florence, lake como, tuscany
Jul 24th, 2006 | 08:15 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14
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florence, lake como, tuscany
My husband and I are working on a 10-12 day trip to florence, lake como and tuscany in late september/early october. We would love to hear about:
HOTELS - recommendations for superb hotels. we have decided not to go "budget" on hotels for this trip, so we'd love some WOW recommendations.
DAYS - recommendations for how many days to spend in each place?
FOOD - anyone have any personal faves of places to eat?
TRAVEL - best way to get around? drive/train/bus etc...
SITES - what are your favorite "can't miss" things to see and places to go?
Thank you in advance everyone! It's my first trip to Italy and I can't wait.
HOTELS - recommendations for superb hotels. we have decided not to go "budget" on hotels for this trip, so we'd love some WOW recommendations.
DAYS - recommendations for how many days to spend in each place?
FOOD - anyone have any personal faves of places to eat?
TRAVEL - best way to get around? drive/train/bus etc...
SITES - what are your favorite "can't miss" things to see and places to go?
Thank you in advance everyone! It's my first trip to Italy and I can't wait.
Jul 24th, 2006 | 08:37 AM
#2
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Hi. My husband and I recently took a trip around Tuscany, and I'll try to summarize in bullet points:
- Hotels: I was not lucky on my choices, so sorry, nothing to recomend.
- Sites: now this is a hard one to summarize... let's see:
* We first stopped in Pisa, and spent the night there. I strongly recomend against it and this is the only thing I regret about the entire trip - if you really want to see the tower, enter the city, stop by the tower and then leave. I did not like the city at all.
* On the following day, we headed off to Cinque Terre - I know this is not exactly in Tuscany but it's SO WORTH IT!!! Honestly, it's one of the most impresseive landscapes I've ever seen. Stop at Rio Maggiore and walk through la via del'amore - it's sooo beautiful.
* We spent a couple of hours in Cinque Terre and went to Florence, stopping at Lucca on the way. Lucca is a very charming small city and is really worth the stop.
* I'm not going to extend myself much in Florece - it's just great, I loved it.
* After a few days in Florence, we went to Sienna. Now this is where the trip for me started to become magical - the country side of Italy is just so beautiful - you drive through charming villas, beautiful hills and if you are into wine (which is our case) , the region from Florence to Sienna is the Chianti region. There are a lot of properties that you can stop and visit on the way , have some wine, some of them have restaurants - there's no need for indications here, literally, there are a lot of them on your way.
* Sienna is also a very charming place, but we spent most of our time driving through the chianti region. A bit to the south of Sienna is another great region, where the city of Montalcino is - the Montalcino region is also magnificent and for me, the famous brunello di montacino is the best italian wine. I STRONGLY recomend you visit the city of montalcino and if you have to choose a property to visit, go to Castelo Banfi. They also have a restaurant there, but it is necessary to book in advance.
* Also at Montalcino, there is a huge fortress inside, that if you climb the walls, you have a great view of the countryside...inside this fortress, there is a very nice wine bar - do spend sometime there as well...
* As for restaurants, I have to say, we stoped at a lot of different places on the road, and I really can't remember all the names, but I do remember that I liked them all!!!
* The last thing: I really recomend that you take a car and drive through Tuscany... for me , the best part of the trip was to be able to "get ourselves lost" around Tuscanny...being able to stop anywhere, even if it was because it was a breathtaking sight...
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helped!!!!
- Hotels: I was not lucky on my choices, so sorry, nothing to recomend.
- Sites: now this is a hard one to summarize... let's see:
* We first stopped in Pisa, and spent the night there. I strongly recomend against it and this is the only thing I regret about the entire trip - if you really want to see the tower, enter the city, stop by the tower and then leave. I did not like the city at all.
* On the following day, we headed off to Cinque Terre - I know this is not exactly in Tuscany but it's SO WORTH IT!!! Honestly, it's one of the most impresseive landscapes I've ever seen. Stop at Rio Maggiore and walk through la via del'amore - it's sooo beautiful.
