Just returned from the Village Italy tour. It was AMAZING! The weather was perfect (though getting hot towards the end - in the upper 90s). The pre-tour advice to pack light was incredibly helpful:
-Limited clothes (you have room to buy some cute clothes on your visit, and luggage is easier to tote around/carry). and preferably something you can wash in the hotel sink/shower and hang to dry (not cotton). Invisible socks work great to keep your shoes from getting too sweaty, can be washed in the sink, and hung to dry overnight for a fresh start in the morning. If you wear sandals, be aware that the tops of your feet may get sunburned walking around all day.
-Bring your own solid shampoo/conditioner, as many of the hotels we stayed in didn't provide that. There was bar soap in all the hotels.
-Bring sunscreen for sure! Walking tours were hours long in the sun, and you'll need it for sure.
-Bring your own washcloth if you use one, as only a couple of hotels had washcloths. There are small bidet hand towels you can use as washcloths if you prefer.
-IMO, there's no need to bring a water bottle for just the short travel time, unless you really, really hate plastic. The extra weight and bulk aren't worth the hassle. Plastic water bottles can be refilled, chilled overnight in the room fridge, and replaced easily. There is very limited ice where we went, so don't be thinking you'll fill your water bottles with ice to keep water cold.
-There are no coffee 'machines' in the rooms, so I recommend getting a couple of extra cappuccinos at breakfast and chilling them in the room fridge so you can at least grab a chilled coffee for getting ready in the morning.
- Cafe Freddo is the best option for iced coffee if that's your thing (it was mine) - I found a huge variety in standards- it's not just coffee over ice. If you're lucky, you might get 3 small ice cubes. Apparently, ice isn't really a thing there like it is here... likely my biggest culinary surprise.
-Protein macros were difficult to maintain. The meats served are fatty (though delicious). Pastries, cake for breakfast, cheeses, juices, breads, overall, a challenge to keep protein macros high. Consider taking protein bars or protein powder to balance your diet.
- Get coins ($1) ASAP! The public toilets cost $1 to get into - and you'll need that right away. Unless you intend to buy something in a shop to be able to use their bathroom, it's just cheaper and more convenient to have the $1 coins for the restrooms ( be a hero and get a bunch for those who may not have been prepared ;-)
- I found that I didn't really need the international plan on my phone. I had it for use by the day, but I kept airplane mode on and just activated Wifi. There's Wi-Fi on the bus and in the hotels. The rest of the day, we were out walking, and the hotels have maps for the surrounding areas. Unless you absolutely need to have phone maps or texting features when you are out, you can reduce your phone costs by limiting your phone use to the bus or hotel Wifi.
Lastly, bring a smaller carryable duffle bag you can store in your carry-on or checked luggage. 1) for extra room for the things you might buy on your trip and 2) on your return, place your toiletries and an extra set of clothes in the duffle as your carry-on in the event your flight is delayed, and you don't make the connection. This happened to me, and I was so happy to have clothes and toiletries with me as I stayed an unexpected night in Munich since my flight was delayed. Lufthansa put me (and about 100 other people) up with dinner and breakfast for the night. I was glad I was prepared!
Our driver and our tour guide were fantastic. The whole experience was beyond our expectations. Ample food, drink, and charming accommodations everywhere we went!
I hope these tips from my experience help another traveler...
Ciao