Question 1

How big are Via Rosa tours?

Accepted Answer

Our tours are small and limited to 12 guests. Our small size allows us to go ‘behind the scenes,’ visiting small-scale food producers, being invited into private homes, and learning from local artisans.

Question 2

Why are your tours based in one place for each tour? Other tours change hotels every few nights.

Accepted Answer

We have organized the itineraries to reflect the way we ourselves like to travel. Rather than ticking off cities or monuments, we prefer to stay in one place long enough to really get a sense of how the locals live. We take day trips every day, so exploration and discovery are most definitely part of the experience. But at the end of the day, we return to the same small town or village, which, by the end of our week, really does feel like home.

Question 3

Why don’t you have any tours during the summer?

Accepted Answer

Summer is way too hot to even think about traipsing around, eating your way through Italy. It’s the perfect time to head to the beach, but that’s not what our tours are about. That is why we schedule our tours during the off-season when it’s cooler. This makes for better walking and bigger appetites.

Question 4

In what languages do you conduct your trips?

Accepted Answer

Our tours are conducted in English.

Question 5

Will I have to share a room?

Accepted Answer

Only if you bring along someone you want to share it with. We do not place strangers in a room together.

Question 6

Are children allowed to join your week-long tours?

Accepted Answer

No, our tours are designed for guests 21 years and up. Our Day Tours in Rome can be tailored to your family. Find out more here.

Question 7

The trip I want to take is sold out. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

We are always happy to take your name for our waitlist. We often have cancellations.

Question 8

How do I find out about new tours before they are sold out?

Accepted Answer

Make sure you are signed up for Elizabeth’s Newsletter from Italy. Elizabeth announces new tours to Premium Subscribers a week before we post them here on Via Rosa’s website.

Question 9

Who goes on a Via Rosa food tour?

Accepted Answer

Anyone who is curious about the culture of food in Italy. Our tours go beyond the ordinary tourist sites to wander down paths that often lead to the places where people are growing, preparing, and eating traditional foods. Even if you’ve been to Italy many times, chances are you will certainly be experiencing and seeing new things and meeting new people.

Question 10

I’m not sure organized trips are for me; are your tours different?

Accepted Answer

Yes! So many of our past guests have told us that this trip was so different from the organized trips they had imagined. We have crafted the itineraries to travel the way we ourselves like to: diving deep into the culture through food, long leisurely meals and slow rambling walks through hidden back alleys. You won’t find long, boring guided visits to museums. Instead, our guides are more likely to lead us to the gelateria his family has been running in a small town for decades. And we always work in lots of free time, so you really get to know a place on your own and have time off to ‘digest’ (pun intended).

Question 11

Do you get many solo travelers on your trips?

Accepted Answer

We get all sorts of guests on our tours, including many solo travelers.

Question 12

How old are the people who take your trips?

Accepted Answer

Our tours are designed for guests 21 years and up.

Question 13

Can Via Rosa arrange a private group tour?

Accepted Answer

We would love to work with you on a private group tour. If you can pull together a group of 8 to 12 people, we are happy to book one of our existing tours just for you and your group. To make all the arrangements, we would need to work with you at least a year in advance. Send us an email for more details.

Question 14

Are pets allowed?

Accepted Answer

We LOVE animals, and many of our stops involve farm visits with lots of one-on-one petting time. However, since our tours are food-focused, we cannot accept pets, as they are usually not allowed into the places we visit.

Question 15

Can I bring along someone to stay in the hotel with me, but not participate in the tour?

Accepted Answer

We do not encourage guests to bring along someone who will not be participating in the tour. Although you will have some free time, our hope is that you will end up spending at least some of that free time with others in the group. Building friendships based on a mutual love of the culture of food is something many of our past guests have told us they cherish.

Question 16

How do I find out about new tours?

Accepted Answer

We are constantly updating our schedule, which you can find here. To be the first to know about a new tour, make sure you are signed up as a Premium Subscriber to Elizabeth’s Newsletter.