* We spent a couple of hours in Cinque Terre and went to Florence, stopping at Lucca on the way. Lucca is a very charming small city and is really worth the stop.
* I'm not going to extend myself much in Florece - it's just great, I loved it.
* After a few days in Florence, we went to Sienna. Now this is where the trip for me started to become magical - the country side of Italy is just so beautiful - you drive through charming villas, beautiful hills and if you are into wine (which is our case) , the region from Florence to Sienna is the Chianti region. There are a lot of properties that you can stop and visit on the way , have some wine, some of them have restaurants - there's no need for indications here, literally, there are a lot of them on your way.
* Sienna is also a very charming place, but we spent most of our time driving through the chianti region. A bit to the south of Sienna is another great region, where the city of Montalcino is - the Montalcino region is also magnificent and for me, the famous brunello di montacino is the best italian wine. I STRONGLY recomend you visit the city of montalcino and if you have to choose a property to visit, go to Castelo Banfi. They also have a restaurant there, but it is necessary to book in advance.
* Also at Montalcino, there is a huge fortress inside, that if you climb the walls, you have a great view of the countryside...inside this fortress, there is a very nice wine bar - do spend sometime there as well...
* As for restaurants, I have to say, we stoped at a lot of different places on the road, and I really can't remember all the names, but I do remember that I liked them all!!!
* The last thing: I really recomend that you take a car and drive through Tuscany... for me , the best part of the trip was to be able to "get ourselves lost" around Tuscanny...being able to stop anywhere, even if it was because it was a breathtaking sight...
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helped!!!!
Jul 24th, 2006 | 08:49 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Good for you--you will have fun.
I would fly into Milan and home from Florence or Pisa. You are better off starting at the lakes because of weather. I would get a car for the first 8 days or so. I would allocate 3-4-3 by destination--even more in Tuscany if time allows.
Here is where I would stay--not the most expensive but the most convenient.
Como--Grand Hotel Menaggio
Tuscany--Locanda della Amorosa
Florence---Lugarno
That makes a great trip---buona fortuna !
I would fly into Milan and home from Florence or Pisa. You are better off starting at the lakes because of weather. I would get a car for the first 8 days or so. I would allocate 3-4-3 by destination--even more in Tuscany if time allows.
Here is where I would stay--not the most expensive but the most convenient.
Como--Grand Hotel Menaggio
Tuscany--Locanda della Amorosa
Florence---Lugarno
That makes a great trip---buona fortuna !
Jul 25th, 2006 | 10:13 AM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14
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yes we are going to Como - somehow i got it in my head that we had to travel to and from milan to get to Como - fly into Milan from NYC, then up to como and back to Milan to train or fly to Florence. Then rent car in Florence to scoot around to Tuscany etc. PLEASE tell me if I'm going about this all wrong - I'm just shooting in the dark here - any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Jul 25th, 2006 | 11:25 AM
#7
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,801
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The only trains that go to towns on Lago di Como (Varenna or the town of Como itself) must pass through Milano on their way to Lago di Como.
If you are arriving at Malpensa airport, you have a number of options, none of them really fantastic for getting to Lago di Como but here goes:
1) Rent a car
2) Hire a driver (100 euro minimum)
3) take a bus (there are just two a day)
4) take the Malpensa Express train toward Milano, and make a complicated train switch (search Fodor's messages for the details)
5) take the one hour bus to Milano Centrale and buy a train ticket for a town on Lago di Como, and then perhaps a ferry to the town where you are staying . (3 hours travel time but a no brainer and not expensive)
From Lago di Como, you can either take the train via Milano to Firenze OR you can rent a car in the town of Como on the lake and drive to Tuscany. The first option is good if you plan to spend a few night is Firenze. The second option is good if you plan to stay in the Tuscan countryside and daytrip into Firenze.
