Oscar Experience
Live your very own, Oscar Experience Holiday
and avoid the crowd of the usual tourist destinations
and
spend the same holiday a Hollywood actress can have,
treading in your idols’ footsteps!
I am Italian, so sorry if you find some grammar errors in my text
I am Daniela Bucchi, founder of Your Holidays in Umbria. I will take care of you during your next holidays in Umbria
As most of my guests are, also Meryl was looking for an AUTHENTIC stay and NOT-CONVENTIONAL experiences.
The Oscar experience is more than the same “OLD” Journey!
It is An Immersive Stay to experience local culture and unconventional destinations AND to feel Like a Local not ONLY a tourist
Most of the tour operators, who sell holidays in Umbria, state on their websites: “Selected by William, Your Umbrian Expert”.
But … are you completely sure William has ever visited Umbria?
Many so-called experts can’t even tell you exactly where Umbria is!
Can’t believe me? Check it yourself!
Scroll their websites or social accounts and search for their selfies in Umbria… you can’t absolutely find them!
Or maybe you’ll come across the ones taken during the ONLY weekend they have spent in this wide region full of hidden treasures.
I am a travel agent specialized in luxury experiences in Umbria – I was born here!-
I can suggest unconventional destinations also to international stars or famous people so that they could have pleasant holidays and go unnoticed, too!
Who can let you spend a really Italian holiday better than I can?
How tourists are cheated when they come to Italy
and how to avoid it asking few BUT honest Italians.
Too often Italy comes into the limelight of international news for the mediocrity of its politicians, millionaire frauds, complex bureaucracy and so on.
But it’s such a beautiful country, full of art and culture, tasty food and cheerful atmosphere that tourists from all over the world visit its wonders (only in 2018 over 214 millions foreign tourists came to Italy).
Tourism is a significant factor for Italian economy; it represents about the 13% of national GDP, equal to an economic value of over 232 billion Euros.
Are you wondering if anybody is trying to take advantage of this situation? The answer is: obviously!
That’s why travel agencies, websites or fake travel bloggers have increased, but they ONLY aim at stealing money from unaware tourists offering fake experiences!
JUST to write “ITALY” on their websites, those who work in tourist trade boast of having a great knowledge of this country, but ACTUALLY they have NEVER visited Italy or if they have, they did it too quickly and superficially.
They will suggest visiting conventional touristy destinations, giving you information taken from a tourist guide you could find online by yourself.
Or going to restaurants they have never been to, only searching them on Tripadvisor.
You will find yourself in places with excellent reviews BUT very low quality: why?
Because some restaurateurs buy fake reviews from Tripadvisor just to be the first!
(Some of them even buy negative reviews to hit their competitors!)
I can guide you to restaurants you won’t find on TripAdvisor or, if they are, you will discover that they have only few authentic reviews written by people who have really eaten there.
I have searched for and found true authentic experiences and real typical Italian restaurants.
The local producers I will introduce you are “real” people that let you enter their houses and discover their world.
My offers are the result of several attempts, experiences and repeated tests on different kinds of holidays, until I found out the perfect offer to spend a unique holiday at the best price.
Since the sharing economy increased, the big international tour operators have invaded also the vacation rental field.
They have bought flats and houses located in the most touristic areas of Italy, made them into fake lovely homes and advertised on Airbnb or other sites as “private houses” adding cheerful photos of one of their employees pretending him to be the owner!!
Actually those houses have been built only for tourists, provided with suggestions for restaurants or main attractions, all belonging to the same property, to earn as much as possible on each tourist!
Or you may deal with the owner of a basement who paints and equips it with nice Ikea furniture, advertizing it on different websites as a country Italian-style apartment.
No way: it’s all definitely… FAKE!!
If you want to avoid these awful experiences while you are planning your vacations, you need to look for people LIKE ME, who have been working non-stop to create a team of local experts to plan successful holidays!
I will make you stay in villas of private owners, who would never think about renting their house.
I have personally selected 3 villas with swimming pool in quiet and lovely locations on the border between Umbria and Tuscany.
They have been restored recently, provided with solid wood furniture carved by local carpenters properly equipped to let you feel like at home away from home.
Each room has a different and breathtaking view: surrounded by nature, the only things you will hear will be birds singing or wild boars’ sounds, not the noise of a tourist crowd or car horns.
