TUSCAN COAST....questions...May/June
 

I'm in the first stages of planning a trip (all this is tentative right now) that would begin with a few days in Genoa, where I've never stayed.

From Genoa, train or taxi , or rental car, to Camogli; I've been there and have my hotel picked out. From there we can drive to Montemarcello, to Ne, to eat at La Brinca, maybe to Recco for focaccia ....That would only be if we rented our car in Genoa or Rapallo. Otherwise, we would likely get ourselves to Pisa and rent our car there....I've driven this area of Liguria before and am not anxious about the driving, thanks to GPS!!!

After Camogli, my plan is to include a few stays of four days minimum, along or within easy driving distance, of the coast.
Entire trip could be as long as one month, probably a bit less.....

This is the very puzzling part, as I've never visited the Tuscan coast...

I am overwhelmed by the hotel/B&B choices.
I've marked a few hotels with swimming pools, important to me when on vacation in summer.
But these are up and down a coast which I've never visited.

Can anyone familiar with this coastline, or the inland areas including Maremma, give a thumbs up or down to the following towns?

Just being in Italy will be great, almost wherever we are, but I'd like spots where the sea is pretty and the surroundings are as scenic as possible. We do not plan to do much traditional sightseeing...just being on the coast of Italy in a region not overwhemnlgy packed with foreign tourists will be great for us..similar to the week we spent at Marina di Ragusa last year.... If we want to sightsee, Pisa or Lucca would be in easy reach..also Pietrasanta, I think.....I'd love any comments about the latter.

These are some of the locations that have hotels that appeal to me---I'd love any comments on the areas nearby, the beaches, etc... this entire coastline is all a blur...

LIDO DE CAMAIORE (ferris wheel, etc...beaches do not look pretty in some photos---is this a very built-up Jersey-Shore type resort?? (Found nice-looking hotels, one on the beach and one B&B inland). We'd are there in late May-June...

MARINA DI BIBBONA. Looks very pretty and less built up than the above.....I've had LA PINETA on my restaurant list for at least 30 years, but apart from that.....nice area to spend with a car for 4-5 nights??

SAN VICENZO

PORTO SANTO STEFANO..two hotels caught my eye, the first being VILLA DOMIZIA. Possible day trip to Isla de Giglio??
Any other spots in the area of MONTE ARGENTARIO?

PESCIA FIORENTINA/CAPALBIO

From this coast, we would then drive south to a spot near FCO to relax for a day or two before flying home....thinking of SANTA MARINELLA which looks nicer than FREGENE. ...

Thanks to all of you for your help, this forum has been a big help to me over the years....

Hello Ms. Eks,
4 years ago we rented a vehicle in Pisa and explored the area basing out of Lucca and Volterra. Very easy driving. Pietrasanta is a lovely town, with very few tourists (we also went in May). The town also has a very fine beach/marina that is about a 5 min drive from the old town. Really loved Levanto as well (connects to the CT by a short train ride but with none of the crazy crowds of the CT.). Have you considered Portovenere….a real gem of the Ligurian Coast.