Hey, we need help with travel plans to Italy for 3 first time couples. We are traveling in May and want to fly into Rome for a few days, go to Umbria or Florence?, and then up to Florence for a few days and finish in Cinque Terre (which town and where). Should we drive or train. Probably will have about 8 nights total to split. Definitely would love to hit all these spots (esp. Umbria) but feeling a little overwhelmed and under budgeted. Any wonderful secret hotels??? In any of these locales? Just need a jump off point and we are huge FOODIES. Thanks for the help in advance.

OOPs, meant to say, Umbria or Tuscany..... THanks

Fly into Rome, stay a few days. Rent a car on your way out. Drive through Tuscany, stay S of Siena. See all you can for as many nights as you can. Turn in car in Florence, 1 night / day there is enough in my opinion (others will strongly disagree). Train to Cinque Terre, stay in Vernazza. Then train back to Rome or wherever to fly home. I love Tuscany! I have not yet been to Rome but we travelled N/Central Italy this summer and averaged under 100 euro a night in decent places. Used this board, rick steves book, www.tuscany.net and the lonely planet guide. www.sangiapartments in San Gimignano was great. Hotel Dali in Florence is supposed to be nice and inexpensive (we switched to something with airconditioning at the last minute). www.cinqueterre.it and rent a room there (pay extra for a balcony or view if you can). Enjoy!

I like driving because of the freedom it allows you to visit many of the neat towns in Umbria and Tuscany.

In Umbria, we stayed at Hotel La Badia near Orvieto. It is a 12th century abbey with a great restaurant on the premises. Good place to stay for day trips to places like Todi and Assisi.

On the way to Siena, be sure to stop in neat places like Montepulciano, Pienza (fantastic pecorino cheese) and Montalcino (Brunello country).

In Siena, we stayed at Palazzo Ravizza. If you book there, get a garden view (quiet with Tuscan views) over the back garden. It also has a good restaurant. One Siena restaurant that gets rave reviews here and other places is Cane y Gatto (spelling), Great drive is San Gimignano to Volterra (twisting scenic road, and Volterra is a cool place with Etruscan museum, old ruins and a nice park to picnic). With a car you can find lots of fun picnic spots to help with that budget (nothing better than a little wine and cheese to make a good day better).

In Cinque Terre we stayed (and are staying again in early October) is Villa Margherita in Levanto (not technically in the CT, but a very, very short train ride to CT towns). It is only 85 euros per night. Nothing fancy, but a good breakfast, nice little garden and friendly owners who can tell you the walking shortcut to the train station and restaurant recommendations. Have fun.

Let me see if I have this right.
You have 6 people--you will need a van which can be costly. You want to see 4 destinations in only 8 days, and that includes Rome. And, you are on a budget.
My advise is to arrive in Rome, get a van, and drive to south Tuscany or centro Umbria for 3 nites. Drop your van in Florence--stay for 2 nites. Train back to Rome for your last 3 nites. That will be tight--Rome deserves 5 days, Tuscany a week and Umbria another 3 days. The CT can be on your next trip. You really need 13 nites to see all 4 destinations.
Buona fortuna !

I guess I didn't read very carefully (that will teach me to multi-task. As my wife says, "Multi-tasking is not really a guy thing.&quot.

I definitely agree with Bob on his advice and drop CT on this trip. South Tuscany would definitely be a nice base.

Either that or drop a couple and add about five days.

You mihjy benefit from checking out www.charmerelax.com or www.eurocheapo.com

Best wishes,

Rex

E Roz, which of the two sangiapartments in San Gimignano did you stay in? The Daiana or the Alice?