Fruits and Toning Face Massage—a relaxing massage with Mediterranean aromas to tone face and neck, reduce signs of aging, and revitalize the skin. Spend the afternoon as you wish, or join an optional excursion to the beautiful walled city of Lucca. Once the capital city of Tuscany, this medieval town offers countless towers, churches, historical villas, excellent wines and its celebrated olive oil.
Optional Excursions
Lucca $49* pp
Travel into the Tuscan countryside to Lucca, a pastoral city enclosed behind beautifully intact Rennaissance-era walls. Here, you'll embark on a guided tour that winds past Palazzo Pfanner, the Rampart Walk, San Martino Cathedral, Guinigi Tower, San Frediano’s Church and San Michele in Foro. Afterward, spend some time browsing the shops of this charming town.
Day5
Whoever said “To eat well is to live well” must have lived here
Breakfast, Dinner
Church of Santa Croce
Cross the sprawling Tuscan plains to the timeless city of Florence, birthplace of the Italian language, Renaissance and opera. Today’s guided sightseeing of Florence introduces you to the city’s Renaissance relics. Marvel at Brunelleschi’s masterpiece—Florence’s massive pink, white and green Duomo, complemented by Giotto’s Campanile. Then, discover the Church of Santa Croce, home to the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo, as well as the Dante Memorial. Stand before Ghiberti’s legendary Gates of Paradise and pass the Piazza della Signoria. This evening, travel to the hilltown of Fiesole for a dinner of regional specialties and panoramic views of Florence.
Day6
Leisure is calling—escape to the country or back to the spa
Breakfast
Spend the morning at your leisure or opt to visit Pisa. On this optional excursion, you’ll travel through the Tuscan countryside to Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). Here, you can view the 12th-century Leaning Tower. This medieval bell tower has been tilted since 1173. Your guided visit includes a stop at the adjacent cathedral, older even than the Leaning Tower, and a visit to the Baptistery, with its Romanesque carvings and echoing acoustics. Return to Montecatini in time for this afternoon’s spa visit. Choose another of the spa’s five restorative treatments. When you’re not being pampered by the spa’s attentive staff, submerge in the naturally heated thermal water of the outdoor pool or recline poolside under your own sun-shaded chair.
Optional Excursions
Pisa $69* pp
Travel through the Tuscan countryside for a visit to Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). You'll see the famed Leaning Tower and enjoy a tour of the adjacent cathedral and the Baptistery of St. John.
Day7
Roll down to the Riviera or roll back in bed, the day is yours
Breakfast
Spend the day as you like or set off on an optional excursion to Cinque Terre, a collection of five isolated Riviera villages, which cling to the rocky coastline. You’ll take a relaxing boat cruise to two of the villages (weather permitting) or you’ll travel the traditional way by train.
Optional Excursions
Cinque Terre $89* pp
Discover the best of the Italian Riviera on a full-day excursion to Cinque Terre. Charming towns, astonishing views and sprawling vineyards make Cinque Terre one of the Riviera's most sought-after destinations. You'll visit two of Cinque Terre's largest villages, Vernazza and Monterosso. If weather permits you'll travel between the villages by boat, where you can marvel at Cinque Terre's cliffs and sweeping coastal views. If the seas are a bit choppy, you'll travel by train through the Ligurian hills, giving you the opportunity to stop at Riomaggiore to walk the Via dell'Amore.
Day8
Soak in the last of Tuscany, from San Gimignano to mud baths
Breakfast
This morning, rejuvenate during your last visit to the spa. You may choose to return to the Grotto for another hour-long steam bath or to receive a 30-minute Cool Mud treatment. An ideal remedy for vascular diseases and cellulite, this treatment improves tone and elasticity to the capillaries. After a hydro jet massage, return to the thermal pool for one last relaxing soak. This afternoon is free to explore the back roads of the Tuscan countryside or opt for an excursion to San Gimignano with an agritourismo dinner. In San Gimignano, whose 14 towers mark it as one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in all of Tuscany, you’ll visit the church of Sant’Agostino and its massive fresco depicting the life of St. Augustine. Enjoy dinner at a local farm, where you’ll have a wine tasting before your meal.