In Umbria you will come across hidden spots, visited also by international stars; you won’t find them on Airbnb, because now on such great websites there are only companies using unaware tourists to earn as much as possible!
Staying in a house found on Airbnb, built only to attract tourists and equipped with Ikea furniture to earn as much as possible, is NOT an Oscar Experience!!
And if you want to feel like a star, you won’t absolutely stay there!
Staying in an authentic and lovely villa, built and equipped by the owner himself with fine furniture and antiques, provided with any comfort and rented only to FEW but SELECTED guests, IS an Oscar Experience!
HERE you will really feel …. like a star!
Maybe you are wondering who I am to rely on me for your next holidays in Umbria…
I’m Daniela Bucchi and I have been working in the tourist trade for more than 15 years.
Helping +1057 people to choose and plan their “Oscar Experience”
I have welcomed and planned holidays for famous international stars like Meryl Streep and Sam Neill, therefore you can’t absolutely compare the low cost offers on the web to an “Oscar Experience”!
You won’t find another person in Umbria with the same skills.
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
Now it’s time to dream to be here in Umbria!
Let’s go!
Villa Ospedale
As soon as you arrive at Villa Ospedale, the swimming pool with panoramic view on the medieval village will amaze you, and when you get into the pool water, you will find out it’s salted like the sea but cleaner:
this will surprise you even more!
Entering the house, you will see the particular furnishing, chosen and created by the owner himself.
An odd antique dealer: he himself has designed the candlesticks and chandeliers and a local blacksmith has forged them.
The owner would never think about renting his house, but I succeeded in it! Only for my few but selected guests.
Throughout its long history it has had several uses. The earliest was probably as a pilgrims’ hostel -it is on the route St. Francis took from Assisi to La Verna.
In 1640 the local prince, Pompeo del Monte, funded it as a school or orphanage.
In early 1800s Napoleon is reputed to have made the house his field hospital.
The local records show that in 1850 it was used as a farmhouse while the land was a farm.
It was abandoned after the war and deteriorated until the current owner bought it in 1988 to live in.
It has been restored to live in and it’s absolutely more comfortable than any other holiday home for vacation rentals.
Villa Ospedale has 4 double rooms with en-suite bathroom and 1 single room with basin.
Each room has a breathtaking and panoramic view of the Umbrian hills and of the medieval village.
You will sleep in comfortable beds, hearing only crickets and birds singing; no other noise!
You will have your meals under the pergola in front of the marvelous herb garden, full of herbs from all over the world, or in the panoramic terrace with view on the medieval village.
In the three big lounges, lit by the light coming from the wide windows, you can read a book, listen to some music in complete privacy, look at the landscape or at the refined furnishing:
unique antiques and original furniture of the house, for example the holy water font in the lounge on the top floor.
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
Villa Uliveto
At Villa Uliveto the marvelous landscape of the Umbrian hills with their olive trees -you can admire right from the infinity pool- is breathtaking.
As soon as you dive into the water, you will feel as if you were swimming suspended between Earth and Sky.
The stone house has been built by the owner himself; it is surrounded by an oaks and chestnut trees wood where you may pick mushrooms and chestnuts in autumn.
Entering the house, you will appreciate the warm wooden and stone kitchen and nearly smell pasta with tomato sauce and basil: you will make it by yourself or an Italian chef will make it for you!
The bedrooms have forged iron beds, hand-painted by a local craftsman;
2 of them are upstairs, going up a terracotta and wrought iron staircase.
When you wake up, you will see the original wooden beams of the ceiling and the spectacular landscape of the valley from the windows.
The other 2 bedrooms are downstairs, on the wood side; opening the windows, you will feel as if you were sleeping right in the middle of the wood and you may also meet a squirrel…wishing you a good day!
You will have dinner alfresco in the porch outside the kitchen or in the terrace by the pool, looking at the sunset: the blue sky turns pink and birds go back to their nests among the olive trees branches in the garden.
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
Villa Lavanda
Getting out of your car, the scent of the wisteria in bloom, that covers the porch pergola, will surprise you.
You will eat under that pergola while the light evening breeze will be moving wisteria and its scent will be mixing up with the smell of food (prepared by an Italian chef) and of the Umbrian wine you will sample.
Surrounded only by a fire red sunset that paints the sky and goes down behind the hills.
When the current owners visited this villa for the first time, it was love at first sight: the perfect place to grow up their 2 children.
