Rory Mc.

My wife and I (and another couple) are planning to go to Tuscony for a week around 10 June 99. <BR> <BR>I would GREATLY appreciate any suggestions as to where in the Tuscony region to go and which Villas would be excellent to stay at. <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance, Rory.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Rory, That is a more complex question than perhaps you know. First, there are literally thousands of rental properties <BR>in Tuscany now----a very trendy thing. <BR>Also, Tuscany is a big place and you really need to narrow down the desired location to one of 4 general geographic <BR>areas. You can contact me directly if you wish and I will try to help. Please try to define the location, price range <BR>and ratio of bedroom to bath. Those will be the defining parameters.

Sally

We were in Tuscany a couple of weeks ago for the fourth time.We stayed at the Podere Villuza , a villa in a vineyard a couple of kilometers from San Gimignano.It was very nice, cost about 130,000 lire per day, less by the week.Karen Brown ,who is the author of various books on bed and breakfasts, etc.mentions this one and several others.The owner also will serve a delicious dinner and wine from the vineyard. We also stayed in San G. at the Hotel Cisterna in a room with a view for 150,000 lire per night. It is a very nice 3 star hotel, and it is fun to stay in the town and wander around the pleasantly emoty streets in the evening and the early morning.When it got crowded, we drove out into the countryside to see other beautiful small towns, castles, roccas, and churches.Do your homework before you go. We really used Fodor's Florence and Tuscany guide book, especially for the recommended drives into the countryside. We think the area around San G. and towards the Rocca D'Orcia area are some of the prettiest parts of Tuscany.

Dayle

This month's Conde Nast Traveler has an article on Tuscany and web sites for vacation rentals in all regions. <BR>There are many! <BR>

Denise

Hi Rory, <BR> <BR>I was in Tuscany in October and stayed in a villa between Poggibonsi and Castellini - in - Chianti. If you would like some details re places to visit/eat/shop etc. fee free to contact me. Which country are you from. USA?? I have a couple of web sites re villas. <BR>It was an absolutely fantastic week in Tuscany. WE got loads of help from Fodors Forum contributors, and managed to get some lovely ceramics with the advice of Susan the Navigator, yes Bob the Ns wife. How's the ceramics stress Bob? Thank you Susan.....I'm tickled pink with my purchases. Also found a manufacturer near Radda too. Perhaps worth a visit next trip Bob???? Denise

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Denise, We are thrilled that your trip <BR>worked out well. My " ceramic stress syndrome" is better now, thank you. We <BR>spent 19 days in Greece this year and the malady took on a new dimension--have you ever heard of "jewelery jive" <BR>The doctor says the tics will subside in time. Meanwhile, Susan is in New York with the girls doing some gift shopping while I am busy at my post trying to plan the details of our next <BR>adventure---2 months in Europe next spring. We have already booked weekly rentals in Andalusia and Provence, and <BR>are looking for places in Veneto and Austria. How is the shopping in these places? Please, don't tell Susan.

Ismael Libanio

Hi Rory, <BR>I saw your message about a place to stay in Tuscany. <BR>Le Meridiane ís a villa in Siena. It could suit you. <BR>My wife and I have been at Le Meridiane, for a week, in November, 97. <BR>We liked it very much. The accomodations are very clean, large (you can <BR>see the bedroom where we slept at the website), comfortable and has all <BR>amenities. It has all cooking facilities and we had many meals at <BR>home. There is a good view to the gardens with many olive trees and to <BR>a valley with a avenue. It is located at the outskirts of Siena, <BR>fifteen minutes by car to the Centro Storico and very near to the <BR>auto-route to Florence. There is a small grocery store nearby and a <BR>supermarket (COOP) a ten minutes ride near the railstation. <BR>The street, with many houses, ends at a cul-de-sac at Le Meridiane in a <BR>small plaza where you can park your car. We had a car (leased from <BR>Renault in Paris) and we've made many trips to the Chianti Region and <BR>south of Siena (Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Sinalunga, etc.). <BR>Twice we went to Florence (50 minutes by a no-toll auto-route). <BR>La signora Ana, who is in charge of the villa, is very helpful and <BR>lives in another house nearby. <BR>I looked for the website and I found it: <BR>http:www.rpilo.it/meridian/meridian.htm <BR>I'm a travel consultant in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais State) in Brazil <BR>and I'll be glad to give more informations. <BR>Ismael

Rory Mc

Hi and thanks everyone. My buddy has picked up the latest issue of Conde Nast Traveller and will be bringing it back after the holiday season. We're currently located in Macedonia (I work for the UN and he with another Agency) and so would travel (barring any postings to another country) from here. We're looking for an upscale villa (not too upscale) that offers the opportunity to "get away from it all". We do not know the region, nor whether we want coastal or mountain settings, and will be renting a car in Rome. I will do more research on those mentioned, but to those who've replied - Bob, Sally, Dayle, Denise and Ismael - thank you.

Denise

Hi Rory, <BR>You mentioned renting a car in Rome. <BR>We drove from Rome to Tuscany. It was easy, the hardest thing was to get out of the car park at the Rome Airport where we picked up from Avis. We did two or three laps before hitting the right road, onto the ringroad around the northern side of Rome, turn left and that is the road thru Tuscany. Easy as that. Beautiful drive,it took us about 4 hours to get to Poggibonsi, given that we drove straight up thru the walled town of Siena, making the poor pedestrians get out of the way, down the hill and out the other gate. We didn't plan to do this, it just happened. The funny part of it is, that we ended up where we wanted to be without any detours. We are not sure how we did that, but soon realised you don't drive inside the walled towns. Oh, apart from San Leo, where they insisted we do just that and not park on the outskirts. Wonderful place San Leo. Denise <BR>