Do not fly to Firenze from Milano. It is good advice to fly out of Firenze or Pisa back home (and you can drop off your rental car in either of those towns).
Hope that helps.
If you are arriving at Malpensa airport, you have a number of options, none of them really fantastic for getting to Lago di Como but here goes:
1) Rent a car
2) Hire a driver (100 euro minimum)
3) take a bus (there are just two a day)
4) take the Malpensa Express train toward Milano, and make a complicated train switch (search Fodor's messages for the details)
5) take the one hour bus to Milano Centrale and buy a train ticket for a town on Lago di Como, and then perhaps a ferry to the town where you are staying . (3 hours travel time but a no brainer and not expensive)
From Lago di Como, you can either take the train via Milano to Firenze OR you can rent a car in the town of Como on the lake and drive to Tuscany. The first option is good if you plan to spend a few night is Firenze. The second option is good if you plan to stay in the Tuscan countryside and daytrip into Firenze.
Do not fly to Firenze from Milano. It is good advice to fly out of Firenze or Pisa back home (and you can drop off your rental car in either of those towns).
Hope that helps.
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Jul 25th, 2006 | 12:08 PM
#8
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,082
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We got back from Bellagio just a few weeks ago and stayed both at the Hotel Florence (had reservations for 3 nights, wonderful room with 2 balconies but no a/c) and the Grand Hotel Serbelloni (changed our plans midstream and decided to stay in Bellagio 2 extra days so we moved here). The latter is in the WOW category and we really loved it. We had a gorgeous room with a terrace overlooking the lake, definitely 5*deluxe. I thought Bellagio was the perfect base for Lake Como because of the scenery and the great connections for the ferries. On logistics, we arrived in Malpensa and had a hotel driver pick us up and take us to Bellagio. Didnt need a car at all. Then at the end of our stay, we had the hotel driver take us to Lecco where we picked up a rental car and got on the autostrada to Verona. Worked out very well.
Jul 25th, 2006 | 02:06 PM
#9
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,748
Likes: 0
Just for the sake of beauty and convenience, I would stay in Bellagio. The biggest WOW and the biggest price tag will be at the Serbollini. However, a great suite with view at the Belvedere will give you a very WOW and not inexpensive experience.
Florence.... if I could stay anywhere, it would be at the Hotel Art. Very swank with a very good location.
And where to stay in Tuscany depends on where you want to be in Tuscany. For a visit like yours, I think that southern Tuscany would suit... Pienza or San Quirico d'Orcia. There is a spa hotel nearby at Bagno Vignoni that looked kind of WOW to me. Especially the pool, where I watched through the gate as a lone swimmer paddled about the therapeutic waters one night. Even in October, you could have this experience.
Days: 3 in Bellagio, 4 in Florence, 4 in Tuscany... just a rough outline according to my own likings. Or 4, 4 and 4 would be very nice.
Food: Silvio in Bellagio and Bilacus. They also have a swank dining room at the Hotel Villa Serbolloni.
If you are looking for expensive in Florence, someone else will have to help you. My favorites there are all on the cheap, neighborhood side of things. But top of line are Enoteca Pinchiorri ... oh, I forget the names; that's one, anyway.
In Pienza, Latte d'Luna. You will have to reserve. In Bagno Vignoni, La Palapa. Neither is fancy, but both are great.
Best way to get around: BEST is relative, but if you have cash to spend, a car and driver from Malpensa to Bellagio would be delightful. Then make your way back to Milano as best you can (driver or ferry to Varenna and train to Milan) and train from Milan to Florence. Rent a car when leaving Florence and drive into your Tuscan location of choice.
SITES: Villas and gardens from Bellagio. Florence: what do you like? Art? Shopping? Churches? Museums? We have it all and more! Are you foodies? The markets are great, especially Mercato Centrale.
From Pienza, I suppose the best sites/sights are the Abbey at San Antimo, Bagno Vignoni itself, the lovely countryside, maybe a trip to Siena (Wed. is market day, closed by lunch time), Montalcino and Montepulciano.
