Most Inspirational Moment
Walking into San Gimignano.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was fantastic. An example of good-natured, hard-working dedication.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Great trip
This was a really enjoyable trip with lots of interesting facets.
CHIANTI WALKING & WINE TASTING
A fantastic mixture of countryside walks and town visits, giving a rather complete view of this beautiful part of Tuscany.
Most Inspirational Moment
It has to be the view over Florence, but it comes so close to Siena!
Thoughts on Group Leader
She was very professional, enthusiastic and paying attention to details.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you lead a sedentary life (e.g. office work) do some regular walking before starting this holiday and focus on the "moderate" part of "leisurely to moderate"!
Suggestions
The advice given by the group leader on where to go for "off the beaten track" cafés and restaurants used by the local population was much appreciated and allowed us to keep away from the crowd...
Chianti April 2015
It was my first trip with Exodus and it more than lived up to expectations. The itinerary was varied; a great mixture of walking, culture and wine-tasting – a wonderful way to visit this fascinating area of Italy. The accommodation was lovely, food delicious and our tour leader was fantastic – she was very knowledgeable about the local area and always went the extra mile for the group. It was a very well organised and interesting trip, I would definitely recommend it.
Most Inspirational Moment
It was wonderful to walk through the Italian vine yards and learn about the local history - we were very lucky with the weather as well which made for gorgeous views across the countryside.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was fantastic - she shared a lot of knowledge about the local area and places we visited, she was organised, very sociable and always worked hard to accommodate everyone.
Chianti Wine and Walking
Everything was excellent apart from the dinners in the hotel we stayed; these were lacking. Served warm rather than hot and unimaginative considering the rich food traditions of Italy. Breakfast was ok but again lacked choice and variety. Warmth of welcome was great but you cannot eat that! Room ok and bed good and firm.
Most Inspirational Moment
enjoyed it all.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Good guide and help was there if/when needed.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you have your own insurance cover for mobile phone as the Exodus insurance does not cover it.
Suggestions
Improve the Wi-Fi so that it can be accessed from all areas, please.
A perfect mix of walking, wine tasting and sight-seeing
This was my 10th trip with Exodus in 4 years so I am already a fan and it almost provided us with what we’d hoped for. There was a good balance of walking, wine tasting and sight-seeing. The days spent in Florence, Siena and San Gimignano were not at all rushed and we had ample time to do all that we planned. It was also great to be driven in by Simon our wonderful guide. It meant that we spent very little time travelling. Villa Casalta accommodation was simple in a traditional way and our room was beautiful and very clean. We were given a very warm greeting from Roberta on our arrival and she waved us off on our departure however for the rest of the week we hardly saw her. The swimming pool was lovely to sit around but very cold to swim in during October although I did mange it one afternoon. The location is lovely with a pleasant 20 minute walk to pretty town of Castellina along a gravel road.
Most Inspirational Moment
Tuscan Wine School - great experience and learnt a lot Florence - stunning city with so much to see. I love the Galileo Museum which I'd missed on previous trips to Florence. Siena - another stunning city with a great art exhibition. Enjoyed visiting Santa Maria della Scala, the hospital museum as I hadn't done that before San Gimignano - wonderful frescoes in the cathedral and lots of towers to climb plus great gelato Walking in the local area with a local guide Sarah, so passionate about her locality and informative about its history. Organising our own walk (after a visit to the tourist office) to Radda in Chianti a 25 km round trip via Castellina in Chianti or just do 13 km and get the bus back. Visiting the Etruscan Tomb at Monte Calvario, Castellina In Chianti
Thoughts on Group Leader
Simon was a great leader, very friendly and well organised. He recommended some great restaurants and activities and he was very sociable during and after evening meals. Great to have him collecting us and taking us to the airport and generally driving us around in the mini-bus. It meant that we didn't waste time travelling.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I would highly recommend this holiday but would think twice before going the last week of October as it seems Roberta is ready to close for the season. We returned to an empty, dark house at the end of a day out which felt very unwelcoming. My husband also had to put the cat out at night as it mewed loudly outside our room. If you go in October be prepared for cool to cold evenings and dress appropriately. The bedrooms are on the cool side and there is only one extra blanket. Also take a torch as the walk into town along a gravel road takes about 20 minutes and is not lit up. Roberta does provide vegetarian food but it is mostly carbs so good to take your own fruit. We didn't see a salad for the whole week. Finally on the days we ate in restaurants in which Exodus were meant to provide the meal our guide gave us 25 euros which was did not buy a three course meal with wine so be prepared that your meals out are only subsidised.
