Flight
We know many of our guests are making a vacation out of this trip so we want to give you as much information as possible to enjoy your entire stay in Europe! Italy has two major international airports that service non-stop and direct flights from the U.S.. These airports are Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome, and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) in Milan. If you are starting or ending your Italian vacation in Northern Italy we recommend flying in/out of Milan. If you are starting or ending your Italian vacation in central or southern Italy, we recommend flying in/out of Rome. To travel directly to Tuscany, we recommend one of the two Tuscany Airports: Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) Florence or Pisa International Airport (PSA) in Pisa. These two airports are within a 45 minute drive of our venue in Lucca, Tuscany. Both airports can be reached by all major cities in Europe if you plan on starting your European summer in a different country, or can be reached with a connecting flight if starting at an American airport.
Train
If you are landing in Rome or Milan and want to take a train to Tuscany, you will need to head to the train station in Florence (Firenze S. M. Novella). Trains in Italy are fast, clean and a scenic way to see the countryside. We also recommend some time in Florence to see what the city has to offer and a walk by the Duomo — you can't miss it! From Florence, you can take a train to the Lucca Train Station, which is right near the walled city. We recommend downloading one of the two apps on your phone to book train tickets directly: TrenItalia or Italo.
Travel Note
Please note that Uber does not exist in Italy. You can get city taxis outside the main stations in Florence, Lucca and other cities it Italy. Or you can book a taxi directly with App Taxi (link below). We highly recommend downloading App Taxi to your phone, as this is Italy's version of Uber, meaning it allows you to book taxis on demand or in advance. Click the link below on your phone to download AppTaxi.
Travel Note
Sanzhar and Cristina love to rent a car when we are in Italy! We feel this allows us to move at our own pace and get around the country. The most common companies to rent cars are Avis, Maggiore, Hertz and Europcar You can find deals using the link below. Transportation will be provided to all guests to/from the wedding venue that are staying in one of the recommended accommodations below. We recommend a rental car to do sight-seeing and for ease of getting to different areas in Italy and to explore the Tuscan countryside. If renting a vehicle, please keep in mind that some of the country side roads are very narrow and are more suited for compact cars. Also, please contact the hotel or villa in which you are staying for parking.
Travel Note
Transportation to and from the wedding event venues will be provided to all guests that are staying in one of the recommended accommodations listed: Tenuta di Tramonte, Villa Guinigi and Hotel Palazzo Alexander. Time details and routes will be indicated in this website closer to the date.
Hotel
Hotel Palazzo Alexander is a charming hotel in the walled city of Lucca. We have set aside a room block for our guests from August 6 through August 10. Breakfast is included with this hotel. This hotel is a ten-minute drive from Villa Grabau. When booking via the link below please note that you are staying at the hotel for Cristina and Sanzhar's Wedding. Notes: Elevator, breakfast and air conditioning included.
Hotel
If you would like to stay within the Tuscan countryside, we are recommending two villas that are very close to the wedding activities. The first is Villa Volpi in Tenuta di Tramonte. This estate operates as a twelve-room boutique hotel, with breakfast included, and is recommended not only by Sanzhar and Cristina but is on Italy Segreta's list of Cultural Experiences. Tenuta di Tramonte is family-owned and the estate produces their own wine and olive oil. This villa is a seven-minute drive from Villa Grabau. When booking please notify the villa that you are staying there for Cristina and Sanzhar's Wedding. Notes: Breakfast, air conditioning and natural water pool included. There is no elevator but hotel staff will help with baggage.
House Or Rental
The second villa we are recommending in the Tuscan countryside is Villa Guinigi & Borgo. This estate operates as a main location for several villas, some with two or three rooms and has a shared pool with an expansive view of wine country. This villa is a ten-minute drive from Villa Grabau. When booking please notify the villa that you are staying there for Cristina and Sanzhar's Wedding. Notes: Pool and air conditioning included. No elevator nor baggage porter. However, there are several rooms on the ground floor. Please confirm with the hotel staff when booking if a ground-floor villa is needed.
Travel Note
There are so many villa rentals available in Lucca and around Villa Grabau. If you do not wish to stay at one of the villas or hotels recommended above, please feel free to explore all offerings through the link below. If you need any assistance with booking or have further questions, please reach out to Cristina.
Travel Note
Please reach out to Cristina or Sanzhar with any questions or concerns. We are so grateful that you are taking the time to celebrate our wedding with us in our favorite place, and would love to make your travel there as smooth as possible. Please also let us know what location you plan on staying in so we can ensure your welcome gift is at the correct place. If you plan on staying at a different villa or hotel, please also let us know and we will make sure you get the welcome gift at the first wedding event. As a reminder, transportation will be provided from the three accommodations recommended; Hotel Palazzo Alexander, Tenuta di Tramonte and Villa Guinigi. If you wish to stay at another location within the walled city of Lucca, it may be possible to use the transportation for Hotel Palazzo Alexander. Please reach out to Cristina or Sanzhar to confirm.