A once in a lifetime trip. It was perfect, very well thought out, having down time on in between days of having excursions but also having options of exploring more. All the delicious vegan food and staying in a very cute boutique hotel! I couldn’t have even imagined what I was in store for. I’ve made great memories, new friends, and can’t wait to go on more trips with the Getaway Co.!!!!!❤️
I still look at my pictures from this trip and I just get misty eyed. This trip was an absolute blast! Forever grateful I found the Getaway Co and that they help foster learning and meeting new people while making new friends. I even had the opportunity to revise a couple of places in London when I was there for a long layover after the Croatian Plantasy trip.
I booked the August 2024 Tuscany "Plantspiration in Italy" trip at the last-minute, just one week before the trip commenced. Even with my last-minute booking, the communication and coordination for all participants was professional and thorough. We were provided with all the pertinent details about where and when to meet our driver upon arrival at the airport. Guests that had inbound delays were kept updated and informed about the status of their transfers, etc. We were provided with a thoughtful welcome gift upon arrival at our host hotel that included an itinerary booklet. Each evening after dinner we were given details about the next day's activities and specifics regarding pick up times, itineraries, etc. Our local host and coordinator Kim, who was with us the entire trip, was nothing short of amazing. Always smiling, laughing, full of energy and enthusiasm. He always made sure everyone was accounted for and that nobody was left behind. He was also available to answer any questions, either in-person or by phone, at any time.
This was my 4th group holiday and 1st vegan-centered holiday. I traveled by myself, but was pleasantly surprised how well our small group got along and how conversations and connections occurred organically within a short period of time. The Getaway Co. created a wonderful, well-organized trip that allowed vegans to enjoy a well-rounded Italian experience without concerns about dietary issues. There was a mix of vegans, vegetarians and vegan-curious participants and everyone was respectful of one another and their dietary preferences. The vegan meals included in the package and created by our in-house chef were high quality, voluminous and delicious. The (2) cooking demo nights were a fun experience to share with other participants. The staff at our host hotel could not have been more pleasant and professional. They were all incredibly attentive and did everything possible to make us comfortable and happy. They were an absolute joy.
The included excursions and day trips were very enjoyable and a nice way to get a bit of exposure to other parts of Italy. I did not book any of the add-on excursions, but it seemed those were well-reviewed by guests who did partake. (Winery tour, hot air balloon ride, medieval town tour, etc.). The host hotel was a perfect spot to rest and relax during down times, with multiple sitting areas, an expansive patio with stunning views, and a gorgeous outdoor pool. The small village of Panzano was a delight to walk around and explore.
The August weather was somewhat challenging, as everything mentioned about the potential for extreme summer heat in Italy came true. We had very warm days, although the early morning and late evening temperatures were quite pleasant.
Overall this was a wonderful holiday and one I will remember for many years to come. Thank you Getaway Co. for curating such a unique and enjoyable product.
By Daniel "Ben" D for Plantspiration in Italy 2024 on Aug 21, 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review Ben!! So glad you decided to join us in beautiful Italy at the last minute, it wouldn't have been the same without you! Hope to see you again soon. xo
Croation plantasy - its over, boo! Next one please
What a great trip, with some great people - again! I have read or two of the under 5* reviews and no disrespect to my fellow travellers ( who I quite like ) but this is not like the big travel co Jordan trip I did a year ago, run 10 times a year for a number of years, 2 big coaches of people, staying in multi hotels with all the boring drop offs, impersonal, average tourist restaurants.......this is a small hand crafted personalised trip run for the very first time in a Country with very few vegan options. Both hotels were running vegan breakfasts ( with choices ) for the very first time! If there were no plastic water bottles on the few times they were supplied there would have been a complaint we were all thirsty...... As for info on safety, jetlag, tipping - there is the internet and its no different to the last time people travelled long haul or on a foreign trip?
More importantly the trip, there were 26 of us with the owner of the Getaway Co, a media influencer School night vegan, and Marino the local guide / organiser with us. It doesn't get any more personal than that. Like in the programme Cheers, its a trip where 'everyone knows your name'! We travelled up a mountain and Marino produced cushions to sit on the side of the mountain and eat a picnic lunch hand prepared by his mother! On the last night we had dinner outside in his families Olive Grove cooked off a calor gas stove, they had even made us a proper toilet. This isn't a commercial event space but a rustic home made local produce personalised event just for us. Again the tours of Split, Dubrovnik, Trogir ....were just for us, small group tours with local guides.
There was some truly great food, and dramatic settings for food / picnics, fantastic scenery and some great fellow vegan travellers, now friends. It was that personal. What I like about these tours ( our 3rd ) is that there is a mix of sightseeing, food experiences, food demo, wine tasting, this time our own Catamaran Tour ( with homemade food and focaccia ) but there is also a fair amount of time to relax, do nothing or join an additional tour if you want to. There is something here for everyone and there is no pressure to participate.
Its true that an optional excursion or the odd meal wasn't 11/10 - but this was the inaugural trip in a Country that is at the beginning of the vegan journey. As opposed to a global travel company, the owner was on our trip and those minor wrinkles will definitely be sorted for the next trip. In terms of the fully vegan restaurant in Dubrovnik, I also ate there when everyone went home. It was fantastic but there are only 8 seats outside not 26 so we don't fit! As for the alumni talk.....a third of the group were repeat customers - work that out people!
In conclusion, great trip with some good food, great scenery, and a great bunch of people. We have done the Athens / Santorini and Marrakech tours and can't recommend them highly enough, along with the new Croatia trip. Do try it. We will be booking again on one of the other tours in 2025 ( maybe 2024 who knows ) !! 11/10