Suggestions
My review reflects our experience on the last week of the season before Villa Casalta closes and this may explain the discrepancies between my review and the glowing accounts of others. Our experience was clearly quite a different experience to those travelling in the main season. Apparently the hotels in Italy are not allowed to put their heating on before November even when it gets cold at night. I have a few tips for improving the food: serve it hot put a big salad bowl out with every evening meal put some quality extra virgin oil and basalmic vinegar out put a few nibbles out prior to dinner for guest to have with their drinks have a fruit bowl and/or cheese board as an alternative to dessert
Right First Time!
This was our first actual trip with Exodus and it was all that we hoped for, and more. The balance of walking, wine tasting and culture was spot on! Villa Casalta accommodation was great – simple in a traditional way, owner and Marguerite warmly welcoming and helpful, beautiful swimming pool (used by several of us even though it was end of Sept), entertaining dog (Stella) and cat, with only a slow off-road 20 minute walk to pretty town of Castellina.
Most Inspirational Moment
The local tour guide on the day of walking around Castellina. Sarah was a gem - very knowledgeable, passionate about Chianti and the Etruscans, she brought the history to life as she shared the experiences of her own family in the locale - and she was delightful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was excellent - very organised, managed the accident of one of the team members calmly and professionally, worked hard to organize special requests, rearranged some activities to better utilise time and energy
Suggestions
We're looking forward to planning our next trip with Exodus!
Perfect Holiday
Great holiday with a fantastic leader. A good starter walking holiday for us, with the right balance of walking and sight seeing providing an excellent introduction to Tuscany.
Most Inspirational Moment
Wine festival in the local town and the leader changed the itinerary so that we could attend.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Knowledgeable and Charismatic. Went out of his way to make all the group feel included.
Suggestions
Has encouraged us to look at other similar trips.
Chianti June 2014
This was our first Exodus trip, it was well organised, everything was as per the trip notes & I would certainly look at other Exodus holidays.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved the beautiful tiny villages & hamlets that we walked through, one even had an unscheduled stop for a taste of the local wine & a chance to buy jams & olive oil. Siena & the Tuscan Wine School were superb, as was Florence & San Gimingnano.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liz was a great guide. I was also impressed with the English representative of the San Gimingnano winery, she was lovely & really explained a lot about the wine making processes.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Roberta at Villa Casalta is a great lady & nothing is too much trouble. We were actually a party of 3 & really wanted to room together, when we booked we were told it wasn't possible but after a day or so Roberta moved us all into a family room, so it's always worth asking her if you need anything arranging. The food at the Villa was fairly basic but there was often enough if you wanted seconds, I was a bit disappointed with the breakfasts, especially the bread - not much of it (1 roll each is a bit stingy) and tough stuff too! There's an 'honesty bar' fridge with bottles beers, wine & water (though we had plenty of wine included with the meal). The village is a good 20/25 minute walk away down (and up!) a little old road/track, so we tended to stay at the Villa all evening when we ate there. We also took handy little Graze Boxes with us for nibbles out on the walking trips too.
CHIANTI: WALKING & WINE
Another fantastic holiday by Exodus (Waymark). Our 7th trip. And not our last.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking through the Tuscan countryside. Absolutely beautiful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ale is just the most fantastic guide. We had met him before on our trip to Spain two years ago and it was a delight to be on holiday with him again. He makes his job look so easy but manages to combine being great company with a being a professional guide who is both informative and 'in control'.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Yes. Book tickets for the Uffizi BEFORE going on the holiday. This didn't occur to us so we essentially missed the chance of visiting the Uffizi on our day trip to Florence. Although we found the walking very easy and pleasurable - there were still one or two people who found the going tough. In the grading of your walking, I think you need to be explicit about the type of walking on each holiday.
Suggestions
We have now experienced 7 holidays (all Europe) with Exodus (Waymark previously) and every single holiday has been a fantastic and memorable holiday. The holidays are great value for money and we meet like-minded people.The one downside - EVERY bathroom we have ever had on an Exodus holiday has had a 'floppy' shower head in the shower! Ha! As we are handed the key to our room on arrival, we always know that we're going to get the floppy shower head!!!! But hey, if that's the only thing we can complain about then Exodus are doing a pretty great job. We will continue to holiday with Exodus. THANK YOU.
CHIANTI: WALKING & WINE
My first trip as a single traveller, I needn’t have worried. The whole experience was fantastic. Good food ,wine, excellent company together with a well planned itinery. The walking pace was sentitive to the groups ability add the trips,wine tasting and scenery and I had a wonderful holiday
Most Inspirational Moment
The Tuscan coutryside, views and of course Sienna, I would love to return to see the horse race on the square.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ali was great, any minor concerns were solved without fuss, he coudn t have been more helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read the description it is exactly what it says on the tin!!
Suggestions
This was my first trip with Exodus and I fully intend to repeat the experience soon