FAQ

Yoga Retreats

What transfers are included in the bundle?

Our bundles include private group transfers to and from either Florence (1.5 hours drive) or Rome airport (2.5 hours drive). It is up to the teacher to decide which airport will be chosen for the pick up and drop off. The transport used during the three town tours is also included in the bundle.

Any other type of transfer is an extra cost to be paid by the clients and cannot be discounted from the cost of the bundle.

The usual meeting time for the shuttle to our venue is at 3 pm from Rome and 4 pm from Florence airport. When you place your inquiry you will find the confirmed group meeting hour.

The meeting point with the rest of the group will be at the arrivals terminal which you will find upon exiting the baggage claim area. If you come to the meeting point from somewhere other than the plane on the meeting day just follow the signs for “arrivals” when you get to the airport. The transfer driver will have a sign that says: “Retreat – teacher name”.

The checkout and departure from the venue is always at 9.30 am. If you need an early departure we can arrange it for you and you will be charged for this accordingly.

We can arrange other private transfers (other than the group transfer) from the airport to the venue at an additional cost of €300 coming from Florence and €400 coming from Rome or Pisa. The price is intended per vehicle which can seat up to 8 guests who can share the cost of the private transfer. If there are others guests that we know of who could share the private transport with you we will make sure to arrange it accordingly.

For transfers before 6.30 am there is an extra fee of €30 to be added to the price of the transfer.

Our nearest train station is called: Terontola-Cortona (not to be confused with Camucia-Cortona) and it is 15 minutes away from us. Transfers to and from the train station can be arranged for 30€

We recommend booking your flights so as to arrive one day before the beginning of the retreat and leaving one day after the end, so as to avoid the stress and extra costs you would incur if you don’t make the group transfer or your return flight.

Before arriving at the venue with the group transfer, the driver will stop at the supermarket to allow everybody to buy drinks, snacks, and other essentials.

We need everyone’s flight information (arrival and departure) one month before the beginning of the retreat. In the case we do not receive your group flight information, we cannot ensure any extra private shuttles. There is no Uber or Taxi in the Italian countryside so the organisation of transfers is much more timely and complicated.

If you arrive a few days in advance and would like to explore the city, at Florence airport you will find a shuttle train called Tramvia that departs every 20 minutes and brings you directly to the historical center of Florence. The return ticket for this is €1.50. This is very fast and easy to navigate. Here is the official website of the tramvia: https://www.gestramvia.it/?lang=en

If you arrive a few days in advance and would like to explore the city of Rome you will find a shuttle train at the airport called Leonardo Express that departures every 15 minutes and brings you in 32 minutes directly to the central train station of Rome (Called: Roma Termini Station) for €14.

More details concerning this service can be found at the following link:https://www.trenitalia.com/en/services/leonardo-express.html

 

Important info for trains

If you do your ticket online it is mandatory from 2024 to do check-in, in high speed trains (Frecciarossa) you have to do it once you are on the train while for normal speed train (regionale, intercity) you have to do it BEFORE the train arrives or you will take the fine. The check-in can be done from the application of Trenitalia if you download it or by following the link on the online ticket they sent you on your email.

If instead you buy your tickets by the automatic machines at the train station you don’t need to do the check-in but you have to stamp the ticket in the specific machines that you find at the station.

What if my flight is delayed and I am late for the group meeting time?

In case the airline cancels or changes your flight at the last minute, we will do our best to accommodate your transfer needs. However, as previously stated, all transfers other than the group transfer will be charged to the guest based on the direct quote from the transfer company.

What if the airplane company loses my luggage?

Lost luggage usually is sent directly to the venue within 5 business days. Please report this straight away to the lost and found desk of the airport providing them with the following address and Lucia’s phone number (last line).

Ristorante Antica Dogana
de Ferrari Lucia
Via Firenze chilometro 45
Tuoro sul Trasimeno 06069 (PG)
Per favore chiamare prima: +393473305609

What languages are the retreats facilitated in?

All of our retreats are in English unless clearly stated otherwise and all our staff including the transfer company speak English.

What payment methods do you accept?

Through our online system we accept all types of credit and debit cards as well as PayPal to purchase your retreat or leave a deposit. Also the transfer company and all our suppliers accept cards.

What is included in the cost of the retreat?

• 6 nights Accommodation including fresh cotton towels, organic and vegan soap and shampoo in the bathroom. We do not provide toothpaste.
• 6 farm to table breakfasts and 6 dinners cooked by our chef. In addition, we have an all-day refreshment station with herbal teas, instant coffee and fruit.
• Daily classes from your teacher.
• Three town tours with a professional tour guide and 2/4 hours of free time
• 1 food experience 
• 1 wine tasting at our wine club
• 1 picnic lunch in a special location
• Use of our swimming pool including swimming-pool towels.
• Transfer from and to airports and for all excursions on the itinerary
• One room refreshment during the week
• Taxes

*items of the bundle may be added or changed by your yoga teacher at the time of them booking the retreat with us

What is not included in the bundle cost?

