cyndiann

My husband and I are planning to visit relatives in London the end of May. We would like to take 5 days and cross over to the Tuscany area (where we have never been). We are wondering if it's possible in 5 days to include a trip to Bruege as well. Probably taking a train or flying from London over to Italy. Then renting a car and crossing from Belgium back to London. If we could only pick one area to visit - which one do you suggest?

Thanks?
Cyndiann

flygirl

As well? No. One or the other with only 5 days. Unless you like spending your vacation time in transit.

Bruges would be easier/closer. You could consider Amsterdam or Brussels along with Bruges, instead. In fact if you were merely going to London to go home, why not fly home from Amsterdam or Brussels to save on backtracking time and costs.

flygirl

ps. unless of course your real interest lies in Italy - in which case I'd still suggest flying home from Italy instead of backtracking.

kerouac

It is almost certain that you will find the international drop off fees excessive when you start investigating car rentals.

hetismij

I would do one or the other. As flygirl suggests you could combine Bruges with Brussels or Amsterdam.
It would take you two days (at least) to drive from Tuscany to Bruges, and the drop off fees would be high. I doubt you would be allowed to take a hire car to the UK and drop it there, which means you still have to get back to London.

So either Tuscany, if that is your priority, flying in from and out to London or better yet flying open jaw and flying home from there, or Bruges and maybe one other city by train. Again flying open jaw home would make the most sense.

bobthenavigator

One or the other. If Italy, then fly to Pisa or Florence.

mjdh1957

It's like comparing apples with pomegranates....

I'd go for Tuscany. Five days in Florence or Siena. May is a lovely time in Italy, everything is green and the spring flowers are out.

I agree you can't do both. The distances are just too great and logistically it would be a nightmare with extra costs for one-way car rental.

cyndiann

Thanks for your responses! We will spend 4-5 days in London. We would then like to spend an additional 5 days in either Tuscany or Bruges. I realize that Bruges is easier to get to than Italy.....however, we never get to Europe......thought this would be a good time to try one of the locations. For those of you who have been to both cities, if you could only pick one - which one?
Thanks for all the info!

bobthenavigator

Bruges is worth a day.
Tuscany cannot be seen in a month.
There is no comparison.

Sassafrass

Hands down: Tuscany (or any other place in Italy).
I spent nearly a week in Bruges, doing several day trips. I would go back to other nearby cities, but not to Bruges. It is charming, and I enjoyed it, but it is more a stage set than a real place to visit, IMHO. Any place in Italy, I would go back over and over; definitely visit Florence and Siena.

hetismij

Tuscany is a large area of Italy. You need to decide what you want to see there, and whether you can see it in the time available to you.

cyndiann

Thanks for your responses! We have definitely decided to spend our time in the Tuscany area. Mainly around Florence, Sienna, Lucca....those areas. Suggestions for flying from London to Florence or Pisa? We would rent a car at the airport. Also....any great recommendations for a romantic hotel in the above areas?

kerouac

Definitely Tuscany, and yet I am more familiar with Bruges (which is very nice, but not worth five days -- if you had said "5 days in Benelux" I would have hesitated).