Less than 10 days for the takeoff.Here is the itinerary:
Arrive rome on tues am
wednesday Scavi tour in PM
thursday Borghese 9AM
Monday Get car and Hello Tuscany
Orvietto 2 nights
Montalcino 2 nights
Siena 2 nights
Sunday return car to Florence
Accademia PM sunday
Tuesday Uffizi in PM
Thursday train to Venice
Monday AM fly hone

Hotels :
Panda in Rome
Rosati in Orvietto
giglio in Montalcino
Brucchi in Siena
B&B peterson in Florence
Locanda Barbarigo in Venice

Should we visit Ostia Antica?
Guided tour in Vatican?
Appreciate any and all inputs.
thanks,Nono

HI
Is this a first trip to Rome?
You'll have 2 days plus the arrival day, which, if you are flying overseas, is usually not a terribly productive day. I would not take any more time from seeing Rome to go to Ostia on this trip. A guided tour of the Vatican is very useful, or else there is an excellent acoustiguide. Don't go with one of the group tours that the Vatican offers. I went on one and the guide's English was incomprehensible.

I'd also return the car in Siena and just take the bus to Florence, driving in Florence is nightmarish. If you are spending the two days within Siena, you can return it when you arrive there.

I have a long file on Rome; if you're interested, email me at
[email protected]
buon viaggio

I like your plan.
You'll see a lot of Italy,yet you have a good number of days at the bigger cities.
We did not have a guided tour at the vatican (we did have a free one at St. Peter's),but we will next year.It's hard to appreciate the museum as much without one.
We didn't have time for Ostia (7 nights),but will likely visit it next year.
Have a great trip!

Elaine : I have 6 days in Rome.It is my 1st trip there.
My husband and I are in our early 50's and we're planning on relaxing between sightseeings.Expresso ,gelato and vino every day .
Thanks Jabez!

Great itinerary. Elaine made an easy mistake which I almost made also, until I realized there are many more days in there you didn't specify.
I didn't understand if you were getting the car in Rome when you leave or where, but I'd also agree it might be best to return the car in Siena. We spent a couple hours in Florence the first time trying to get to our hotel. We even knew exactly where it was -- but you "couldn't get there from here", and we kept crossing the river then having to turn the wrong direction.

See the other current thread about Ostia Antica. I say do it, although I'd do Tivoli and Hadrian's villa as a daytrip first.

Sorry for the confusion.I only included what I've reserved .I intend to plan the rest of Rome according to the weather.
There was no choice of returning the car in Siena since it falls on sunday and only Florence was available.

sorry for my oversight
yes, with six days Ostia might make a nice change along the way

here is the current thread on Ostia
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34536226

Hi nono,

Looks good. I would put Ostia Antica into the itinerary.

When you get to Florence, hubby can drop you off at the B&B Peterson (don't try to stop on Via G Monaco, you will be run over by buses: Park on Via Citadelle) deliver the car and take the bus back (or walk depending on where the car drop off is).

Bus schedules and a very good map are at http://www.ataf.net/Default_EN.asp

Interesting ! I have stayed in 3 of those hotels--good choices. I see no reason to change hotels in Tuscany. I would add a day to Montalcino as your base location and see Siena the day you transition to Florence. Drop the car at Florence airport on Sunday and taxi to hotel. Nice trip--we were at most of the same places last year this time.

Irap and Bob:
I have planned this trip with info from your trips.
I am relying on Fodor's and am very grateful for all who post or comment or give their opinion.
I am a gleaner on Fodors and SlowTrav sites.
Again thanks to everyone.
Nono

Should have edited.I meant espresso and Ira.

I stayed in Brucchi this past September. The outside facade of the hotel doesn't give much to desire but the overnight rooms are very unique, it seems that you are going back to the past, full of antique furniture, frescos, etc, and the view from the overnight rooms are breathtaking. Location is great, walking distance to Il Campo and many restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries etc.

You are welcome, nono

Hi nono,

A couple of thoughts... just got back from Paris and Italy with a friend and we didn't find driving in Florence difficult. Just keep that sense of humour!

Stayed at the Palazzo Brucchi in Siena and I'm afraid our experience wasn't the same as Carlos'. A tad difficult to find and on a major "road" (Siena-style) although the rooms face away from the road. Cars, scooters, trucks zoomed by constantly. Our "green room" was, uh, very green and just okay. No glorious views from this room. Bathroom was just okay as well. If we hadn't got lost twice that day (once in Volterra, the second time finding the Romana Portal) and been so tired, we would have left. Now, Signora was very charming - I like to think of her as an impoverished countess, making new friends at her little B&B.

Sorry I can't be more positive about the Brucchi.

Linda

Thanks Carlos

nono: The Giglio in Montalcino doesn't have their English version up yet. How much are you quoted for the 2 night? Thanks Marge

i would spend 6/7 days in one tuscan location...preferably at an agriturismo and visit all of your tuscany sites from there (including siena - where i would spend only one day trip). it's much better than taking the time moving to 3 different hotels, it's cheaper and you will feel at home...in short, a more authentic experience with the most efficient use of time.

Marge the rate quoted is 85E/night.
Linda sorry about the green room
Walkin next time in Tuscany we'll stay put.
Again thanks to all.
BTW i never got a confirmation from the Borghese galleria.I may try to get there w/o.
Nono