My husband and I are leaving our 5 kids behind next year and heading to Tuscany for a week or so. How early should we book hotels, etc. What about renting a car? What have you found to do in Tuscany that is off-the-beaten-path that you can't imagine not having found - the hidden treasures, if there are any left. Is the experience enhanced if we learn a bit more Italian, or is it the kind of place where everyone speaks English and gets perturbed by Americans who make feeble attempts to speak the native tongue? What hotels, villas, agritourist, etc. would you recommend? Thanks!

How wonderful for you. We left our kids behind last year and went to Italy. It was such a wonderful experience and we can't wait to return.<BR><BR>To answer your questions:<BR><BR>Car Rental: Check the Web sites for Kemwel and Auto Europe. We used Auto Europe and they were excellent. <BR><BR>Hidden Treasures: Abound in Italy. Everything from popping into a church around the corner and finding Caravaggios to church bells on a Sunday morning to some of the most delicious food and wine in the most obscure spots.<BR><BR>Language: It always helps to know a bit of the language no matter what country you are in. We found Italians to be very patient with our poor Italian. In some cities, most people understood English, but in other areas, no English was spoken or understood.<BR><BR>For our next trip, I've gathered information and have it in a Word document. If you would like the file, write me and I will send it to you.<BR>

You can not go wrong by choosing one of Karen Brown's (Charming Inns in Italy) recommended properties. There are so many choices, it really depends on what you're looking for...full service hotel vs. stand-alone villa. We chose a converted farm that had 14 apartments, restaurant, bar and pool which gave us the combination of an apartment but with food service, room service, etc. Definitely recommend taking an Italian conversation class. It helped us out SO much, you just experience Italy so much better if you can have a basic conversation with people. Of course, hotel staff will speak English but talking to a person at the bus stop, asking for directions, etc. all require basic knowledge of words and some verbs. Rent a car and roam around and stop for lunch and have a loose itinerary, enjoy!

I'll address just a couple of your issues. I was very concerned about car rental, hidden charges, disputes, unavailability, unresolved charges after return to the USA etc. I used Autoeurope and everything was perfect. No surprises, car as promised, no hidden charges, etc. Recommend them highly.<BR><BR>Second the language issue. Try as I might I could only become marginally proficient in Italian in the 6 months I had before my trip. This despite growing up with immigrant Italian grandparents! Was I able to get by? Yes. Could I conduct business, purchase items, ask directions, etc? Yes. But let me tell you this, I kick myself for not trying harder to learn more Italian. The Italian people can be so wonderfully friendly, funny, dramatic, enthusiastic, but cam appear reserved toward strangers. I wish I could have had the ability to just chat longer with the adults and kids that I met. You will not be laughed at for trying to communicate in Italian, to the contrary, I think everybody I met appreciated my efforts greatly. There is no such thing as a feeble attempt at courtesy. I know that I would have come home with a much richer experience. Take my word for it, you will be much happier if you learn come conversational Italian before you go, and use every opportunity to use it on your trip.

Check out this site. There is a lot about traveling in Tuscany. <BR><BR>http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/

