Travel Help

We've confirmed your space on the tour, and you're ready to make plans to fly to Italy. What's the next step?

Travel Contacts

We have several friendly folks who are familiar with the needs of Cinghiale guests and are ready to help you plan your itinerary.

Airfare, Booking flights, General travel help Heather Ross
The Travel Society
3000 Center Green Drive
Suite 220
Boulder 80301

303-381-7423 Heather
303-381-0601 Office
303-381-0609 Fax
Email: heatherr@travelsociety.com
Travel in Italy, Pisa pick-up and drop-off times, Cinghiale-related travel Elaine Lauterbach
in Boulder, Colorado
for Cinghiale ground transportation and bike rentals
Email: elaine@cinghiale.com
All other Cinghiale business Julia Hampsten
Cinghiale Administrator
Email: julia@cinghiale.com


Click on image to see a larger size.

OUR BASE

Castagneto Carducci, our home and tour base, is on the west coast of Italy in Tuscany, 73 km south of Pisa and 264 km north of Rome.

All Tuscan trips begin and end here, at our cycling-friendly, family-run hotel.

Our hotel is on a coastal plain of the Maremma, or maritime region, of the northwest coast of Italy, below the ancient hilltop town of Castagneto. We are a pleasant ride away from Mediterranean beaches, famous vineyards, and an important Etruscan archaeological site, yet off the tourist circuit.

Tour Time Frame

Cinghiale trips generally begin with lunch at the base hotel at 1:00pm on the first day of the tour, and end eight days later. Try to arrive by noon on the first day.

Accommodation is included for 8 nights. There are 8 days of riding and other activities. The last day is a travel day.

If you need extra nights at the beginning or end of your tour, please contact us for the hotel information and book those nights directly.

For a full description of what is included in the price of your tour, please seeFAQ’s.

GETTING TO US

Airports

For Tours beginning in Castagneto Carducci

Many of our trips begin in Castagneto Carducci. For these tours, our preferred airports, in order of convenience, are:

  1. PISA
  2. Rome/Florence
  3. Milan

PISA is far and away our number one choice. The airport is small, the train is easy to get to, and the town has many comfortable and convenient hotels if you need to spend an extra night. (See Hotel Recommendations, below).

Pisa is also the closest international airport to our starting town of Castagneto, only one hour away. We can pick you up at one of our scheduled shuttle times (see Cinghiale Shuttle, below) and bring you to our base hotel.

If You Can't Fly Into Pisa

… No problem! There are several options. We'll help you figure out the best way to get to us from whichever airport you do come into (See Ground Transportation, below). Please read the following carefully to help you plan.

DO: If you are flying out of Florence, Milan or Rome, figure on an extra day to accommodate your flight.

DON’T:Please DO NOT book flights out of these cities early in the morning on the final day of the trip. You will not be able to get there in time for your flight.

Our shuttle runs between Castagneto Carducci and PISA only. If you leave from Rome, Milan or Florence on the last day of the tour, we can take you to the local train station or help you hire a taxi.

Approximate Travel Time To/From
Castagneto Carducci

The best way to plan your departure from Rome, Florence or Milan is to let us drive you to our local train station on the last day of the tour, take the train to the city, then spend the night there and catch your flight booked for the following day.

You won't regret the reduced stress and rush, not to mention the enjoyment of seeing a little bit more of Italy before you leave.

Another option for the adventurous is to rent a car, or better yet, a SmartCar. Economical. Efficient. So Euro. And fits in your pocket!

Rent a SmartCar
http://www.sixti.com/cgi-perl/rental/el

For tours starting in other locations

For the best airport to fly into on tours that start in towns other than Castagneto, please consult the Travel Details for that tour and fly into the airport we recommend. Our shuttle service will be tailored to that city.

Ground Transportation

Cinghiale runs a limited shuttle service tailored to your tour. Our shuttle runs at the times specified on your trip page only.

Shuttle service destinations are also specified on your trip page, as not all trips begin and end at the same hotel.

All trips beginning in Castagneto Carducci have shuttle service between our base hotel and Pisa only.

Cinghiale Shuttle Schedule

For trips beginning in Castagneto Carducci

For all other trips, please see the information listed on your trip page under Travel Details.