Florence.... if I could stay anywhere, it would be at the Hotel Art. Very swank with a very good location.
And where to stay in Tuscany depends on where you want to be in Tuscany. For a visit like yours, I think that southern Tuscany would suit... Pienza or San Quirico d'Orcia. There is a spa hotel nearby at Bagno Vignoni that looked kind of WOW to me. Especially the pool, where I watched through the gate as a lone swimmer paddled about the therapeutic waters one night. Even in October, you could have this experience.
Days: 3 in Bellagio, 4 in Florence, 4 in Tuscany... just a rough outline according to my own likings. Or 4, 4 and 4 would be very nice.
Food: Silvio in Bellagio and Bilacus. They also have a swank dining room at the Hotel Villa Serbolloni.
If you are looking for expensive in Florence, someone else will have to help you. My favorites there are all on the cheap, neighborhood side of things. But top of line are Enoteca Pinchiorri ... oh, I forget the names; that's one, anyway.
In Pienza, Latte d'Luna. You will have to reserve. In Bagno Vignoni, La Palapa. Neither is fancy, but both are great.
Best way to get around: BEST is relative, but if you have cash to spend, a car and driver from Malpensa to Bellagio would be delightful. Then make your way back to Milano as best you can (driver or ferry to Varenna and train to Milan) and train from Milan to Florence. Rent a car when leaving Florence and drive into your Tuscan location of choice.
SITES: Villas and gardens from Bellagio. Florence: what do you like? Art? Shopping? Churches? Museums? We have it all and more! Are you foodies? The markets are great, especially Mercato Centrale.
From Pienza, I suppose the best sites/sights are the Abbey at San Antimo, Bagno Vignoni itself, the lovely countryside, maybe a trip to Siena (Wed. is market day, closed by lunch time), Montalcino and Montepulciano.
Jul 26th, 2006 | 06:20 PM
#10
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
We are doing a similar trip leaving from LAX to London very late Sept. and spending two nights in London.
Flying into Milan from London first of Oct. 2nd and original plan was to go to Bellagio (Italian Lake District) for 3 nights. We researched how to get there and the easiest seemed to be to take Malpensa express to Milan Centrale and then catch train for Varenna. The trip from the airport to the Milan Centrale is about an hour. Check schedules on Trentalia. Then the train to Varenna is a hour then you catch a boat to Bellagio that takes 15 minutes. Or hire a taxi cost 150.00 Euros. Our next move was to Siena for 2 nights and then to San Quirico d'Orcia for 2 nights, back to Florence for a night and then on to Venice for 3 nights.
After doing extensive research, we have not decided to leave out Bellagio and go direct from Milan to Florence for 2 nights, spend 3 nights in Siena, 2 nights in San Quirico and then spend 4 nights in Venice.
Best travel info: Hire the driver for Lake Como. Train from Milan to Florence, rent car in Florence and drive to Tuscany. Siena is a cool base, as is San Quirico. Try to get as much time in Tuscany as you can. There is so much to see - so many ancient hill towns to discover and tons of wine bars called Enoteca's. There are many wineries. Ask your hotel to make a reservation for you for a tasting or for lunch. Many wineries are closed on weekends, so keep that in mind.
Seems as though we will in the same area at the same time. We might actually run into each other in one of these locations.
Hotels in Bellagio - the Belvedere.
Hotels in Florence - Hotel Astoria
Hotels in Tuscany - trust Bob the Navigators opinion.
Have Fun!
Karen
Flying into Milan from London first of Oct. 2nd and original plan was to go to Bellagio (Italian Lake District) for 3 nights. We researched how to get there and the easiest seemed to be to take Malpensa express to Milan Centrale and then catch train for Varenna. The trip from the airport to the Milan Centrale is about an hour. Check schedules on Trentalia. Then the train to Varenna is a hour then you catch a boat to Bellagio that takes 15 minutes. Or hire a taxi cost 150.00 Euros. Our next move was to Siena for 2 nights and then to San Quirico d'Orcia for 2 nights, back to Florence for a night and then on to Venice for 3 nights.
