Libby_Nash

We are planing a trip for early Oct. and would love advice on which one people would reccommend. We are going to Tuscany for a week and would like to go one of these two places for 3-4 days before returning back to Rome. Advice appreciated.

artlover

I haven't been to Elba, but Portofino is beautiful--(but I'd recommend not having a car there--parking is very expensive).

Huitres8

To be exact, Portofino is in Liguria, not Tuscany. Elba is in Tuscany and is easible accessible via boat from La Spezia or Livorno. I have been to both places and would recommend Elba as it is very charming with a variety of things to do on the island. Portofino is in an exclusive enclave and you can see everything in about 2 hours. If you have the time to go to Elba, I would recommend it as it is truly magical there. We stayed in lovely Portoferraio for 3 days and saw the 2 Napoleon villas (one is out in the "country"), window-shopped, ate, toured the maritime museum, etc. I would recommend the Ape Elbana hotel (**) in Portoferraio, (Salita C. De' Medici, 2. Telephone 0565.914245 Fax 0565.914245) located in the center of town, close to everything, and included breakfast daily. They also had a restaurant on the premises and served wonderful dinners. Buon viaggio!

Libby_Nash

Thanks so much! We will check it out.. We have been to Italy several times (Tuscany, Almalfi coast, Rome , Florence, etc.) but we are always ready to hear good advice from people that have been there done that.

andy

Libby-

We have been to both places also-- and I loved Portofino much better-

The Napoleon sites can BOTH be done in one afternoon....

While Portofino is like lifestyles of the Rich and Famous-
A place to stat there is HOTEL SPLENDIDO- way up on the hill if money is no object...
\
But they also opened up a smaller boutique hotel right in town...the HARBOR is GORGEOUS!! The shops are great-
We loved it!!!

Here is the link for BOTH hotels:

http://www.splendido.orient-express.com/

Huitres8

You wouldn't have to stay that long in Elba, but it is at least worth the visit and get-away. Elba is only about 1 hour away from the coast, yet you feel as if you are in another world.

Perhaps you could save Portofino for another time when you are traveling down from Genoa or to the Cinque Terre, as it is along the way. I spent an afternoon in Portofino, which was plenty of time to see and do everything there, IMO. There are a lot of tourists there (in Portofino). Local Italians vacation on Elba so I really felt like I was one of them. I enjoyed every minute of my stay in charming Portoferraio and felt worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Rome and the larger Italian cities. Either route you decide, you will have a nice time. Who couldn't in bella Italia?!?

Libby_Nash

Gosh, I can't decide

marge20

One consideration for staying long in Portofino is the 'exclusivity' feeling. While there we couldn't help feel that we were on the outside looking in, not part of the action. We were glad to have only a short visit there, and preferred other locations in Italy where more people of more varied economic status are, where mixing with the local people was possible, and where people and services were more relaxed and accessable.

richardsonsnm

My wife and I stayed at Splendido for four nights a couple of years ago. this is a hotel that is so exclusive you never sign a tab your entire trip, they just know who you are. The patio dining is to die for, linguine and lobster over looking the mediteranean. If you want to RELAX, this is the place. The town is TINY, lots of tourists. They have lots of great trails all over the area if your into walking. Very expensive, but worth it!!

Alice_Twain

ELBA! Or, even better Isola del Giglio.