[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1453135797948{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”793″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1450880767786{padding-right: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1469086368551{padding-right: 15px !important;}”]Here is a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions about our activities.
Please read through and do not hesitate to contact us at office@accidentaltourist.com, if you do not find a satisfactory answer to your questions,[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_toggle title=”WHY DO I HAVE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST CULTURAL ASSOCIATION?” el_id=”1453908055570-47d418f9-e4c1″]
– The 25€ fee is INCLUDED in the cost of the first activity you book. All you have to do is fill and return the form you receive after booking.
– As a member, you have access to a historical private property which can’t comply with the standard tourist requirements such as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, fire escape and professional kitchen. (Ours is not a museum nor a restaurant, but a real private home built 870 years ago! )
– Also, when you become an Accidental Tourist member, you are entitled access to all our activities including barter program and hospitality exchange.
[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WHAT ARE THE MEETING TIMES?” el_id=”1462779534101-0dce2576-008b”]Unless otherwise agreed: (please always check your confirmation if in doubt).
AM COOKING CLASS and COOK & WINE: 10:00AM (times may vary with daylight saving time)
WINE TOUR and WINE & COOK: 2:30PM
PM COOKING CLASS: 4:30PM.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WHAT IF WE HAVE A TRAIN TO CATCH, OR A MUSEUM RESERVATION: CAN WE BE SURE TO BE BACK? CAN WE REQUEST A LATER PICK UP OR AN EARLIER RETURN?” el_id=”1453908110153-8c757731-c3b2″]We’d love to adapt to your time needs. Please tell us about them, we’ll do our best. Also, you can request a private tour at your own time.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”CAN WE BE PICKED UP AT OUR HOTEL/APARTMENT?” el_id=”1460451749256-8e4a0619-7207″]Florence city center, where most hotels are, has very strict traffic restrictions. Only public transport, emergency vehicles or residents are allowed. Our meeting point is the closest possible outside of that restricted area called ZTL: Limited Traffic Zone.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”HOW LARGE ARE THE CLASSES?” el_id=”1460451771130-a5566587-cb1d”]We take a maximum of 8 participants in the evening class, and 10 in the morning class, unless a group of friends/family/fellow students decide to come as a larger group. In this case we offer a private event for the group. You can also request a private event for your family. The cost for a private event is to be determined based on your request.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WHAT IF MY TRAVELING PLANS CHANGE. DO I GET MY DEPOSIT BACK?” el_id=”1460451794395-2ec55fed-d34a”]Absolutely! Just make sure you cancel your reservation by e-mail at least 7 days before the tour date, so we can make your spots available to others.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I WILL BE CHECKING OUT OF MY HOTEL THE MORNING OF THE TOUR: CAN I BRING MY LUGGAGE WITH ME?” el_id=”1460451817503-f108b6a6-6cff”]Of course! Just let us know in advance.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WE ARE STAYING OUTSIDE FLORENCE, AND WE HAVE A CAR. CAN WE MEET OUTSIDE THE CITY CENTER, OR DRIVE TO THE LOCATION?” el_id=”1460451846950-a93600f7-2dfc”]Yes! If you are booked on a cooking class, you can drive to location. Just make sure you have data on your device so you can use a navigation system, or make sure to follow directions closely. Also allow enough time to arrive. You will also need a DD: unlimited wine is part of our class! If you are booked on the Wine tour or Wine & Cook, or Cook & Wine, we also we have an optional meeting point outside of the city center, more convenient if you are driving your own vehicle.
From there, we would recommend that you park your car and ride with us, for several reasons:
- VIEWS: we go through several miles of winding roads, and there are beautiful views that you will enjoy best if you are not busy driving/navigating;
- SAFETY: there will be plenty of wine drinking available on the wine tour and the cooking class.
If we have done our job well, you’ll be full and tipsy and very relaxed.
Safety first!