Question 17

How do I sign up for a tour?

Accepted Answer

Send us an email at minchillitours@gmail.com, and we will respond within 48 hours with the booking details. Please specify the tour or dates you are interested in.

Question 18

Are your tours suitable for vegetarians?

Accepted Answer

Some of our tours take place in southern Italy, where the cuisine is focused on the Mediterranean Diet, so there will be plenty of vegetables. That said, many of our group meals revolve around local food traditions and may include fish or meat and almost always cheese. If you are a vegetarian or lactose intolerant, you will not go hungry, but you will also not be experiencing the full range of the food culture we will be exploring. Our tours in Florence and Parma are particularly challenging for vegetarians. That said, we sometimes organize trips that are 100% vegetarian.

Question 19

Are your tours suitable for Vegans?

Accepted Answer

Since our tours explore local food traditions, much of what we are discovering, learning about and eating (cheese making, baking, etc) will be very challenging for vegans. Unfortunately, we cannot provide substitutes.

Question 20

I am squeamish about what I eat and don’t like trying new foods. Is this a problem?

Accepted Answer

If you are hesitant to try new foods that may push you out of your comfort zone, then this is probably not the tour for you.

Question 21

I have an allergy or intolerance, can I still come on your tour?

Accepted Answer

If you have a serious medical allergy, we cannot guarantee there will be no cross-contamination since we often eat in private homes or small establishments that are not set up for this. If you are intolerant to gluten, we can often find a substitute for pasta, but you won’t be experiencing the local food culture that we are exploring, which often includes both sweet and savory baked goods. If you are simply avoiding carbs, then you may want to rethink about coming on a food tour.

Question 22

I don’t drink alcohol, is that a problem?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! There is always water, but also a whole range of Italian soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy.

Question 23

Why are your tours quoted in Euros?

Accepted Answer

Our business is based in Italy, so our prices are in Euros. We don’t include prices in dollars since the exchange rate changes daily, and our guests come from all over the world. You can find the exchange rate for your local currency here.

Question 24

Why is the price for a single occupancy room more expensive per person than double occupancy?

Accepted Answer

We always use large double rooms for our guests, even if they are traveling alone. This means that you will be more comfortable, but the price is a bit higher since it is, in fact, a double room.

Question 25

Are flights included in the price of the tour?

Accepted Answer

No, flights are not included.

Question 26

How can I pay for my tour?

Accepted Answer

Once you book your tour, you will receive an invoice through a secure site that allows you to pay with your credit card.

Question 27

What if I have to cancel my trip after I sign up?

Accepted Answer

Since our tours are small and cancellations have a big impact on our business, we have a very strict refund policy (see above). This is why we strongly advise our guests to take out travel insurance to cover any changes in their travel plans.

Question 28

Are your tours priced per person?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our tours are priced per person.

Question 29

What is included in a Via Rosa Tour?

Accepted Answer

6 nights in a private hotel room
Daily breakfast
Welcome snacks in your room
A Via Rosa tote bag
All of the meals, activities, and transportation outlined in the itinerary
A guide to our favorite places in the town you are visiting

Question 30

Do you require a deposit to reserve a spot on a tour?

Accepted Answer

To secure your place on a tour, we require a €1200 non-refundable and non-transferable deposit per person. The balance is due 4 months before the tour's start date and is partially refundable up until 45 days before the start.

Question 31

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

€1200 per person assures your spot on the tour and is non-transferable and non-refundable under any and all circumstances. The balance is due 4 months before the start of the tour and is non-transferable. The balance is 75% refundable if you have to cancel up to 90 days before the start of your trip. There are no refunds with less than 90 days' notice.

Question 32

What travel documents are required to travel to Italy?

Accepted Answer

Currently, travelers from the USA and Canada do not require visas to visit Italy. PLEASE NOTE: This will change in mid-2025, when travelers will be required to apply for an ETIAS waiver.

