Writer's Digest Writing Retreat: Tuscany 2026

Retreat Price Includes:

• 4-star hotels
• Friendly and knowledgeable local tour guide
• Dedicated writing time in a rustic Tuscan estate with your Writer’s Digest hosts

Retreat Price Excludes:

• Airfare. Each tour member books their own flight to Florence Airport (FLR) for arrival on April 7, 2026.
• Travel insurance (required)
• 2 lunches, 2 dinners + all drinks/snacks
• Tips to coach driver and tour coordinator

Payment Schedule:

A $1,200 (USD) deposit is due when you book your tour. The discount will automatically be given on the deposit page after you add the deposit to your cart.

Final payment, in full, is due on January 31, 2026.

After January 31, 2026, please contact us to confirm that there are still spots available on this tour. If we are able to accommodate your reservation, full payment, reservation form and proof of insurance will be due immediately.

NOTE: Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat offers thoughtfully arranged tours. Each tour is guaranteed to proceed as soon as the minimum of 15 reservations has been met. If our reservation minimum is not met, Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat reserves the right to cancel the tour. Deposits/payments will be refunded in full if the tour is canceled.

If you need to cancel your reservation, the deposit and final payment are fully refundable until the deposit deadline, December 31, 2026. After January 31, 2026, we are not able to refund the deposit. After January 31, 2026, no refunds for deposit or final payment will be issued.

Please DO NOT make your airline reservations until Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat has guaranteed (by email) that the tour will proceed.

Hotel Accommodations:

April 7: One night at a hotel in Florence
April 8 – 13: 5 nights at Tenuta di Spannocchia
Tenuta di Spannocchia is a historic estate dating back to 1225. It is currently a working organic farm and retreat center focused on the arts, culture, writing, etc., located 12 miles from Siena. The coordinators of Tenuta di Spannocchia describe the property in the following way: “Accommodations, facilities, and services at the Castello are designed for comfort and convenience but are not luxurious. The primary goal of the entire estate of Tenuta di Spannocchia is the preservation of its historic and rustic character; as a result, visitors will enjoy one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots on earth, but should understand that Spannocchia is truly rural and not a vacation resort—it is a working historic farm, a wildlife preserve, and an educational center.”
April 13: One night at a hotel in Florence

Food & Dining:

The restaurant at Spannocchia highlights the local cuisine, where the fruits of the earth are treated with care and respect, enjoyed in a relaxed and convivial setting. Breakfast and lunch are set up as a self-service buffet while dinners are multi-course, family-style service, with a fixed menu that changes daily and one seating time.

Please be aware Spannocchia has one small kitchen and is not set up to provide special meals or prepare meals in isolation in the case of allergies.

They always offer nonmeat dishes for vegetarians and can provide gluten-free alternatives as needed.

If you have questions about allergies or dietary restrictions, please email writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com or include a note on your registration form.

Accessibility:

Some of the guest rooms at Spannocchia are solely available by old, relatively steep stairs. Please let us know on your registration form if you have special accessibility needs or email writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com with questions.

Likewise, the historic city center of Siena is formed mostly of very hilly cobblestone streets and includes strenuous walking. The day trip to Siena is optional, but please let us know if you have questions.

Coach Travel:

Transportation will be provided by a modern, comfortable coach operated by an experienced driver.

Responsibilities:

As the hosting organization, Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat provides reservation services and has chosen several sub-contractors, as designated tour operators. Writer's Digest acts as an agent for services connected with specific tours, such as ground transportation, lodging, accommodations, and meals. Each service provider is solely responsible to the participant for providing their respective services.

By making a reservation for a tour hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat, the participant certifies that she/he does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for themselves or other participants. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat reserve the right in their sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant on a tour hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat.

Price:

The tour prices in this agreement are based upon current exchange rates, tariffs, and taxes. Fluctuations in these rates could result in a price adjustment without prior notice until the tour is paid in full. Once the price for the tour is paid in full, the fee will not be adjusted due to any later change in exchange rates, tariffs or taxes.

Liabilities & Booking Conditions:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat will have responsibility only for the proven negligent acts and omissions of its employees or agents and suppliers, subcontractors, servants, and/or agents of the same while acting within the scope of or in the course of their employment in respect of claims arising as a result of death, bodily injury, or illness caused to the signatory to the contract and/or any other named persons on the booking form.

Smoking:

All participants in tours hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat agree to comply with a non-smoking policy on all coaches, in restaurants, and in all lodging places.

Liability:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreats have no responsibility or liability to any person for loss of baggage, money, or other property whatsoever. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreats have no responsibility or liability for any loss or additional expenses caused by delay or interruption to travel services through weather conditions (such as rain, wind, or fog), civil disturbance, riot, illegal acts of third parties, strikes, wars, floods, sickness or any circumstances amounting to Force Majeure.

Complaints:

In the unlikely event that you have a complaint, you must promptly notify the Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat host directly, so they can take remedial action on the spot. If the matter cannot be solved directly, any complaints must be submitted in writing to Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat within 20 days after the date of your return.

Your Tour Canceled by Us:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat aims to provide your tour as booked. We reserve the right to cancel your tour under any circumstances, but if we cancel your tour, except where this is because you have not paid, you will receive a full refund.

Changes in Itinerary Details:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat and Garden Tours strive to operate according to the published itinerary. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or opportunities that would enhance the itinerary, adjustments may be necessary or appropriate. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the agreed-upon itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of participants. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat will let you know about any significant changes as soon as possible if there is time before your departure. Otherwise, we will announce changes on the tour.

Cancellations:

If you should need to withdraw from the tour for whatever reason, you must notify Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat in writing. Cancellation becomes effective when written notice is received. Deposits and final payments will be refunded for cancellations made before the deposit deadline December 31, 2025. Deposits are nonrefundable for cancellations made between December 31, 2025 and the final payment deadline, January 31, 2026. There will be no refunds from Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat on or after the final payment deadline.

Insurance:

Travel insurance is required in case you need to cancel your trip after the final payment deadline, you have health emergencies while on the tour, or other unforeseen issues arise. Squaremouth and Insure My Trip are two travel insurance search sites. If you are under 70 years old, World Nomads is usually an economical travel insurance choice. You will be required to provide your travel insurance declarations page to Writer’s Digest by January 31, 2026.

Health & Safety:

Writer’s Digest follows COVID-19 safety updates from the CDC and our destination country.

Photography Notice:

Writer’s Digest will be taking photos and videos of the tours for future editorial and promotional use. Tour participants may occasionally appear in these images.