Cycling Holidays - Montecatini Terme to Florence

Montecatini Terme to Florence

Italy

From £849 P/P

Cycle from Montecatini Terme to Florence on this unforgettable self-guided tour through Italy. Ride through picturesque countryside and visit the historic cities of Siena and Florence as you make your way from one fascinating city to another through lush vineyards and olive groves.

Relax in the spa town of Montecatini Terme and visit the Chianti wine region before ending your tour in the capital of Tuscany, in the enchanting city of Florence, where you will have time to explore.

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Itinerary
Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Montecatini Terme

In the hotel, you will first get detailed information on the tour and your bikes. Afterwards, we recommend taking a walk in the spa park or taking the historical rack railway train to Montecatini Alto.

Day 2: Vinci approx. 55 km

At the beginning of your tour, you will cycle through the vast plains of the valley Valdenievole, which is characterized by a lot of agriculture. You will continue through the first Tuscan villages, through olive groves to Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo. We recommend visiting the museum in the castle since it is home to one of the largest and most original collections of machines and models of the inventor. Then, you will take quiet roads back to Montecatini Terme.

Day 3: Montecatini Terme – Pisa approx. 40-90 km

On your way to Lucca, you will pass the small, medieval wine town of Monte Carlo, where one of the few white wines of Tuscany flourishes. (Alternatively, you can take the train to Lucca). A bike ride on the historic city walls offers magnificent views of churches and towers that rise above the countless roofs of the city. Afterwards, you will continue to Lake Massacciuccoli (also called Lake of Giacomo Puccini) with stunning views of the sea and Pisa with its Court of Miracles (“Piazza dei Miracoli” – Leaning Tower).

Day 4: Pisa – Casciana Terme approx. 50 km

First, the bike path leads you along the river Arno. Many fertile fields line your way and you will continue your tour through the Pisan hills, on whose gentle slopes sweet wines, olives and juicy peaches grow. You will see small medieval villages located on the hilltops and soon you will have reached today’s destination, the spa town Casciana Terme.

Day 5 : Casciana Terme – San Gimignano approx. 55 km

Today, you will cycle on beautiful trails through vineyards and rolling hills to San Gimignano. On your way, you will see images of the original Tuscany as they have been painted many times. Just before you reach today’s destination, the silhouettes of the famous medieval towers appear in front of you. Each aristocratic family once had their own tower here – and these towers still dominate the townscape.

Day 6: San Gimignano – Siena approx. 50 km

The beautiful Tuscan landscape on today‘s stage makes you forget the small climbs on the route. Once you reach the small fortified village of Monteriggioni, you will feel as if you were in the Middle Ages. Today’s highlight undoubtedly is the architectonic paradise of Siena.

Day 7: Siena – Florence approx. 50 km

The tour takes you into the midst of the wide Chianti region. Only here the world-renowned “Chianti Classico” wine, which is much respected among wine connoisseurs, is grown. The charming wine village of Castellina is on your way to Greve. Thanks to its famous wine and olive production, it is called the capital of the Chianti region. From here you will get back to Florence by bus.

Day 8: Departure or extension
Route Overview

Route Overview

Tuscany has a wonderful but also hilly landscape. You will cycle on quiet minor roads and sometimes even on country lanes from one famous city to another. Close to bigger cities, traffic is unfortunately unavoidable.

Total distance cycled: 300 km

Route Map (For guidance only):

Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.

Starting point of the cycling holiday: Montecatini Terme
Getting There

Getting There

We recommend flying to Pisa or Florence airport to reach the starting point of this cycling holiday.

By Train: Once at Florence train station, you need to change to a local train to Montecatini. These leave regularly (approx. hourly) and take about an hour (it costs approx. €5.50 per person and per bike approx. €3.50 – please note that some trains do not permit bikes. From Montecatini Centro Station (the second Montecatini stop, there are two stations here) we recommend taking a taxi to the hotel (approx. 1km, duration approx. 10 min, costs approx. €7).

By Plane: Arriving in Pisa: Galileo Galilei: From the airport you can either take the train or the red coach company to Pisa central station (it costs approx. €1). A taxi costs about €10. From here take the train via Lucca (where you change train) to Montecatini Terme Centro. It takes 1 hour 15 minutes and costs approx. €10/person. Then see instructions for arrival by train.

Arriving in Florence: From Amerigo Vespucci Airport you can take a shuttle bus to Florence central train station of Santa Maria Novella (dep. approx. every 30 minutes, it costs approx. €5 per person and it takes half an hour).

From here, you can catch a train Montecatini Terme (see above, arriving by train). Alternatively you can have a transfer arranged from either airports to your hotel.

A 10-day toll sticker costs €9, a 2-month sticker costs €26.20. An extra toll is levied for cars on the Austrian Brenner motorway and costs €9. A further toll on the Italian motorway from Brennero to Montecatini Terme costs approx. €34.60. Parking Grand Hotel Croce di Malta: The hotel garage where you can park your car for €45 per week is about 500m from the hotel (no reservation possible, pay there). On arrival, please ask at reception for more details. Grand Hotel Francia e Quirinale: the private car park costs €10/ day, no reservation possible, to pay locally. Hotel Mediterraneo: has a private car park which costs €5/day, no reservation possible, to pay locally

Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.

We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Rail Europe for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.

Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0800 755 5385 for more specific travel advice.

You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.

Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
What’s Included?
What’s Included?

The Montecatini Terme to Florence cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.