Optional Excursions
San Gimignano & Tuscan Farm Dinner $135* pp
A short drive outside Florence, you'll find San Gimignano, a tiny town notable for its fourteen medieval towers and endless views of the Tuscan hills. This rural Tuscan town is an art lover's dream, with 600-year-old frescoes to be found in the Collegiata and the Chiesa di Sant'Agostino. The town feels as though it's been plucked straight out of the 13th century (with the exception of the freezers in the gelaterias). During your free time, you'll be able to walk up to the fortress, listen to the melancholic music of street musicians, enjoy a glass of wine or indulge in some of the best gelato in Italy. Afterward, you'll head to a working vineyard, where you'll tour the cellars before a rustic Tuscan dinner.
Passport & Visa
In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home. No visa is required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the Italian consulate for your specific entry requirements.
Health
There are no major health risks associated with traveling on your tour. Be sure to check with your doctor or health care provider for the latest updates and travel requirements.
Cuisine
Tuscan cuisine is simple and rustic, featuring pheasant (fagiano), hare, wild boar (cinghiale) and pasta flavored with tartufi (truffles). Other specialties are bistecca alla Fiorentina (grilled steak), arista alla Fiorentina (pork with rosemary), Toscani mangiafagiolli (bean stew) and finocchione, a salami flavored with fennel. Tuscany’s Chianti is well-known, but other wines worth trying include Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. And there’s no better way to end your meal than with biscotti—dipped in a glass of Vin Santo (dessert wine), of course!
Transportation / Walking on tour
Most sightseeing is conducted by private motor coach. For some included visits and optional excursions, be prepared for some more walking through elaborate monuments and museums, with steps.
Baggage Allowance
Airlines have varying weight restrictions on luggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies. Bear in mind that your luggage will probably weigh more on your return trip due to souvenir shopping. We allow only one suitcase per person. One carry-on bag is also permitted, provided that it does not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height). There may be times when you will have to handle your own bags, and you’ll find that lightweight luggage provides a distinct advantage. Make sure you label your baggage and carry valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on luggage.
Clothing and Packing Tips
To ensure you’re comfortable while out exploring, we recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered. For sightseeing, we suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers, as well as a lightweight sports jacket or rainwear. If you’re planning a visit to a high-end restaurant or performance, you may also want to bring dressier attire. Also, please remember that it’s preferable to avoid showing bare legs or shoulders during visits to churches or other religious sites (entrance may be denied on this basis).
Currency
The euro is the currency you’ll use on tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination countries, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take a combination of bank/ATM cards and credit cards, as needed. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
Tipping
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.
- Sort By:
- Newest
- Highest Rating
- Lowest Rating
- Photo Reviews
Spa-Fantastic
My experience with GoAheadTours was coordial, organized and detailed from beginning to end. Just returned from the Sept. 2012 Tuscan Spa tour. Mary Louise was our guide extradoinaire! This vacation surpassed my expectations! I loved everything--Monticanti, Florence, the Tuscan countryside, people and the spectular Grotto Guisti Spa treatments.
Great Trip
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Tuscany even though he was the ONLY man on the tour! It didn't dawn on us this spa tour to Tuscany would just be interesting to women. The 22 women were gracious and my husband was fine with his being the only man. I must say being in one town for the entire week was ideal but we could have done without one of the spa treatments to explore Montecatini more. We opted to take all the excursions offered which left us little time to see more of the town itself or to rest. All the excursions were fabulous but the one thing we all agreed on was the vineyard dinner on the last day and night was not a good idea. Some women had to be awaken at 3 a.m. to put their luggage out for a very early wake-up for the trip home the next day. Other than that, we had a great time. Loved our tour director. If you take this tour, hope your tour director is Mary Louise! She was wonderful.
Loved Tuscany -the Spa and the walled towns.
