Hannah33

A friend and I just returned from a visit that included a stay in Florence. We were looking for a tour that would let us see some of Tuscany and were beyond happy with our choice of Franco Fadda. Franco picked us up from our hotel in Florence and even arrived early.

It had been a real challenge finding someone good for the day so hopefully this info helps someone else getting ready to go.

We got to the Chianti area quickly and the views were truly breathtaking. I should note here that Franco was an extremely safe driver, and after having just been on a tour the day before where the driver nearly slammed into a guard rail, we appreciated this greatly. He offered to stop whenever I wanted a photo but since every turn afforded a photo opportunity better than the last, I decided I instead must etch the day in my memory.

We started with a small winery and met the delightful Riccardo who shared his work with us and walked us through the wine making process. This glimpse helped us appreciate the small family winery. Our next visit was a larger winery which offered a contrast to the first one. At the large winery we got an unexpected look into the gates of a nearby villa, a magnificent piece of land that stretched to eternity.

Later we visited Volpaia and Radda in Chianti as well as other picturesque stops along the way, each one accompanied by interesting history of the area. I am always amazed how Italians know so much about the history of their country.

I am sure Franco has done this same day tour many times but we felt like it was intimate and personal and terribly unique. That is the mark of a good tour guide, when they can make you feel as though they and you are seeing something for the first time. I would recommend the knowledgeable and charming Franco to anyone who is looking for a small personalized tour of the Tuscany area.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions since we saw so much more than I was able to describe above. Also I have some photos if you want. His web site is www.francowinetourexperience.com and i found this fun video on youtube about the tour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8WWJ81f2AE

bratsandbeer

Sounds very interesting. I reviewed the website. It seemed there were no prices listed. About what price is the day trip?

Bailey

Hannah,
Thanks for the info....sounds like a great way to visit some of the wineries!!
How much was the tour....how long did it last?

nibblette

Sounds just like what we're looking for too. Also interested in the price/time info.

Hannah33

Hi there,

I dug through my old emails to pull answers to all of the questions. Let me know if I missed anything.

We did a half day tour leaving from Florence about 8:30 am. We paid 125 euro each and the half day tours last about 5 hours but he's a little flexible I think so if you're still finishing something, he's not going to rush you to leave. Ours went a little over. For 4 people half day it's 110 euro each.

The full day tour prices were 190 euros per person for 2 people and 150 euros per person for 4 people and those tours last 9 or 10 hours and he pays for the lunch.

I think there are other options but that's all we asked about. I think he would customize if you were looking for something different.

Good luck!
Hannah

latedaytraveler

Hannah, I am glad that you enjoyed your personalized tour of the vineyards of Chianti. Reminds me of a trip I took a few years back with my cousin. After missing our connection (lost luggage on Air France) to Florence at CDG, we drove into Siena in the midst of Saturday crowds to find our hotel – the Ravizza – highly recommended on this board.

The next day we ventured to San Gim (somehow via Florence again). We had a tough time reading the road signs and even got a ticket a year later for having not paid a toll along the way! When we returned to the Ravizza, a couple told us about the great personalized tour they had taken that day with “Country Tours" of Siena which offered services much like those your enjoyed.

We decided to take one the next day. Fabio was our guide. The wheat fields in late March were almost an electic green. If I recall, the price was in the $150 each range but well worth the money for a leisurely tour of Pienza, Montacino, Montipulciano (sp.?) with lunch.

