Italy & France
Jun 21st, 2010, 02:33 PM
#21
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I definitely recommend keeping Paris in your itinerary and would do the following
Paris - 5 days
Fly to Venice
Venice - 3 days
Train to Florence - 3 days
Rent a car, stay in Tuscany - 5 days
Turn in the car, train to Rome - 5 days
Fly home from Rome.
You are unlikely to have a problem with the language difference but it's always nice to learn "greetings" in French and Italian.
You can search this forum for recommendations for hotels and restaurants and for sights to see at each stop. I have just one suggestion: for a first trip it is nice to stay in a hotel rather than an apartment so you have a concierge or desk clerk to help you with directions and reservations, etc.
Have fun planning your trip - it sounds wonderful!
Paris - 5 days
Fly to Venice
Venice - 3 days
Train to Florence - 3 days
Rent a car, stay in Tuscany - 5 days
Turn in the car, train to Rome - 5 days
Fly home from Rome.
You are unlikely to have a problem with the language difference but it's always nice to learn "greetings" in French and Italian.
You can search this forum for recommendations for hotels and restaurants and for sights to see at each stop. I have just one suggestion: for a first trip it is nice to stay in a hotel rather than an apartment so you have a concierge or desk clerk to help you with directions and reservations, etc.
Have fun planning your trip - it sounds wonderful!
Jun 21st, 2010, 03:02 PM
#22
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Up to you about staying in a hotel vs. an apartment, but the apartments I've rented do have concierges and helpful owners, many who live in the same building. (For Paris, check guestapartment.com).
At a Tuscan farmhouse, the farmers are living right there on the property and will be happy to help you plan your day, so there is no reason not to rent an apartment with a kitchen instead of just a room.
At a Tuscan farmhouse, the farmers are living right there on the property and will be happy to help you plan your day, so there is no reason not to rent an apartment with a kitchen instead of just a room.
Jun 22nd, 2010, 07:33 AM
#23
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For the Tuscany portion of the trip. Are there any farmhouse Inns with in house restuarants that anyone could highly recommend. Figures, I'm into the history and architecture of Italy and my wife is drawn to the Tuscan country sides... Damn, that Tuscan Sun movie... LOL
Jun 22nd, 2010, 07:47 AM
#24
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Rural Tuscany is filled with important history and significant architecture. You need to get a serious guidebook for the region (not a pop tourist guide like Rick Steves, etc) and read up a bit to plan an itinerary. There is a Michelin Green Guide solely for Tuscany and the Italian Touring Club also publishes a guide called "Authentic Tuscany" which might be an excellent place to start. Both are available from Amazon.
You are better off using Tripadvisor for recommendations for farmhouse reviews in Tuscany because not only do few posting here stay in them but the Tripadvisor reviews are current -- which is important because someone's highly recommended place of two years ago may have since started construction, plus its always nice to see a real range of opinions. (I don't know if you missed the link I gave you above to a highly recommended farmhouse stay with a restaurant.)
On Tripadvisor, search for "specialty lodgings" to find agriturismi and farm houses. Make note of whether people talk about enjoying dinners there served by their hosts.
But first you should look at some serious guidebooks for rural Tuscany and figure out what you really want to do while your there. Then you'll know which area would make the most convenient base for your preferred activities. Not everybody likes to do the same thngs in Tuscany, and people have different corners of it that are their favorites for beauty or towns.
You are better off using Tripadvisor for recommendations for farmhouse reviews in Tuscany because not only do few posting here stay in them but the Tripadvisor reviews are current -- which is important because someone's highly recommended place of two years ago may have since started construction, plus its always nice to see a real range of opinions. (I don't know if you missed the link I gave you above to a highly recommended farmhouse stay with a restaurant.)
On Tripadvisor, search for "specialty lodgings" to find agriturismi and farm houses. Make note of whether people talk about enjoying dinners there served by their hosts.
But first you should look at some serious guidebooks for rural Tuscany and figure out what you really want to do while your there. Then you'll know which area would make the most convenient base for your preferred activities. Not everybody likes to do the same thngs in Tuscany, and people have different corners of it that are their favorites for beauty or towns.
Jun 22nd, 2010, 07:50 AM
#25
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Here are the Tripadvisor reviews for Il Piombaia near Montalcino
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...o_Tuscany.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...o_Tuscany.html
Jun 22nd, 2010, 10:49 AM
#27
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peterh,
This is another farmhouse, Agriturismo Marciano, that you may want to consider based on its reviews. It is quite close by historic Siena, making it convenient to a whole range of important historic sights as well as the most photographed wine country. The farmhouse produces its own wine and olive oils, and cooks meals for its guests:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ECK_RATES_CONT
This is another farmhouse, Agriturismo Marciano, that you may want to consider based on its reviews. It is quite close by historic Siena, making it convenient to a whole range of important historic sights as well as the most photographed wine country. The farmhouse produces its own wine and olive oils, and cooks meals for its guests:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ECK_RATES_CONT
