CHE VITA GETAWAYS
A Fully Hosted, Small-Group Culinary Week in Umbria, Italy
June 7–13, 2027 (Couples Trip) · Sept 1–7, 2027 (Girls’ Trip)
Only 12 Guests · From $6,995 per person
BOOKING BONUS: Reserve by Dec 31, 2026 and receive a free year of The Cooking Community
“I have to say — it has been one of the most delightful experiences I’ve ever had. It’s been one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had.”
- Holly, past Che Vita guest from Texas
JOIN US IN ITALY
We’ll take care of everything for you.
Che Vita is a fully hosted, small-group week in the Umbrian countryside, hosted by us, Shaye and Stuart Elliott. Accommodations, meals, transportation, and experiences are all arranged in advance — many of them private and not publicly bookable. The days are full but never rushed, and you’re always free to rest, wander, or opt out.
Your Week at a Glance
Six nights in a boutique hotel in a hilltop village
A day in Montepulciano with a private palace tour and wine tasting
Truffle hunting and lunch in the Umbrian countryside
Pasta making with a local chef
A picnic at a local olive farm & cantina
A private garden lunch at one of Europe’s Top 50 farms
Plus a watercolor class, an olive-farm picnic, a day in Orvieto, and local cafés and markets!
WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU
Italy has become part of the rhythm of our family life — a place that for the past twenty years, we continue to return to for its beauty, its food, and the way it invites people to slow down and pay attention.
Our role during the week is simple and intentional: to host you well. We take care of the details, set a comfortable pace, and remain present throughout so the experience feels both special and easy — allowing you to settle in, connect, and enjoy your time here.
We work closely with local cooks, artisans, and guides we know personally, and we’re attentive to how the week is unfolding for each guest. Hosting, for us, means paying attention — not rigidly following a plan.
Our promise is this: if at any point during the week something isn’t working as expected — whether related to pace, comfort, or logistics — we’ll address concerns promptly and thoughtfully so the experience remains enjoyable and respectful of your time and investment.
We’d be glad to spend the week with you in the Umbrian countryside, introduce you to our friends, and welcome you into a village that has become a home-away-from-home for us.
THE EXPERIENCE
Over the course of the week, we’ll share long meals, explore nearby villages, and spend time enjoying the simple pleasures of being in a beautiful place. Some days include guided experiences; others are intentionally left open for rest, wandering, or quiet time on your own.
The week is thoughtfully planned to feel rich without being rushed. Shared meals and a handful of special experiences fill the days, but there is no expectation to do everything. Guests are always free to participate as much — or as little — as they like.
You’ll stay in a private boutique hotel in the heart of a hilltop village. Accommodations, meals, transportation, and experiences are coordinated in advance so you can relax into your week without having to plan or manage the details yourself.
Many of the experiences we include — from cooking and tastings to visits with local producers — are arranged through personal relationships and are not publicly bookable. The group is intentionally small to preserve ease, connection, and quality of experience.
During our week together, you can expect to:
enjoy a day in Montepulciano, including a private tour of a local winery, palace, and a wine tasting
dine at a Michelin star restaurant
participate in a watercolor class (no experience required!)
truffle hunt in the Umbrian countryside
make pasta with a local chef
tour one of the Top 50 farms in Europe and enjoy a private lunch hosted in the middle of the vegetable gardens
relax in the nearby village of Orvieto
enjoy private dinners in local restaurants
picnic at a local olive farm & cantina
visit local cafes and markets
… and much more!
YOUR WEEK IN UMBRIA
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Arrive & Settle In
DAYS 1–2
We welcome you to Hotel Vannucci in Città della Pieve! After settling, we will enjoy an aperitivo and welcome dinner. The next day, we will tour famed Quintosapore, a regenerative farm, and enjoy a long outdoor lunch (featuring their ancient Etruscan Malmaturo wine). We will enjoy dinner together in the local village.
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Orvieto & Truffle Hunting
DAYS 3–4
A free day to wander Orvieto by private taxi, then dinner at Zafferano. The next morning, brothers Andrea and Michele and their prized dogs lead us truffle hunting in the forests of Umbria, followed by lunch at their acclaimed restaurant and cocktails at Mattucci.
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Hot Springs, Olive Groves & Pasta
DAY 5
A morning soak in the local hot springs, then a wine tasting and picnic lunch among the olive groves and vines with our friends Paolo and Beatriz. In the evening, we share in a hands-on pasta class and dinner.