• Airplane fair
• Any extra transfers other than the group transfer
• Other week lunches (unless they have been added by your teacher)
• Travel insurance
• Extra cleanings
• Any extra purchase made during the week

What is the cancellation policy?

All our payments are non refundable.

We suggest purchasing travel insurance that can cover the costs in case you have to cancel the trip.

What if our teacher isn’t able to host the retreat you booked?

If for any reason your teacher can’t come we will have one of our own professional  instructors available for your group so as to hold the retreat as planned. 

What time is check-in and check-out? When can I actually arrive?

If you or any of the guests would like to arrive at the venue with a private transfer before the scheduled arrival time of the group shuttle at 6 pm, you may check in no earlier than 4 pm as our staff needs the day to clean and prepare the apartments. 

Is there wifi available?

Wi-Fi connection is available in most areas of the venue but we’d love to encourage our guests to disconnect as much as possible. 

I would like to stay some extra nights. Is this possible?

If you or any of your guests wish to extend their stay at the venue, you may request additional nights. We would be delighted to accommodate you subject to room availability. Please understand we get a lot of exclusive group bookings so availability of additional nights is not guaranteed. Please do not book flights based on the presumption that additional nights will be available, thank you in advance for understanding. 

I would like to book a private tour in Florence or Rome before or after the retreat. Do you know any professional guides?

Yes, we offer early bird tours of both towns including tickets for the Uffizi Gallery for Florence and Vatican Museum for Rome. Let us know when you  place your inquiry and we will put you in touch with our tour guides manager.

Which type of menu do you serve? Do you also cater to food allergies?

We offer meat, vegetarian and vegan menus. When you place your inquiry you will be asked to add this detail in the form. We take any food allergy or intolerance very seriously and our chef will design the menu based on your needs. We will also request this information in our inquiry form.

Important: serving gluten free and lactose free meals in Italy has to abaid a very strict regulation by law. The chef and the whole waiting staff has to follow strict rules when dealing with these kinds of allergies. For this reason we kindly ask you to clarify whether in your case we are dealing with an allergy or with a dietary choice, thank you for understanding.

If you have dealt with gluten sensitivity in your life you might take this chance to try our grain derived products in Italy which are very different from the ones you find abroad. We have found that many of our guests have been able to eat bread and pasta here without problems when they weren’t able to do so at home. Our wheat is poorer in gluten and glyphosate is not allowed on Italian wheat crops. This does not apply to people allergic to gluten!

Do I need to bring my yoga props?

You don’t need to bring any of them, in both venues the yoga room is equipped with: yoga mats (more than necessary in case you want to stack them), blocks, straps and blankets.

What will I find in the apartments?

Organic soap and shampoo, hairdryers and italian moka coffee machine as well as cooking essentials such as salt, sugar, tea and instant coffee. Bathroom towels and swimming-pool towels are in thin cotton so they are easy to dry.

Is there a washing machine at the venue?

Yes we have a free washing machine with organic soap, an iron and a clothesline to hang your clothes in the sun.

What do you suggest I bring for the trip?

We recommend to pack:

• Euro adapters (if you forget it we offer them to be purchased at our reception for €20 each international adapter).
• Your personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste) etc. We do offer shampoo and body soap)
• Comfortable and light clothes for retreat activities
• Warm layers in case of low temperatures
• Sun cream protection and bug spray
• One pair of sneakers
• A raincoat or an umbrella in case of rain
• A refillable water bottle (tap water is drinkable in all our apartments)
• Any medication you may need

Is there a pharmacy nearby or a doctor?

We strongly recommend bringing your own medication. There’s a pharmacy 10 minutes away by car. In case of emergency, the nearest hospital is in Castiglione del lago (approximately 20 min drive). If you get sick we will make sure to come with you to the hospital and translate for you.

What if I want a private bedroom just for myself?

The allocation of the guests is up to the teacher who will be hosting the retreat. You may share the bedroom with a friend or another fellow traveler or have it to yourself. We always try to give a private bedroom to every guest or have it shared among friends.

If you would like an entire apartment to yourself there is an extra fee of $1.000 to be paid.

What extra activities do you offer?

We offer massage at the venue, hiking with a guide,  mountain bike tours with guide, kayaking at the lake and extra tours to Siena or any other town you would like to visit with or without a tour guide and much more. 

We will send an email with all the information about our extra activities two months before the beginning of the retreat.

Tipping, is it a thing in Italy?
Tipping in Italy is not the same as in the USA: we don’t have a fixed percentage and it is very much based on your experience. Businesses such as hotels and restaurants catering to American guests have increased the quality of their service to cater to American standards and have done so also because of tipping so it is something that they have become more accustomed to. I guess the short answer is that tipps are not mandatory but always appreciated. However, if you don’t like what you get, do not tip.