Every now and then it is a good idea to splurge on hotel accommodations. We frequently present good value 3 or 4 star hotels on our small group tours to Italy. Today we take a little bit different direction with telling about some luxurious hotels in Florence. These are all full service Florence hotels, some of them offering spa services, superior dining, and spacious rooms.
The Traveling Professor has been going to Paris and Italy for at least 20 years now. In that time, he has seen a lot. Although France and Italy are very safe to travel to, and rarely will there be any violent crime, travelers still need to be aware of annoying petty crimes. In this blog post, The Professor goes over some of the most common scams and how to avoid them.
I've been following Joe Henley's social media and blog posts through his "Traveling on My Own Agenda" website. I find his outlook to be refreshing and honest. I've asked him to be write a guest blog post on his favorite restaurants in Florence, Italy and I think you will like them. Thanks for your contribution, Joe. And I am sure readers of The Traveling Professor's blog will enjoy your contribution of your favorite restaurants in Florence. The Traveling Professor will certainly be trying Joe's spots on our next small group tour to Italy.
Everyone loves to travel to Florence, Italy. And why not? There's David at the Accademia, the Uffizi Gallery, and lots of other wonderful places to see. It's a great walking city with everything within 15 minutes of each other. There are great transportation connections to wineries and other small cities in Tuscany like Lucca, Siena, and San Gimignano. And the food! Probably the best in all of Italy. It's no wonder why The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Italy and Florence always fill up as soon as they are offered. Read about my two favorite hotels in Florence in today's Italy blog post.
On our Traveling Professor small group tours to Italy, one of the most popular destinations is a visit to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Go without making plans and risk long lines, big crowds and possibly not getting in at all. With a little planning and insider information from The Traveling Professor, you can make the most of a trip to one of the top destinations in Europe.
From all of my trips to Florence, and there have been many, I won't tell you what I do get tired from, but what I never tire from this the great food. Vegetables, pastas, meats and even seafood. I'm not big on desserts, but believe me, Florence has that too. From our Florence friend, Melanie Wilson, we have 3 restaurant choices for your next trip to this wonderful Tuscan city. There is plenty here for those who like seafood, vegetarian dishes, and authentic Tuscan food. We'll tell you about the great pizza places in another post.
On our small group tours to Italy, a stop in Rome is a must not only for the history and culture, but of course also for the food. Some people think that Roman food is pretty standard, without much change from restaurant to restaurant. But let me tell you, Roman food is much more than that. Today, I outline 4 of The Traveling Professor's "go to" places to dine when in Rome.
The Traveling Professor just got back from a small group tour to Italy, including Florence. Almost every day, gelato was consumed in mass quantities and boy, was it good. Almost all travelers agreed that the best gelato in Italy was to be found in Florence. But where? Read The Professor's blog post to found out who has the best gelato in Florence.
Tuscan style food is some of the most popular food in the world. There is la bistecca all Fiorentina, a healthy portioned t-bone steak. There is chingiale, the wild boar dish exclusive to the region. Let's not forget the most traditional of dishes, the ribollita peasant soup made from beans and the unique black cabbage. Anything with truffles is good. Read The Traveling Professor's blog post to get 3 of his favorite dining spots in Florence.
Everyone should visit Rome in their lifetime. However, travelers must realize Rome is big, gritty, and one of the most crowded cities for travelers in all of Europe. The Professor has LOTS of experience traveling to Rome, so listen to his practical and useful tips for planning a trip to the Eternal City.