vivi

Mid -Sept. Will have 10 full days, plus 2 travel days. Does this sound do-able:

4 nights Rome (evening arrival on day 1)
3 nights Tuscany (stay in Florence and do side trips? Or stay in countryside and visit Florence....undecided.) Would like to take a wine tour.
2 nights near the sea, not sure where but fiancée wants to swim! Makes sense to go to Ligura instead of Amalfi. Have already been to CT.
Last night: Priceline bid for FCO due to early AM flight next day.

Wondering if we should stay 5 nights in Tuscany and just make a day trip to beach?

Please give me your best suggestions! Hotel recs welcome, hoping to stay under 200 USD per night.

Still undecided about train v. rental car.

Fiancée has never been to Europe, so I want to show him old world charm. No Venice this trip, alas.

Thanks for any advice (and yes, I have read many guide books!)

vivi

I was thinking we could pick up a rental car in Orvieto on our way out of Rome and use it in Tuscany/at the coast for 5 days, then drop it there on our way back. This would mean we'd have to stay outside Florence due to car parking hassles and permits, correct? What would be a good Tuscan base for exploring plus popping in and out of Florence via bus or train?

kybourbon

How much do you want to see in Florence? Would a pool in the Tuscan countryside make more sense or must it be the sea?

ira

HI V,

No Venice? Your fiance can go swimming there, if he absolutely has to travel several thousand miles to go to a beach.

We stayed in Florence and took daytrips to Siena, Lucca and Orvieto.

You can also visit Orvieto from Rome.

What's your hotel budget?

bobthenavigator

I would forget the beach---the options may not excite you and you really do not have the time. You have time for 3 destinations---I would treat Florence and Tuscany as seperate destinations. Train to Florence first, then get a car for rural Tuscany and drop the car in Orvieto on your way back to Rome.

vivi

Thanks forv replies No Venice this trip, I have been there many times. Thinking of 4 nights in Rome for our city fix/ sightseeing blitz, then train to Orvieto for rental car, then spend 5 nights in a countryside B&B/villa within easy striking distance of Florence ( have been there but would go back for a day trip.). Castelfiorentino looks good location-wise. Mainly interested in small towns, vineyards/ wineries, beautiful scenery, relaxing by pool, maybe golf and possibly a one day side trip to the coast. I am in panic mode as wedding planning has superseded trip planning! All we have so far is RT plane tix to Rome!

kybourbon

I agree with Bob. Put all of Rome at the end. Train to either Florence the first day or Orvieto. Pick up the car and tour Tuscany/CT. Drop the car and finish trip in Rome. If you are arriving on Saturday or Sunday, you would probably need to start with Florence and pick up the car at the Florence airport (open every day and longer hours). Orvieto, Chiusi, Siena renal locations will be closed after 1 on Saturday and all day Sunday.