moo

Mid October, flying from Pisa at 7:30 a.m. to return to US. Don't want to stay in Pisa for a last night. Looking at Forte di Marmi or Viarreggio to stay. Are those do-able (time and distance) in terms of taking a taxi to Pisa airport early in the a.m.? Or is there some other interesting place to spend our last night (perhaps Lucca? or Lucca countryside?). We will have spent the week prior at a rental home in Tuscany.

If any of those places would work, do you have any hotel recommendations? If we are stuck in Pisa, where should we stay? Any interesting little towns with don't miss accommodations nearby? Let me know. thanks!

annhig

hi moo,

is there a particular reason you don't fancy stopping in Pisa the night before your flight? it's quite an interesting place and has some reasonable hotels. once the coach parties and the attendant hawkers have gone home the town is quite quiet and the tower and other buildings on the campo dei miracoli are beautiful when they are lit up at night.

we have stayed at the Royal Victoria hotel [http://www.royalvictoria.it/] twice - the first time it was about 30 years ago and the 2nd 3-4 years ago and though the years have not been particularly kind to it or us, we still enjoyed its air of faded elegance.

but there are many other choices if you look on TA or booking.com

you could take advantage of being there and climb the tower the night before - bookings should be made on www.opapisa.it.

moo

I have been to Pisa. It is my last choice. I am looking for someplace to stay that I have not been to and the coast sounds great since I will be so close. Thanks for the Pisa suggestions but really, I am looking for a new adventure. Anyone have any thoughts on the other cities?

bobthenavigator

Did you say 0730 flight?
Stay in Pisa---maybe Lucca, but no further.

charnees

moo, you will have to be at the airport so early! Do you really want to add an hour onto that to stay out of town? Better to stop in Lucca in the afternoon (if they have a luggage storage place there) and then take the train to Pisa in the evening.

annhig

i had a quick look at viamichelin.com.

There is little difference in terms of time whether you stay in Lucca or Viareggio [or presumably Livorgno].

all three are very nice, as far as i remember - do you fancy town or beach?

annhig

ps - they are all about 30 mins away from the airport - which as far as i remember is about how long it took our taxi from the centre of Pisa to the airport when we stayed a few years ago.

Jean

I probably wouldn't pick a coastal town in mid-October. I'm not a big fan of Lucca, but it would be more appealing at that time of year.

Look at San Giuliano Terme, a spa town north of Pisa.

simpsonc510

We spent one night at a hotel on the beach in Viarreggio, and quite enjoyed it. We go to Europe twice a year; typically in late March/early April and again in late November/early December. I honestly don't recall which time of year it was, on this particular trip. I'd have to look up my journal. I recall we had rain showers, but it was not a problem to walk down the (quiet) beach for a pizza and chianti meal. For sure it was not prime beach season. We still enjoyed it.

Delaine

I stayed at Il Principe di Piemonte in Viareggio, www.principedipiemonte.com. It is a beautiful hotel on the seaside promenade. The rooms at the front have a sea view, and there is a lovely roof-top swimming pool.