Planning a three week trip driving through Northern Italy from Milan to Sorrento and would like to gather information about lodging, car rentals and special places of interest. Would like to rent a villa or apartment in the Tuscany region so I would appreciate any websites that could assist me in my search. Thanks

Here's a few: <BR>http://www.initaly.com/toc.htm <BR>http://www.karenbrown.com/index.html <BR>http://www.regencyintapts.com/default.html <BR>http://www.theparkercompany.com/ <BR> <BR>

(PS. That's not Ted Rose as in the fabulous watercolour painter, is it?) <BR>

Some more sites for villa rentals in Tuscany and elsewhere: <BR> <BR>www.italianvillas.com <BR>www.domani-usa.com <BR>www.awts.com <BR>www.villasintl.com <BR>www.mind.net/europe/index.htm <BR>www.travel-italy.com/ <BR> <BR>Personally, I rented mine from the Parker Company for this September. I htought they had a very nice selection. <BR>they also offer car rental discounts, you can link to a car rental site from their villa web sight. you can also get car rental rates from: <BR> <BR>www.autoeurope.com <BR>www.europebycar.com <BR> <BR> <BR>For other interesting info check out: <BR> <BR>www.weekendafirenze.com <BR>goeurope.miningco.com <BR>www.travel.it/welcome.html <BR> <BR>Boy, judging from this list I've been spending way to long web-surfing for my trip. And this doesn't even touch on all the hotel web sites!

Following is some information regarding agriturismos - an interesting (and usually less expensive) alternative to villas. We stayed at at agriturismo in <BR> Puglia last month - it was a wonderful experience and great value <BR> (stayed in a one bedroom apartment in a 16th century farmhouse <BR> - with breakfast it was $55 US/night) . Check out the May issue of Gourmet magazine - there's an article about staying at farm properties. <BR> <BR>Here are some web sites: <BR> <BR> www.lainet.com/initaly/agri/agri2.htm <BR> www.toscana.agriturismo.net/ <BR> www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/pages/Italy_tu.htm <BR> www.agriturismo.net <BR> <BR> Also, the following is a recommendation from an earlier posting <BR> on <BR> Fodors: <BR> <BR> <BR> Message: This past January, my wife and I decided to explore <BR> the Brunello region in southern Tuscany. We found <BR> accommodation listings on the internet, blindly picked one, <BR> and <BR> got lucky. We discovered what we now call our Tuscan home <BR> away from home: Podere Assolati, an agriturismo working farm <BR> (cattle, sheep, olives, sangiovese grapes, durum wheat, <BR> horses) <BR> on 100 hectares, twenty minutes south of Montalcino. It's run <BR> by a <BR> young couple, Daniela Sani and her husband, Loriano Giannetti. <BR> You need a car to get there. But it is worth the trip if you <BR> are, like <BR> us, loking for an inexpensive, off-the-beaten-path place to <BR> stay in <BR> rural Tuscany with spotless accommodations. Daniela and <BR> Loriano restored the old stone barn across the road from their <BR> farmhouse, converting the loft into 6 rooms, each with a <BR> bathroom <BR> to die for, plus a great room with a woodburning fireplace, <BR> and a <BR> kitchen. They offer either a B&B or halfboard option. If you <BR> want <BR> more information, email me your address and I will mail you <BR> one <BR> of their brochures. You can contact them directly at: Podere <BR> Assolati, 58040 Montenero D'Orcia, Castel del Piano <BR> (Grosseto), Italy. tel/fax:011-39-0564-954146.

See also: <BR>www.nautilus-mp.com/tuscany/index.html <BR>www.traveleurope.it/biniviaggi <BR>

Elizabeth - how much was the farmhouse in Tuscany? My mother and I are leaving for Rome next Tuesday. Were you required to sign the CDW and pay extra for collision insurance for the car rental? <BR>maggie

Regarding the Agriturismo in Tuscany - I haven't stayed there - I just copied that message from a previous post. The fellow who posted it can be reached at [email protected] - his name is David. In my experience they usually run between $50-$90 US /night including breakfast. <BR> <BR>Regarding renting cars - we were told we had to purchase the CDW even though our credit card (Amex) provides it. <BR> <BR>Hope you have a lovely holiday.

Elizabeth- thanks for info- Yes, it seems both AmX and Visa cover you if you use their card to pay for the car rental, but both Visa and AmX said you have to refuse the CDW and decline to buy the Italian car insurance in order to get their coverage. They also said that Italy Car Rental policy is they (like AVIS in Italy) won't let you refuse the CDW, so it's a bit of a 'catch 22' - and the Italian car insurance is expensive....I'm not sure what to do. <BR> <BR>maggie