I'm turning to you Fodorites to help me decide! We are currently set for our 18-day trip in northern italy end of June. Starting at Lake Orta (3 nights), Levanto (6 nights for CT and day trips), piedmont 4 nights, varenna 3 nights and milan 2 nights. we will have car for all but varenna and milan. We were planning to do Pisa/Lucca as day trip from Levanto, but just had the bright idea to leave levanto after 5 nights and spend Saturday night in Lucca before driving to Alba. There's a room available at Albergo San Martino. Advantages: see Lucca when day trippers leave, not be so rushed seeing Pisa/Lucca in one day, perhaps stop at Carrara on way to Lucca/Pisa. (is stop at Carrara worth it??)
Disadvantages: packing and unpacking one more time. Not sure we can leave our luggage in our car if we want to do Pisa or Carrara on way to Lucca?? (is it generally safe if in guarded lot?) Look forward to your advice. Thanks so much. Can't imagine planning a trip without all of you!

topping for alison

Your mind is certainly fertile. You have a great trip here--stay put and forget the hotel change--the drive is not far. I want to go with you !

As somebody who never minds packing up and moving on, and who prefers not to "day trip" but instead, enjoy a long leisurely dinner in a historic town, I like your idea of cutting Levanto a day short and not rushing through Pisa.

By not rushing through Pisa you can see something other than the tourist section, which will make you think more kindly of Pisa.

I've never been to Carrara. I plan to do on my next trip to Italy. If you get there and it bores you, go back to the beach or visit Portovenere. In my own csse, I'd probably just laze around Pisa.

Regarding your luggage: Is is visible in the car? Or hidden from view in the trunk?

WE plan to visit Lucca as a day trip from Portovenere. Northern Italy is such an easy place to get around ! I have had advice that Carrara is nothing special. here is a site with a bit of information.
http://www.domani-usa.com/logs/luccadaytrips.htm

Alison,

Re-reading your post, it looks like you originally planned to do Pisa and Lucca both as a day trip from Levanto. I would recommend that you still do Pisa as a day trip from Levanto, and simply go to Lucca at the end of your Levanto stay, then on to Alba.

That way you don't have any problems about leaving luggage in the car.

As for Carrara, like I said, I've never been, but when you are returning to Levanto from your day trip to Pisa, you might return by way of Carrara.

Also, about packing: When you leave Levanto, pack up everything except what you need for a night in Lucca. Put everything else in a tote (you can buy one for 3 euros in Levanto) and toss it in the car. That way, you won't be "packing and unpacking" again. Just unpacking when you get to Alba.

Lucca is very special. Rent a bike and ride the city walls. Spent four days there a few years ago. Great dining too with their own cuisine. You don't need as much time as you have planned for the CT.

thanks all for the advice and links! As for the quesiton about luggage, i assume we will have a little more luggage than fits in the trunk (or should i say boot!) that's the concern of day-tripping, with luggage in sight. As for the length of time in Levanto, we figure 2 days for hiking and exploring CT, a day for portovenere and that area, a day for genoa, a day for portofino/SML, etc., and we've already run out of days without going to pisa/lucca. So, still undecided. Anyone who has been to Carrara, chime on in. appreciate all your input. we may keep it as is so we can decide on the spot whether we day-trip to pisa/lucca, or perhaps we'll be having so much fun we'll forego it. But Lucca does sound magical and I LOVED riding bikes on the ancient walls of Xian, so that sounds really fun.