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Montepulciano & a Farewell Feast
DAYS 6–7
A morning watercolor class with Stuart, then a private taxi to Montepulciano for a tasting at Contucci Cantina and tour of the palace. We close the week with a farewell dinner together!
2027 TRIPS AVAILABLE
Reserve your place today with a 20% deposit. The balance is split into two easy payments, due six and three months before we travel. Only 12 guests per trip.
LIMITED TIME: Book by Dec 31, 2026 and we'll gift you a full year of The Cooking Community, so you can start cooking Italian at home before you ever land in Umbria.
Couples Trip to Città della Pieve, Umbria, Italy
June 7-13 , 2027
Reserve today with a $1,399 deposit per person. Booking for two? Simply reserve two spots. The balance is split into two payments, due six and three months before travel. The price shown is the full rate per person.
You’re invited to join us for a speciality culinary week together in the Umbrian countryside — this Che Vita Getaway week is especially for couples!
This Che Vita Getaway is a full, generous week marked by shared meals, hands-on experiences, beautiful places, and relaxing moments. We’ll gather in the medieval hill town of Città della Pieve and spend our days cooking and eating together, wandering nearby villages, tasting local food and wine, and enjoying the simple pleasure of being in a beautiful place.
The experience is hosted by Shaye and Stuart Elliott and features local Italian cooks, artisans, and guides. Everything has been carefully arranged so you can settle in, relax, and enjoy the rhythm of the week without managing the details yourself.
What’s Included
Six nights / seven days in a beautiful boutique hotel in Città della Pieve, Umbria, Italy
Daily breakfast at the hotel
Shared meals throughout the week, including all dinners
All group experiences and activities
Truffle hunting with a local guide
Winery visits and tastings
Curated day trips to nearby villages
Private transportation for all planned excursions
An intentionally small group to preserve ease, connection, and quality
Payment Schedule
The rate for the week is $6,995.00 per person based on double occupancy in an en suite room, for a total of $13,990.00 for two people.
To reserve your place, a 20% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. Each spot is booked individually, so couples reserve two spots.
The remaining balance is due as follows:
40% due six months prior to travel (December 7, 2026)
40% due three months prior to departure (March 7, 2027)
Once your deposit is received, your place for the week is confirmed. Deposits are non-refundable, but they can be transferred to a friend or to a future Che Vita trip. If you prefer your payments to be spread out monthly, please let us know. You will be charged for the remaining installments six months and three months prior to the trip.
Booking within six months of travel? If you reserve after December 7, 2026, your deposit and the first 40% payment are both due at the time of booking. (After November 30, online checkout offers full payment only. Reach out and we’ll send you an invoice for the deposit and first payment instead.)
A Few Practical Notes
International flights, travel to the designated pickup location, and travel insurance are not included.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind. If you choose to omit travel insurance, we will require you to sign a waiver.
Guests must be 16 or older, and guests under 18 must travel with a parent or guardian. If you have any mobility, health, or dietary considerations, please reach out — we’re happy to talk through what will make the week most comfortable for you.
We’re so looking forward to welcoming you.
If this feels like the right next step, you may submit your deposit below to confirm your place. If you have any remaining questions before doing so, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We’re honored to host you for this week in Umbria.
Salute,
Shaye & Stuart
To hold your spot, choose "Pay $1,399.00 deposit" below, then click Reserve My Spot.
Girls Trip to Città della Pieve, Umbria, Italy
September 1 - 7 , 2027
Reserve today with a $1,399 deposit. The balance is split into two payments, due six and three months before travel. The price shown is the full rate per person.
You’re invited to join us for a speciality culinary week together in the Umbrian countryside — this Che Vita Getaway week is especially for women traveling together!
This Che Vita Getaway is a full, generous week marked by shared meals, hands-on experiences, beautiful places, and relaxing moments. We’ll gather in the medieval hill town of Città della Pieve and spend our days cooking and eating together, wandering nearby villages, tasting local food and wine, and enjoying the simple pleasure of being in a beautiful place.
The experience is hosted by Shaye and Stuart Elliott and features local Italian cooks, artisans, and guides. Everything has been carefully arranged so you can settle in, relax, and enjoy the rhythm of the week without managing the details yourself.
