We are starting to think about a trip to Europe for the last 2 weeks of June 2006 (using up the last of our frequent flier miles before something happens to Delta). I am interested in Tuscany, but I am wondering whether it has become too popular and is therefore too crowded. Does it depend on where you go? Is late June less crowded? Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Hi Digby,

I visited in May and will again this Sept. Unless you are in Florence, or San Gimignano during the afternoon, I don't think you will find Tuscany "too crowded". It's mostly rural, so everyone is spread out.

Buon viaggio!

Hi D,

Well, if you don't go it will be less crowded for the rest of us.

Also, don't count on getting any flights from Delta. I've been trying to get to Rome for June 9 for about three weeks now - calling daily. I started to call 5 mins after midnight the day the flights opened up for June 9. All I could get was San Francisco, to JFK, to Paris, and nothing from Paris to Rome. I've given up and will buy tickets.

Florence & San Gimignano will be crowded, like Dayle said. Stay overnight in San G. & see it after 6:00 & berore 10:00 the next day. However, many sections of the fantastic Tuscany countryside will be all yours.

Stu Dudley

Stu - I hear you. I booked my FF ticket in and out of Rome (this Sept) a full year in advance - when I was concerned about Delta going belly-up. Sure glad I did. Still, it took me 8 months of trying before I was able to extend the return by 4 days!

The return is the flight from h***. Rome-Paris-Chicago-SLC. So I really don't expect to make all the connections - or to ever see my bag again......

Buona fortuna!

I tried to use my miles last year for June-ended up with May.
This year wanted Sept. (4 business class) and got early Oct. ATL-JFK-AMS-Milan. Had to fly RT Milan-we wanted Rome or Florence for at least one leg. No way!
Things are tougher than ever at Delta.

Hi J,

You might have had better luck booking after Labor Day.

Thanks for the info on Tuscany! We have a flight from JFK to Paris, and I'm hoping to book the return from Italy tonight at midnight. Wish me luck!

P.S. to Stu--Delta does have waiting lists for frequent flier seats. Have you tried getting on a list? We used our Skymiles to book a flight to Athens this summer, and got on a waiting list for a direct return. We had to return through Paris as we did not make it to the top of the list. However, we did have 5 fliers.

I just asked Yogi Berra, who replied, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too popular."

However, I'll be there in about 44 days.

>>>Stu--Delta does have waiting lists for frequent flier seats. Have you tried getting on a list?<<

Yep - I was on the waiting list for about 6 months for a trip to the Dordogne I'm taking 3 weeks from today. Finally gave up and booked something with perfect connections on dates & times I wanted. Originally they had me going to JFK, waiting overnight there, and then to Paris in the morning. Couldn't get home, however (hey that's not such a bad idea - stuck in France!!!). I didn't bother to get on the list for our June '06 trip to Rome & back from Cleremont-Ferrand.

Stu Dudley

We had the same problem only with United - any options to Italy involved about 4 legs - so just booked round trip to London, there were lots of nonstop options, and bought cheap tix on Ryanair to Rome.

I've been planning my trip to Italy, which includes Tuscany, for close to a year now. I wouldn't cross it off my list for anything!

It looks as though Maitaitom and I will be there at the same time - we leave in 43 days!

Tuscany is diverse and can be whatever you want it to be. What is it you want from Tuscany?

Yeh in Yogi's words "nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded"

Too popular. Hardly.
Unless you mean Firenze.
I love southern Tuscany and have spent weeks there on several occasions. It is a beautiful place as Stu Dudley can attest. But as I drive from place to place in southern Tuscany and marvel at the scenic beauty, I've been known to say, "but where are the people?"

p.s. both times I have been there have been in June.

Digbydog, the tourists go because it is beautiful. You go, forget about the crowd. I would have missed the beauty there is as also in Provence and the south of France if I listened to posters to avoid Les Baux, Gordes, Codes, Carcassone.

We went in August last year which is the busiest and hottest time of the year, we visited San Gim. Siena and Pisa the most crowded was Pisa and even that wasnt that bad, like other posters have said Tuscany is a very large area and places seem to get less crowded then my local shopping centre on a saturday afternoon. The one problem you may face is when you come to eat as places can get crowded and shut at specific times, but we didnt really encounter that problem either, if it does get a little crowded it's always good to find a bench or wall to sit on and people watch while eating the local icecream. Heaven.

"It looks as though Maitaitom and I will be there at the same time - we leave in 43 days!"

sherhatfield...
When you see a speeding car with three terrified passengers and a driver with a huge grin on his face, that's our car. We're basing in Spello (Umbria), San Quirico d'Orcia and Siena. If your in any of those places, the first mai tai (or Chianti) is on me.