Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've posted (and traveled!) but I was hoping to get some advice on a potential upcoming trip to Tuscany. I've recently had a baby so we want something fairly low-key. I'm thinking of renting a villa so we can camp out there, go to some of the cities and just stroll around, enjoy some nice meals, etc.

Here are my questions - any and all advice would be most appreciated!

1. What is the best way to get to Tuscany when flying in from the US? Last time I visited the region, we flew to Milan and drove down but it took forever.

2. Anyone have any experience renting a villa for a week? I'd love recommendations for booking services, specific villas, regions, etc.

3. Any other recommendations on which cities to visit would be great. Again we've done the sightseeing thing so we're just looking to soak in the culture and relax this time around. I love Montepulciano and Siena and wouldn't mind going back to either or both but am open to other ideas and suggestions! I've heard Umbria is worth considering as well.

Of course if anyone has done this kind of a trip with a baby under 1 year and has any sage wisdom to offer, that would be great too!

Thanks so much in advance!!

I think it would be difficult to rent a villa for only three people.

Consider staying in an agriturismo.

Go to www.slowtrav.com and look at their vacation rental reviews for Tuscany.

You might want to look for an apartment in a small town instead of a villa. www.slowtrav.com is the place to look. Lots of practical information there.

As for flying from the US, Milan and Rome are the destinations for non-stop flights. Which I assume you would prefer when travelling with a baby. Someplace like Amsterdam might have flights to smaller cities, but that would be a two-leg trip. Florence airport is pretty small and doesn't have many flights (and is closed just at present). Depending on where you're flying from you might find more destinations avaialble.

iffy44,
See my trip report for ideas http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34494897
From Rome airport to termini in Rome is just over a half hour by train then it is about one and a half hours to Florence. Feel free to e-mail if you have questions.

Try viviun.com
Fudgie

You can fly into Pisa or Bologna - the onward train time is the same. You need a rural apartment not a villa - agriturismo or not - there's an excellent range offered on www.greve-in-chianti.com. The same web site describes a number of fun itineraries. Be sure to book directly with your accommodation yourself - there is absolutely no reason to pay a commision to an agent.

If you are interested in Umbria (as well as Tuscany) slowtrav.com also has information regarding villas, apartments and hotels that would be useful. And Umbria is delightful - Orvieto, Perugia and Assisi were my favorites (we stayed in a villa near Orvieto, but in a villa for eight adults) - and you can do the cities and then do the people, food, wine, etc. It's all good

KC

As much as I like Umbria, you'd probably do better in Tuscany, just for ease of travel and choice of accommodations, plus a greater variety of places to visit.

You don't say what time of year you are going, but please remember that Tuscany gets quite hot in the summer if that's where you are going. You might make it a priority to have air conditioning.

Wow I can't thank you all enough for all of this great info! Some extra points about my trip...we are thinking of going in late May or early June, hopefully it won't be too hot yet but A/C is definitely a priority esp. with the baby...and we are likely going with another couple (also with a baby) which is why we were thinking villa.

Thank you again so much!

Try the Casina Rosa. If you can't find it on the web email me.

I have visited Tuscany and northern Umbria (around perugia). I fell in love with Umbria. You might want to try the company we use to find villas that is rentvillas.com. Their web site is very informative.

have fun

We have rented villa's several times and in fact are doing it again the first week in May not too far from Pienza in Southern Tuscany. We have used different agencies each time based on who had the rental I wanted. I've never had a bad experience. Most websites have lots and lots of pictures of the Villa. I have on occasion asked for more pictures and also an email of a former renter for a reference. I love staying in a Villa so much more than a hotel. You can unpack and spread out. Most of them offer to have the housekeeper good your first meal for a small fee which is wonderful to walk in and smell dinner cooking after a full day of travel getting there! You can for sure find a place small enough for two families. Just do a google search for "villas for rent in Italy" and start shopping! Slowtrav also has some reviews of villas others have rented. I always check there first. If you do rent an apartment I suggest you pick a fairly flat city like Pienza so it won't be too difficult with strollers. Have fun!

Fly in and out of Rome if you want to be in Southern Tuscany near Montepulciano. It is an easy 2 1/2 hrs drive.