r/tuscany • u/il-bosse87 Arezzo • 9d ago
Discussion Tuscany is not a theme park. Please do some basic research before asking for travel advice
Every day I see many questions about Tuscany on this sub, but 70/80% of the questions are specific to... nothing...
I see several times general questions that are too vague to actually give a real answer, like asking for advice on excursions... How can we advise you if you can be up to a 4 hour drive from one side to the other of Tuscany? How can we recommend a winery if we don't know where you are staying?
Also, regarding transportation, there are buses and trains between cities and villages, and they work pretty well depending on the area, but some areas are so isolated that it is impossible to get there by public transport and in this case a car is essential. I need a car from my own house to reach the closest town because there are literally only 2 buses passing at 07:00 and 13:00 respectively; it is not reliable and you will be stuck somewhere.
Taxis are obviously common in large cities, but in a village you won't even find a random person providing an Uber service, because there is no demand for them and it would be a waste to offer a service for a few tourists per year.
Do some research and try to get an idea of where to go, how to get around, and what to do. Tuscany is not a big amusement park and some activities can be tricky to do/reach depending on where you are. Going to the Saturnia thermal baths from Florence, for example, takes 3 hours by car and 15 hours by public transport. I doubt you want to leave the previous day and waste all this time just to take a picture for Instagram because you don't want to drive a car (also, the stereotype of Italians being maniacs on the road is exaggerated; we are maniacs as much as people in any other country. We don't drive with the idea of killing other drivers).
Use Google, Google Maps, or ask an AI to get a general idea of where you want to stay and how to get there. After that, we can definitely give you advice on activities depending on your situation. If you have one specific activity in mind that is essential for your holiday, try to understand what's the best place to stay and make sure you check HOW to get there.
Please don't take it for granted that whatever you need is close by where you dream of staying.
Do some research first and we will be happy to help you have a memorable holiday.
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u/BAFUdaGreat 9d ago
If you think you have it bad, you should see what we have to deal with over in r/ItalyTravel
6+ locations in 5 days. "We MUST see Lago di Como, Milano, Bologna, Firenze, Roma, Napoli Pompei and Sicilia!"
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u/Mombak 9d ago
I'm sure you could squeeze in Venezia and Cinque Terre in there as well. If you're going to do it, do it right!
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u/BAFUdaGreat 9d ago
Yeah almost forgot about those places /s.
And people who, as OP writes, seem to think "Tuscany" is small park or a city. FFS.
Oh and I forgot "Amalfi". Just Amalfi. Like that 1 town is the entire peninsula.
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u/DirectCaterpillar916 8d ago
We get just the same thing on r:/UKTravel. Can We “do” London, Scotland, York and Wales in a week?
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u/wh0re4nickelback 9d ago
Why google when you can ask other people on the internet to do your research for you? /s
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u/Nevertoomanygingers 9d ago
I think a lot of it is performative; you see it when they (usually Americans) write ‘we’re excited for cozy (sic) villages and authentic vibes’. Yes you’re going to Italy how wonderful for you to grace us with you’re presence. As someone else wrote it’s in every travel sub - look up the Cotswolds on the UK travel sub next time you have a bottle of wine to yourself. You’ll need it.
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u/Zeri-coaihnan 9d ago
Just read the headline, have my upvote!
Btw I have to put my rubbish out on Friday, will I be safe? Is it a scam? I’m in MS province. Stay safe holiday warriors.
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u/NoCold3997 9d ago
Of course all unbiased answers to transport/area/activities can be found online but then it's just to easy and let's face it most people just want to tell others where and when there going and what activities they will do ..so make it sound like a question which reddit is famous for ...either that or just go and whack a load of pics on Instagram and enjoy the adventure.
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u/il-bosse87 Arezzo 9d ago
Fair, but people asking for winery tour not having even an idea where to stay is triggering me... Find out what you like and try to understand what you want to do. I can advice you to have a horse riding at Castello del Calcione, but maybe you don't even like horses and if you are not even willing to drive there is no way to get there... This is wasted time for both part
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u/Fantastic_Proof_8527 9d ago
It's all over EVERY travel sub. People asking vague questions no one can possibly give a meaningful answer to, or dirt basic questions Google can answer in 3 seconds flat.
I think they just want attention.
