We are flying into Milan, April 2000, and renting a car. We have 7 days before we arrive in Rome. We are thinking the first leg should include Venice, Florence and the Tuscan countryside. We're trying to decide how to arrange our accomodations. Stay in the cities to experience them or stay in the countryside and travel in. We are also concerned about parking the car! Any advice will help. <BR>Elaine

We just did a similar trip. Stayed at the Al Gambero in Venice. Small rooms, but recently remodeled and very nice. Great location also. Priced about $110 per night double with breakfast. If you need more details, email me. Parking in Venice is at the Tronchetto and you need to take all bags with you. We stayed in a villa in Siena for a week, but I would recommend Florence so you can be there at night. The villa in Siena was nice, good price, but limited ambiance. Again, if questions, email me. Just got back two weeks ago.

We stayed in a farmhouse about 15km outside of Siena for 2 glorious days earlier this month. The owners are both artists and they have done much of the remodeling of the house theirselves. If you are interested, their email address is: [email protected] <BR> <BR>

You're right country vs city is a tough decision. We couldn't decide and did some of both. It's great to be right in the city to pack in a full day of sight seeing and then escape to the country to just relax and enjoy the quaintness of small hilltowns at a slower pace. We stayed just outside of Greve at Vigniamaggio and it was FANTASTIC. Many of the others we met there drove into Florence for the day which was very doable. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the countryside or the cities...as always time is probably an issue. Have a wonderful holiday. There are so many great places to see that you won't be disappointed. <BR> <BR>Arlene

For the museums and churches of Florence you must stay in it. For the beauty of Tuscan countryside you must stay, I suggest, in a villa in the outskirts of Siena just like what we did last year. This villa was 15 minutes of the historic center. If you are interested in more informations, ask me. Enjoy your trip, Ismael

We also stay at Villa Vignamaggio in Greve and travelled to the cities during the day. The only problem with that is that travelling back to the hotel at night through winding roads was not a soothing experience. Also, Villa Vignamaggio is to be enjoyed. I would recommend staying there for a weekend - it has spectacular views, amazing grounds and facilities, and the rooms are incredible. If booking, ask for apartment #21 - it's a loft room with a 2 person jacuzzi in an abnorally large bathroom.

For visiting Tuscany in general a very good web-site is: <BR>http://www.nautilus-mp.com/tuscany <BR>Hundred of wouderful places. The area of Pienza, Montalcino e Bagno Vignoni can be a suggestion. Ciao. <BR>

Thanks for all the good info. It looks as though we'll stay in Venezia for 2 nights, then onto Firenze 2 nights and <BR>then roam the countryside. Our traveling companions want to wing it and and find pensiones each day. It might be too risky in 2000. What do you think? <BR>Elaine

For the cities in 2000, I would always make sure I had a reservation. The small pensiones in the Tuscany were booked even this past Oct which is still high season in Italy so I would also try to have reservations for the countryside.