4 Days in Florence + side trips, where to stay?
 

Dear seasoned travellers,

My wife & I (late 20s) will be travelling to Florence for 4 days in September weekend from Rome. While in Florence, we'll likely be doing day trips to Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca & Pisa. I'll be leaving for Cinque Terre after Florence.

We like good food and sight-seeing, therefore looking for suggestion on which area should I be staying in Florence.

Much appreciated!

Are you planning to do these day trips by public transport?

kybourbon, yes most likely.

Lots of side trips - what about Florence? We spend at least 4 days in Florence each time we go to Italy. I suggest you spend one day seeing San Gimignano and Siena and make a brief stop in Pisa on your way to Cinque Terre. The train has a stop in Pisa. Spend the rest of the time esperiencing Florence. It is worth it.

Sorry, I forgot the "where to stay" part. The center of FLorence is quite compact and completely walkable. Nearby are the train station and the bus station. Stay around the Duomo or near the river as those locations are very convenient for day trips. If you provide a bit more information on type of hotel, budget, etc., folks can suggest hotels.

My budget would be USD150 per night for two. Doesn't have to be hotel, happy to stay in b&b as well.

Thanks

Here's a fabulous, historic place to stay in the historic centre of Florence:

http://www.hotelscoti.com/

Check out the amazing internal painting of this place

We love the Hotel Pendini. Right up the street from our favorite restaurant Buca Mario.

Yes on the aforementioned visits except Lucca.

"My budget would be USD150 per night for two."
I think it will be tough to find a hotel for that price.

Try the Relais Cavalcanti. We liked it a lot. Right in the center of Florence.

150 USD is only about 112 EUR (today). There are also per person per night hotel taxes of 1-5 euros depending on the hotel's star rating. One star hotel, 1 euro. Two star hotel, 2 euros. Etc.

Try the Hotel Bavaria.

http://www.hotelbavariafirenze.it/?act=home

Hotel Bavaria looks nice. Have you stayed there, Jean? The rooms look huge.

My brother and his wife stayed at the Bavaria in a triple room with their adult daughter. No raves, but no complaints either.

We stayed at Hotel Scoti (see above) - us in a dble, 3 kids in a triple.
Can't recall the cost off-hand, but I'm sure it was in or very close to your price range

I loved the Hotel Casci. Great location and the people who own and run the hotel are fabulous.
Priced within your budget

yes, do leave yourselves enough time for Florence itself. you can also do a very nice 1/2 day or evening bus trip up to Fiesole and enjoy the view over Florence. the bus goes from the piazza san Marco at the top of via Cavour, and takes about 1/2 an hour. you can combine it with a visit to the Monasterio San Marco in the piazza, which only opens in the mornings, but early, at about 8.30 when there is hardly anyone there.

for trips to Siena and San Gim, the good news is that the bus station is next to the main railway station [SMN] so if you stay on that side of the town, you'll be convenient for both.

Some of these hotels don't have AC and you might need it in Sept.

I've stayed at this B&B which is between the train station and the Duomo so it would be convenient for day trips. It has AC, breakfast, mini-fridge.

http://www.allorobb.it/

I recommend you spend 3 days in Florence itself, and just day trip on one day.
We did this bus tour - I'm normally not a fan at all of tours, but this one was efficient and enjoyable for the limited time we had to see the rest of Tuscany.
http://www.walkaboutflorence.com/tou...t-tuscany-tour

Someone suggested also to see Pisa on your way to Cinque Terre. That would work well, too. It doesn't take long to see the Field of Miracles in Pisa, if that's the main thing you're interested in.

But believe me, you will want to spend as much time as possible in Florence.

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