jenmenke

We are traveling with one other couple in mid-October to Italy. After much ado, we have settled on the Tuscany/Umbria area. We strongly considered Amalfi, but decided on Tuscany after being sort of "warned off" the resort areas by friends. We are realistic in that we don't want to try to do too much. To that end, we plan to stay in one location. But BECAUSE we are staying in one place, we want it to be fabulous. (Fabulous to us = Older, stone, private, but comfortable, cool decor.) Our interests are more in seeing the country and smaller towns. Maybe see some gardens and a couple museums. A little hiking. A little mountain biking. A lot of eating. A lot of wine. We are leaning toward a villa or a small hotel. We were hoping to maybe enjoy a pool if it is nice, but don't know if that is realistic. The villa that is the front runner right now is closest to Arrezo (4km) and Cortona (30k). what do you think? Yes? No? Help! (I would love specific suggestions for cool places to stay.) Thank you in advance!

Eloise

There's a fairly recent thread about L'Orto degli Angeli in Bevagna, which might meet your criteria.

But good luck finding it; Fodor's seems to be months behind in indexing...

Here's the Web site for it:

http://www.ortoangeli.com/

LoveItaly

Hi jenmenke, it is somewhat of a general statement but October in Tuscany/Umbria should be beautiful in October. However you will probably get some days of rain. And the sunlight hours will be shortened of course. But October will certainly be much nicer then July and August IMO. If you don't get a pool I do not think that will take away from the pleasure of your visit. Best wishes.

jenmenke

Maybe I should also ask this:

What is the benefit of a villa over a smallish cool hotel if we are not planning on doing a lot of cooking. I love to cook, but want to eat out as much as possible anyway.

We would like to lounge with this other couple rather than retire to our room every night and I envision a villa better suited to that. Comments?

Also comments on the Arrezo area?

Lexma90

In my mind, the difference between a rental villa and a "coolish small hotel" would be in how much you want to be taken care of. In a villa, no matter how nice (unless you rent one that provides a cook), you'll be getting your own breakfast, pouring your own wine, which you'll have bought yourself, and making any phone calls yourself. In a hotel or inn, breakfast will be waiting for you, and there will be a lounge area that (if you choose right) will have drinks, including a nice selection of wines, available for you. And the front desk can help you with dinner reservations, etc.

Last year, we stayed at an inn in southern Tuscany that, in addition to rooms in the main building, had apartments in an adjacent annex. The apartments were spacious, and each had a bedroom and a sitting area with its own terrace and kitchen area. We could sit on our terrace, or on the gorgeous terrace outside the lounge. I don't think this property would suit you, as it wasn't cool at all and it's in a remote location. But I'm using it to illustrate that I think you can find everything you want - once you decide what you want - in either a villa or a hotel/inn.

In mid-October, I would think most (all?) locations' pools are closed.

Jocelyn_P

There are also some villas/estates that have been divided into apartments, with common outdoor areas. Here's an example:

www.santantonio.it

chicagolori

Jen - I think the areas that you mentioned are good choices. It also depends on if you want to do some day trips to areas within the Chianti area of tuscany (north of Siena) or the Crete area of Tuscany (south of siena). There are lots of posts hear about where to stay in Tuscany that might help you.

Another helpful website is Tuscany.net which will have good pictures of hotels and villa like hotels. As stated before, some of these accomdations have hotel like service but offer apartments with common areas. I think others here recommend venere.com and rent villas. com

ritaly

I think you need to select a location or a few possible locations then decide if you want a small village, in the country or a hilltown etc. It really depends if you want to have to drive to dinner or walk, in my opinion. I love to travel around all day and then relax at night and walk to great restaurants etc. Thats why we always stay in hilltowns with good restaurant choices. However if you're willing to drive at night (remember dinner starts around 8PM) and then drive home on dark roads, a country villa would be fine. All I can say there are many wonderful places all over this area. Enjoy, you'll have a wonderful time

ritaly

If you want specific I'd say lok at Bella Casa in San Quircio. Just google it or go to slow travel