Bottom line – even though we had rented a car – the personalized tour was worth the investment. Dropping the vehicle off in the center of Florence was another story…

loves2sing

My friend and I are going to do a wine tour in Tuscany with Franco Fadda of the "Franco Wine Tour Experience" in June 2009! (Thanks Hannah for all your help!) Now...if anyone is interested in joining a couple of wild and crazy "40-something" women on this tour, contact Franco and tell him Marilyn and Debbie sent you! Or you can respond here of course. This will be a private tour but hey...the more the merrier [email protected]

kybourbon

lovers2sing - I'm always wary of a review by a person whose only post is to praise a business. I hope this works out for you, but I would assume it's an advertisement by the owners. To check a poster's history of previous posts, click on their screen name.

loves2sing

Thanks kybourbon, I see your point, but I read many great reviews on Trip Advisor as well. Hannah just helped to give me some details. My friend and I weren't sure we wanted a total private tour because we really do like meeting and talking to new people. But we also don't like large group things so I thought I'd post to see if any other Fodorites were going to be in the Tuscany area when we are

socialworker

Thanks ky, for saying what I was thinking. A post with no antecedent that purports to be a "trip report" says advertisement in (virtual) neon lights.

loves2sing

You know, it might have been an advertisement, but it was helpful regardless. If anything it got me thinking about looking for a tour guide for my upcoming trip. I didn't just check out Franco either, but I did end up choosing him. Sure, she might have gone on the tour with Franco, and he might have asked her to post a review to help him out, but I don't think that is odd. I have encountered many hosts who have asked me to pass on a good word if I enjoyed the experience. But I do credit you guys for not blasting Hannah for being a first time poster who might not have understood the so-called "rules" of first time posting

kybourbon

These advertiser appear quite often which is why we are wary of this post. Usually (not always) when a random post appears by a first time poster praising a business, it also appears on numerous other travel sites also.

It's not clear whether you asked on this forum for any recommendations, but the general consensus is Luca of Hills and Roads is one of the best guides for Tuscany. I haven't used him, but there are plenty of postive reviews on Fodor's if you do a search. The only review I found for Franco's is this one, but then the search function isn't perfect.
http://www.hillsandroads.com/

If you use Franco's, be sure to follow up here so it will have more than one review.

It's a never ending battle keeping the advertisers off Fodor's. Some are blatant, but others are learning to work the system. If you suspect and advertiser, report the thread to [email protected]

loves2sing

To be honest, I'm not sure if I came across Franco's tour here first, or if I found it on the internet first, and then did a search for him here. I'm guessing that's probably what I did. I might have even saw him first at Trip Advisors. I usually go back and forth on so many sites, it all gets a little confusing. But I did email Hannah directly and she was very nice and helpful, and lived here in the US, so I'm pretty sure she just wanted to give a good recommendation on here even though she may not typically use travel forums to plan her trips. Actually my first trip to France and Italy over 8 years ago, I planned all by myself and didn't use this site at all. I think I must have had beginners luck because everything went off without a problem. But I'm not so sure I'd be that lucky again, lol, so I count on everyone here. In the future I will be sure to click on everyones name to be sure they are a regular contributor (not that a first timer can't be helpful, as this one was to me).

And I didn't ask for any help with a wine tour on here, because quite frankly, there's too much risk of getting the response back: "if you type in wine tours in the search bar, you will find lots of information". The problem with that is when you do, the information is often a few years old and you never know if anyone is still around to respond to you. You can't imagine how many times I have hesitated to post over worry about how my question will be received! But I take a deep breath and put on my armor and post, lol.

Peonies

I recommend contacting Angela Saltafuori for either her shared or private tours - both Chianti and Brunello. Last September several friends and I enjoyed Angela's shared Montalcino tour and also her private Chianti tour. Her selection of wineries was outstanding, from a small family owned winery to an all women owned winery to a medium sized independent. Lunch was always a major highlight. In Chianti Francesco's mother, a fabulous cook, prepared and served lunch. In Montalcino country, a family member who happened to be a renown chef prepared lunch and the owner's daughter and her fiancé serve us.

Not only is Angela a very knowledgeable guide - of Italy and of wines - but she is a very charming, thoughtful person who does her utmost to ensure a great wine tasting experience and fun for all. I had toured with Angela the year before, and now again in May this year I will be visiting Italy and touring with Angela.

Angela's e-mail is: [email protected]
www.angelapersonaltuscantour.com
www.angelapersonaltuscantour.com/tours.htm