Client Blog: Helen’s family celebration in Tuscany
- jetsperling22
- May 28
- 2 min read
Not In The Guidebooks create the kind of holidays I absolutely love - personal, local, and packed with meaningful experiences. I knew this one had to be right for Helen and her family, and I’m so glad we made it happen. Cooking, wine and a very special birthday. Here’s her story...
I can safely say this is a trip I’ll never forget. A fabulous 60th birthday celebration with my family in Tuscany - it simply wouldn’t have happened without Ruth.
We’d originally planned a different holiday in Lapland, but life threw some curveballs - births, weddings, and sadly, a funeral. Through it all, Ruth was incredibly patient and understanding, rearranging everything and using her contacts to ensure we didn’t forfeit our deposit. She never gave up, and I’m so grateful.
In the end, the brief was simple: a holiday that could work for all generations - with a little something for everyone.
We stayed just outside the medieval town of Barga in Northern Tuscany, at a small family-run cookery retreat. Our host, Rita, was absolutely outstanding. She couldn’t do enough for us - catering for all our dietary needs (and the babies!), helping with anything we needed, and making us feel genuinely welcome.
The accommodation itself was a little more rustic than we’d expected, but Rita’s warmth more than made up for it. And with all of us under one roof - my whole family together for my birthday - it really was special.
The week was filled with cooking, laughter, wine and adventures. We learned to make pasta and focaccia, tried local cheeses and wines, and explored picturesque towns like Lucca, Pisa and Castelnuovo. The live music on pizza night was a highlight, and we even added a surprise quad biking session for the younger adults, which went down a treat!
If I had one wish, it would have been for a bit more variety in the day trips - and maybe the chance to visit Florence. But honestly, just having my family all in one place, in such a beautiful setting, is a memory I’ll treasure forever.
Ruth – thank you. You turned a tricky situation into a wonderful holiday, and I’d 100% use you again and recommend you to anyone planning something special.