Included Services (Subject to confirmation)

- Accommodation as already mentioned
- Breakfast buffet or an extensive breakfast
- Welcome briefing
- Luggage transfer between the hotels
- Developed route
- Detailed travel documents (route maps, route description, local attractions, important telephone numbers)
- 24-hour ticket for Venice (public transportation, bike tickets not included, approx. â‚¬ 3,-)
- Train journey from Rovigo - Monselice incl. bike
- 1 x entrance and little Grappa tasting session in the Poli Grappa Museum Bassano
- 1 x little wine tasting session in Venice
- Route signposting
- GPS-data is available
- Rental bike insurance
- Service hotline

Not Included
- Flights to/from the start and finish
- Evening meals (unless stated)
- Local daily taxes (Payable at the hotel)
- Helmets
- Water Bottles
- Travel Insurance
- Bike Insurance (unless stated)
- Welcome Meetings (unless stated)
- Transfers (unless included)
Bike Hire

Bike Hire

About the Rental Bikes

This cycling holiday uses quality crossbar and unisex hybrid bikes based on KTM frame technology, Selle Royal saddles, Shimano components and puncture-proof tyres to ensure that you have an enjoyable cycle tour. The bikes feature modern V-brakes, aluminium frames with mudguards, comfortable saddles and a rack for a supplied waterproof pannier.

You will also receive a handlebar bag and map holder for easy navigation when riding your daily itinerary. Prices advertised on the website include standard bike hire (unless stated). Colour and specification may vary from the image shown.

Unisex Bike (Colour may vary)

Men's Bike (Colour may vary)

Electric Bike (Colour may vary)

Rental Bike PLUS

For 2020, there is an additional bike rental option available for a supplement. The PLUS hybrid bike now available on most cycling holidays is sportier with higher quality brakes (Magura HS 11) and better specification gears (Shimano Deore XT). The riding position is designed to have a slightly sportier sitting posture and a high quality Suntour suspension fork gives smooth riding on most surfaces. All accessories are compatible with the new PLUS bike rental option.

Accessories

If you would like GPX files for a suitable device, please request them at the time of booking. Devices are not provided and please make sure that you bring along with you any fittings required to attach the Garmin (or similar) to the handlebars. You might want to download maps onto your phone to avoid data charges when roaming.

All bikes are provided with standard flat pedals. You can bring your own cycling pedals, but ensure that you have the correct tools to remove the pedals if the tour does not have a welcome meeting. You may also not be able to travel through airports with the tools if you are carrying hand luggage only.

You can rent a men's bike with a crossbar, unisex/female bike with a sloping tube or an electric bike for a supplement.

Gears

7 speed bikes are equipped with a Shimano Nexus gear hub and 21 speed bikes have a Shimano Alivio derailleur. We request 21 speed bikes for all cycling holidays (when available).

Frame Sizing

When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly. Unisex frame 21-gears with freewheel. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm. Unisex 7-gears-bikes with back pedalling brake. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 cm. Men’s speed bikes 21-gears with free wheel and crossbar. Sizes: 64 / 60 / 56 "sloping" cm. Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use.

We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday!

Bike Hire Insurance

This cycle tour benefits from bike insurance against rental bike theft and damage in the holiday price. Please make sure you lock up the bike, leave it where told by the hotel and treat your hire bicycle as if the bike was your own. Any negligent treatment of the bike will exempt you from cover. We advise you to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday prior to arrival.

Electric Bike Hire

Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.

E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on +44 (0) 800 7555385.

Hotels

This cycling holiday stays in good quality hotels with private facilities carefully selected for their proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on +44 (0) 800 7555385 for more information.

Turin to Piedmont	Sample Hotel List
Turin	Best Western Plus Executive Hotel and Suites
Viverone	Hotel Marina
Vercelli	Hotel Ristorante Garibaldi
Casale Monferrato	Hotel Candiani
Alessandria	Hotel Alli Due Buoi Rossi
Asti	Hotel Aleramo
Turin	Best Western Plus Executive Hotel and Suites

You will receive your final hotel list approximately 4 weeks prior to your arrival date detailing the hotels used on your cycling holiday. If you wish to know more about the hotels prior to completing a booking form, please contact our Customer Services team via email or by phone.

Date & Prices

You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0800 755 5385 to speak to one of the team.

You can now book this cycling holiday online using our secure booking engine. Book online here >>

2020 Cycling Holiday Prices:

Season	Date Band	Arrival Day
Season 1:	04.04.-24.04.2020 \| 26.09.-10.10.2020	Saturdays
Season 2:	25.04.-29.05.2020 \| 05.09.-25.09.2020	Saturdays
Season 3:	30.05.-04.09.2020	Saturdays

Category A (Charm):

Season	Prices per person including bike hire
Season 1:	£1059
Season 2:	£1089
Season 3:	£1129
Single Room Supplement:	£359
Electric Bike Upgrade:	£99
Rental Bike PLUS:	£49

Category A:

Season	Prices per person including bike hire
Season 1:	£959
Season 2:	£999
Season 3:	£999
Single Room Supplement:	£279
Electric Bike Upgrade:	£99

Category B:

Season	Prices per person including bike hire
Season 1:	£849
Season 2:	£899
Season 3:	£899
Single Room Supplement:	£179
Electric Bike Upgrade:	£99
Rental Bike PLUS:	£49

Hotel Category Descriptions:

Category Type	Accommodation Overview
Category Charm:	Boutique hotels.
Category A:	3* / 4* hotels.
Category B:	3* hotels.

EXTRA NIGHT PER PERSON PER NIGHT PRICES (YOU WILL STAY IN THE SAME HOTEL AS PER THE CYCLE TOUR):

Location	Price DBL/BB	Single Supplement Price SGL/BB
Montecatini Terme (Cat Charm):	£99	£45
Montecatini Terme (Cat A):	£69	£20
Montecatini Terme (Cat B):	£49	£15
Florence (Cat Charm):	£109	£85
Florence (Cat A):	£109	£85
Florence (Cat B):	£79	£35

Date From	Date To
04 April 2020	10 October 2020

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