jaimeenid

we have about 1 1/2 weeks to go and we're getting nervous about no reservations for hill towns
We're renting a car in Siena and driving back to Florence - but we don't have any reservations other than the first three days in Florence and two nites in Siena
Should we try to book some places now or are we rite to call ahead a day or so as we go.
Here's another question...
My cellphone's been acting up - we were going to buy a chip for the time we're in Italy but now maybe we should consider a throw away phone or a phone card.
what do you all think is easiest?

chicagolori

What hill towns are you interested in seeing? Since you are going to be there during high season, I think its madness not to have reservations in advance. It is awfully late ...

2Italy

I think you'd best be finding some accomodations now. Not that you won't find ANY when you get there, but they may not be what you want. Besides that, do you really want to spend time in Tuscany trying to find hotels, or do you want to spend your time seeing Tuscany. It's the high season and Italy is VERY busy.

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chicagolori

You can also try Tuscany.net - instant availablity and booking with large selection of accomodations.

jabez

You have a problem, most better places are gone. There may be last minute cancellations.
"...to call ahead a day or so as we go"
Call who?
Do you speak Italian?
Waiting until has me scratching my head, but it's time you get to work and nail someting down.
You,most likely, end up at a place that no one here have been at. Could be good,let us know if not.
So ,which town(s)are you wanting to stay at?

rex

topping...

Girlspytravel

September is the highest high season all over Italy. There are story after story in all Italian newspapers about the crush of tourists, which is greater every single year, but particularly in the art cities and Tuscany. It is essential to have reservations in the places you go now in Italy, really at most all times of the year (Jan.-Mar. you can skate a little, but not much). You need to get on this immediately, or you'll be in a situation where there is no room at the inn.

vetralla

Guidebook writers tips on hill towns:
-remember that schools have opened, -people are back at their desks,
-Sept. is not high season in most towns (for Italians) and arriving early in a town you can check out the availibility at the tourist office, actually scout out places too.

landlcochran

jaimeenid:

You inquired on this site in April about Tuscany hotels not responding to your e-mail's and now no reservations??

What price range are you looking?

Girlspytravel

Vetralla-guidebook writers are often out of date, and very wrong. And it obviously doesn't matter if the locals are back in school and not on holiday-September is one of the biggest holiday periods for Americans to Europe. It is a time of trade fairs and conventions in the big cities, and then those same folk go and take a few days off to sight-see.

In Venice and in Paris, there is often 100 percent hotel occupancy for that month of September during the weekdays-last year, when I was there, that was the case in both cities. I could not find a room in central Paris on short notice, unless I wanted to go out to CDG.

Tuscan hill towns are very popular in September, which is why J. should make reservations-the last thing you want to do is be searching around all day for accomodation.