What’s Included
Six nights / seven days in a beautiful boutique hotel in Città della Pieve, Umbria, Italy
Daily breakfast at the hotel
Shared meals throughout the week, including all dinners
All group experiences and activities
Truffle hunting with a local guide
Winery visits and tastings
Curated day trips to nearby villages
Private transportation for all planned excursions
An intentionally small group to preserve ease, connection, and quality
Payment Schedule
The rate for the week is $6,995.00 per person based on double occupancy in an en suite room, for a total of $13,990.00 for two people.
To reserve your place, a 20% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking.
The remaining balance is due as follows:
40% due six months prior to travel
40% due three months prior to departure
Once your deposit is received, your place for the week is confirmed. Deposits are non-refundable, but they can be transferred to a friend or to a future Che Vita trip. If you prefer your payments to be spread out monthly, please let us know. You will be charged for the remaining installments six months and three months prior to the trip.
A Few Practical Notes
International flights, travel to the designated pickup location, and travel insurance are not included.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind. If you choose to omit travel insurance, we will require you to sign a waiver.
Guests must be 16 or older, and guests under 18 must travel with a parent or guardian. If you have any mobility, health, or dietary considerations, please reach out — we’re happy to talk through what will make the week most comfortable for you.
We’re so looking forward to welcoming you.
If this feels like the right next step, you may submit your deposit below to confirm your place. If you have any remaining questions before doing so, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We’re honored to host you for this week in Umbria.
Salute,
Shaye & Stuart
To hold your spot, choose "Pay $1,399.00 deposit" below, then click Reserve My Spot.
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
Doing a trip like this allows you to see a different part of Italy that you would never see if you planned it on your own. It’s more intimate and you get personal relationship with Italian culture. You see things differently than you would from just a tourist perspective — it’s almost like living it instead of just experiencing it.
Trent
Che Vita Guest
We’ve traveled a lot and when you go with other people and get to meet new faces it makes it all the more fun. You get to have dinner together and enjoy one another’s company. I knew that Shaye would curate a really enjoyable experience and she has definitely done that!
Emilie
Repeat Che Vita Guest
The food is incredible — and not just getting to taste this food and these multi-course meals, but going into the restaurants and having them serve you one-on-one, and getting the behind the scenes tours and insight is fantastic… this is so many levels beyond farm-to-table. It’s a truly magical experience.
Nathan
Che Vita Guest
IN THEIR WORDS
Real guests, real moments from our week together in Umbria.
THE FOOD
Food is one of the great pleasures of our week together — it is perhaps the most natural way for us all to gather, connect, and enjoy our location.
We cook, eat, and share meals the way people here do: with care for what’s on the table and plenty of time to savor it. Meals aren’t rushed or staged, but generous and unhurried, shaped by seasonal ingredients, delicious wine, and great conversation. You will taste the love and simplicity of the local ingredients that the Umbrians are so very excited to share with the world.
Some meals are relaxed and informal; like the picnic lunch we’ll enjoy together at our friend’s olive farm & cantina. Other meals will come with a bit more polish and flare to delight in! Each meal will be prepared for us by people we know personally — local cooks, farmers, and friends who care deeply about what they make and where it comes from. (Just wait until you taste Ciro’s wood fired pizza!).
Ingredients are fresh and local, and recipes are often shared more as stories than instructions. Food here is meant to be eaten, enjoyed, and passed around. Nothing is rushed or staged.
Guests experience meals in different ways — sometimes they cry, sometimes they shout with joy, sometimes they even swear in excitement! It is a joy to share regional ingredients and traditional recipes with our guests… and we always appreciate when guests come with an open mind and willingness to try new flavors and dishes.
The rhythm of our meals is generous, flexible, and unhurried. The Italian table is meant for lingering…
THIS TRIP IS FOR YOU
This retreat is for people who want a week in Italy that feels engaging and well thought out, without needing to plan or manage the details themselves.
It’s a good fit for those who enjoy good food, thoughtful conversation, shared meals, and time spent exploring beautiful places at an unhurried pace. This week tends to suit guests who value quality, comfort, and clarity — and who appreciate having the logistics handled so they can simply show up and enjoy the experience.
