Female-friendly perks include accommodations at four-star boutique hotels that are conveniently located for shopping and a welcoming cocktail party to start the all-gal party flowing.
“We have lots of repeat customers,” says Club president, Allison O’Sullivan. “They’re women who want to give themselves the gift of travel, who want to get to know Italy on a deeper emotional level than they would on other tours, and who keep in touch for years with new friends they’ve made along the way.”
“It was great to have so many sisters to help decide which leather coat to buy,” said Kathy, a repeat visitor, about her trip to Florence.
Renaissance Women
Cooking Vacations International runs this week-long culinary program for small groups (maximum of twelve) in Positano. “Ages range from nineteen to eighty-five—no kidding!,” says President Lauren Birmingham, who lives in Positano, giving the program an insider’s expertise.
The relaxed tone of the program is set immediately by the accommodations, which are in a private estate, surrounded by manicured gardens, a lemon grove, and breathtaking views of the coast. Itineraries include three hands-on cooking classes, lectures about Renaissance women, watercolor and journal writing instruction, as well as visits to markets, gardens, and surrounding spots such as Amalfi and Capri. In addition, there’s flexible free time to simply chill-out on your terrace, take a swim at the nearby private beach, or a hike on The Walk of the Gods in the hills above Positano.
Women’s Quest
This cycling company runs bike tours along the Tuscan Riviera and inland Val D’Orcia, with a body-mind-spirit focus. It’s tailor made for gals seeking a retreat-style vacation—it features exercise, time for guided personal exploration, and delicious meals, all with Tuscany as an inspiring backdrop.
President Colleen Cannon, a former triathlon world champion, leads the tours assisted by a staff of award-winning female athletes, a certified yoga instructor, and life coach. The leader/traveler ratio is three to one providing individual attention to riders at all levels in groups of no more than twenty.
Besides cycling, programs include morning yoga classes, journaling sessions, a cooking class, and visits to ancient nearby villages. Accommodations are in three-star hotels, with a massage therapist always onsite.
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