Going to Tuscany area via car from Paris in Feb '03... do you think I should have it planned to the hilt, or is it OK to wing it a couple of nights and hope we see some agriturismo signs? Is that bad to &quot;pop in&quot; on the hosts of those places at the last minute, or are they OK with that? I just figured, since it's not high season...<BR>HELP!

I would wing it but I would also call ahead to make sure there was room at the inn. Or if you are just driving around, do stop in, it is a business afterall and if they have empty rooms and they are open they will be glad to see you. It is more fun to wing it and I think Feb. is a good time to try it. Have fun.

Winging it in February should be no problem (unless it is Saint Somebody day)! I would have no reservation (no pun intended) as I have done that several times myself. However I did learn it was better to find a place by about 3:00 or 4:00 0'clock in the afternoon. If you wait too late in the day, you don't get to enjoy the relaxation or the ambiance of the place you end up staying- which sometimes can be a real highlight of the trip.

Yay! Good... It just sounds like so much more fun than being locked into a reservation, especially when I really just want to wander. We will, of course, make a reservation if we plan on staying in Florence, I don't want to be stuck on the street! But I;m glad to hear they don't think it's rude to just 'drop in'...

TOPPEROONIE

The more planning you do, the better.<BR>

ttt

Yes, I say plan and research too, but just dont lock yourself in to reservations too far ahead. It is a whole new dimension to travel when you are winging it, it is much more freeing, but best done in low season, which is what you are doing. <BR><BR>Give us a report, it would be nice to have a report from someone who is not lock stepping in their own plans.

One thing you should research beforehand is whether places you might want to stay are actually open in February. I'm sure you will always be able to find lodging, but it wouldn't hurt to do a check to see if generally in the areas you're traveling there are agriturismo accommodations that are open in winter.

Oh, I m definitely making a 'short list' of area places I've researched, and I know we will be keeping travels within the Tuscany/coastal area. But I know there HAS to be plenty of decent family-run places who aren't on a website, and I would hate to rule out popping in to one of those. I like jj's recommendation to find a place earlier in the afternoon, to be able to get the most out of the atmosphere... I hadn't really realized that that's the wole point of why I'm trying to leave my options open! Thanks!