Top 2 places to stay in Tuscany
 

Hi! my husband and I are planning a trip to Tuscany in September. We will rent a car. We will tour some wineries. We love to eat! I cant decide if we want a farmhouse/B&B experience or to stay in a quaint village where we can walk to restaurants etc. maybe we will do both. My question to all you seasoned travelers is where?? I would love some recs on area as well as specific hotels. Thanks in advance!!

This is such a personal preference thing, and we prefer to stay in a small town rather than in a more remote position.

We loved Montepulciano and the Locanda di San Francesco. This B&B has only 4 rooms, so it's possible you're already too late in securing a reservation here.

We also liked Castellina and Volterra a lot. We stayed with friends near Castellina, but I can recommend Hotel La Locanda in Volterra.

But you should decide where you want to explore in Tuscany and then pick a location that is as centrally located as possible to your wish list. Visiting wineries requires making reservations, so you should research this a bit, decide which wines you want to taste, etc.

I would second Montepulciano and Locanda di San Francesco. B&B is great. Views are spectacular. Attached to a wine bar where we met all the other guests (and others).Good restaurants in Montepulciano.

Thanks!! I just read some reviews of the Locanda de San Francesco.... Looks awesome

Montepulciano is too vertical for my tastes. I prefer Montalcino. I think San Quirico d'Orcia is a nice little town if one has a car to see the surrounding area and towns.

You might try http://www.lasaracina.it/home.en.php

This stone farmhouse is a very short ride from Pienza and Montepulciano. We loved it there.

Il Giglio in Montalcino was a dream come true. We stayed in room 1 which was the only room with a privat terrace overlooking the town and the Tuscan countryside. The food in the dining room was delicious and the staff was very hospitable. And Brunello di Montalcino is THE classic Tuscan wine.

http://sharonsanfrancisco.shutterfly.com/560

This is a link to a photo I took from our private terrace at il Giglio in the charming town of Montalcino

jynx,
This may give you some ideas http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm

Anyone heard of Castella Banfi il Borgo in Montalcino? A friend of mine stayed there and said it was awesome.

Thanks everyone! You have given me some great ideas!

Italy has very strict drunk driving laws. If you stay in the countryside and have to drive back after dinner, the driver shouldn't drink. Which is why we like staying in or on the edge of a small town, with a choice of restaurants within walking distance.

In the Val d'Orcia the towns of Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia make good bases for daytrips by car. They have several restaurants, are centrally located and, being on the flat, are easy to drive in and out of.

Jynx: I booked a family to Castello Banfi about 5 years ago. They loved it; it's a higher class accommodation, not quite as centrally located for sight seeing as some, but if you are in to wine and classy digs, it would be a great place.

Check out agritourismo sites, it is very popular in Italy and can give you a memorable trip. You can stay at a range of properties ranging from a farm where you help make your dinner, to a mini-spa experience. Cool!

Thanks everyone!!