tuscany
 

we are going on a honeymoon in may and would like some help here as its our first trip

florence 2 nites stay
tuscany 4 nites stay
we will be adjorning to rome after that. we are really lost of where we should stay and base to explore tuscany but it should be one with great views and country side. We would much prefer to stay 4 nites at one place and drive around.

pls urgently advise where should i stay (siena? or other tuscany hills??)

we are thinking to pick up car in florence or countryside. pls advise too

thank u very very much

Florence: Relais Cavalcanti if you're on a budget. It's a nice little family inn right in the middle of town.

You should search these posts and tripadvisor to find some places that appeal to you.

Your honeymoon will be wonderful no matter where you stay...there are still a lot of places with openings.

Also try Tuscany.net. You might be able to find a nice Agriturismo and I'm sure they would be thrilled that you choose to spend your honeymoon with them.

You picked a good website to post your question, as there are many experts here. Good luck and enjoy your honeymoon!

Hi

My wife and I went to Florence and Tuscany last year. Maybe you can find some useful info in my trip reports with pictures and links: http://gardkarlsen.com/florence_italy_travelogue.htm and http://gardkarlsen.com/tuscany_italy_travelogue.htm . Hope that you can find some useful info there :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

This is a recommended accommodation near Pienza and easy access with a car. You can visit Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, San Quirico and the beautiful countryside in that area.

http://www.letraverse.it/

It might help if you provide a price range for hotels. Are you talking about May of this year or next?

If you don't want to pick up your car in Florence you can train to Chiusi and pick up your car. Pienza is about 45 minutes, Montepulciano is even closer. From Chiusi you can take the train to Rome.

Have a wonderful trip.

>we are going on a honeymoon in may

THIS May?

((I))

Yes... THIS MAY...we are running very late and i am really desperate for help..
we would like to spend 4 days in countryside but just dun noe where... siena or chianti or southern tuscany.... really lost

You have to give the price range to get good answers about hotels. Yes, pick up the car in Florence when you are ready to leave the city. It is very easy to drive in Tuscany. I would recommend southern Tuscany, the area around Montepulciano/Pienza. I would not base my self in the city of Siena but in the countryside or in a smaller town..

my budget for florence:
not more than 100 euros

for countryside stays
not more than 150 euros..

please advise recommendations.. B&B.. agris...hotels all welcome as long as its nice location with great views!

Since you are staying in Florence for a couple of nights it is best to pick your car up in Florence. Go onto Autoeurope.com were you will get the best rate. I assume you are flying in and out of Florence.... if so pick up by your hotel and drop off at the airport.

Tuscany is very hilly in the north and flatter in the south, and beautiful everywhere. Staying around Siena is a good idea because of the central location. Day south around Pienza, day around Radda, Greve etc. San Gim. and of course Siena is wonderful.

I've never stayed in a hotel in Siena but just re ask for affordable hotel in Siena.

Oh, I see that you are going to Rome after Tuscany. Pick up your car in Florence and drop of in Orvieto and then take the train into Rome. It works like a charm.

thanks for your suggestions...well noted..
:)

Siena.. Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano... which areas should I base myself to move around....siena seems a good central but does not seems as scenic as the rest..any recommendations

florence to pick up car... seems good idea... but i reckon train station will be easy to pick up the car? or should i pick up at the countryside..

i will be in florence for 2 nites.. should i include pisa in these 2 days or when i take my car and drive up instead before going tuscany hill towns..

1 week seemed so short now for county side as this is essentially what i have been looking for after looking at beautiful pictures of tuscany.. m thinking even to cut venice to go straight from milan (i am flying into milan from my country) to florence!!!

With only two nights in Florence I don't feel you have time for Pisa. There's enough in Florence for two days.

You say you're going to Venice first...how many nights in Venice? Do you have a hotel there?

I have friends in Italy right now and they had a hard time finding hotels when they were planning about 2 months ago...a last minute trip. I would certainly start contacting hotels for availability...especially for a honeymoon!

This was our hotel in Florence, considered a budget hotel, however their rates for May are over your 100 Euro. Hopefully others will have suggestions for Florence.

http://www.touristhouseghiberti.com/eng/01-home.html

Here are two popular hotels in Montalcino.
http://www.gigliohotel.com/en/ Ask about room #1
http://www.montalcinoitaly.com/cesirares.htm

Here's one in Pienza...convenient with a car:
http://www.piccolohotellavalle.it/index_uk.htm

Not sure about a car with this one:
http://www.relaisilchiostrodipienza.com/

Or this one, mentioned in my earlier post, very popular and convenient with a car if you want the countryside: http://www.letraverse.it/

Here is where we stayed in Montepulciano; there is an outdoor terrace with a wonderful view and the proprietor, Roberto, is very, very friendly. He might be the most colorful hotel owner I have ever met! The place is simple and very clean. I recommend highly and the price is 90 Euro double:



http://www.montepulcianohotels.it/te...za&testo=1

There is a wonderful B and B in tuscany that is very reasonable and is a great place to make day trips from. The people there are really nice and the views are to die for. Also it is an organic farm and all the food they serve comes from their farm, even the beef, pork and chicken. It is awesome. Check it out at www.fattoriapoggioalloro.com I can promise you that you will not be disappointed. It is 250 acres of olive trees, vineyards and crops in the most beautiful setting on earth!

