Frequently Asked Questions

What’s On Your Mind? - Commonly Asked Questions About Your Lost in Italy® Vacation…

I’ve decided on a trip.  How do I know if it’s going to be cancelled?
On our Walking tours, once you’ve made a deposit, we guarantee your trip will run!  Aside from a few rare exceptions, we won’t cancel a trip due to low enrollment.  This means that from the moment you reserve your space you can start to plan your airline arrangements, coordinate your vacation schedule at work, and make any other plans for your adventure.  If you are on one of our Cooking and Walking tours, the very nature of the experience requires a minimum of 6 people for the trip to depart.  We will notify you when the magic number is reached.

What is the best way to book my airfare?  
Call Lost In Italy to discuss the best travel options for you and review your arrival and departure dates. This way you will be better informed to call your local travel agent.

What criteria do you use for counting the number of tour days?  

The day counts listed on the website and catalog represent the number of days, full or partial, that you spend with Lost in Italy® whether or not there is any walking or hiking involved.

What does the tour price include?  

All lodging, some meals, (most previous travelers would agree that we provide the majority of your meals…), motorcoach shuttle during the tour, skilled and knowledgeable leaders, most entry fees and fares for trains, ferries and other travel noted in the tour itinerary. You are on your own for airfare, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses and the cost of transfers to and from tour starting and ending points.

Do I have to be in great physical shape to enjoy my tour?   
We know that active people have different levels of fitness, so we design our daily itineraries with options for folks with varying abilities.  People who travel with Lost in Italy® tours live life at their own pace, and realize that only on foot can you truly experience the culture.  Our trips are not athletic events, but the more active you are, the more you’ll enjoy your experience.  With this in mind, a program of regular aerobic activity, including walking and hiking, is excellent preparation.

What if I don’t want to walk every day? This is your vacation, you can sleep in, explore the town, shop all day…whatever you want.  Your guides can even help you plan your day’s activities.

I’m not sure I’m into the “group thing”.  I’m used to doing my own thing sometimes.  

We totally understand, we’re not really into the traditional “group thing” either.  In fact, we pride ourselves on being the “anti-group” group.  No name tags or seat numbers.  The very thought of waving a “group leader flag” or speaking into a megaphone makes us shudder!  We’re more like a group of friends traveling together rather than an organized group.    We think our trips are flexible enough to have the perfect balance of free time to “do your own thing” combined with the fun of hanging out with a group and meeting fascinating people from all over.  It’s the best of both worlds! The amazing number of impromptu “trip reunions” all across the country are testament to the fun, like-minded people you’ll meet.
 
How do you assign trip members to hotel rooms?  
Trip members are assigned to rooms based on the bed type they request and the order in which they sign up. If there is a marked difference in rooms, we try to spread the “best rooms” around throughout the tour. However, this is not usually an issue for the Lost in Italy® trip members since our groups stay fairly active and don’t spend much time in their rooms.

I’m traveling alone. Will I have to pay more if I want a private room?

On most tours, a limited number of single rooms are available for an extra charge. Our prices are based on double occupancy. Standard accommodations are two people per room with a private bath. If you are traveling as a single, we can try to assign you a roommate of the same gender, or you may choose to room alone. Please note there will be a single occupancy surcharge.  Even if you desire us to match you with a roommate rather than staying in a private room, you need to be prepared to pay the single supplement in the event there are no other singles to match you with.

Is it true that many single rooms are smaller than doubles, even though I’m paying a supplement?  Typically,
European hotels are long on charm but short on space in rooms designated for singles, even though you are charged more than those with double occupancy.

If I’m paired with a roommate, will I get a regular bed?
Part of the distinctive Lost in Italy® experience is staying at charming inns, rather than chain hotels. However, with the charm sometimes come limited bed configurations. Twin rooms may consist of one double bed and one single bed

What meals are included in the tour price? 
Check individual tour descriptions for specifics.  At Lost in Italy® we don’t believe in pre-planning all of your meals.  We have lots of great places we’ll take you, but we think you should have a fair amount of free time to “Get Lost” and make your own experiences.  Even if we don’t provide 3 meals a day, most previous travelers would agree that we feed you VERY WELL…you won’t go hungry!  Depending on the trip, we probably provide you with the majority of the meals you’ll need.

Do we eat as a group at every meal? 
Some meals are included with the itinerary and you can choose to sit as a group or individually, depending on the seating at the restaurant. As you are out “getting lost” you might discover the perfect spot for a quiet dinner for two or ask your tour guide for their recommendation. There’s always an open invitation to join your tour guide for dinner, they usually know the best places to enjoy a good meal and a fine bottle of vino.

