My husband and I will be renting a car at the end of our stay in Florence, then will be staying at La Costa in Montefollonico before our return in Milan.<BR><BR>We will then spend one night in Milan (no hotel booked yet) before heading to Malpensa airport.<BR><BR>Do you advice that we return the car near Montefollonico before heading up to Milan and taking the train, or should we drive to Milan from Montefollonico?<BR><BR>Our flight isn't until 1:30 in the afternoon, so I'm hoping that we'll have a little time to play there (not much).<BR><BR>Thanks!!

Drive to Milan. There are few cities for which it might be said &quot;easy to get around there by car&quot; - - and Milan is one of them - - perhaps uniquely so.<BR><BR>Naturally, there will be the cost of parking overnight there, but I have to think that any other plan will cost you more, once train and taxi fares are added in.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

Hola ! I am speaking from Salamanca.<BR>If you already have the car--and are not taking off until that late--I would drive to either Santa Margherita or Orta San Guilio for your last nite. The former is a 2 hour drive to Malpensa, the latter is :45. I find Milan very hard to drive in--at least to the tourist stops. Good luck ! Tell me about La Costa when you get back.

Hello Bob the Navigator, we chose La Costa because of all of your recommendations! It looks beautiful - I promise to give a full report when we get back on May 11.<BR><BR>Where in Orta San Guilio do you recommend we stay? It's one of the lake towns, correct?<BR><BR>Is your recommendation that we drive to Orta San Guilio, spend the night there and then drive to the airport?<BR><BR>Sounds much better to me than actually spending the night in Milan -- something I was trying to avoid (since it's a Monday and everything will likely be closed).<BR><BR>Thanks, Lisa

Bob, I found a past post from you about www.orta.net I'll search there. But you if you have further recommendations, please share! thanks, Lisa

Good--you have the site. My pick is always Hotel Orta--best location in town.<BR>We have stayed there 3 times--a 3 star at about $120, but get the half board for about $160 and enjoy the great dining room over the water. Yes, drive there.You have to access it thru Borgomanero and then up--should be 3.5 to 4 hours from La Costa. Make sure you have good input and map to MLP. It is not hard--just pay attention. Allow an hour the next day--plus car return time. You will actually pass MLP on your way north--that should help. <BR>Can you tell it is raining in Salamanca and I am bored--back to Madrid domani.

<BR>LisaSusan, I'll be at La Costa in Motefollonico (on Bob's rec, of course) on May 1st and 2nd!! What about you?<BR><BR>We're going to drop our car in Arezzo on the 3rd and check out the antique market (first weekend of every month). The train to Venice. Looks like its about 45 minutes from MF to Arezzo.<BR><BR>Our paths might cross...

kt_tak ~ our paths will definitely cross. We'll be arriving at La Costa on the May 2. Where else are you going? Is that your first stop in Italy? Please tell me more about the antique fair -- very curious.<BR><BR>Bob -- rain in Salamanca must be better than the rain here in North Carolina!! I thank you tremendously for all your posts -- your expertise is most appreciated.<BR><BR>I promise you all a detailed report upon our return. Leaving a week from tomorrow ... on my husband's birthday!! What a present <BR><BR>

<BR>LisaSusan, we are also leaving a week from tommorow for our honeymoon. Thanks to everyone for all the help here!!<BR><BR>Trip looks like: <BR>3 nights florence<BR>Pick up car<BR>3 nights Tuscan country (2 at La Costa)<BR>Drop off car<BR>3 nights in Venice<BR>4 nights in Paris<BR><BR>If you do a search on Arezzo you'll find some threads on the antiques. Supposed to be one of the biggest markets in Italy! Saturdays are less frenetic than sundays, apparently.<BR><BR>Are you going to eat at La Costa? (Montefollonico is a tiny town and I'm not planning on driving after dinner so I think we'll try it on the 1st and then hit La Chiusa on the 2nd for a big splurge.)<BR><BR>You'll find me in the garden with a glass of wine between 5-8pm...<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Re Montefollonico - A meal at LaChiusa is one of the culinary treasures of Tuscany, a splurge, but one that will stay with you for years to come. After dinner you should ask to go into the kitchen and meet Dania Lucherini, one of the few female Michelin starred chefs in Italy. If you have time, there is a wonderful young woman in town, who makes ceramics. Her name is Mariella Spinelli. She has a small workshop in what I believe was once a chapel; she shows her work there as well. She does not have regular hours because she has two young children and opens around their schedule...it's great. I can't find her address but I'm sure your hotel could find her and call ahead, which is how we got to her last year. I hope that she is still there.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions!!<BR><BR>kt-tak, what's your name? Our itineraries are quite similar!! We fly into Milan on 4/27 and head straight into Venice.<BR><BR>Venice - 2 nights<BR>Florence - 3 nights<BR>La Costa - 3 nights<BR>Milan - 1 night<BR>France - 4 nights<BR><BR>I'll definitely look for you -- and congratuations on your upcoming wedding! My husband and I got married a year and a half ago -- went to Tahiti on our honeymoon. I guess this Italy trip is almost our second honeymoon!!<BR><BR>I'll keep an eye out for you. Perhaps we can meet up for a drink one afternoon.<BR><BR>Hadn't decided yet on the restaurant at La Costa -- due to figure that out this week.<BR><BR>Bobthenavigator - any suggestions on dinner in Montefollonico.<BR><BR>Suecarol - thanks for the bit on LaChiusa and Mariella (what a pretty name!)!! My husband and I are intending for this to be a rather casual trip -- how formal is La Chiusa??<BR><BR>thanks, Lisa

<BR>Thanks to everyone for info on Montefollonico which has not made it into any guidebook.<BR><BR>Ditto on the question of how formal La Chiusa is, but hey at those prices I will wear whatever I like.<BR><BR>LisaSusan, my name is Matthew. Keep an eye out for me on May 2nd--we've got 8pm reservations at La Chiusa so before then I'll be enjoying the view.<BR><BR>

ttt -- any advice on the formality of restaurants in Venice and Tuscany? Also, how warm/cool is it really? <BR><BR>Packing this week and could use some advice ... Thanks, Lisa