I am interested in recommendations for a hotel in Tuscany. My wife and I plan on taking the train out of Rome, and would like to spend three days getting a flavor of Tuscany. (I know that three days is too little!) <BR> <BR>Many on this site have recommended Siena and Florence. We would like to rent a car to be able to see some of the countryside. <BR> <BR>Preferred hotel would be smallish, charming of course!, $200-250 per night is OK, $300 if really special. Since we probably will be taking a few car trips, being on outskirts or out of town is OK. <BR> <BR>Also- I just want to say this site has been very helpful and the feeback here has been fantastic. Thanks, Greg.

Greg, <BR> <BR>All of my experience in Tuscany has been in a villa - - not in hotels. <BR> <BR>But I have followed with great interest threads about one place in particular - - Locanda Amorosa - - and I have compiled some of the information available on this forum, here for you: <BR> <BR>From "relaxing, fun, romantic place to stay in tuscany" <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>Author: BOB THE NAVIGATOR ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 5/10/2001, 8:39 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: Hello Farrell, There are many places like that, but none better for that scenario than Locanda dell Amorosa near Sinalunga [www.amorosa.it]. The location is perfect for prime Tuscany locations but also parts of Umbria including Assisi. Very romantic. <BR> <BR>Author: Steve the Guide ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 5/11/2001, 1:19 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: I suggest "Villa di Piazzano" near Cortona. Relaxing, charming, romantic and... quite cheap. They have been talking about this places in this forum time ago. See www.villadipiazzano.com Ciao. <BR> <BR>=============================== <BR> <BR>I'll have to continue this post in a second and third parts <BR>

Continued as part two... <BR> <BR>(excerpted from) "hotels in rural tuscany/umbria" <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>Author: coco ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 2/16/2001, 5:20 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: Locanda dell Amorosa, outside of Sinalunga, is a very special place. They have a website but I don't have the www handy right now. It meets all of your requirements and the price is not THAT bad. Do take a look! <BR> <BR>Author: Nancy ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 2/16/2001, 8:10 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: Hi Kate, <BR> <BR>I just booked a room at La Suvera in Tuscany - can't personally recommend it because I haven't been there yet. That said, they have vineyard and an olive grove, so you can do wine tasting. They also offer cooking classes. <BR> <BR>The rooms look very nice - you can check their website at www.lasuvera.it. I think we got the last double room for the week of June 4 - 9, but they may still have the suite available. The place used to be the residence of a pope. <BR> <BR>Another option we looked at was La Massa, which looks absolutely beautiful. Unfortuantely, just out of our price range. They are a Relais & Chateaux property, so you can look them up on that website. <BR> <BR>Happy Hunting! <BR> <BR>Author: Rex ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 2/25/2001, 11:47 am ET <BR> <BR>Message: This is a case of a circular coincidence; I just stumbled across Locanda dell'Amorosa - - www.amorosa.it - - as a result of snooping on the www.amicidellatoscana.it site mentioned here earlier this morning. It does indeed look terrific! <BR> <BR>coco: if you come back to this thread, could you mention if you have actually visited there? (it sounds like you have, though you do not specify). I am recommending this place to someone (based solely on the web site). <BR> <BR>Author: kam ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 2/25/2001, 5:31 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: We have stayed at Locanda delle'Amoroso twice and it is absolutely charming and everything it looks like on the website. A bit pricey but well worth it. The food is great too. Another lovely little place is Tenuta di Ricavo near Castellina in Chianti. I think they have a pool but I never swim when in Italy -- too much else to do. <BR> <BR>From Ricavo you can drive the Chianti Road and visit Badia al Coltibuono to taste their wines and have a meal. <BR> <BR>Verrazano winery is another tasting room in Chianti. Most wineries in Italy do not taste at the winery but instead at the office of the wine growers association in one of the towns -- called an enoteca. Two very good ones in Montepulciano which is close to the Locanda. My third recommendation would be the little Villa Pambuffetti just outside Montefalco in Umbria. They have a pool and the views of Umbria are extraordinary from the town. Very few tourists! <BR> <BR>Continued in part three… <BR>

Continued as part three… <BR> <BR>Author: Richard ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 2/26/2001, 7:23 am ET <BR> <BR>Message: We stayed at a delightful hotel near San Gimignano for three nights while we explored the Chianti Region. It is Hotel Villa San Paolo and their website is www.sangimignano.con (their card says "con but might be typo for "com) Think it was about $150/night and had no restaurant other than breakfast but I would return there in a minute. You do need a car. This is a completely modern "converted" private old home. <BR> <BR>Everything is impeccable. <BR> <BR>Richard <BR> <BR>Author: coco ([email protected]) <BR>Date: 2/26/2001, 1:53 pm ET <BR> <BR>Message: To: Rex <BR>I have been to the Locanda dell'Amorosa numerous times over the past 10 years to dine--lunches and dinners/the food, ambience, staff all wonderful (I've seen the restaurant called "overrated" but not in my very picky book.) The entire property is stunning, starting with the drive up one of those picturebook cypress lined lanes. On several visits they have allowed me to peek into unoccupied rooms (this is one of my favorite travel past-times!) and I was drooling. I have occasion to need to spend the night near Asciano this June so guess where I'm staying, at last! I was pleasantly surprised by the rates on the website as I would have expected to pay more. <BR> <BR>======================== <BR> <BR>Hope this helps, Greg. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

We recently returned from Tuscany. we stayed at Locanda Dell Amorosa, Tenuta Di Ricavo and Borgo Argenina. We loved all three properties but our favorite was Tenuta Di Ricavo -- very charming, comfortable and spacious rooms. Our room had a large bedroom, living room area and a clean modern bathroom. Additionally, we had a deck with views of the Tuscan hillsides -- very beautiful! The property also has 2 swimming pools, gym and a great restaurant. The hotel is centrally located so day trips througout the Chianti region are easy. <BR> <BR>Locanda Dell Amorosa is also fabulous. Day trips to Multipulchiano and Pienza are a great way to spend the day. <BR> <BR>Borgo Argenina is wonderful too! This is a B&B. Check out Osteria Del Costello near Brolio Castle -- great food. We even took a half day cooking class here.

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