I would welcome some help with my trip to Tuscany:

17 Sep - Arrive Rome - Train to Chisui to pick up rental car.

18-25 Sep - Staying in Apt in Montepulciano (Looking for ideas for day trips later)

27 Sep - 9:45am Rome flight back to the States

Here's where I would like your ideas:

1. Once I pick up the rental car, where is a good place on the 17th to head, to check in, take a short nap, shower, explore, and have a nice dinner.

2. Check in the 18th is late afternoon. Where is a good place, close by to visit, explore, have lunch, etc. prior to checking in to the Apt.

3. Sat 10:00am the 25th check out of apartment - Head to Chisui, turn in rental car, train to????

or

4. Head somewhere, spend the night (where/recommendations for hotel), and turn in rental car the 26th???

5. Where to stay near the airport on the 26th to catch early flight the following morning???

Rome will be another trip. Would appreciate your comments.

Chisui rental agency is closed on Sunday, so will have to turn car in on 25th.

Hey Budman, Why train to Chiusi? Get the car at FCO an drive to Orvieto--stopping at Civita enroute. Then the next day meander up S-2 and have lunch in Bagno Vignoni.
On the return, stay in Tuscania at this one www.algallo.it which is an hour from FCO. See Pitigliano as you head south. I would forget Chiusi both directions for this trip.

Bob,

The only real reason why I chose Chisui is because is was recommended by some on this board vs. renting a car in Rome.

Would I have any problem getting from Tuscania to the airport in the morning (Monday morning rush hour) for turning in the rental car (opens at 7:00) and catching a 9:45 flight?

When we went a few years ago, we picked up (and dropped off) the rental car at FCO. We drove to Chiusi and stayed there for 2 nights! It is a lovely town, with an excellent Etruscan museum, and several nice restaurants -- I highly recommend La Solita Zuppa, in the Centro Historica. They have a menu for a full dinner, matching wines to each course. It was terrific. (We stayed in a fabulous B&B right in the old town, Residenza re Porsenna). Staying in a nice little town like that was a good intro for us to Italy. Chiusi is split in two -- the lower, more modern town where the train station and car rental, etc is, and the upper "Centro" part of town. People still live in the centro and we simply fell in love with it.

Hi Budman,

I'd follow Bob's advice.

Oneof the nicest places for dinner in all of Italy is in Orvieto,

I Sette Consoli Pzza Sant?Angelo 1A phone/fax 011 39 0763 343911

If it is still warm, ask for a table in the garden.

Ira,

Thanks, I welcome your input.

Where do you think would be a good place to stay and get to FCO at 7:00am to turn in the rental car and catch my flight.

Bob is right. Why go to the trouble to go from the airport to the Termini and then train to Chiusi when you can just get in the car at the airport and go? I agree with the recommendation to spend the first night in Orvieto which is very easily reached from the Autostrado and right on your way to Montepulciano. Don't miss dinner at Taverna la Moranda in Montechiello or Latte di Luna in Pienza.

Budman, Chiusi makes good sense if you are starting IN ROME--you are not.
That area around Tuscania and Viterbo is only an hour from FCO and a straight shot into FCO via A-12--avoiding the GRA loop around Rome. I even prefer taking that route north to Orvieto as I depart FCO--especially if you stop at Civita, which is a must see in my book. Also look at this nice B&B outside Orvieto for you first nite:
www.locandarosati.orvieto.tr.it
You tell me what time you want to get up to drop the car.

We have decided to spend the last night near the airport and not have to get up early and drive for an hour. I'll need that extra hour to pack/repack Mrs. Budman's luggage (I hope she's not listening) and my wine.

Any experience with the seaside town of Fiumicino, a couple of miles from the airport? Anyone familiar with the Cancelli Rossi Hotel. We would be driving down from Tuscany late afternoon/early evening.

Looking for ideas touring Saturday, staying overnight Saturday, and touring all day Sunday prior to drive to Fiumicino hotel. I sent an e-mail to algallo.it -- I hope they won't want an arm/leg for the room.

Bob, we booked the B&B you recommended in Orvieto. Thanks. They are asking 115 Euro, includes breakfast. Which routes from the airport via A-12 to get to Civita and on to Orvieto? I like back roads/country routes vice autoroutes. Are the routes well defined like those in Germany?

ira, do I need to make an advanced reservation? Will I need to bring all my credit cards and check book to eat at this restaurant?

BoulderCO, I put Montechiello into mapquest and came up with zilch. Thanks for the recommendation for Pienza.

Budman, you will need a good map--the Michelin # 563 or better.
A-12 to past Citavecchia
S-1 bis to Vetrallia
S-2 to Viterbo and on to Montefisacione
S-71 to exit onto small road into Bagnoregno- see signs for Civita at arch in middle of town
S-71 on to Locanda Rosati--8 km west of Orvieto--into Orvieto from the west

Budman

I may have spelled Montechiello incorrectly - I always get it messed up. It is located between Pienza and Montepulciano, less than five miles from Pienza.

Thanks Bob, I'll have to get a better map.

BoulderCO -- We will be in the neighborhood and will check it out. Thanks!!

BoulderCO, I did a search on the restaurant and found it. You can bet that will be one of my stops. Thanks for the tip. It's in Monticchiello.

Any help for Saturday & Sunday, and comments on staying in Fiumicino the night before flying out.

Bob, I heard back from algallo.it -- 108 Euro, includes breakfast. Thanks again for the tip.

Saturday/Sunday - Any suggestions?

Anybody ever stayed at the seaside village of Fiumicino near the airport?

Hi Budman,

Re I Sette Consoli.

Yes, make reservations.
No. You will not have to mortgage the farm.

They have a 6 course lunch special for 40E pp.

Re staying in Fiumicino. I recall a thread about this from a while back. Try a text search.

Have fun.

Budman, the seaside towns of Fumincino and Lido do Ostia are both tacky but tolerable for a last nite. Check out the Satellite Palace for a mid range place, but shuttles do not typically run until about 7:00. See more about "last nite near FCO' at slowtrav.com.

Budman, What apartment have you rented in Montepulciano?
Rick

Rick, we are staying at this place: http://tuscany.net/stuart/