After doing extensive research, we have not decided to leave out Bellagio and go direct from Milan to Florence for 2 nights, spend 3 nights in Siena, 2 nights in San Quirico and then spend 4 nights in Venice.
Best travel info: Hire the driver for Lake Como. Train from Milan to Florence, rent car in Florence and drive to Tuscany. Siena is a cool base, as is San Quirico. Try to get as much time in Tuscany as you can. There is so much to see - so many ancient hill towns to discover and tons of wine bars called Enoteca's. There are many wineries. Ask your hotel to make a reservation for you for a tasting or for lunch. Many wineries are closed on weekends, so keep that in mind.
Seems as though we will in the same area at the same time. We might actually run into each other in one of these locations.
Hotels in Bellagio - the Belvedere.
Hotels in Florence - Hotel Astoria
Hotels in Tuscany - trust Bob the Navigators opinion.
Have Fun!
Karen
Jul 27th, 2006 | 10:08 AM
#11
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Everyone - thank you SO much for your guidance and info. I wanted to share what I've booked so far.
AIR - we are flying from New York via Lufthansa (through Frankfurt) into Milan and out of Florence. We bought our tix through American Express's 2-for-1 plan, so the availabilities were somwhat limted. I would have never considered this route, but I have heard that Lufthansa is wonderful, so I am happy for this result.
HOTELS - We are reserved at the Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio for 3 nights, and then Villa Deste for 1 night. Would have done all 4 nights at Serbelloni but they were sold out for our final night. Besides, now we can say - "well, when we vacationed at villa deste...." HA!
We have 2 reservations in Florence - The Grand Hotel and the Westin Excelsior. We will likely stay at the Grand, but I would love to hear if any of you have thoughts or opinions either way.
We have also booked 3 guided tours of Florence through Context Travel: http://florence.contexttravel.com/index.php?sess=ct We are seeing the Uffizi, Duomo Complex, and 3 hours worth of Michelangelo.
Still need to figure out Tuscany, and whether we'll stay in a hotel there or just do day trips from Florence. For this trip I think I'd rather do day trips so we don't have to pack and move again, but please let me know if this is a huge mistake.
SO glad to have air and hotels booked. Whew!!
AIR - we are flying from New York via Lufthansa (through Frankfurt) into Milan and out of Florence. We bought our tix through American Express's 2-for-1 plan, so the availabilities were somwhat limted. I would have never considered this route, but I have heard that Lufthansa is wonderful, so I am happy for this result.
HOTELS - We are reserved at the Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio for 3 nights, and then Villa Deste for 1 night. Would have done all 4 nights at Serbelloni but they were sold out for our final night. Besides, now we can say - "well, when we vacationed at villa deste...." HA!
We have 2 reservations in Florence - The Grand Hotel and the Westin Excelsior. We will likely stay at the Grand, but I would love to hear if any of you have thoughts or opinions either way.
We have also booked 3 guided tours of Florence through Context Travel: http://florence.contexttravel.com/index.php?sess=ct We are seeing the Uffizi, Duomo Complex, and 3 hours worth of Michelangelo.
Still need to figure out Tuscany, and whether we'll stay in a hotel there or just do day trips from Florence. For this trip I think I'd rather do day trips so we don't have to pack and move again, but please let me know if this is a huge mistake.
SO glad to have air and hotels booked. Whew!!
Jul 27th, 2006 | 11:08 AM
#12
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 0
If you are spending 4 nights in Florence and then another 4 allocated to Tuscany, I would definitely stay in a lovely town somewhere in Tuscany. Then you can drive around on your own and you won't have to worry about driving in and out of the city on a daily basis, which IMHO is much worse than moving once. Then you drive the rental car to the airport when it is time to leave.
