thinking about staying at the croce di malta (not the one in florence). anyone have any opinions? and do you think montecatini terme is a good base from which to explore tuscany?<BR><BR>thanks!

I know others will tell you differently, but we stayed in Montecatini Terme in early April 2 years ago on our first trip to Italy, and enjoyed it. Our Italian relative suggested it and booked the hotel (can't remember the name right now). I had no regrets and it was a welcome break from the noise and fumes of Florence. We did stay in Florence one night on that trip and last year also. A friend of mine who always stays in Florence also stayed in Montecatini at a hotel recommended in "Eating in Italy" and loved it, never regretting her decision. Montecatini is full of parks and palm trees. It has a tropical feel to it. A totally different atmosphere from most of Italy. Hotels are plentiful, quite beautiful and inexpensive, and many have pools. It's only a 45 min train ride from Florence, 30 min from Lucca. Many Italians vacation here. We even drank the "waters" which tasted awful, but an interesting experience.<BR>Email me if you need any info.<BR>Denise

I have often used Montecatini as a centre for groups - it is very popular.<BR><BR>The hotels are generally of a very high standard - The Croce di Malta for example.<BR><BR>There are also some very good restaurants in Montecatini alto, and a fabulous view - I drove up, I am not big on cable cars!<BR><BR>The spa waters are very popular with Italians but they have a reputation of giving you the "runs" so I always advised people NOT to drink them!<BR><BR>

thanks for info helen and denise.<BR>very helpful.

I agree that Montecatini terme is a lovely place but it's not really very much like the rest of Tuscany and it's too far north to give you an opportunity for good daytripping to the southern parts of Tuscany. I'd suggest splitting your time in Tuscany. Ok to stay in MT for exploring the north but suggest you also find a base for the south, perhaps Pienza. That would also afford you real variety in places. MT is an upscale, spa place with a population of 20,000 while Pienza is a compact, ancient village of 2,000.

I was in MT for only a few hours last spring, and I agree that MT is very nice but not much like other cities/towns in Tuscany. I didn't get to the "Alto" part, so maybe that is more typical. I wanted to see what the spas were like, and maybe even take a mineral bath, but from what I could tell, all the baths closed for the day (not just for the afternoon "siesta") around noon. I arrived around 2:00 PM, and the gates were locked at "Tetuccio" and all the others I tried. Did I go to the wrong places, misinterpret the signs, or am I right about this?

I visited MT on a day trip and was very disappointed..found it a yuppy, designer store, mini-cosmopolitan city in the middle of paradise. Would never stay there. Also found it a weird place - after noon, everything and everyone disappeared..it was like a ghost town. Even towns that have siesta seem to have a life to them but MT had hundred of cars lining every street and no people around.