This retreat is a great fit if you…
I
Enjoy small groups and shared meals, without pressure to participate in everything
II
Value good taste, care, and thoughtful hosting
III
Have a spirit of flexibility — this is Italy, and the best moments often happen slightly off-plan
IV
Want a trip that feels rich and interesting, but not rushed or exhausting
V
Prefer to bypass the stress and uncertainty of planning a vacation in a foreign country
Throughout the week, accommodations, transportation, meals, and experiences are coordinated through personal relationships with local hosts, cooks, and guides — including several experiences that aren’t available to the general public.
Guests are always free to participate fully or take time to themselves. The rhythm is flexible and the group is small.
PRICING & DETAILS
We’ve designed the week so you can focus on enjoying Italy without having to plan, coordinate, or manage the details.
Your time with us includes six nights in a boutique village hotel, transportation to and from designated pickup points, private transportation for planned excursions during the week, most meals, and all guided experiences and activities we share as a group. Planning and coordination are handled in advance so you can settle in and move through the week with ease.
A few practical notes:
International flights to and from Italy, travel to the designated pickup locations (such as by train), and travel insurance are not included. We strongly recommend travel insurance for peace of mind. We are happy to coordinate direct airport transfers for an additional fee.
Because food, local schedules, and daily life shape the rhythm here, plans may occasionally shift. We ask guests to arrive with a spirit of flexibility — it’s part of what allows the week to feel natural, relaxed, and enjoyable.
Price & Requirements
The rate for the week is $7,250 for single occupancy, or $6,995 per person for double occupancy.
To reserve your place, a 20% deposit is required. An additional 40% is due six months prior to travel, with the remaining 40% due three months before departure.
Guests must be 16 or older, and guests under 18 must travel with a parent or guardian. If you have any health, mobility, or dietary considerations, please reach out — we’re happy to talk through what will make the week most comfortable for you.
THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL
During our week together, you’ll stay at the Vannucci Hotel, a comfortable four-star hotel located in the heart of the medieval village of Città della Pieve. The hotel blends historic character with modern comfort, and offers wide views across the Umbrian countryside and into nearby Tuscany.
Mornings begin with a generous Italian breakfast — fresh pastries, fruit, and made-to-order coffee — before heading out for the day. Because of the hotel’s central location, cafés, shops, pharmacies, and restaurants are all within easy walking distance. It’s simple to step out for an espresso, a short stroll through town, or a quiet moment on your own.
Rooms are reserved for both single and double occupancy, each with a private ensuite bathroom. We work closely with the hotel staff to accommodate individual needs whenever possible and to ensure the week runs smoothly.
The hotel also offers a small gym, sauna, and a heated outdoor pool — available for guests who enjoy a swim or some quiet time between activities.
Space is intentionally limited to preserve the intimate nature of the week, and rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to welcoming you to this beautiful corner of Umbria.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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We handle all communication with local guides, restaurants, and hosts. Many of our local friends speak some English, and the moments that get lost in translation are often the most charming parts of the week.
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Please tell us before you reserve, and again on your intake form. We work closely with everyone who cooks for our group and can accommodate most dietary needs with advance notice.
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We provide pickup from a designated train station point in Chiusi, Tuscany. You'll arrange your international flights independently — the trains in Italy are excellent and easy to navigate. We can also arrange direct airport pickup for an additional fee.
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Gentle to moderate. The truffle hunt involves walking through light forest terrain and both Orvieto and Montepulciano involve some uphill walking. Most of the village is walkable on flat or gently sloping cobblestone. None of the activities require any particular fitness level, and there's always the option to opt out of any excursion and stay at the hotel.
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Three things, mostly. The size — a small group means you actually get to know the people around you. The access — most of what we do isn't available to the general public, because it runs on personal relationships we've built over years. And the hosting — we are present throughout the entire week, not just at designated activities. We're your hosts.
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The short version: comfortable walking shoes with good soles (cobblestones reward good shoes), layers for variable spring and autumn temperatures, one or two nicer outfits for dinners, and as much empty luggage space as you can manage for what you'll bring home from the market.
MORE INFORMATION
Not quite ready to reserve? Send your questions below and Shaye will reply personally, with no obligation. Prefer to talk it through? Message us on WhatsApp at +1 (509) 670-5697.
Want A Trip On Your Schedule?
Private Retreats
For parties of eight or more, we’re pleased to reserve a private retreat week tailored to your preferred dates. Gather your family, friends, or group and we’ll host a week in Umbria just for you.
Message Us On WhatsAppor call/text +1 (509) 670-5697