The whole house is built for children: they will be provided with anything they need –cribs with soft mattresses, new high chairs, hard plastic dishes.
That’s not all! Your children will run freely without any risk in the garden while you will be relaxing by the pool or staying al fresco in the gazebo in the shade of pine trees.
They will also play with the many table games in the living room or watch one of the 37 cartoons dvds.
Formerly a farmhouse, the villa has been beautifully restored to blend terracotta floors and wooden beams with quality furnishings and equipment to create a house which has kept its traditional charm while responding to modern needs for space, comfort and style for an unforgettable holiday
Villa Lavanda has 5 double rooms, 2 are master rooms with en-suite bathroom.
While you will be sleeping in comfortable king size beds, in pure cotton sheets woven at the loom, you will have a different view from each room.
Enjoy your own 10 acres estate to roam wild meadows and woodland walks amongst olive, chestnut and pine trees, oaks and cypresses. This is the country life in Italy at its best.
You may even see eagles, deer or porcupines or hear the sound of a wild boar.
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
Discover the Best Oscar Experience
Tailored to Your Needs
| Weekly Rental of Villa Lavanda or Villa Uliveto | ||
| Classic Welcome Pack: (I personally select the products)
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| Rich welcome pack: It includes all the “Classic Welcome Pack” goods, plus selected homemade products from local producers:
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Private Chef:
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Pasta cooking class:
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| From € 2.500,00 |
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
That’s not all!
You can customize your holiday and choose the activities according to your needs and your travel partners’, too.
We will arrange your tailored Travel Plan. When you have decided what your ideal holiday is, we will set an open book price without any further expenses. (No Hidden Cost or booking fees)
Pick the Type of Experience that Best Suits For You
Tourist itineraries:
Follow my personal guide including not conventional destinations, unknown to the mass tourism; discover the hidden wonders of my region no tourist guide will suggest you.
Festivals and events:
Read my personal checklist including the most characteristic feasts and celebrations to taste the typical food in outdoor taverns and to feel like a local. Unknown to the 99% of tourists!
Wine tasting in a small local winery:
Wander about the vineyard and admire the landscape of the whole valley. Sample the local wine; you will be surprised: very few BUT very high quality wines.
Wine tour in Montefalco:
Visit the selected run family wineries with me! You will sample the best red Umbrian wines: Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco. My favourite winery has a vineyard with panoramic view on Montefalco village, an ancient olive grove and a stone mill for the olive pressing; Paolo, the owner, will be pleased to guide you. Just think about the homemade lunch you will taste: Sara, Paolo’s wife, will cook it for you!
Salami tasting:
Cesare, my trusted butcher, will welcome us and show step by step how a pork leg becomes a delicious ham. Are you ready to post your selfie surrounded by hundreds of scented hams in the seasoning room?
Extra Virgin Olive oil tasting:
Dante, the best olive oil producer in the area, will guide us to his olive grove and explain how to recognize a high quality oil from a low one
Honey tasting:
Alberto will guide us to discover the bees’ world, the step by step honey production -from the hive to the jar. Comfortably sitting alfresco in his garden, we will taste his excellent honeys served with cheese and handmade biscuits (my favourite one is acacia honey on gorgonzola cheese!). Don’t forget to ask Alberto to tell you the legend of “honeymoon” idiom!
Truffle Hunting:
A walk in an Umbrian wood, a cheerful dog jumping in front of you to attract your attention, while the truffle hunter will be guiding you to find truffles. Suddenly the dog, sniffing, will start running and then stop to dig quickly with its front legs: an extraordinary scent spreads in the air and the truffle…”comes out of the ground”!
Pasta cooking class and pizza cooking class:
Homemade pasta and pizza – by hand and from scratch - as Italian grannies in aprons do; I will teach you how to make perfect homemade pasta and homemade pizza, as my grandmother taught me.
Private Chef:
You won’t have to worry about doing the shopping or cooking during your stay. Relax in the swimming pool while a chef will be preparing a fresh menu with local organic products and then sit down comfortably alfresco in the porch to eat what he has cooked ONLY FOR YOU.
Sommelier evening:
An exclusive and private wine tasting at your villa. The sommelier will guide you through a sensorial trip to discover the secrets of the excellent Italian wines, served with exquisite appetizers such as truffle, salami and local cheese to enhance their flavor and scent. To live an exclusive and private experience at your villa, you can have a wine tasting and an elaborate gourmet dinner, too! One of the best chefs will prepare it. Enjoy your evening and don’t worry about driving!
