Help! …any input would be greatly appreciated. 2 of us are traveling to Italy for 10 days at the end of April. The boyfriend prefers to stay away from the cities as much as possible. We are looking for inexpensive, quiet, clean accommodations, (with views when in Tuscany / Umbria). We fly into Florence and out of Pisa. The rest is up in the air.

Here’s what I’m thinking thus far. We arrive in Florence 2PM, flight recovery and acquaint with Florence, then settle in for the evening. Do we take taxis, buses, or train from the airport into Florence? No Florence accommodations set yet – any recommendations for inexpensive, quiet, maybe south of the Arno?

Next day – train to Venice for a day trip – is this possible? Can we ride the train to Venice for the day and back to Florence that night? Would like to at least ride in a gondola and get some Venetian glass. Should we get rail tickets in advance?

Next day, leave Florence via train to Siena OR Arezzo and rent a car for approx 6 days in Tuscany / Umbria. Everyone here seems okay with AutoEurope or Avis, right? Should I secure the rental in advance?

Looking at staying in the Tuscan area for 3 nights, then Umbria for 3 nights (all seem to want a 3-day minimum stay). I’ve looked at so many apts/rooms recommended by Fodorites that seem really expensive – like $150 USD and up per night for 2 – is that about right? Any recommendations for less expensive, centrally located places that we could still use as home-base? Found 80 euro per night in Montepulciano - is that too far from the Chianti region for a day trip with tastings? What about recommended biking routes through Tuscany or Umbria for a day? Or is biking a bad idea?

Final day we must head to Pisa (accommodations recs?) to fly out EARLY the next morning.

I know I’m asking A LOT of you, but there is so much info out there, I’m really getting overwhelmed! I actually screamed out loud today – total frustration (mainly from the bf’s changes/limitations/wanting more info before handing over the cc to get confirmations).

Grazie in advance.
Jan Clark
SW Colorado

Hi Jan,

If you want to see Venice on this trip, why not fly into Venice? Spend at least 2 nights. Venice is not like any other "city" - it's quiet, no cars, and there is so much more to it than gondolas and glass. I would NOT recommend it as a day trip. Check trenitalia.com for train schedules.

If you do fly into Florence, at least get advance tickets to see Michelangelo's David in the morning before you leave town. Even non-artsy people should see this masterpiece.

Where to stay in Tuscany and Umbria depends on what you want to do, besides wine tasting. Most people here will recommend southern Tuscany around the Montepulciano/Pienza area. For Umbria, maybe Gubbio, Spello, Todi or Orvieto? Depends on what you want to see and do!

Buon viaggio!

Hi jans,

Good advice from Dayle, >If you want to see Venice on this trip, why not fly into Venice? <

I strongly recommend against a daytrip to Venice. It will be too rushed.

Visit Florence and Tuscany and see Venice on another visit.

>The boyfriend prefers to stay away from the cities as much as possible. <

Is there any reason why he doesn't want to see at least two of the three greatest repositories of Western art, architecture and culture?

Thank you Dayle for the quick post. We already have the flights into Florence out of Pisa. The bf doesn't even want to go to Venice (or any other *city*) - it took everything to convince him into being okay with a day trip. Would you suggest skip Venice all together?

I would like to see David, thank you for the ticket-in-advance tip.

The bf is good with sight seeing and tasting wine. Kind of plan to meander each day, would like to work in Chianti, St. Gimi., Cortona, Assissi, Orvieto. He wants the R&R aspect.

Concerned about $$$ for rooms. Would anyone out there suggest the adventurous game of no reservations, pop in somewhere we like, look at the rooms and then secure it for 3 nights?

Thank you again!

Hi ira - glad to see your input here! The bf is not a city guy! I know, what was I thinking? I was trying to fit Venice in because who knows when/if I'll get back there. (6 years since my last holiday)

His reasoning?? hmm...he don't need no culture! Just kidding - he's not into art at all and he doesn't do well in crowds. He wants an R&R vacation from all rat races and since he's paying for the trip, I'm TRYING to accommodate

Looks like Venice for a day is out - bummer for me.
Thanks again!

Personally, I would eliminate Venice on this trip...I eliminated it from two trips because of logistics.

As others have said, Venice is not meant to be seen as a day trip. Besides, the cost of the train, eating and gondola ride won't be cheap and it sounds like you are on a tight budget.

Fly into Florence, stay two nights. There is so much to see and enjoy. Rent a car and drive to Umbria. Others on this forum will be able to recommend a town. Spend your three days there.

Then switch back to Tuscany. We loved the Castellina

Sorry, I hit the wrong button.

The Chianti area is great. We stayed at the Hotel Belvedere San Leonino in Castellina and loved the property...it sits in the middle of vineyards. If you want to go to southern Tuscany, Il Giglio in Montalcino might be in your price range...cute in-town hotel. Then drive to Pisa for your last night.

I would definitely make all hotel and auto reservations...not only for the security of having a room but you can also shop for location and price easier than once you are there.