Aimee, You have tons of time and that is good. Start your homework now, but no need to book more than 9 months out.<BR>Here are the best sites:<BR>www.initaly.com www.slowtrav.com<BR>www.twenj.net www.knowital.com<BR><BR>Buy the EYEWITNESS--ITALY book and the Michelin Green book for reading, and also get " Vanilla Beans & Brodo" for a unique look at my favorite part of Tuscany. Now, do all of that before you decide itinerary. It takes 6 weeks to see Italy, and you will return. Here is a list that may help to discern your itinerary options. Good luck !<BR><BR>SO, YOU WANT TO SEE ITALY !<BR>FIRST, GET A GOOD MAP ! Having planned more then sixty personalized itineraries to southern Europe and Italy, I have learned that the best trip plans start with a good map. It takes about six weeks to see most of Italy, and that does not include Sicily.<BR>So, any typical two week sojourn requires a geographic orientation and thoughtful planning to optimize the total experience. The temptation is to try to see too much, and that is a big mistake. My advice is to limit yourself to FIVE DESTINATIONS OR LESS for any two week itinerary. Perceive Italy as geographic regions and plan accordingly. Here is a menu to help you to plan well. Let your total time<BR>in Italy, and a good map, determine your feasible choices !<BR><BR> THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN ITALY---BY CATEGORY---NORTH TO SOUTH<BR><BR>REGIONS OF NATURAL SPLENDOR:<BR>1. The Lakes of Lombardy/Piedmonte [ Maggiore, Como, Lugano, Orta]<BR>2. The Dolomites/Lake Garda [ Cortina, Ortisei, Merano, Riva del Garda]<BR>3. The Ligurian Coast [ Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere]<BR>4. Tuscany/ Umbria [ quaint and historic hill towns]<BR>5. The Amalfi Coast [ Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, Capri] <BR><BR>THE HISTORICAL ART CITIES:<BR>1. Venice & Veneto [ allow 3 days---more if you include Vicenza, Verona et al]<BR>2. Florence [ it all happened here--plan for 2 days just in Florence]<BR>3. Siena [ deserves a full day, perhaps as a day trip from Florence]<BR>4. Rome [ the Eternal City demands 5 days---some would say two weeks]<BR><BR>ROMANTIC RESORT DESTINATIONS:<BR>1. Bellagio [ the best of Lago Como]<BR>2. Cortina [ the Vail of Italy--ski resort in heart of the Dolomites]<BR>3. Portofino/ Santa Margherita [ splendid sea-side venue]<BR> 4. Positano [ the best location to explore the Amalfi coast] <BR> 5. Taormina [ fabulous sea-side location in Sicily]<BR> 6. Ravello [ la dolce vita above the Amalfi coast]<BR> <BR> <BR><BR><BR> <BR>

Tuscany is still rich in hidden treasuries, if you just allow yourself to look for them and d not let yourself become too involved with a "must sees" tour. A wonderful area that is little known, in particular to foreigners, but that has lots to offer is the Monte Amiata area. This usd to be one of the poorest parts of Tusany, but it holds lovely villages that can be reached driving on highly scenic roads. MOnte Amiata is in the southern part of Tuscany, between the cities of Grosseto and Siena and near the border of Lazio. It is an ancient volcano, cold for thousands years but still with a relevant geotermal activity that allows the area to be at least partially powered with electricity drawn from these natural sources. A little futrther north there are the "soffioni boraciferi", gayser-like phenomena while all across the area there are thermal sources the most famous of which (but not the only ones!) is Saturnia. Santa Fiora is a lovely medieval village enterly built out of stone on the stone of the mountain. The houses are small ant the streets narrow and steep. The walls sometimes seem to sprout directly from the streetfloor. The village is surrounded by well-groomed chestnut woods that are still used to produce chestnuts and where large and delicious mushrooms grow. A bit further south you can visit Pitigliano, a slightly larger village built on a tuff pinnacle. Also this village is almost enterly built out of stome and, being perched on this pinnacle, allows great scenic views of the area. Until the eraly XX century (when the racist laws of fascism forced them to leave) Pitigliano used to have a rather large jewish community. During the 1960's the comunity was at least partially rebuilt, and the village now sports a sinagogue and a jewish bakery making the delicious sfratti, a sweet of bread, nuts and honey. Also, Pitigliano produces a good white wine. These are but two suggestions, but therea rem any more such places, almost overlooked by tourism yet with great charm and a few facilities (pensioni, bed and breakfast, rooms for rent, and agritourisms) in the area.

Look at www.genie.it/utenti/carlo.nocentini<BR>Reviews on Slowtravel.com (Florence).<BR>Wonderful place, cheap.

I found a place that is very resonable that has 4 rooms for rent on a farm,(olive grove)<BR>can rent rooms by the day or week,looks great www.lepainetoscana.com/english/home.htm<BR>RR