Bike tour (with or without English speaking guide):
Discover Umbria little by little stepping off well-trodden paths. There is a wide choice of wonderful rides to the wine areas, ceramics region and outstanding medieval hilltop towns. Stop at a winery and sample its excellent wines; then reach the next medieval village: enjoy scenic views from the hilltop.
Horse riding:
Experience freedom riding a horse, surrounded by the green Umbrian hills.
Journey in hot air balloon:
Flying in the silence of nature carried by the wind and dreams... Discover Umbria from another point of view! Admire the area dotted with Roman and Medieval villages surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, and enjoy the amazing scenery of the Umbrian landscape, with Captain Peter navigating the balloon while offering stories and revelations of the magical landmarks.
Massages:
A professional masseur will come to your villa to let you spend relaxing moments. By the pool or in a hidden spot of the garden, listening to some relaxing music, the skilled masseur will make your stress disappear.
Yoga classes:
Take care of your body and mind in the green garden of your villa. The yoga teacher will explain you this millenary practice to set your mind free from the daily matters and to give your body a better and healthy posture.
English speaking baby sitter:
Providing your children with age-appropriate games and activities, while you will be relaxing by the pool or having a romantic candlelit dinner with your partner.
Private driver:
You would like to have dinner in the best local restaurant BUT you will have to drink something alcohol-free instead of a good glass of wine because you will have to drive home later! Or you would like to visit the local beauties BUT without driving all day long, searching for expensive parking areas and avoiding ZTL areas and heavy fines… Don’t worry!! Book one of our professional drivers: he will meet you at your villa and drive you wherever you want, taking you home at the end of the evening.
..and much more..
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
Just read what my guests have to say about me :
We have used Daniela’s services for the past four weeks, organising our villa through her and honey tasting, bike tour, horse riding, and cookery lessons. From start to finish, Daniela has been an absolute pleasure to deal with. She knows her area and local community very well. She is passionate about what she does and strives for excellence.
The pasta cooking class was the highlight of our long holiday, Daniela taught us to make pasta from scratch. It was very funny we made ravioli and Tagliatelle and a tasty sauce to season it. The best lunch we ever had.
The riding lesson for our daughters was terrific: they rode at the riding school and played with horses, while Damian and I were relaxing, sitting in the shade of the trees.
The honey tasting? Something unique: our daughters were surprised to see the industrious bees producing honey. They were dumbfounded after tasting that incomparable and delicious honey! They couldn’t believe that there are so many kinds of honey, not to mention the hazelnuts and honey cream: my little daughter Emilia is still asking for that cream with biscuits for her break!
The bike tour? Perfect to discover fantastic landscapes and views! An easy route without too many slopes: we reached the border with Tuscany and saw Cortona from above – one of the most charming villages we have ever seen- and Lake Trasimeno in the distance.
We had the lovely experience of Daniela – just wonderful. We have come away having gained a friend. We recommend without hesitation – she not only got on well with us but also all our 5 children. We will definitely be using Daniela’s services again – she is a gem.
Don’t waste time, choose your favorite Experiences and book right now
- Wine Tasting in a local small winery
- Wine tour in Montefalco
- Salami tasting
- Olive oil tasting
- Honey tasting
- Truffle hunting
- Pasta cooking class
- Pizza cooking class
- Private chef
- Private sommelier
- Bike tour
- Horse riding
- Hot air balloon ride
- Massages
- Yoga class
- Baby sitter
- Private transfer
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
If you are looking for someone to show you the ropes and help you truly immerse yourself in Italian culture, cuisine and nature please consider booking Daniela for such an endeavor. She is exceptional at understanding your needs and puts together in-depth itineraries to ensure delightful, memorable experiences for all who participate.
I came to Italy for the first time with my best friends. Daniela organized all our holiday, down to the smallest detail. We had 2 fantastic wine tours first to Montefalco and then to Montepulciano (Tuscany): the highlights of our stay!
The private driver met us at our villa and took us to the 2 wineries; he spoke English fluently and during the trip he told us stories about the villages we were going through.
The family run wineries were fantastic: they welcomed us as we were old friends and wines were simply excellent. At the end of the tour our polite driver took us back to the villa. We spent 2 funny and relaxing days without the stress of driving or taking the wrong way.
