Hi Laura,

> Villa San Michele (but wondering if it is too out of the way--aside from the mega-$$!)<

It's only about 15 min by bus. I think they run a shuttle into town for the guests.

You might also like the Villa Aurora in Fiesole.
http://www.promhotels.it/hotels/villa_aurora/

Thanks again! I now am toying with the idea of staying at Locanda amorosa. Just ran across the name.
I am having a great time looking at ll the options....
Florence--center of town, in the middle of the city
Fiesole--San Michele, near to Florence, do not need a car, hang out and go into Florence
Tuscany--locanda amorosa to be in the countryside and just do a couple of day trips via car before going home..

All the options sound great to me!!! (A littel more time would be nice!)

How does one decide???

Laura

Villa Aurora looks fab as well!

L

I love the Tuscan hill towns as much as anyone and I hate to be a spoilsport, but have you thought of the extra time -- and time seems to be in very short supply -- that it will take you to get from the airport to Sinalunga? And will you be able to make it from Sinalunga back to the airport for a morning flight?

Mmmmmmmm.......ok. Good point.
So it looks like either we stay in town or else up in Fiesole. (Now if FLorence is 30 minutes from the hotel, how far is Sinalunga from the Florence airport??)
I guess I may have to see the countryside another time...?

Laura
P.S. THANKS SO MUCH for all the feedback. with the 4 night trip and 3 in Italy, not much time I know.

I've been following your posts and trying to help a bit. It seems to me like you under estimate (to put it mildly) the time it takes to change cities, get to and from airports, check in and out of hotels, get taxis or car hires, etc. From you various plans, I'm guessing about 1/2 of your 4 days in Europe total time will be spent in transport. My kindest suggestion is to re-think some part of your brief trip for maximum enjoyment.

Suze,
Thanks for your advice. I guess FLorence is closer to FLorence airport than any of the smaller towns we could stay in?
For now, we are going into Amsterdam when we arrive at noon on Sat--Day #1. Checking into hotel. Hopefully feeling good enough to spend the day sightseeing (may need short nap)--will sleep on plane. And spend the evening sightseeing/eating/ exploring. Sleep in Amsterdam.
Then to airport Sun am for 0940 flight. Arrive Florence at 1130, taxi to hotel. Check into hotel. Explore city. Museums close early at 1350 for Assumption holiday. So will not go on Sun.
Also closed on our Day 3 as it is Mon. Explore city some more.
On Day #4 will go to Ufizzi and Accademia.
Day #5 go to Florence airport EARLY and go back to Amsterdam.
Depending on flight will have 7 hours in Amsterdam airport before going home to US.
When we were in Italy last Nov we were in Rome for 4 nights and Venice for 2 nights and Amsterdam for last night. US to AMS to Rome. Flew Rome to Venice (for 0.01 euros!!). Then flew Venice to Amsterdam.
(LOVED VENICE!)

Pros and cons for staying in center of Florence. Pros--close to everything. Cons--crowded and hot, many shops may be closed...

Pros and cons for staying at Villa San Michelle in Fiesole--
PROs--in the hills, beautiful (I have heard), cooler by a few degrees, pool to relax after sightseeingin the heat, views of FLorence.
Cons--cannot walk out of hotel to sights, need shuttel from hotel (free and runs every 30 min)

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Laura,

>Pros and cons for staying at Villa San Michelle in Fiesole--
PROs--in the hills, beautiful (I have heard), cooler by a few degrees, pool to relax after sightseeingin the heat, views of FLorence.<

The reports on this forum about the VSM have been unanimoously raves.

Laura, Now hearing the details I'd stay in the hills (contradicting my earlier advise)! Since you've done this kind of whirl-wind trip before & enjoyed yourself, you can decide better than any advise I'm passing on (since I'm a die-heart slow-poke traveler). wishing you a fantastic trip.

Thanks AGAIN! If we can get the "deal" I am trying to get at VSM we will stay there....I am going to try to get in the mindset of just relaxing and not trying to do a "check list".....

I soooo appreciate everyone's suggestions/help!!!

THANKS!

Hi Laura

Florence is so wonderful you need to be centrally located to get all you can out of it. The Savoy is FANTASIC (and expensive) and very centrally located.