Pisa-Castagneto
DAY BEFORE YOUR TRIP BEGINS         6:00PM
FIRST DAY OF YOUR TRIP                    11:00AM
 
Castagneto-Pisa
LAST DAY OF YOUR TRIP        5:30AM
LAST DAY OF YOUR TRIP        9:00AM

We will pick you up at the airport in Pisa and bring you to our base in Castagneto Carducci if you arrive the morning of, or the day before, your tour begins.

We will get you back to the airport in Pisa for your flight if you leave on the last scheduled day of your trip.

If your flight arrives outside of our shuttle schedule and you need a taxi to transport you, please contact us and we will arrange one for you. Please be prepared to pay the driver in cash. (Please note that if you have the time, the train is convenient and much cheaper than taxis to Castagneto).

Note: Shuttle times and other transportation arrangements outside of the Castagneto base area may vary. Please see your specific trip page for details.

PICKUP LOCATIONS: PISA AIRPORT ONLY*
Meet by the Arrival Door

*If you are staying at a hotel in Pisa before the trip, please meet us at the airport as our van is too big for the windy, narrow streets, especially at rush hour.

We recommend scheduling a departing flight for 8:00 am or later on the last day to take advantage of these free shuttle times. Please do not book return flights earlier than 8:00 am if you plan on using the shuttle.

If you do need to leave earlier or later on the last day than our shuttle times will accommodate, we can arrange a taxi to take you to Pisa.

By Taxi

Cinghiale has a friendly designated taxi driver, Davide (DAH-vee-day), who will get you from Pisa to Castagneto, or Castagneto to Pisa, for around 115 Euros for cars carrying 1-4 people, or 140 Euros for cars carrying 4-7 people (prices posted 2007).

Please let us know your arrival or departure needs at least two weeks before you leave so we can arrange this service for you.

Make sure we know your flight numbers, airlines, and arrival times. This information is required by our taxi service to keep track of delays, etc.

By Train

It's easy to get around most places in Italy on the train.

For trips starting in Castagneto Carducci

For trips starting in Castageneto Carducci, our railway station is on the main line between Genoa and Rome. The Italian railway web site provides timetables and travel information.

To find schedules for your trip, use the following names for these cities:

English Italian
Florence Firenze
Rome Roma
Milan Milano

From Pisa:
If you are travelling south to us from Pisa, the nearest station is Castagneto Carducci-Donoratico. The preceding station is Cecina, so be ready to leap following this stop.

From Rome:
If you are travelling north to us from Rome, the nearest station is San Vincenzo, just 10 minutes' drive from Castagneto. On an Interregional train, the preceding station is Campiglia.
Trains will connect to the airport from the Ostiense station that is located before the Roma Termine (terminal.)

From Florence:
Some trains from Florence will require you to change once or twice, at Pisa and/or Livorno. However there are also some trains that go directly to Castagneto-Donoratico with no changes. Look for a Regional train.

Tips on Traveling by Train

http://www.initaly.com/travel/info/airfare.htm

By car

Castagneto Carducci is easily reached by road with it's own exit, Donoratico, on State Highway No. 1. The Autostrada web site can provide up-to-date maps, weather and traffic information. For exact driving directions, please contact us.

Rent a SmartCar
Economical. Efficient. So Euro. And fits in your pocket!
http://www.sixti.com/cgi-perl/rental/el

Traveling Before and After Your Tour

Arranging eight days to travel in Italy can be a feat, but if you can swing some extra time at one or both ends of your trip, we highly recommend it and encourage you to do so.

If you do spend extra time, it's easy to get around by train until your tour begins.

We can help with suggestions for accommodations locally or in other cities and locations, including Rome, Pisa or Florence.

Hotels

For a list of hotels in major cities throughout Italy, please consult our Hotel Recommendations. (Please ask the hotel for current prices).

If you wish to stay and extra night or two in Castagneto Carducci, you can book directly at our base hotel: http://www.zimartino.com/gb/bookgb.htm#top
Please indicate that you are a guest on a Cinghiale trip, and please be patient with a reply, as Italians are less computer-centric than we are used to.

For extra nights in hotels on trips not based in Castagneto, email us and we will provide their contact information. (Please note, we do not book extra nights in hotels other than our main base hotel for you, as it is much cheaper for you to book directly through them and also avoids confusion that can occur in our relaying your desired dates).

