| Studio Paradiso painting holidays in Tuscany |
Frequently asked questions Are there any hidden extras? No. Everything is included in the price apart from the two lunches mentioned when out on sketching trips. All you need to do is get yourself to Pisa or our local train station and we do the rest! However, please do take out your own personal travel insurance. Which airport do you pick up/ drop off at and at what time? We collect from Pisa airport. We aim to do two airport runs on the day of your arrival between 10 - 2pm. We organise precise pick-up times to fit in with our guests' flight arrivals times. If joining us in Lunigiana on Programme A, then this will be on Saturday morning. If joining us in Siena on Programme B, then this will be on Friday morning. Transfers to Studio Paradiso outside 10am and 2pm are extra, at cost. If you arrive later than 2pm, we can arrange a taxi to pick you up at Pisa airport. This will be cheaper than hiring a taxi at Pisa airport but it will have to be paid for by you. There are also trains which run from Pisa airport should you wish to make your own travel arrangements. Please ask when booking and we can let you know our local train station, where we will be happy to meet you an arranged time. Alternatively, you may choose to arrive a day early and stay in Pisa overnight and come to the airport on the morning of pick up. The airport is close to the town and there is a shuttle bus from the centre, as well as a train and taxis. We will inform you of the precise time we will pick you up from the airport on the day of pick up. Our departure times for Pisa on departure day are between 7am and 10am. (Precise timings of travel to Pisa will be worked out during the course.) If your flight time means that you will have to leave Studio Paradiso before 7am we will arrange a taxi for you, which you will have to pay for. For those who are leaving Pisa airport later in the day, we will drop you off at the airport in the morning. It's easy to leave your luggage there and enjoy sightseeing in the city. The airport is close to the town and there is a shuttle bus to and from the centre, as well as a train and taxis. Please let us know your flight details as early as you can so we can make all the necessary arrangements. Which airlines fly to Pisa? The main budget airlines which fly to Pisa are easyjet, Ryanair & Jet2, offering flights from all over the UK and Ireland. If travelling from further afield then you will more than likely change in London for a connecting flight. British Airwaya, Alitalia & Thomson Fly all operate out of either Heathrow or Gatwick & Manchester. How far away from the airport is Studio Paradiso? Casa dell 'Angelo, Lunigiana is a little over an hour away by car from Pisa airport. Borgo Personatina, Siena is approximately two hours away by car from Pisa airport. Please bear these travel times in mind when planning your return flights so that there is enough time for travel and check-in. We will not be able to leave any earlier than 7am from either location. Please see above for alternative arrangements. Can I fly to another airport and catch a train to Studio Paradiso? Yes. If you're feeling adventurous and would prefer to fly to another airport, hop on a train and see a bit of the country then there are many other airports that you can fly to and there is a very cheap and efficient rail service that would connect you to our local station. Visit www.trenitalia.com plan your journey. Our local train station in Lunigiana, Programme A - is Aulla. The nearest airport to Lunigiana, other than Pisa is either Genova, Parma or Bologna. There is a small airport in Florence too. So flights to any of these cities are all within equal distance. You can also look further afield to Milan Turin or Venice if willing to travel. Our Local train station in Siena, Programme B is Siena. All trains go via Florence but if you catch a fast one you can be in Siena in just under two hours from Pisa airport. Pisa or Florence airports are the closest to Siena, followed by Bologna. But again if you're feeling adventurous you could always jump on a train in Rome and enjoy three and a half hour train ride. Just let us know your travel plans and we will pick you up at the local train station at an arranged time. Can you recommend a hotel in Pisa? As we never have to stay in Pisa we are not able to personally recommend a hotel but we do suggest using www.venere.com as they provide accommodation for hotels and B&B's and provide helpful customer reviews too! If you're looking for something a little bit different and don't mind a short walk into town then several of our guests have enjoyed staying in the this old convent www.fossabanda.it What happens if I have to cancel my holiday? There will be a €50 per person per week levied on all cancellations. Should your holiday be cancelled eight weeks prior to departure then your 30% deposit is non-refundable. Should you cancel at four to six weeks a charge of 40% of the total price is payable, at two to four weeks 60% at one to two weeks 80%; at less than one week 90%. We highly recommend that you take out travel insurance that includes provision for you having to cancel. What art materials do I need to bring? We supply the heavy stuff i.e. folding easels, folding chairs, drawing boards, masking tape, scalpels, loose bits of paper etc and we also have a selection of basic materials should you need them. We also have a small selection of large scale watercolour paper for sale at cost. We suggest that if you're a beginner and not quite sure what to bring then the below list should be enough to keep you going for the week pencils: (2H, 4B, 2B) putty rubber Brushes: 1 medium and 1 fine hogs hair brush Set of good watercolours or acrylics Pastels Either a watercolour or acrylic sketchpad (your preference) A4, A3 or A2 in size Do I need to bring towels? No. Towels are supplied in each room and beach towels are also provided for use at the pool. Do I need to bring a hairdryer? Yes. If you wish to use a hairdryer then please bring your own as these are not supplied in the room. How warm will it be and what should I wear? Casual, comfortable clothing is all that you will need on the days that you are in and around the villa. Some people choose to bring overalls or an apron to paint in if they know they like to get messy! Casual clothing is all that you will need with a couple of stylish but comfortable outfits of the evening. Although we hope it will be wall to wall sunshine you just never can tell so it's best to come prepared! A lightweight rain jacket just in case of emergencies is always a good idea, as are sensible waterproof shoes. Also, a couple of lightweight sweaters is advisable as it can get rather cool in the evenings if eating outdoors. What can non- painting partners do? At both locations it is possible to venture off for long walks or simply lounge by the pool with a good book. There are also the days where we go on sketching trips which offer plenty of things to see and do and there are never more than two days together where we are at the villa. In Lunigiana the nearest town is within walking distance and we frequently pop in and out so lifts are also always available. In Siena there is the option of a days cookery lesson, as well as visits to the market in Siena and the sketching trips on the weeks itinerary. If you would like to try something else then let us know and we'll see what we can organise. However, if you want to really explore the region then it may be advisable to hire a car so you can see everything that there is to see. If there is anything that we haven't covered then please do not hesitate to get in touch, we will be more than happy to help. |
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