In this series, this author is sharing some of her recently reaffirmed thoughts and tips, gleaned from a week in Tuscany in 2017. Holidays should be all about fun and relaxation but cultural differences and unexpected surprises can ruin your vacation. To help you have a stress-free holiday in Tuscany, here are some more of my must-have tips and tricks for navigating a vacation in this beautiful region.
3. Double-check everything! Ask if you have questions!
We were in Florence, my mother (who is of ailing health) and sister (who is of little patience), were tired from the 3 hours we had made them spend in the Uffizi and my brother, father, sister's boyfriend and I were exhausted from listening to the whining: we just wanted to get on our train and go back to our villa. We missed our first train by a minute and waited a half hour for the next. Having checked the platform online, my father and I went to confirm it was correct at the ticket office.
3. Double-check everything! Ask if you have questions!
We were in Florence, my mother (who is of ailing health) and sister (who is of little patience), were tired from the 3 hours we had made them spend in the Uffizi and my brother, father, sister's boyfriend and I were exhausted from listening to the whining: we just wanted to get on our train and go back to our villa. We missed our first train by a minute and waited a half hour for the next. Having checked the platform online, my father and I went to confirm it was correct at the ticket office.
With the assertion that it was from an employee, we all trudged to the platform to wait but when the train wasn't appearing on the electronic displays, we became concerned. I asked a girl on the platform if it was the train to Borgo San Lorenzo and she apologised, saying she was just smoking there and didn't know. Assuming we were right, we waited at the platform. That girl must have taken an interest in the pale, sweaty Irish girl asking for help, as she came back a minute later with a member of staff who told us the correct platform. Cue a massive dash across the very large train station before we finally made it on to the train and got home safe and sound. We had quite a few instances like this so, though you might feel silly doing so, don't be shy about checking and double-checking that the information you have is correct, or you could be left in a potentially disastrous situation – and, trust me, nothing is more disastrous than my family when they are tired and hungry!
Also bear in mind that, sometimes, local train stations don't have their full schedules online or you can't get tickets online, etc. We're all pretty dependent on such things nowadays but asking someone who knows what they're talking about, while physically onsite can really help out.
4. Validate everything!
Speaking of trains and public transport (trams, buses, etc), one of the most important things to remember while in Tuscany (and Italy, in general), is to validate your tickets. This is really important as failure to do so can lead to large fines and being a tourist who didn't know any better won't get you out of it! I had experienced this when I lived in Italy in college for a summer but had been taken care of by my host family. This time around, it was up to me and I was rather stressed out about it but it turned out to be okay: the machines are much more visible than they used to be/I had experienced before. Often yellow, they are located on the platforms at train stations and in front of the driver as you step on to trams and buses. Just insert your ticket as directed on the machine, validate it and be on your merry way.
For more key tips to a stress-free time in Tuscany, be sure to read on to the rest of this series and keep them in mind when you find a vacation rental in Tuscany.
Also bear in mind that, sometimes, local train stations don't have their full schedules online or you can't get tickets online, etc. We're all pretty dependent on such things nowadays but asking someone who knows what they're talking about, while physically onsite can really help out.
4. Validate everything!
Speaking of trains and public transport (trams, buses, etc), one of the most important things to remember while in Tuscany (and Italy, in general), is to validate your tickets. This is really important as failure to do so can lead to large fines and being a tourist who didn't know any better won't get you out of it! I had experienced this when I lived in Italy in college for a summer but had been taken care of by my host family. This time around, it was up to me and I was rather stressed out about it but it turned out to be okay: the machines are much more visible than they used to be/I had experienced before. Often yellow, they are located on the platforms at train stations and in front of the driver as you step on to trams and buses. Just insert your ticket as directed on the machine, validate it and be on your merry way.
For more key tips to a stress-free time in Tuscany, be sure to read on to the rest of this series and keep them in mind when you find a vacation rental in Tuscany.
