Italy: Homebase in Lucca Area
 

Hello,
We are planning to travel to Italy for 10 days at the end of March, and currently I am trying to put together, what hopefully will be a romantic itinerary. I have last 6 days planned to my satisfaction, however still having some hesitations about the first 4; preliminary we are planning to spend them in and around Lucca, Cinque Terre, Garfagnana, Tuscan Coast…
I am trying to decide which location to make my base: Lucca (inside/outside the wall)? Forte dei Marmi? Pietrasanta, Massa Pisana?, Partigliano?, some other place? - Can’t seem to make up my mind. After reading through the forums, I can see that there s a vast knowledge base here, so I was wondering if you can help me to resolve this small dilemma, suggesting a good, romantic hotel/base for the first 4 days in Italy
Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions

Hi,
How are your last 6 days planned? In the hills? In towns? Do you want the first 4 days in contrast to your last 6 days?
Will you have a car? Where do you arrive by plane?

For an itinerary similar to yours, we enjoyed a week's stay in Arcola at this comfortable B&B...

http://www.lapiccolaoasi.com/

Depends on your budget. While in Lucca we actually stayed at the Best Western. Nice rooms, great restaurant which included free breakfast and a bus stop directly in front to take you inside the walls and to the train station (for side trip to Pisa). Plus free parking if you plan to rent a car. We picked ours up in Pisa.
Lisa S

I would stay inside Lucca if you can solve the parking problem to your satifaction. Or, stay just outside at Villa Romantica. More to see and do being in town. Eat at Buca di San Antonio one nite for sure. Drive to Portovenere for your CT fix, if the boats are running that early. Lucca makes a good base for western Tuscany.

Another great day trip from Lucca is Viareggio. Beautiful coastal resort town. Ate at Restorante Romano, probably one of the best meals of the whole trip.
Lisa S

Thank you very much everyone for your responses:
baldrick - to answer your question, the last 6 days are: 4 days around Siena and Florence and last 2 days at Lake Como. We arrive to Pisa airport and fly out of Milan. I will rent a car upon arrival.
Thank you Lisa, TuckH and bobthenavigator
Any suggestion for stay in Lucca? bobthenavigator have suggested "Villa Romantica" I also heard nice things about "La Romea" and "Piccolo Hotel Puccini" Any thoughts?