Retreats

Villa San Michele
Florence, Italy

If a location 1,000 feet above Florence in a 13th Century converted monastery, with the Duomo as the focal point directly ahead of you sounds like a fabulous location, look no further than Villa San Michele. This five star hotel with luxurious junior suites awaits you along with the wonderful staff at the hotel and those of La Dolce Vita Retreats.

You will be pampered from the time you arrive at the Florence airport where a private luxury sedan will whisk you the few minutes to the Villa. A welcome cocktail reception will introduce you to Janice Briggs and the very talented faculty she brings to the retreat. Your meals will be prepared by the hotel’s renown chef. The most spectacular function will be two days of hands on cooking classes at the famous cooking school, followed by lunch enjoying what you created. Fun and informative excursions are planned including visits to Florence’s most famous museums. Midweek will be a day at the owner of the Orient Express Hotels’ private home.

The days will include substantive discussions with the faculty on a series of mind, body and spirit subjects. But there will be lots of time for leisure time and relaxation. This will be a very special week for you to focus solely on yourself and enjoy the camaraderie of a handful of other interesting women. The retreat will have no more than 17 guests.

For women who enjoy traveling with their husbands, but also want to partake in the benefits of the La Dolce Vita Retreats program, we are able with the assistance of our travel agency partner, to arrange for daytime activities for the gentlemen, such as golf, sailing, fishing, museum/architectural tours, wine tasting, horseback riding, etc, all custom tailored to his interests.

The total all inclusive cost from arrival at the Florence Airport is $14,500 single occupancy (excluding alcoholic beverages except where noted as part of the program of events).  Pricing is based on $1.30/Euro. Prices subject to change without notice.

1st Payment: $2,900, due upon signing
2nd Payment: $5,800 due on or before May 1, 2009
Final Payment: $5,800 due on or before September 1, 2009

Girlfriend Getaway double occupancy rate is $10, 500

1st payment of $2,100 is due upon signing; 2nd payment of $4,200 is due on or before May 1, 2009; final payment of $4,200 is due on or before September 1, 2009. 

Each of the six annual retreats features a variety of mind-body activities that allow you to re-connect with your essential self. Our guest faculty you will lead discussions on techniques to nurture your mind, body and spirit and we will practice those modalities daily.

• Welcome cocktail reception – Sunday evening, followed by a gourmet dinner
• Guided hiking and power walks in the hills of Tuscany
• Hands-on culinary classes led by renowned Chef Attillo d'Fabrizio at the famous School of Cookery at Villa San Michele
• Daily Creativity workshops featuring  Janice Briggs, Life Coach: Dare to Dream; Mind Mapping; Creating the life of your dreams; Journaling and Self-discovery
• Privately guided museum and historical tours of Florence, including transport
• Private day trip to The Campanelle for Italian barbeque, wine tasting and  Italian designer outlet shopping, including transport  
• Gala Renaissance Dinner with music the final night of the retreat
• Breakfasts (6), dinners (6), and  lunches (4) included. 
• Transfer from Florence airport to hotel by luxury sedan

The camaraderie of women is amazingly healing. Limited to no more than 17 guests, you will share your stories, forge new friendships, and re-discover your essential self. Your experience will be life altering.

Your days will be spent laughing, playing and exploring creative notions. You will tap into your inner childlike spirit.

Create your own reality. Be awed by your life. Discover your own dance!

• Visit to Florence museums
• A day trip to the Campanelle, a country house and vineyard, for an Italian style barbeque and wine tasting, followed by a shopping trip tp designer cashmere outlets

To prepare for the adventure, a list of Suggested Readings such as short stories and poems is listed for your reference.

Click on the links below to purchase it on Amazon.com.

Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life - Byron Katie

Honoring the Self: Self-Esteem and Personal Tranformation - Nathaniel Branden

A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity - Nathaniel Branden

Happiness Is a Serious Problem - Dennis Prager

The Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate - Harriet Lerner

The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth - Scott Beck

Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition by Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams (One Hour of Wisdom) by Deepak Chopra

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit by Deepak Chopra and David Simon

The Ten Commitments: Translating Good Intentions into Great Choices by David Simon

Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design - Carrie McCarthy & Danielle LaPorte

Live Good – Kobi Yamada

Present Moment Awareness: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Living in the Now

How Then, Shall We Live?: Four Simple Questions That Reveal the Beauty and Meaning of Our Lives

All payments are final. We recommend that you purchase trip insurance.

Should you require assistance with airline reservations or pre- or post travel plans, we can proudly  recommend the services of several agents.  Please inquire about agents in your area.

Special Offer:  TO BRING ALONG A NON-PARTICIPATING PARTNER (husband, daughter, mother, friend) to share your suite or room, including half board, and share your private Mercedes transfer from the airport to the hotel, add $1500 to the single occupancy rates.