How often can I expect to see the motorcoach during the day?
The amount of motorcoach support depends on the remoteness of the routes – the more remote, the less the opportunity for support. The leaders carry cell phones to stay in close contact with the driver and will advise you about the daily schedule during each morning’s route.

Do I have to carry any of my own gear?

You need only carry food, clothing and personal items desired for that day’s walk.

What size will my group be?  
Our Walking Tour groups average around 14, and never more than 18. Our Cooking and Walking Tour groups never have more than 10.  Quite a difference from the bus tours with 65 per bus…and 3 busses!

Are my tour leader’s employees of Lost in Italy®?  
THE GUIDES ARE THE OWNERS. We are unique in that we are a very small company, and we want to keep it that way!  We only run a limited number of trips per year, that way they stay special for both the travelers and us.  This also gives us the flexibility to change the daily plans at a moment’s notice, depending on local conditions and what the group may want.  Every other company out there is owned by someone on another continent, run by employees who can’t deviate from the schedule written months ago.  In contrast, we literally fine-tune our plans each night for the next day’s activities!  Your tour may also feature local guides to provide additional information on the area’s natural and cultural history.

Am I expected to tip my tour leaders?  
No. However, the motorcoach driver and any local guides are not employees of Lost in Italy® and you may feel that a small gratuity is appropriate, but it is up to your own discretion.

What kind of clothing do I need?  
We have a great clothing guide on “Good Stuff to Know”.  Casual, comfortable and layering are watchwords for day wear. Evening dress is influenced by the formality of your choice of restaurant.  PACK LIGHT…here’s a phrase we never hear…”Gee, I wish I would have packed more stuff!”

What happens if I need to cancel my tour?

Up to 90 days before your tour, you may cancel for a $200 fee. There are no refunds for any cancellations made within 90 days of your tour departure date. At Lost in Italy®, we strongly recommend that you purchase tour cancellation insurance as protection against this eventuality.

Trip insurance cancellation and interruption protection can be very important and is strongly suggested. We strongly recommend that you sign up for travel insurance within one week of making your initial deposit.  The best way to purchase travel insurance is to call us and let us explain the differences in the policies, then we can sign you up right over the phone.  This will insure that you get the appropriate insurance for your trip. 

Travel insurance not only covers the cost of your tour if you need to cancel, but it covers a variety of other things such as emergency medical expenses, emergency medical transfers, baggage delay or loss, travel delay, missed connections, etc. Our premium policy will even fly you back to your home, or to the hospital of your choice, in the unlikely event you are injured or fall sick on your tour.  This will help you avoid being treated in a foreign hospital, where standards may not be what you are accustomed to.

These policies are an excellent and affordable way to protect yourself and your investment.  Of course travel insurance doesn't cover every possible situation that crops up, so you need to familiarize yourself with what is covered and what is not, before you purchase it.    

Books:
Neither Here nor There…Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson The hilarious journal of Bryson’s travels and misadventures throughout Europe. Although he visits several countries, his stay in Italy is a large portion of the book.

Love and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby True account of British Commando Eric Newby’s stay in an Italian POW camp during WWII. Released by the Italians before the Germans could take over the camp, Newby spent the next year being hidden from the Germans by Italian partisans in various homes and hideouts. Fascinating mix of drama, humor, and history.

A Small Place in Italy by Eric Newby Newby returns to Italy after the war to find and marry the girl he fell in love with while a fugitive POW. Deciding to settle down in the hills of central Italy, his humorous daily interactions with his new neighbors makes for entertaining reading.
Under the Tuscan Sun by Francis Mayes Fast becoming a classic, this book chronicles the trials and tribulations of Mayes and her husband as they renovate a farmhouse in Central Tuscany. Her poetic style of writing truly captures the romance of classic Italia; The people, the culture, the food, and the countryside.

Films:

Mediterraneo – Subtitled Version Classic film about a small detachment of Italian soldiers sent to occupy a beautiful remote Greek island during WWII. Finding that all of the men on the island have been drafted by the Germans, and with no evidence of the war to be found, the oddball assortment of laid-back Italians settle down and slowly “go native”.

Cinema Paradiso – Subtitled Version Award winning film chronicling the humorous daily ups and downs of life in a small southern Italian village as seen through the eyes of the town movie theatre projectionist. This is considered to be one of the best foreign films ever made, (or at least one of the best foreign films ever made that makes any sense).