Details
Accommodations
Villa Merlo Nero
Via Benedetto Fortini, 51
50126 Florence, Fl, Italy
CHECK IN: 4:00P FRI, July 11
CHECK OUT: 10:00A FRI, July 18
WIFI Password: merloneroguest
We’ll be staying at a private estate that features thirteen rooms with lots of spaces for mingling, a swimming pool and a gorgeous garden! You’re welcome to stay the entire week or come and go as you wish.
The Villa is comprised of three buildings each featuring a kitchen and common area. Rooms are private and include their own air conditioning unit. Most rooms have ensuite bathrooms with showers and/or bathtubs.
We'll continue to add information here! Let us know if you have any questions!
Getting to Florence & Villa Merlo Nero
BY PLANE
Florence Peretola (FLR) is the nearest airport to the Villa (about 20 minutes away) with non-stop flights from London (2-hour flight) and Rome (1-hour flight).
BY TRAIN
Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the main train station in Florence and a short 15 minutes from the Villa. Traveling Italy by train is a great experience!
High-speed, direct service between Rome (Roma Termini) and Florence takes a little over 90 minutes with fares starting at about $30 per person for basic economy up to $160 for "executive" seating. Trains depart Rome approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day.
Direct train service from Milan (Milano Centrale) takes just under 2 hours with several departures daily. Another route option requires a transfer in Bologna and take about 2.5 hours to get to Florence. One-way fares in July are from about $35 to $100 depending on departure times.
We recommend booking in advance with ItaliaRail.
Getting to Florence
Nearby Dining & Groceries
Dozens of restaurants and cafes are located nearby the Villa or you can go into Florence by Uber or taxi. Delivery services are also available if you want to order in! Below are a few recommendations.
COOP.IT is a large, modern “super store” offering groceries, produce, a bakery, deli, wine, alcohol and more. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the Villa. You can also grab an Uber or taxi if you wish. Each building at the Villa features a common area and kitchen.
LIST OF RESTAURANTS, PUBS and SHOPS HERE
Local Transportation
UBER / Taxi
Uber works well or you can try your luck with local taxi service. It's about a 15 to 20-minute ride to the heart of Florence.
LOCAL BUS
There's a local bus with a stop about a 3-minute walk from the Villa.
WALKING
You can walk to central Florence from the Villa in about 40 minutes or so. The roads are a bit narrow without sidewalks so be careful!
LIST OF NUMBERS / LOCAL TRANSPORTATION INFO HERE
What's Covered / What's Not
COVERED EXPENSES
Accommodations at Villa Merlo Nero (including per person bed tax)
Daily Tuscan Breakfast & Coffee Service (Sat. – Thu.)
All Meals Friday – Sunday including Cocktails, Wine and Beverages
All Wine and Soft Drinks at the Villa During the Week
Italian Pasta Making Class (Sunday)
EXPENSES NOT COVERED
Lunches & Dinners Monday – Thursday
Cocktails Monday - Thursday
Optional Chianti Wine Tour ($150 USD per Person)
DIY Taxis, Uber, Bus Transportation
Travel Authorizations
EUROPEAN UNION (no requirements currently)
The European Union plans to launch a new travel authorization system (ETIAS) that will require U.S. travelers to register in advance in order to enter any EU country. ETIAS is NOT yet active and is expected to go live by the end of the year. You can check the ETIAS website for updates as we get closer to the trip. For now, you only need a valid passport to enter Italy and the rest of the EU!
UNITED KINGDOM (REQUIRED)
If you plan to travel via the UK including London (great way to get to Florence from Seattle or the East Coast), you'll need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (UK-ETA) in advance. You need a UK-ETA even if you are just connecting to another flight in the UK. The cost is about $11. We recommend getting this even if you do not plan on going through the UK just in case your travel plans change.
The process is simple but can take up to 72 hours to process online. We recommend using the mobile app on your phone (processing usually takes a couple of hours). Once your application is approved the UK-ETA will automatically be connected to your passport. Keep a copy of the confirmation email so you can show proof of UK-ETA when checking in for flights.
Credit / Debit Cards & Gratuities
Tap-to-pay is widely available (including ApplePay). If you are prompted to choose between Euros or USD, we recommend selecting Euros to avoid added conversion fees (same with ATMs). Merchants without tap-to-pay systems may require you to enter your credit/debit card PIN.
GRATUITIES
Some restaurants include a service fee on the bill. It is usually not possible to add a tip when paying with a credit card. We usually use cash when tipping if it’s not already on the bill (5%-10%) but it’s entirely optional (servers earn livable wages here). Carry some Euro coins and smaller notes just in case.