My wife, our 2 year old daughter and I are planning to visit Tuscany next year.

We will first stay 3 nights in Rome and then rent a car and move on to Tuscany. We have 5 nights to spend there.

I think I like south Tuscany more, and I have seen this retreat near Pienza http://www.lasaracina.it/ which I think is a good option.

But I am not sure if I should stay the 5 nights in the same place, or like 3 nights in the south and the last 2 in the north. I don´t know either which town or area will be best to stay.

Any help?

Sorry, I forgot to add that we will be travelling in September

Pienza is ideally located--Montecchiello and Montepulciano to the west; Montalcino and San Quirico d'Orcia to the west . Arrange your rental from the Hertz office adjacent to the Chiusi-Chianciano rail station. A train at around 7:30AM from Roma Termini gets you there just after it opens at 9AM.

We absolutely loved San Quirico. And perfectly located to visit osther southern Tuscany villages. We rented an apartment there. Quiet town but still some good restaurants. And flat so very walkable.

carolsc

You'll find plenty of stuff to do & see near La Saracina (we've stayed there twice - for 4 days each). We've also spent about 6 weeks in San Qirico - and never ran out of places to visit. We're going back for 2 more weeks next Sept.

Just stay in the one location.

Here is something I posted earlier.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-171368-2.cfm

Stu Dudley

If you want to operate from 1 or 2 bases, stay close to an expressway which you will need to reach daily targets with reasonable speed. The side roads-- all 2 lane roads--, are slow going.

Thank you all for your replies.

San Quirico es great, and I really want to visit there. But I think it is too far south from the rest of the villages. That´s why I think Pienza is great.

Renting a car in Chiusi (instead of Rome) seams like a good choice, I will really consider it.

I know that staying in just 1 place is better, but my problema is that I also like the Chianti region, so I am split between the north and the south. That´s what makes me doubt.

>>San Quirico ........is too far south from the rest of the villages. That´s why I think Pienza is great.<<<

Get a better map. San Q is 15 mins west of Pienza. Perfectly located. You'll get to Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, Montalcino, and many other sites quicker from San Quirico than from Pienza. But traveling and exploring all the scenic countryside & villages between Montepulciano and Montalcino is a delight. Either San Q or Pienza would be fine (Pienza can get quite tourist infested mid-day).

>>I also like the Chianti region<<

Have you visited Chianti before?

Stu Dudley

Stu, I have been reading your reviews and I love them. Please, I will need your further help.

After Tuscany, I will be meeting with a relative in Charleville-Mezieres (near Sedan, in the Champagne region in France). We will be staying for 4 nights there (maybe in a chateau). We will be arriving there from Belgium by car.

So, I thought we could spend 2 nights either in Epernay or Reims before going to Charleville-Mezieres. But reading reviews, I got the impression that neither Reims or Epernay are very interesting. That´s why I am considering adding 2 days in north Tuscany, or visiting Antwerp in Belgium.

I know you have visited most of those places. Could you make a recommendation for me?

Thanks!!

We stayed for 3 nights in a "old" luxury hotel just outside of Epernay last year, before moving on to 2 weeks just outside of Nancy. We dined in Epernay twice & explored it for a few hours too. We spent a half day in Reims about 4 years ago. I think the Val d'Orcia, Chianti, and Antwerp are more interesting - but it's a tad unfair to compare a city like Antwerp with the countryside like the Val d'Orcia. I wasn't that impressed with Epernay - but Reims is more interesting - but still not as interesting as Antwerp or Bruges, IMO.

If this was my trip, I would spend as much time in the Val d'Orcia as possible. Visit Siena, San G, Orvieto, Pitigliano - in addition to all the wonderful villages around the Val d'Orcia. We've spent around 7 nights in Chianti - and we much prefer the Val d'Orcia.

Do you have my 20+ page Italy itinerary - with a heavy dose of Tuscany?

Stu Dudley

Daniel: Just want to add my "two cents" for the Val d'Orcia, which is fabulous - first time stayed in a house near san Quirico and fell in love with it.

Later have always stayed (four times) in one of the houses at La Foce. I like the looks of La Saracena, and I would trust Stu Dudley's opinion on any travel at all, and I know how much they love the val d'Orcia. They are not wrong. I was a French major, love Paris a lot and all of France, but if I have to choose, it would be southern Tuscany.

Read his itineraries and have a wonderful time!

Thank you Stu and Taconic.

Stu, I have not stayed in the chianti region, just visited the outsides of Florence. That´s why I would like to have a look.

But I guess you would not recommend it. As I also get you didn´t like Eperney nor Reims so much, so I may remove them from my itinerary. I will spend as much time as I can in Val d'Orcia.

Any final recommendation of a place to stay in Val d'Orcia? I liked La Saracena, but am not sure if it is the best option.

Sorry, I forgot to mention... Stu, I don´t have your Tuscany review yet, but would love to have it. Have already sent you and e-mail requesting it. Hope you reply.

I have not received any e-mails for my Italy itinerary - only a few for my various France ones. Try again

[email protected]

I liked Reims - but not Epernay. I've visited many countryside areas in France & Italy that were more interesting than the Champagne area, IMO. I would only recommend Champagne if you were really big-time Champagne sparkling wine enthusiasts & want to visit several caves.

La Saracina is a lovely small hotel/B&B that is in the countryside about 10 mins by car from any other commerce. Great for relaxing and touring the area by car. However, with a 2 YO I might want to be somewhere near shops so that I would get some baby food, snacks, cheese for picnics, etc. San Quirico would be a perfect place. There is a small grocery on the main street in town and a larger Co-op just a 10 min stroll from the center of the old town section. I would stay here:
www.palazzodelcapitano.com/ and dine at their restaurant at least once, and at the "other" restaurant on the corner just down the street (details in my itinerary)

Stu Dudley

Fonte Bertusi is where I have stayed many times and absolutely love. It is a farmhouse converted into apartments, each with a private patio. The location is perfect- right between Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia. The property and views are stunning.

Thaks Zoecat, liked that one.

Stu, just sent you an e-mail again. I think the Palazzo del Capitano is good, but I prefer to stay in a more quiet area. Like La saracena, Fonte Bertusi or an agriturismo. Our baby is not a problem at all, we have travelled with her a lot and been to similar places. In fact, we prefer an isolated place.

I didn't notice what time of year you are going, we have loved our time over nye week.

We loved http://www.santantonio.it just outside of montepulciano.

Our pics of the area are here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57639164500734