amapati

We will be 6 adults in a trip for two weeks in tuscany and amalfi coast, we need advice about wich cities to visit and in wich of them is better to sleep.

Jean

Interests? Budget? Time of year? Will you have cars in Tuscany? What are your arriving and departing airports? Have any of you been to these areas before?

bobthenavigator

With 6 it will be all about transport. Will you be driving in Tuscany? More than one car/van?

Here are some places to stay in Tuscany:


BOB’S FAVORITE DIGS IN TOSCANA

A. RURAL LOCATIONS: All have parking and good food options nearby

1. Relais La Saracina www.lasaracina.it 230 to 300E
Fabulous country home near Montepulciano—helpful owners

2. Cretaiole Agriturismo http://www.cretaiole.it/ Good value for families

3. Terre di Nano www.terredinano.com 100 to 155
Both rooms and apartments at rural Agriturismo near Monticchiello

4. Hotel Pescille www.pescille.it Good value at a rustic hotel only 3 km from famed San Gimignano with great views---100 to 130E

5. Fattoria Tregole www.fattoria-tregole.com 110E to 180E
Has both B&B and apartment accommodations. Near Castellina in Chianti

6. Agriturismo apts. near San Quirico— www.poggiolo.info/ About 110E


B. IN-TOWN LOCATIONS: For walking convenience to shops & ristorantes.

1. Palazzo del Capitano www.palazzodelcapitano.com 130 to 180E
Very nice small hotel in center of San Quirico—perfect location to explore.

2. Vecchia Oliviera www.tuscany.net/oliviera/ 130 to 180E
Nice 4 star hotel at the gate into lovely Montalcino---has pool.

3. Palazzina Cesari www.montalcinoitaly.com 80 to 110E
Lovely small B&B in heart of Montalcino—great value—2 night stay minimum.

4. Locanda di San Francesco www.locandasanfrancesco.it 180 to 200E
New boutique B&B in a lovely location in Montepulciano—great reviews !

5. Palazzo Ravizza www.palazzoravizza.it 130 to 180E
Very nice & popular hotel in Siena with parking.

6. Fattoria Vignale http://www.vignale.it/eng/ Four star hotel in Radda in the heart of Chianti. About 230E for double

amapati

Thank you for your interest, we are 6 adults planing to trip to tuscany and amalfi coast in may 2010, we would like to do it by car, we need some advice about wich cities to visit in both areas,and which cities are the best to stay and from there, move around.We will be arriving from Paris may be to Rome or florence or even Napoles if we decide to start in the amalfi coast, is better?.We will prefer budget acomodations and advice about drivig or not or if it is better just in tuscany?.Thanks

Jean

amapati, you've got to do some research of your own. Why do you want to go to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast? What attracts you to these areas other than scenery?

You still haven't mentioned your interests, so it's difficult to tell you which cities to visit, where to base yourselves to see those cities, how much time to spend there, etc. What are "budget accommodations"? We need a number because your idea of budget may be different from mine.

You ask if it is "better just in Tuscany." Do you meaning driving or spending your time? Some people prefer one place over the other, but that's them and not you. Which takes us back to you doing some research and figuring out what you want to see and do in each place. If you mean driving, I think it's easier using public transportation in the Amalfi Coast area.

I hope you're considering two cars for six adults plus luggage.

nytraveler

On the Amalfi Cost most hotels do not have parking - if you drive there (we do and love it - but in May) you need to be sure your hotel has parking (not likely in a budget proerty).

amapati

Thanks for the replies, we are planing a trip to Italy to explore tuscany , little cities, good wine .beautifully places ,we arent looking for a very busy agenda, all of we (6)had been in the Italys big cities.The other area is the amalfi coast beacause none of us have been there,we like to be there explore little cities, enyoy the places. We are 6 adults , we need advice in how we can enjoy the most , driving ? or traveling by train or bus?.if there is another area in Italy that we can visit let us know. Thankyou very much

jelopez33

Amapati:I have just finished the publication of the report of pour trip to Paris,Rome and 1 full week in the Amalfi Coast.
In the report yo will find comments on Aamalfi,Positano,Capri,Ravello,sorrento,Salerno and a tour to Pompeii.Any way my advise is:
1)Don't drive,SITA buses go everywhere,and de multi day apass is a bargain.
2)We stayed in Amalfi,and think this is the city to stay(remember,All the "cities" are really small).
3)Don't miss Ravello or Capri.
4)We found our B$B Sharon House an excellent value at 110 euros a double(Aamalfi.
Much more data and descriptions in my report.
Enjoy!!!!! we were there in september.

Mimar

In general, you need a car (or cars or a van) to visit Tuscany, whereas it's better to use public transportation on the Amalfi Coast.

Those are 2 of my favorite parts of Italy but there is also the Cinque Terre and the Ligurian coast, the Italian lakes at the foot of the Alps, Umbria (like Tuscany but on a smaller, cheaper scale), Sicily, and much, much more. Maybe get one of the DK books about Italy, read up and look at the pictures as a way of narrowing in on where you want to visit. Also, whether or not you want to drive would affect your choice.

zoecat

Here's a suggestion-

Fly into either Rome or Florence. Rent cars at the airport and drive to your base in Tuscany. I enjoy the area near Pienza/Montepulciano (Bob provides a great list above of places to stay).

From there, drive to Salerno and drop off cars. Or, drop the cars in Chiusi and take the train to Salerno. Then take a public boat, bus or hire a driver to take you to your base on the coast, either Amalfi or Positano. The town of Amalfi is flatter than Positano.

You could also do this all in reverse, flying into Naples.

Do some searches on this forum for places to stay. Use the search box in the upper right.

dwdvagamundo

I would not visit Amalfi coast on same trip with Tuscany. Tuscany will take at least a week and other smaller cities nearer to Tuscany make more logistic sense: e.g. Verona, Ravenna, Bologna, Padua. Most of those would make good day trips so you wouldn't have to relocate so much or at all. And the food is better in Northern Italy too, IMHO.