We've stayed in small hill towns near Siena on several occasions, but we've always rented apartments. It's hard to do that for less than a week. However, there is an agriturismo that we have passed that looked quite inviting. You may want to check it out. It's Castel Pietraio, in the countryside, very close to Monteriggioni and Siena. It's a central location, the countryside is lovely, and it looks to be a nice place (from the outside anyway). Also close by is the tiny town of Abbadia Isola, where you will find an abbey that served pilgrims traveling down the Italian peninsula. Also in Abbadia, you will find a terrific restaurant, La Leggenda Dei Frati. I have no idea about the rates at Castel Pietraio, but you can check out their website at www.castelpietraio.it Enjoy your honeymoon.

florence to pick up car... seems good idea... but i reckon train station will be easy to pick up the car? or should i pick up at the countryside..

If you are in Florence then pick the car up in Florence and drive south. Unlike some others I think you can still book rooms at this late date. I know it must be overwhelming to plan and wedding and honeymoon. Just spend a couple of hours and do a good web search for a place that looks pretty. Tuscany is magical and even if you make a small mistake you will still have a wonderful time.

Siena is very pretty, as is Montalcino, montalpulciano and Pienza. It sounds as if you are looking for a town on a hill and a view for 150 Euro a nite. If that is the case search this site or Slowtrav.com (which has a great listing by area).

Pretty hill towns:
Montalcino
Montalpulciano
Monteriggioni
S. Gimignano
Radda in Chianti
Cortona
Monte S Savino

If you're still looking for Florence, try the Relais Cavalcanti. It's a very nice little B&B, centrally located. I believe they are charging about 90 euros.

If you stay in Siena, you could look into Antica Residenza Cicogna, which is also right in town, and charges about the same. We haven't stayed there yet, but we have reservations for this summer.

Good luck and enjoy your honeymoon!

If you are still interested in the Chianti (Tuscany south of Florence) area, perhaps you could get into this agriturismo - Cecilia, the owner, rents a couple of charming, rustic rooms B&B style. You don't need to book a week like you do at most agriturismi.

It is called Podere Torre and you can access it through this useful site:

www.greve-in-chianti.com

Look in the accommodation section - I think in the agriturismi/B&B/ countryside rentals...

Podere Torre is one of the many listings.

Lovely place with views across the vineyards, flowers, cherry trees, peace, a couple of friendly dogs. Not fancy but very sweet.

my trip will be venice for 2 nites and then florence another 2nites.. tuscany for 4 nites and rome for 2 nite...
will be extending stay now in florence for 3 nites instead to include pisa before going to countryside...
yep.. i am having problem in getting accomodation in venice.. am looking at hotel galleria now..
i have planned to move around florence and pisa with trains first and then pick up car in siena before adjorning to country side (either pienza or chianti area).. what do u guys think?
will drop off car at chiusi before adjorning train to rome..
feedback??

I would choose the Pienza area over Chianti; I think it is more beautiful. Also, if you have time on your Pisa day you might be able to fit in a visit to Lucca which is quite lovely.

I think your plan sounds fine. If it were me, I would rent the car in Florence and drive south from there to your countryside base. I would probably not include Siena in favor of more time in the countryside of Tuscany. But if you want to visit Siena, your plan makes sense.

Congratulations! Please let us know the final plans..where will you be staying in Rome and for how long?

i have not found a place to stay at rome yet...most of accomodations seemed to be full...:p

any suggestions..?

Villa Dievole
Agritourismo Terrapille
Agriturismo Malafras

any feedback on the above ??

i am still trying to get replies from some pienza and montacino accomodations as recommended previously by u guys

Can't help with the above. If the above Tuscany hotels don't have openings try:

Montepulciano: http://www.albergoilmarzocco.it/hotel.en.php 90 Euro

http://www.laterrazzadimontepulciano.it/prezzi.htm 85 Euro

I've stayed at this hotel twice in Rome but I'm pretty sure they will be over what you want to pay. Great location and I've found them to be very pleasant and helpful..others not so lucky.
http://www.smeraldoroma.com/about.htm

We toured Dievole winery last year. Have not seen the rooms but the grounds and tasting room are spectacular.

Piazza Navona or the Fiori district would be a good base central base in Rome. There are a bunch of hotel recommendations on Slowtrav.com

alright...some updates

florence hotel for 2 nites booked..: grand tour

now for tuscany area which i am waiting for reply and debating on where to stay (siena/pienza or montalcino... sign!!)

we have decided to pick up car from florence /siena... drive to pisa on day 1 then go to accomodation at tuscany (whereever it is!) for 4 nites...

of coz now to arrange for car pick up location..

Lovely place just outside Pienza:
La Fonte agriturismo
http://www.lafonte.toscana.it/2006/ita/

Around 90 euros, double. The farm has a wonderful vista of the rolling Tuscan hills and villas. Lovely gardens. It's a working farm...very quiet (except for the hum of tractors working deep into the night. We loved watching them!). Apartments provide nice privacy. Daughter speaks english.

We stayed in the smallest apartment (Pagliaio) and were surprised at how much space we had. Very comfy large bed. Kitchen was nice but we only made coffee. They provide breakfast. Computer available. We also liked being able to park the car right outside our door.

Perfectly situated for driving around southern Tuscany: 5 min to Pienza, 10 min to San Quirico, 20 min to Montalcino.

Look up Stu Dudley's driving guide for this area. We were delighted with it.

Kokomi:

Are you saying you're going to p/up the car in FLR, drive to Pisa, then drive back to Tuscany all in one day?

I think that's awfully ambitious---and not worth it. Skip Pisa!

Here's an alternative suggestion (assume you're staying in southern Tuscany)---
drive south from Florence and visit the exquisite hill town, Monteriggioni (lunch). It's easy access from the autostrada. Have your camera ready as you near the town...the first glimpse of it is awesome!

OR, you could drive down through Asciano and visit the lovely Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore (gorgeous terrace restaurant). The drive south from there to Pienza is simply amazing.