The following days we visited Daniela’s trusted butcher: he showed all his production of hams and salami and welcomed us in his porch. We tasted his salami, ham, salame, sausages, capocollo and coppa (a sausage made with pork’s head: terrific!) served with bread made by his mother and sampled his wine.
The truffle huntinG was something incredible!! I didn’t expect a small and cheerful dog could be so good at finding truffles: 5 beautiful truffles we sliced, put on bruschette and.. ate!
I highly recommend Daniella and her services.
Do you still have any doubts about how unique my Oscar Experiences can be? I’m so sure they are that… I’m going to offer you a SUPER GUARANTEE
If you have to cancel your reservation, I will refund the 100% of the rental price,
up to 90 days prior to the arrival date.
From 89 to 30 days prior to the arrival date I will refund the 50% of the rental price
No explanations requested, just send me the directions to have your money back.
That’s Not All
You won’t lose the 50% of rental price, you can use it for another holiday at any time of the year and it won’t expire,
EVEN IF you decide to book within two years, you can discount that 50% off your holiday
As you can see… You won’t take any risks! I will!
(From 29 to 0 days prior to the arrival date, I am sorry you won’t get a refund)
Sorry but …for such late cancellations, I can’t refund you!
I deal with selected clients, luxury and busy, who plan their holiday in considerable advance to visit the best places in the world: for this reason I can’t contact them last-minute to replace your cancellation.
I don’t work as hotels do, where anyone can arrive at any time; I organize Oscar Experiences that must be planned in advance for few but selected guests.
Yes, I want to have the same Experience
Meryl Streep had in Umbria
Also Arabella had some doubts before booking her Oscar Experience,
BUT here’s what she wrote me at the end of her stay:
We had such an amazing time with Daniella looking after us in Umbria. She cooked delicious meals for us and also taught us all how to make pasta one day! We were a large party of 10 (Brits and Americans) with assorted dietary likes but nothing fazed her and everything she prepared was fabulous – and afterwards the kitchen was always spotless!
Daniela introduced us her trusted masseur; he came twice a week and it was fantastic to have a my relaxing massage after our tennis match. We also had yoga classes: incredible! The teacher was really skilled and very patient with us – we were beginners!
Thanks to the professional babysitters Daniela had found, we could enjoy our massages and yoga classes in complete relax while our children were playing with them.
Daniela suggested visiting a small winery producing excellent wines: we were amazed at the high quality of them and at the producer’s politeness as well.
Thank you Daniella you made my holiday into an unforgettable experience
Arabella Grandage
Book an Oscar Experience and you will:
- Stay in one of these 3 charming villas with swimming pool, personally selected by me, restored to be the owner’s house and not to be rented for holidays, therefore.. they are fully equipped to feel at home away home!
- Discover unknown places to step off the beaten path and live like a local.
- Choose one of my extraordinary offers and customize your holiday with the experiences you prefer most.
Smart offer
-
A week rental for Villa Uliveto
or Villa Lavanda
The rental includes: bed linen, towel, electricity, water, gas for cooking, all taxes. -
Classic welcome pack
-
NO Private Chef
-
NO Pasta cooking class
Prestige offer
-
A week rental for Villa Uliveto
or Villa Lavanda
The rental includes: bed linen, towel, electricity, water, gas for cooking, all taxes. -
Rich welcome pack
-
Private Chef
-
Pasta cooking class
You can choose the activities you prefer and carry out your perfect travel plan!
When you have decided what your ideal holiday is,
we will set an open book price without any further expenses.
(No Hidden Cost or booking fees)
Who is Daniela?
I’m Daniela Bucchi and I have been working in the tourist trade for more than 15 years.
During the last 5 years I have been working non-stop to create a team of local experts to plan successful holidays
Helping +1057 people to choose and plan their “Oscar Experience”
I have welcomed and planned holidays for famous international stars like Meryl Streep and Sam Neill, therefore you can’t absolutely compare the low cost offers on the web to an “Oscar Experience”!
My offers are the result of several attempts, experiences and repeated tests on different kinds of holidays, until I found out the perfect offer to spend a unique holiday at the best price.
… You can have the same experiences if you decide to spend a holiday planned by me!
Hurry up! Contact me right now
Talk soon Daniela
