Having approx. 2 weeks to visit in early September, does this sound like a good plan? We would like to make sure each place has restaurants within walking distance for dinner.
Florence - 2 or 3 nights (have visited before)
Radda - 2 nights
Montepulciano - 2 nights
Orvieto - 2 nights
Rome - 3 nights

We would fly into Florence, pick up a rental car there, spend the nights at the 3 places mentioned and daytrips from each. Drop off rental car in Orvieto - take train to Rome, where we would fly home from.
We are hoping that these 3 locations would be good bases for covering Tuscany/Umbria. Does that sound like a good plan? We don't like excessive crowds, and have already seen Siena, so probably won't go there.
Thanks ahead for any input.

ACK! The Unspaced Title Syndrome strikes again.

Fodor's, fix this. Please?

Hi Lucy,

Your plan sounds good. My only question is if you have already visited Florence, why spend 2 or 3 days there? Unless you REALLY love it.

I would take those days and spend them in Tuscany or Rome. Specifically add a night to Montepulciano, so much to see, and add 2 nights to Rome, much better than only 3.

No lodging rec for Florence.
Chianti - Hotel San Sano 4*, nearer to Gaolie in Chianti
Montalcino - Hotel Giglio, 3*
Orvieto - Palazzo Piccolomini, 4*
Rome - Hotel Giardino Rome, 2*

There are all hotels I have stayed in and have been very happy with. Hotel San Sano is very special in every way.

Buon viaggio!

Agree with Dayle. I'd skip Florence and add a night in Chianti and one in Rome.
Actually, I'd add one to Montepulciano and add another to Rome while skipping the nights in Orvieto.
I'm assuming that you arrive in Florence and leave from Rome. I like the idea of "working your way down" to Rome. I've done that the last couple years, but found that any less than three nights at a location has me packing too often.

Sorry for the no spaces subject. Not sure why this is a problem? Thanks Dayle - do these towns have a selection of restaurants we could walk to? Please forgive me, but are Gaolie and Montacino close to those towns I had thought of? Better locations? Also, should we skip Orvieto altogether?

Jabez - thank you. I keep reading a lot about Orvieto, but you seem not to find it worthwhile. Would you mind sharing why? Do you have an alternate suggestion where we might drop off the car and pick up a train to Rome?

Thank you so much to everyone for your generous help. This is the first time we plan a trip on our own, and your assistance is invaluable.
Lucy

If you wanted to stay relatively near Montalcino, I highly recommend Palazzo del Capitano in St. Quirico d'Orcia. Town makes a great base. It is near Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Monticchiello, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Saint'Antimo. Price is reasonable, good breakfast spread, staff is great, rooms are spacious, garden is perfect spot to enjoy vino after a day of hill-town tripping and the restaurant is terrific.

http://www.palazzodelcapitano.com/index_eng.htm

I have also included my blog site below that has more on Tuscany and Umbria. Have fun!

http://travelswithmaitaitom.typepad.com/travels/

I like Orvieto, but if i had to elliminate one, that would be my choice.
In Chianti I usually stay at an agriturismo, so I'm not much help concerning walking to a restaurant. I favor Montalcino more than Montepulciano. It's about 20-30 minutes away.Gaolie is about 15 minutes from Radda. Castellina and Greve are also nice alternatives.
Chiusi would work fine to leave you car and train in. You can also leave it at the Rome's airport with no problem. That's generally my preference.
You can also visit Orvieto, spend some time there and train in.It's about 1 1/2 hrs from Montalcino.
Lot's of options and lots of opinions .

I wouldn't skip Orvieto. I actually liked it better than Montepulciano. The Duomo there is fabulous, and the cave tour very interesting. However, you might not need 2 nights there. I'm not sure there is much in the surrounding area, so giving yourself 1 day/night there on the way to Eome is probably fine.

Sound like a great trip. I, too would add a day to Montalcino. Such a lot to see in that area. Also, I think you certainly would enjoy the Orvieto area. Be sure to see Civita-Bagnoregio. It's close by.

OK. So now I'm thinking:
2 nights in Florence
2 nights in Radda
3 nights in Montepulciano
1 night in Orvieto (or other drop-off point for car/train)
4 nights in Rome

Many of you are mentioning Montalcino as opposed to Montepulciano as a base? Any particular reason(s) why?
Once again, thank you to everyone for being so helpful!
Lucy

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FODOR'S, WILL YOU PLEASE FIX THIS MESS? ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LINE-BREAK ON / OR - AS WELL AS [BLANK].

Looks like they fixed it.

NO THEY DIDN'T. STOP POSTING TO THIS THREAD.