Do a search here for budget accommodations. Also try Venere.com and Tuscany.net for hotels. We used AutoEurope several times...the prices and services were good.

Good Luck.

Thank you Lorac (and others) for your posts. I met a woman last evening who said don't even try to do Venice in a day trip - so with that and all your input, I've nixed this from the plan.

Note: Received a telephone reply from an email inquiry I sent. Luigi was very kind and accommodating even offered to pick us up at the train station 20 minutes from their facility!

There is so much information on this site, thanks to all of you experienced, information sharing travellers!

Ciao!

Hi jans,

Fly into Florence. Stay 3 days and 2 nights to get over jet lag.

Rent car. Visit Tuscany. Return car in Pisa. Fly home.

>Would anyone out there suggest the adventurous game of no reservations, pop in somewhere we like, look at the rooms and then secure it for 3 nights?<

If you are planning to stay somewhere for 3 nights, I suggest that you decide where and book it before you go.

If BF has all of these constraints, why are you doing the planning?

Wouldn't it be easier if he got online?


Hoping that this works out.

Check out www.malvarina.com for your Umbria lodging--let the page load until you see the British flag at the top, then click on the flag for the English version. This property is about a 15-minute drive outside Assisi and is in a rural area. If you click on the Gallery, the second room from the top is the one we stayed in--it was the best. Be sure to have dinner in their dining room at least one night. I didn't see their rates on the site, but it should be less than 150 USD/night.

I would pick up your rental car at the airport in Florence and not even bother with the train since your getting a car. Buses run to Florence airport and a taxi is about 10E. If you haven't driven in Italy befoe I wouldn't recommend starting at a rental agency office inside the city of Florence. The airport is on the outskrirts. Get a very good map of each region you will be in, Tuscany & Umbria. The drive from Florence will be enjoyble especially if you drive through Chianti and if you end up staying in that region. Road S222 is known as Chiantigianna, very scenic drive with plenty of towns, villas, vineyards, farms , etc. Definetly reserve your rental car before you go. It's not uncommon to see much higher rates when you rent at a rental counter in Italy. Plus you could compare rates via internet.

Since R&R is a primary focus I would also advise that you book your hotels before departing. This way your not taking time away from your surrondings when your there searching for a hotel. Knowing you have one reserved assists that piece of mind to obtain your R&R objectives. The hotels & especially the rooms are much smaller then US standards. Yes , prices are fairly high for some cities, but you should be able to locate something below 100 E in the areas your looking for. Except possibly Florence, finding something decent below 100 will be a little challenge . Perform a search here in Fodors and you'll see what others have recommended previously.

If you want to bicyle around for a few hours in a day that would be very enjoyable, especially if you end up staying somewhere where there are a few towns or hamlets close by. I have changed my mind about a full bike tour as I have studied the faces of the bicylist I have passed on the roads and nearly all of them never have smiles usually quite the opposite. The hills & roads of Tuscany & Umbria can be quite challenging.

You have picked some great towns to visit. A suggestion on Cortona. Arrive between 8 & 10 am if there is any fog in the valley. Don't follow the road to the piazzas in town but take the steps that eventually lead to the top of Cortona. You'll be above the fog and you'll have some stunning views over it & the valley. Also no one is really out & about up there yet so it is kinda of peacefull & serene. Slowly make your way down to the center of Cortona as the morning passes. Many people never exlore the upper areas of Cortona and miss this pretty area.

Hi again Jan,

Yes, Venice would be out as a day trip.

My best advice to you is to detach yourself from the uncompromising bf (at least for a couple weeks) at some point in the future so you can go to Italy and do and see the things YOU want!

You deserve it.

Your decision to skip Venice for a day trip this time is a good one -- you will have more than enought to see and do, and you don't want to give Venice short shrift, or spend a lot of time just getting from one point to another. I would rent your car the morning you leave Florence from Auto Europe -- you can pick it up at the Avis location near the train station and it is very easy to get out of Florence from there. We just did that in November and it worked beautifully. Auto Europe is doing a discount right now too, I believe.

This is by far the best place for advice - grazie to all of you for posting to my msg.

I will secure my rental car and lodging prior to my departure, actually have a reservation confirmed in Tuscany region -will provide info after our trip as to thumbs up or not.

Ira, you seem like an experienced traveler and we may need those 3 days to get over jet lag vs camming in Venice (which is now out). The bf is computer challenged and I work from home so it was *easier* for me to do the planning - yeah right! And, this is a gift from him for my 40th bday


Betsy, thank you for the Umb lodging lead -I'll be checking it out. It sounds good thus far.

Lorenzi, huge post, good info. Nice to know that FLR $$ may be higher than outlying areas - thank you. We are fairly athletic and live at 8800 ft, but we don't want to be known as wincing cyclists, will keep that mental picture in mind. Looks like we need to fit Cortona into the plan.

Dayle - I'll keep the detach in mind as Plan B

KT, thanks for the discounts now tip for a rental car.

Grazie to all !