When you book, tell us you will be driving to meet us, and that you need directions. If you let us know which way you will be coming from, we can send you specific directions.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I AM LOOKING FOR A REALLY INTENSIVE, ADVANCED COOKING CLASS. WILL THIS FIT THE BILL?” el_id=”1460451893569-8985f176-c8d9″]Our cooking class is 100% hands-on pasta-making, and it lasts between 100 (AM class) and 120 minutes (PM class).
However the actual experience is not ALL about cooking: there is wine, there is food, there is conversation and scenery, as well.
So if you are looking to spend the whole 4 hours cooking, we may not be the right choice.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”ARE YOUR COOKING LESSONS TAUGHT/OUR FOOD COOKED BY PROFESSIONAL CHEFS?” el_id=”1460451912935-a439ffb5-adfc”]No they are not: we are home-cooks, with 21 years of pasta-making classes experience, and a most of all with a passion for food and for sharing it.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE “WINE & COOK“ AND THE “COOK & WINE“?” el_id=”1460451936889-5bd00963-57d0″]
[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I AM A VEGETARIAN. DO YOU HAVE A MENU FOR ME?”]Our menu is in fact mostly vegetarian! Only on rare occasions, our chef may be in the mood for a sausage and soft cheese crostini as one of the three appetizers.. There will still be plenty to eat for non meat eaters.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I AM VEGAN: DO YOU HAVE A MENU FOR ME?” el_id=”1460452032025-1c78fc1e-c5a8″]Sheep dairy is quite present in Tuscan traditional cooking, however, we are happy to cater to vegans when they request it in advance! However, when booking this class, it is important to keep in mind that our fresh pasta making calls for egg.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I AM ALLERGIC TO DAIRY, DO YOU HAVE A MENU FOR ME?” el_id=”1460452046182-c809a4fa-d47d”]We will definitely make sure you have enough food for you, just make sure to inform us when you book. if you are intolerant, however, you will find that Italian dairy is much less allergenic, due to the lower amount of chemicals fed to livestock.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I EAT A GLUTEN-FREE DIET: DO YOU HAVE A MENU FOR ME?” el_id=”1460452075799-41135904-a60f”]If you are allergic to gluten we will definitely make sure you have enough food for you, just make sure to inform us when you book. Just keep in mind that our class involves the use of wheat flour! If you are intolerant to gluten, however, you will find that Italian wheat products are much less allergenic, due to the type of flour.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”I HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES (PEANUTS, SHELLFISH, STRAWBERRIES ETC). DO YOU CATER TO THAT?” el_id=”1460452095331-47cd4cfe-95d4″]We will definitely make sure to stay clear of ingredients you cannot eat! Just make sure to inform us when you book.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WHAT IS SERVED DURING THE MEAL?” el_id=”1460452125759-3cba77b0-33d7″]On the AM class: 2 or 3 antipasti with protein, followed by 2 types of tagliatelle with 2 different seasonal freshly-made sauces; and obviously home made dessert. Of course unlimited wine, and coffe. On the PM class: add a welcome toast with prosecco and nibbles, ravioli with a light butter and sage sauce, and after dinner liquors.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”ON THE WINE TOUR WILL WE BE VISITING ONLY ONE WINERY? WHY?” el_id=”1460452153863-4da098ed-f14d”]Wineries in Tuscany are still part of ancient estates, which were often at war with each other, and had to be completely self sufficient. So our wineries are still a whole small world: vineyards, olive groves, a little forest, orchards, farmhouses and the main villa are still part of most wineries.
Visting one will be like travelling back in time, and it will take up our whole tour![/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”WILL WE BE LEARNING ABOUT EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL DURING OUR WINE TOUR?” el_id=”1460452174947-59638176-1273″]We do taste the olive oil made from the olive grove of the winery, and will learn all details about the making of the olive oil. However there is no private olive press on the premises (a luxury only large producers can afford. The small EVO producers all bring their olives to be pressed at coop presses). An additional oil tasting will be offered during the class.[/vc_toggle][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vcex_icon_box heading=”We are always here for you!” heading_font_family=”Dancing Script” heading_weight=”400″ icon_type=”pixelicons” heading_size=”22px”][/vcex_icon_box][/vc_column][/vc_row]