Traveling with Your Bike

NOTE: Once your travel is confirmed with an airline, please ask about their policy on checking your bike.

This past year, several of our clients were charged by their airline to check their bikes.

Frequent flier with bike in tow? Check out the Hampsten website www.hampsten.com for information regarding the Strada Bianca Travelissimo using S & S Couplers. This is our favorite way to travel for free with a beloved bike.

Bike Storage
If you plan to travel before or after your tour, you are welcome to leave your bikes in locked storage at our base hotel, Zi' Martino, in Castagneto Carducci. You can also usually leave bikes at your hotel in Pisa. Check with the hotel when you book.

The Pisa airport no longer allows bikes to be left in storage there (though it's worth asking when you arrive as this information has been subject to change a few times over the past years).

Bike Shipping
It might seem like a good option, but please DON’T DO IT!

While FedEx and UPS do work in Italy, they are not the same efficient services we expect in the US. Please DO NOT SHIP your bike. It may not arrive in time and may be subject to assorted import taxes. We will not allow bikes to be shipped in our name.

I you wish to ship your bike home, however, you may do this through our hotel, IF you are willing to assume responsibility for packing the bike, and for any possible delays in receiving it at the other end. It will cost you upwards of $200 per bike to the US.

Bike Rentals
Renting a bike is an excellent option for those who wish to travel light and hassle-free. You can also avoid the extra fee some airlines are now charging for bikes by renting. (Please ask your airline if this is the case for your flight).

A very nice range of bicycles is available for rent through our friendly local bike shop, Ciclosport, in nearby Donoratico.
Their road bike brands change, but include Colnago, Viner, and other top Italian models. All bikes are equipped with compact geared cranks.

Ciclosport has something for everyone, including mountain bikes and user-friendly city-bikes for tour participants who don't share the passion for hills and long distances, but would like to explore the flatter coastal areas near our hotel.

To set up a rental, please contact Cinghiale Travel Coordinator, Elaine Lauterbach, elaine@cinghiale.com.

She will ask you for the following information:

Please note that rentals are limited or may not be available for tours taking place outside Tuscany. Please contact Elaine to confirm rental availability for your tour.

  1. The measurement from the center of your bottom bracket to the top of the saddle
  2. The measurement from the tip of the saddle to the center top of your handlebars
  3. The center top of your handlebars to the end of your drop out on the front fork
  4. Your experience i.e., tell us a bit about what kind of riding you do

Note: For hybrid-town bike rentals, only your height is required.

Bike

Cost

Rentals are 180 to 220 Euros for the week depending on how high-zoot your bike is. A hybrid-town bike is 120 Euros for the week. Pay for your rental in cash directly to the Ciclosport bike shop.

You Will Need to Bring:

Bikes don’t have water bottles or cyclometers, but they are available from the shop.

Weather

The tourist season in Italy is between April and October. The hottest months are July and August. Cinghiale's Italian tours take place in the following months with the weather being:

May-June 70ís to 90ís and mostly dry.
Beginning of September 80ís with a slight chance of rain showers.
End of September In the 70ís with possibly some cool days in the 60ís. Rides are adjustable if wet weather comes through, otherwise nice early fall days.

For current detailed information of weather near the area, click here.

Currency Calculator

Click here for Rate Exchange information.

Travel Insurance

RECOMMENDED

Cinghiale Cycling Tours Inc does not offer travel insurance. However, we highly recommend taking the precaution of buying it, as we have seen many cases of unexpected cancellations Visit www.InsureMyTrip.com for a comparison of travel insurance companies and available options. This site quotes a $4,000 trip coverage policy for between $113 and $300 - not bad for the peace of mind if you do end up needing to cancel your trip.

CANCELLATION POLICY:If you decide not to come, the amount you have paid so far is fully refundable up to 90 days before the trip. Cancellations after that time forfeit the whole amount paid. We do not overbook and strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance.

Safe Travelers Tip! Scan your passport, driver's license and credit cards and send as an email to yourself and cc’d to reliable friends, and/or bring copies with you. If you should lose any of these, you will at least have documentation, or a way of retrieving the information by email.


For more answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQ's page.