I would like to take a day trip to Assisi from either Rome or Florence between March 19 and the 24th by bus. I have visited web sites of Appian tours, Carani Tours, Green Line Tours and others, and their Assisi tours do not begin until April 1st. I know I could take the train, but I would rather go by bus. Would anyone have any suggestions. Also I am interested in booking a tour with Tours around Tuscany. Do thier tours depart and return to Siena only. I e-mailed them and got a form letter reply which did not give me information on departures and returning. Any information would be appreciated.

Jim, it's a tough day trip from either city because the trains take about 2.5 hours, one way, from either city. Sorry, don't know anything about the other options you mention

There was a regular bus service maintained by Acap-Sulga that departed Rome's Tiburtina station at 7:15am and 8:15am arriving in Assisi, respectively at 10am and 11:10am. The return service was at 1:45pm/4:45pm, arriving in Rome at 4:55pm/7:45pm. The same company had a service between Assisi and Florence but it wouldn't work out for you once Assisi-Florence is offered in the morning and Florence-Assisi in the afternoon. Contact info for the bus company is tel. +39 075 5009641, Fax +39 075 5053733 in Perugia. <BR> <BR>I don't know what your planes are (if you're going from Rome to Florence or vice-versa and if you're spending any night on route). I don't think it makes much sense visiting Assisi on a daytrip, either out from Rome or Florence. If you're not spending any night between Rome and Florence, your best bet appears to be to leave Rome early in the morning, by bus if you insist, lock your luggage at the train station (if you're going by bus you have to step off in Sta. Maria degli Angeli instead of the final stop at Porta S. Pietro) and catch a train to Florence after your visit (there are trains departing Assisi at 4:25pm/5:28pm, arriving at 7:05pm/8:20pm. <BR> <BR>In your shoes, though, I would rent a car for the day and drive the Rome-Orvieto-Todi-Assisi-Florence route. Total driving time would be only 4 hours, with plenty of time for sightseeing if you depart Rome early. <BR> <BR>Paulo

I agree totally with Paulo. Driving the route he described is great. We spent 7 nights in Assisi a couple years back and did day trips to surrounding towns. Assisi is delightful as are the others.

Thanks everyone for the information. I am leaning towards renting a car for the day .Thanks again. <BR> Jim

I'm not sure I understand how your whole itinerary fits around this five day period (are you going to spend time in BOTH Rome and Florence? or just one or the other? and are there more days in Italy than that?) - - but a one day car rental is always expensive - - and it rarely makes sense to drive "back" to an expensive hotel in an expensive city which you are not IN all day. <BR> <BR>Make the car rental three days and go for a less well known, but central location from which you can launch your day tripping. I don't mean that you have to stay in some place with zero charm, but there are inexpensive places to stay in Umbria, Lazio or Tuscany. <BR> <BR>While not as well known as Logis de France (and nowhere as plentiful), there ARE a few Logis de Italia - - www.logis.it - - and the one in Ficulle (Hotel La Casella) looks pretty good at only $40 (USD) a night (per person). The savings in your lodging expense will just about pay for your three day car rental. <BR> <BR>Plenty of variations on this same theme, of course! <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

ttt for deeb

I also agree with Paulo. Driving is the fastest and gives you the most freedom and you can see the charming towns such as Todi and Oriveto. Don't miss them. Shar