You must have a current passport that is valid up to six months past your date of travel departure. Please check the expiration date of your passport in time to renew it if you have to.

Question 33

Do I need health insurance?

Accepted Answer

Travelers must provide proof of their health insurance before the tour starts; otherwise, they cannot participate.
If your current insurance doesn’t cover you while abroad, you can find many affordable plans through Squaremouth.
If you cannot get insurance because of age, medical condition, previous fraud, etc., you can sign a disclaimer on the first day of the activities.

Question 34

Should I get travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

Our company does not provide you with travel insurance. Therefore we strongly advise you to have sufficient insurance to cover such things as personal accidents, medical treatment, repatriation, cancellation charges, theft, and property loss. You can find many affordable plans through Squaremouth.

Please choose the plan you are most comfortable with. The most expensive plans include “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage, which ensures coverage for any reason you may have to cancel your trip. This type of insurance must be acquired within a limited number of days of the first deposit.

Question 35

What level of fitness is required to join your tours?

Accepted Answer

Each day, we will explore a new town or village. We often get up early, and the days are long and will involve walking for up to an hour or more. While the level is never overly strenuous, you must be able to keep up with the rest of the group. If the tour leader decides that you are not fit enough to keep up with the group, you may be asked to make separate arrangements.

Question 36

Are your tours suitable for someone with mobility issues?

Accepted Answer

Our tours are walking tours, and we will explore small towns, villages, and farms. This means that we are walking on rough terrain, which may include steps and some hills. While it is not an ‘adventure’ tour, you must be physically fit, and unfortunately, we cannot accommodate anyone with mobility issues.

Question 37

When should I arrive at the start point of the tour?

Accepted Answer

Our tours begin on Sunday evenings, but many of our guests opt to arrive in Italy one or two days ahead of time. This allows them to not only get over jet lag, but also allows them to make the final travel arrangements to our start point. Most international flights arrive in either Rome or Milan, and so involve either a local flight, car and driver, or train to get to our start point. A good option is to spend a night or two in Rome before heading onward on Sunday morning.

Question 38

Can I arrive at our hotel a night early?

Accepted Answer

If you would like to arrive a night early at the hotel where we will be staying, we will do our best to make that happen. Since the hotels book up far in advance, we need to know this as soon as possible.

Question 39

How can I prepare for your tours?

Accepted Answer

You will receive a copy of Elizabeth’s book Eating My Way Through Italy, which will give you some background for the types of places we will be visiting while exploring the culture of food in Italy.

Question 40

How should I pack for your tours? What should I bring?

Accepted Answer

A big appetite and maybe some stretchy pants? Since many of our tours take place off-season, this usually means the weather can be unpredictable. One thing you can be sure of is that we won’t be suffering through the torrid heat of summer. Our best advice is to think layers. We also strongly suggest you pack lightly. After years of traveling, we have come to realize that being able to handle your own suitcase (although, of course, there will be help) makes travel much less stressful. Our trips are very casual. No need to bring multiple outfits.

Question 41

How should I travel to the starting point of the tour?

Accepted Answer

Once you have paid your deposit and confirmed your spot, we will send you some suggestions about how best to arrive at the start of your specific tour. Depending on which tour you are signed up for, this may involve a flight, train ride, a car and driver, or a combination of all three.

Question 42

Can you help me make travel arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we are not travel agents and cannot help you arrange travel. However, we are happy to connect you with a travel agent who may be able to help you with this.

Question 43

How can I arrange a car or taxi to pick me up at the train station or airport?

Accepted Answer

Once you have paid your balance, we will send you information about how to book a taxi or car and driver to help you get to the hotel.

Question 44

Can you suggest or help with travel before or after our week with you?

Accepted Answer

We are happy to connect you with a trusted travel advisor who can help you plan your time in Italy before or after your week with us.

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