This trip was literally "under the Tuscan Sun". Every vista was a painting. Our tour director, Mary, was outstanding and made extra efforts to get us to the right places at the right time. We especially loved that she had our bus driver drive up to a height above Florence so we could see this beautiful city at dusk from a hill top. The city/town tour guides were excellent. The Spa was amazing. Travelers should be aware that there is a fair amount of walking-seasoned travelers already know that buses may only park on the outskirts of walled medieval towns. March was a good time to go as there were no crowds nor waits to tour or eat. Those who wish to tour the Uffizi need to reserve days ahead. Mary made everything work just right for us and deserves a 4-star rating.
Fine description
We were fortunate that the weather was perfect the week were traveling. Normally, the weather is rainy and much colder. I'm not sure what our experience would have been and, actually, that is something to consider. We wouldn't have been able to experience the thermal pool in "normal" March weather and we would not have been happy since there was much downtime at the pool. Our tour director was a very nice person but she didn't extend herself in ways that I have experienced from Go Ahead in previous trips. (i.e.: during bus rides she said very little about the areas we were driving through and a microphone was available, she walked very fast and we had a man who had trouble walking. The group was looking out for him more than she was) The city tour guides were perfectly fabulous! The bus drivers were wonderful. The hotel was clean and we enjoyed the clean sheets each day.My biggest criticism was that Go Ahead accepted a small group to make this tour happen. There were only ten of us. That was fine but I was with three other friends and we were the ones who were put in a position to make or break a day trip because we were told there had to be a minimum of 8 people. I did not like being in that position. There should be, somehow, a way to accept a smaller group for side-trips if the original group is small. I I prefer that this not be published. I just wanted to express myself to the office.
Scenic Tuscany & Spa Escape
I enjoyed the trip to Tuscany the people were very friendy toward me everywhere I went as always when I am abroad. The food and wine I might add was expecially outstanding. The people at the Hotel were most helpful and friendly and when I was leaving it was like I was a family member leaving. I was very impressed with not so much the small talk, but they really cared and were glad you came to visit and invited me to come back for another visit. the Spa was a very friendly environment and all of the staff was very nice and friendly as well.
Tuscan Spa Resort With My Daughter
This was a wonderful and beautiful experience that I shared with my 26 year old daughter. My daughter was the youngest of a group of 10 yet she had such a wonderful time. I highly recommend this tour to anyone that wants to relax and just enjoy the spa treatments, history, and beautiful sites that you get to visit. This was a graduation gift for my daughter from me and I couldn't not have been happier with the end results of this tour. It is an experience that she will never forget. Just a relaxing GIRLS tour!!
Just What I Needed
After a very hectic and occasionally emotionally rough first several months of the year, I decided I needed to take care of myself, and when I saw the Tuscany Spa Escape in the last minute trips, I knew it was the one for me. The idea of getting pampered at a spa sounded good, and what better place to go than Tuscany, where people have enjoyed the mineral waters for centuries. The services at Grotta Guisti were really restorative, as was sitting alongside the thermal pool and looking at the countryside, not to mention the others around the pool. Very entertaining for lots of reasons. The cafe at the spa had good, healthy food, good portions, nice wine at very reasonable prices, and we could eat at tables overlooking the pool. It became our go-to place for lunch. The touring was good, the weather was great, and the group small. The last evening at the winery was well worth it. Our group was small, but we fell into two smaller groups for the tours and our free time. Our group was very congenial, and I laughed more that week than I had in a long time, which was as therapeutic for me as the spa. Mary our guide was really fun and very accommodating. I had such a good time I am considering doing it next year, except a number of us are considering the Scottish castles next spring.... What choices!
Fantastic trip
This was one of the best tours I have ever taken mostly due to our tour guide, Mary. She made sure all our needs were met and recommended restaurants, stores, and sites for us to visit, all of which were superb. At the spa, she made sure we received the treatments of our choice and kept us on schedule when some the group were lingering too long. Mary made the trip and I hope she is the guide on the next trip I take to italy or France.
Love Tuscany
Had a very nice trip in spite of the fact that our tour director was not very helpful. It felt as though she too was on vacation.
October Tuscan sun
A fun group of 22 women in my group along with 8 others from other parts of the US enjoyed a week at a spa town with great excursions. Our tour guide, Stefania, did so much extra. The trip was a grand success and we are planning a Taste of Northern Italy and the Italian Riviera for next October.
