I am looking for a hotel within 30-40 minutes train ride from Florence, also good for touring Tuscany hill towns. Any suggestions?

Siena is the only choice with any decent onnections. But, you really need a car to see Tuscany.

I am planning on having a car, we just do not want to spend a lot of time in Florence. The major sites and move on to good wine and food.

check ou Hotel David in Florence. You will be pleasantly surprised

>...we just do not want to spend a lot of time in Florence. The major sites and move on to good wine and food.<

You can't find good wine and food in Florence?

The food and wine is why I don't want to stay in Florence but get out in the coutnry to drive around Tuscany. We are planning on having a car. Is Siena easy with a car?

Siena is not only not "easy with a car", it's impossible with a car. (You have to park outside the walls.)

I would appreciate some alternatives, such as a hotel near Siena or Lucca if it is not possible by car. Hotel David looked nice. I did not mean that Florence did not have good food, but was referring to my preference of maybe more rural tuscan food. I am sorry I have not been to italy before. Really am looking for help from you all.

Here are suggestions for accommodations between Florence and Siena (Chianti), for them you need a car:

http://www.tuscanweb.com/property/?ID=4146

http://www.tuscanweb.com/property/?ID=4488

http://www.tuscanweb.com/property/?ID=4485

Hope it helps.

How long are your staying in the Tuscany area? If it's a week, why don't you think about renting an apartment or villa? Staying on in a vineyard/olive farm is fabulous.

Thanks for the links, I will check them out. I am planning on about 5 days in Tuscany on a 2 week trip.

It's been a few years, but we stayed in Sienna at Palazzo di Valli, a bed and breakfast that is just a 15 minute walk from one of the main gates(the Porta Romana, I think) to the city. It is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and the bus stops right outside the gates. It has large airy rooms and views from every window, good parking,walks into the groves and vineyards, and outside the bustle of the city.