First time Rick Steve's trip. Hoping to visit wineries and an olive oil farm while in Assisi (two nights). Have others found reasonable ways to get around, travel between wineries, etc?
Posted by
11577 posts
So you would take these excursions while on a Rick Steves trip? Your guide may be able to help you. We travel independently with a rental car so we can do excursions like those.I don't understand why you would go on a tour and then leave it to do your own excursions.
Posted by
OP
Colorado
8 posts
The MyWay tours leave you to design your own itinerary for daytime . Only lodging and inter-country transportation is set with the Rick Steve tour. Our favorite way to travel. Thus, hoping to learn from previous travelers how best to make the most of our free open days in Assisi.
Posted by
11577 posts
Thanks for clarifying that you aren’t on a standard RS tour rather the more independent MyWay.
Posted by
Bend, OR
1052 posts
If you don’t get any tips from people who have done this type of trip maybe you could check with the RS tour office. I know from previous posts that people have said the tour guide will have lots of advice but that doesn’t help your planning now. Have a great trip!
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2297 posts
We did this tour in 2022. Hotels can change from one tour departure to the next, but our tour stayed in the upper part of town. One couple walked down to the lower area and another took the bus, but it’s a pretty significant walk. I know two different groups took off for different things. I think one group used a taxi and the other group either took a taxi or the activity (dinner) came and got them. I briefly looked at TripAdvisor and there were some wine tours and olive oil tours. Some of them did hotel pickup and that would be my preference, but the first thing I would do is read the reviews. It also looks like you’ll need to do some thorough research if you’re looking for a driver to take you to different wineries. We got to Assisi in the afternoon after a stop in Montepulciano, where we found a nice winery, Contucci. The vineyard is not there, but they have a tasting room with nibbles for sale. Each guide has leeway on which town they visit, so not all go to the same one.
Posted by
OP
Colorado
8 posts
Part of our question is that on Day 9 of the "MyWay Italy 2025" the text reads in part: "...stopping for several hours to poke around the quiet lanes of a "friendly hill town" ". We are not sure when the RS staff clarifies which town, or do they not decide till last minute? I have to assume in that case - that we merely freelance our way around whatever town that will be, as making any tour or winery reservations just would be impractical, without lots of prior lead time? Perhaps I am missing something here. Can someone help me understand how those "several hours" have worked for you?
Much appreciated!
Posted by
27 posts
On our MW Italy tour in 2016 (pre-covid) we left Florence in the morning, stopped for an hour or so at the American Cemetery, continued driving to our hill town chosen by our tour manager - Cortona - where we had about 3 hours to explore the town and eat lunch and were treated to the best gelato of our trip before moving on to Assisi where we arrived in the late afternoon. Your tour manager may be able to help with a side trip to a vineyard with advice on calling taxi/private driver/vineyard for reservations or transportation. You can also do the research on vineyards in the Assis area and contact them in advance via email. We found Assisi to be a delightful town and explored the town on our full day here, hiking up to Rocca Maggio, shopping and following Rick's audio walk and of course, the basilica. Enjoy!