Three elderly couples( all related)in good shape are planning to spend 2+ weeks in Italy during the spring of 2003. One week in a villa in the Tuscany area and one week in the Amalfi area. Big cities other than Florence would be handled separately. Presumably we would fly into Rome, rent a car in ? and drive to Tuscany region.<BR>First, can anyone suggest a car rental agency?<BR>How about a villa site (town central to area)?<BR>Rent the car in Rome? <BR>Current plan would be to visit Florence,Sienna<BR>San Gimignano,Montalcino,L'Aquila ansd Orvieto<BR>in Tuscany area and Sorrento,Ravello,Positano,<BR>Capri,Amalfi,Pompeii ,Salerno and Naples.<BR>Can anyone add,subtract or agree with these selections and is the plan to aggressive for a "vacation"? Would appreciate any and all comments since this is a first for four of us.<BR>This is why Rome would be done at the end or the beginning of the trip since two of the travelers have done the Perrillo thing.<BR><BR>

go to parkercompany.com<BR>They have wonderful villas in every size and price range in all areas of Italy. I am not trying to sell this company. I was just impressed with their 300+ page FREE catolog.

Hi Bob, we did the same thing last spring. We rented a car from Europecar at the airport in Roma and drove straight to Tuscany. An alternative would be to fly into Florence or Pisa and rent directly from their airport.<BR>We rented a house that we really loved, but it is more of a destination itself, because it is isolated and takes a long, long time to get to the autostrada. That is a concern when you are renting, how far out in the country is it, and how long to autostrada because those little roads take a long time to get around to where they are going.

Hello Bob, That sounds like a wonderful trip. Trust me, your first stop is at www.slowtrav.com for great advice about renting. Spend time there before you start shopping. And, set your criteria for location and price range before you get too confused. I would start south first if you plan to go before 1 May. And, most rentals start and end on Sat.--plan well !

You said 2+ weeks. I believe that 17 days qualifies you to lease purchase a new Peugeot, which is far less expensive than renting a car. Europe by Car is in New York, toll free number, and I have been lease purchasing for some time now. The advantages are, a)brand new car ( or van ), unlimited mileage, -0- deductible on insurance claims, pick it up at the airport.<BR>Great company to deal with. I just leased a new 7 passenger van for six weeks from Oct 15 through the end of November ,2002 just over $ 2000.00.

I have also leased a car from Europe by Car. It is the best way to go for the very reasons Sebastian indicated. Even if you are shy a day or two from the 17 days, you still can lease but will pay the fee for 17 days. It is cheaper in the long run. We picked our car up at the Rome airport and left from there heading up to Umbria with stop in Orivetto and on the house we rented for a week. Our primary focus on that trip to Italy was hill towns. As far as driving - Do not try and drive in Rome! I have also used The Parker Company for an apartment on the Italian Riviera (www.theparkercompany.com) You should try as soon as possible to get a place as we had to go pretty far down the list of apartments before we found one that was available in May of last year and we booked 9 months out. Good luck Shar

In Tuscany there are loads of agritourisms. Doo not expect them to be cheap rooms in worn-down farms. Most part of them are actually very comfortable. Some of these agritourisms also offer one or more indipendent partments, with kitchen and all, although I usually prefer those with rooms and that also offer dinner (in some of these places you eat really good food, in all the food is homemade). All agritourisms of Tuscany are listed at www.agriturismo.regione.toscana.it, the site also gives detailed informations of the activities and the kind of lodging (rooms or full apartments) and a telephone number or e-mail that enables you to contact the owner.

Apartments in Villa in Florence.<BR>Airport 5 km. Speedway 5 km.<BR>www.genie.it/utenti/carlo.nocentini