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GENERAL QUESTIONS
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Who goes on an TOP Food and Wine Adventure?
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Our guests come from all walks of life, mainly from the USA.  They have a curiosity for different cultures,
a love of specialty food & wine and are not afraid to explore new places and experience local culture and cuisine.  The target age of our guests ranges from mid 30s to mid 60’s, but those into their 70’s who are active and at a moderate level of fitness can definitely join out tours.
 
 
How big are TOP Food and Wine Adventure group sizes?
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We specialize in small groups of 6 to 10. This enables us to be flexible and somewhat nimble allowing us to get into and out of small towns and venues generally not available to independent travelers or larger groups.
 
 
Why do you only offer tours in Spring and fall?
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We prefer the more relaxed pace of Spring and Fall and we know you will too!  There is no doubt that summer trips have their advantages, but it’s a fact that this is the time when Italians and other Europeans countries are also on vacation.  This means we would be fighting larger crowds which would slow us down or prevent us from seeing some of the more popular attractions.  The weather can also get quite warm making some of the excursion a little less enjoyable.
 
 
Can you help with our pre and post tour travel arrangements in Italy?
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Absolutely!! We are here to ensure your trip runs as smooth as silk.  Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor to Italy, we’re here to help you with any questions you may have on preparations for your trip or with recommendation on how to pack, what to pack, and what size luggage would be best for our tours.  We’ll be in frequent contact in the months leading up to the departure date to ensure you’re comfortable with your upcoming experience. No question or concern is too trivial.
 
I'd like to build your tour into a bigger itinerary - can you help?
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We sure can. We’d be happy to suggest different areas of Italy to visit.  Our tour coordinators have been all throughout central and northern Italy from Rome over to the western Mediterranean Coast, up to Milan and the lakes and over to Venice.  They can recommend any of these areas based on your preferences and can provide transportation options, various hotels, and maybe even restaurants.  Just ask and we’ll see where we can assist.
 
 
Can you arrange a private tour for me?
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With our extensive experiences traveling throughout Italy and other parts of Europe, we are very much prepared to assist groups of 6–10 people in creating a custom adventure.  Our main itinerary focuses on the beautiful Piemonte region of northern Italy.  But if there is another region you’d like to spend time visiting, we’d be happy to create a custom experience just for you and your group.  Also, we can most definitely revise our standard itinerary for repeat customers.  For those groups, please let us know which activities you’d like to repeat and which types of activities you’d like us to substitute in. Please contact at info@topfoodandwinetours.com to discuss how we can help.
 
 
ACCOMODATIONS:
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What standard of accommodation do we stay in?
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We select unique luxury properties for all our trips. Since we travel in small groups, we can choose smaller boutique hotels.  We also strive to put our guests up in hotels where we have personal relationships with the owners.  That way we know they will be treated with great care. 
 
Are twin-bed or double-bed rooms available?
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We will do our very best to find twin-bed or double-bed accommodations if the need exists.  At some establishments, the twin-bed rooms will include
a large double bed and a sofa bed rather than two separate beds. If you would like to share a room on a twin bed basis, please reach out to us at info@topfoodandwinetours.com and we can advise the room layout for the tour you are interested in.
 
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DIETARY 
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I have some allergies or intolerances to some foods - can I still come on your tours?
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Yes, gluten intolerance and celiac disease are common and well understood in Italy and most recipes/meals can be adapted.  Lactose intolerance is also well known, and many cow’s milk products are substituted with goat or sheep’s milk.  Please reach out so we make sure we answer any concerns you may have.
 
What if I am a vegetarian or vegan?
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Vegetarians are welcome to join us on tour, however unfortunately we are unable to cater for vegans. Italian cuisine has a strong focus on dairy products and use of eggs in cooking which is difficult to adjust for on an individual basis.
 
 
PRICING AND CANCELLATION
 
Are your tour prices quoted per person?
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Yes. Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars. A supplement will apply for solo travelers wanting a private room. Refer to each trip pricing schedule for details.
 
 
What is NOT included in the tour price?
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Our tour prices do NOT include:
 

• Your international roundtrip airfare or domestic travel to your tour departure point. Our tour prices do not include airfares or ground transportation to the tour departure point. You will need to make your own flight arrangements. Do reach out if you’d like assistance organizing a transfer to our tour departure point.

• Travel insurance (highly recommended)

• Free-time activities not included in the trip itinerary

• Additional hotel charges such as room service, hotel bar tabs and laundry

• Food and beverages not included in our itinerary

• Gratuities that you may want to offer

 
What is your cancelation policy?
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Unexpected events do occur. Our cancelation policy is in place to help guests, our local partners and us with expenses that may arise from unexpected cancelations. All cancellations of confirmed reservations are subject to a $250 per person administrative fee. Additionally, clients are subject to any cancellation fees assessed by the purveyors of services including hotels used in the itinerary. Cancellations 121 days or more prior to departure will receive a full refund minus the $250 per person administrative fee. Cancellations made 90-120 days before tour will be subject to loss of 50% of trip price. Departure date to 89 days or less will be subject 100% of program price. For more details or of you have any questions, please reach out to us.
 
 
TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION
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What travel documents are required for Italy?
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All travelers to Italy must have a valid passport with 3 months remaining until expiry on departure from Italy. To be safe we recommend you have 6 months validity on your passport.
 
US, Canadian, UK, Australian and New Zealand citizens are currently not required to have a visa for stays in Italy of under 90 days
 
Citizens of other countries should check with the Italian embassy or consulate for information and requirements relating to their citizenship and residency.
 
Do I need travel insurance?
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Yes, we recommend all travelers to take out appropriate travel insurance that should cover you for both travel cancelations, and medical emergencies in Italy.
 
 
HEALTH AND SAFETY
 
What level of fitness is required to join your tours?
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You need a moderate level of fitness to join our Tour.  This is due to the decent amount of walking involved. We do walking tours in historic district areas where the streets are paved with uneven cobblestones and have hilly inclines. Plus there is a lot of climbing in and out of passenger vans.
 
Can someone with mobility issues participate?
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Please be advised that there is a decent amount of walking involved, sometimes on uneven ground inclines.  Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your situation with us.
 
What happens if I fall ill while on tour?
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Should you or someone else fall ill during your trip or test positive for COVID, we will help you to access appropriate medical care as quickly as possible.
 
At that point you will be responsible for following the advice of local health authorities if there is a need to quarantine or self-isolate.
 
Per our terms and conditions, we will not be able to provide any refund, even if the trip is interrupted or you are unable to resume the tour.
 
You (or your travel insurance) will need to cover any expenses incurred for medical treatment, testing, medication, or self-isolation will need to be covered by you or your travel insurance.
 
What is your COVID policy?
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We will ensure our tours are compliant with current Italian health authority requirements. Masks and hand sanitizer are no longer required in most settings but are available on request.