This month we take you one of the most popular "foodie" destinations in the world - Tuscany (Toscana), Italy - as we continue to assess culinary tourism markets around the world.

Tuscany in August is prime tourist season. Ironically it's also the time when many Italians take their holidays. So it's not uncommon to find many tourist attractions and even tourist offices in popular locations closed the entire month! Additionally, many businesses are shut in the middle of the afternoon as well as on Sundays. Yes, Italy is best enjoyed with a good deal of advance planning, so be sure to consider your travel dates and itinerary carefully or you could be disappointed to find many culinary attractions closed in August.

Since the assimilation of the Euro, Italian food and drink prices are now comparable to the rest of Europe - and a bit of a shock to those who visited when Italian lira were the currency. Suffice it to say that the euro is strong, a fact that is reflected in Italian food and drink prices. In trattorie and osterie (cafes and informal restaurants) the pesky "cover charge" is still around so expect to pay around 1.50-2.50 Euros per person for the privilege of simply sitting down. Ostensibly this is to cover the cost of the bread, so be sure to challenge the cover charge if the waiter fails to bring you any bread. The cover charge is as annoying as the "resort fee" at American resorts and from a culinary tourism marketing perspective, needs to be reconsidered. Service staff tend to be very reserved and mind their own business. Diners hoping for more interaction from their servers had best alter their expectations. It's just part of the culture.

Wayfinding is very easy throughout the region. Directions for towns and roads are very well marked. Businesses like B&B's and wine/olive oil tastings are also well marked with a different set of road signs reserved just for attractions. A word to the wise: learn a few words of Italian before departing. Other languages are not widely spoken out of the larger towns and cities. If you prefer self-catering apartments, be sure to inquire as to whether the kitchen is furnished and what kitchen equipment is available as amenities vary. A rating system for these type of facilities would also be helpful (one may exist but I am not yet aware of it).

With so many tasty foods to sample and potential gastronomic attractions, pre-trip research is especially critical for travelers to Italy and can really make or break an experience. Travelers may feel overwhelmed by the incredible abundance of choices - which ones can culinary travelers trust? Travelers would surely benefit from a reliable and easy-to-use system that rated all of the various culinary tourism opportunities, allowing them to easily compare attractions and find current information about hours and directions beforehand.

For more information about travel to and within Italy, please see the Italian state Tourism Board (Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turismo) website, www.enit.it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Garry Taylor, Director, European Development Garry grew up in the green valleys of South Wales in the United Kingdom. He has been involved in both retail and education capacities working as a team member, developing business relationships and providing seminars within the UK. His interests in the psychology of people lead him to his Honours Degree at the University Of Wales College Of Medicine. Following completion of his degree Garry provided educational seminars for young adults on health, nutrition and the societal impact of food in general. Read more...