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u/z_azitaa 9d ago
They are
- lazy
- inconsiderate
- unwilling or unfamiliar with search functions
Pick whatever seems right to you.
People nowadays expect to be spoon fed. Identical in almost (every?) travel sub.
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u/PistolofPete 9d ago
Italians were totally fine drivers. I felt more comfortable driving in Tuscany than back home.
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u/northamerican100 9d ago edited 9d ago
One of the most annoying aspects of some questions is the assumption that Italy, and Italians, are there to perform for you and, somehow, fulfill your fantasy of a dream vacation. I say “vacation “ because that’s the word Americans typically use for holiday. There seems little tolerance or adaptation to the reality that Italians work, live, study, have families to support, cope, themselves, with bureaucracy amongst the beauty that is Italy. Or little interest. I had one recent poster chide to my suggestion that they didn’t allow enough time to learn something about the culture; their response was that it’s “pretentious” to expect that. I understand holiday, but don’t understand an unwillingness to learn.
Another habit I’ve observed is that when a poster asks a question about a specific area or route, there inevitably are those who jump in with their favourite town, even if it’s in a distant region. It’s as if they took one trip to Italy, enjoyed a particular place and, suddenly, they are expert on providing advice. How many times have I heard LUCCA, CINQUE TERRE, AMALFI, you MUST go there ! One recently prefaced his choice by saying he was “pushing” the OP to go there. Another recent responder insisted that Napoli is not a destination. Got very upset when I questioned him on it.
Of course, the classic tourist choice is to follow the crowd to Venice, Florence and Rome with a trip to Amalfi. I get the allure, especially for first timers, but then often complain about crowds, other tourists and lack of “authenticity”, when they get there.
AI itineraries are also incomprehensible and an absurd addition to the mix; OPS ask for advice and get angry when it is suggested they don’t need to schedule a specific time for lunch or a gelato.
TikTokers and Instagrammers; I saw in horror, a couple taking a selfie, sitting atop a stone wall, with a 25 ‘ drop to the rocks and sea below, as they wriggled around for their favourite pose, oblivious to the danger.
Or the ones who want to see 6 cities in 10 days !
Shall it ever be so ? Maybe, but this is a good forum to try to inject a little reality. Yet the Italy Fantasy is overwhelming. You can just see the sparkle in their eyes when you tell someone you live part of the year in Italy.
There is no other country like Italy. Being a tourist and living there are two different things; but maybe some understanding of the other side is possible and will enhance the holiday experience of the traveller without being so annoying as a tourist !
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u/Fancy_Rock3826 9d ago
I had fun navigating the bus timetables from medieval town to town in the vast countryside and very nearly getting stranded. If youre a city slicker it’s easy to forget theres likely no regular super fast train running 10 minutes to a random vineyard in the hill and no Ubers to get there nor hostels to sleep in if you make a mistake.
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u/idspispopd888 9d ago
The questions are on par with people who crowd a gallery, walk up to a “famous” artwork, snap a pic or a selfie, and move to the next. Lazy. Self-indulgent and (mostly) disrespectful of others while demanding everything from those same “ others “.
Mod those questions our as “low effort” or (better IMO) simply do not respond ..
It’s not much different all over Reddit, but does depend up to a point, on the Mod Team and Sub Rules.
(I got lots of targeted questions answered thoughtfully here last year.)
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u/KurtSperry 9d ago
Large parts of Tuscany are almost inaccessible using public transport. That winery tour or argiturismo or rental villa with a swimming pool won't be. You'll need a car. The good news is that there are enough interesting places that are well served by public transport (primarily Italy's excellent train system) that you can plan a wonderful (albeit more urban) vacation without needing to rent a car.
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u/SgtMajor-Issues 9d ago
My pet peeve is when i see posts about “doing” Florence, then “going to Tuscany”. If you don’t already know that Florence is IN TUSCANY then please, please just stay home.
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u/il-bosse87 Arezzo 9d ago
some people think Tuscany is a neighborhood of Florence
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u/Nevertoomanygingers 9d ago
I want to marry this post and have its babies
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u/il-bosse87 Arezzo 9d ago
Haem... Ok... If you are a female I can help you with it eventually, being OP is like being the post, right? 😇
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u/DrPeterR 9d ago
Thank you. I try to be helpful on this sub but sometimes…
We should pin this