We are planning a trip to Tuscany or Umbria in the spring. Has anyone stayed in a 3 or 4 bedroom villa or apartment to recommend? There are so many towns & villages to choose from, I think we would be happy with many of them. We are not that picky about price but we do want to be in town, so we can walk to restaurants, etc. We will not have a car( but will probably hire a driver, possibly for the week). In fact, we would love to have a driver pick us up in Rome. Any suggestions? And no, we are not opposed to the train - just a hassle with luggage.
Thanks for any help!

Anyone? I have looked at past threads, etc. about Umbria, Tuscany but not much there about 3 bedroom places.

Look at Villa reviews at slowtrav.com and also read their good articles on where to stay in Tuscany. Pick your general location before you look at rentals. Tuscany is big and there are HUNDREDS of rentals. The wrong location is the mistake that some make.

We are staying at a villa 45 minutes from Orvieto called Torre Alfina. http://www.rentvillas.com/PropertyDe...?Catalog=12472

It's got 4 bedrooms and three baths. But it is in a very small town, in a little sliver of Tuscany that reaches down between Umbria and Lazio. Maybe too isolated if you have no car. But the website (rentvillas.com) has lots of other places for rent.

I've used Tuscany Now and had great success. We were outside a small town that was serviced by a train but the villa was 3-4 miles from the town center and would not have worked without a car. I'm sure you can find rental properties in any of the towns serviced by a train. What about Siena? Use it as a base and take day trips out every day. It's a fantastic location and has everything you could want for a holiday. A very easy town to get around.

Having stayed in Castellina in Chianti a few times, it would be practically impossible to stay in that area without a car. Maybe there are other areas in Tuscany/Umbria where it can be done...

This villa, in Montefalco, had a seperate apartment/villa [La Cassetta] that worked for us with eight people. Has A/C. You do need a car or a driver as you have suggested. Easy to get to many old towns. It doesn't meet your criteria of being in town, but it's a short ride to the old town of Montefalco. Very good restaurants. Richard www.villazuccari.com/index_eng.php

This villa, in Montefalco, had a seperate apartment/villa [La Cassetta] that worked for us with eight people. Has A/C. You do need a car or a driver as you have suggested. Easy to get to many old towns. It doesn't meet your criteria of being in town, but it's a short ride to the old town of Montefalco. Very good restaurants. Richard www.villazuccari.com/index_eng.php

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I am looking at all. We will definitely have a driver - my husband is over driving all of us around & no one else wants to do it! So, I think a driver is the way to go.
I have found plenty of apartments/villas through the threads, but for 6 I'm finding it's a little more difficult.

sandyatlanta: just to be clear: will you employ a driver each day to take you to various towns and sights? It seems dauntingly expensive, and I have hired drivers in Italy for many clients.

I would pick a town with train and bus connections to various places. Siena and Perugia come to mind.

Thanks for all suggestions! We were thinking of hiring a driver for the week, but may just hire as needed. We have thought of Siena because it will have more transportation options.
I read an old thread about the Politan apartment. Anyone stayed there?