Hi everyone,
Could use some help deciding where to go for 2-3 nights after our stay in Siena for 3-4 nights. I have reserved the Palazzo Ravizza in Siena and it looks beautiful and it is on Bob's recommended list too. We also like the idea of being able to walk around at night and it doesn't look like it is hard to get in and out of Siena for day trips with our rental car, parking included. ideally I would have liked a hotel with a pool but the couple we were interested in didn't work out accomodations wise. The room at La Saracina didn't quite fit our needs and Villa Poggiano was about $500 Euros which is above our $300 Euro budget.

Here is my dilema. After Siena I was planning on the next 3 nights in Florence. However, now I think I might be better off somewhere else. We are a family of 4 with 2 teenage kids. We are not that interested in museums and I am thinking that staying in Florence after Siena might be too much for my kids especially in the heat of July. Maybe a place with a pool would be better for the 2nd part of our Tuscany trip???I would love any suggestions on where to go. We will have a rental car in Siena so we can keep it if we want or return it if we decide to stay in Florence. If we don't stay in Florence I would like to go for the day from Siena.
Thanks in advance for any input.

Consider rooms at a couple of villas in Impruneta, about 9 miles outside of Florence. Both places I've been to have a pool. Location is good both to head into Florence and to take trips to Greve and other Chianti spots. It is however quiet at the villa itself; don't know the kids ages but fyi.

Relais Villa L'Olmo

Villa Monteoriolo

We did not use a car and uses the local bus/taxis etc. but a care would be very helpful.
Both have at least a couple mentions on TripAdvisor and I put picture up for Villa M.

I'm sure others will have alternatives like staying in one of the small towns.

In the surroundings of Cortona/Castiglion Fiorentino, there are quite many extraordinarily nice agriturismi that might meet your preferences.

nancyjacky,
This may help http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm

Henry

As their website says:

....along the ancient Chiantigiana road that links Siena to Florence....

http://www.mulinodiquercegrossa.it/

Nancy,

I would find 3 or 4 nights in Siena with a rental car not really the way to go in July in Tuscany. Siena is jam packed with tourists during the day, and as a hilltown, just walking around means a lot of climbing. As you already know, it is not impossibly hard to get in and out of Siena with a rental car. So why not spend your entire time in Tuscany in a place with a pool for your teenagers and a car to go exploring? There is lots to see in Tuscany:

http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/itineraries/

You can use this website to search for country stays with pools, plus activities like horseback riding. You can also find places that will serve you meals every night. Just use the search filter:

http://en.agriturismo.it/tuscany/index.jsp

The site has some user reviews, but you can also double check for reviews on Tripadvisor, or use the Tripadvisor site itself to find countryside stays:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g6...ny-Hotels.html

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotels-g18...ny-Hotels.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...ny-Hotels.html

You can look up the websites of these places to check current rates and see what they offer in terms of pools, activities, meals, etc. They are usually MUCH cheaper than hotels in Siena.

If you are spending any time in Rome, it is can be easier to see Firenze (Florence) as a day trip from Rome. Just add a day to your Rome stay. But otherwise, if you don't want o drive into Firenze (understandable) drive to a nearby town like Impruneta with a good bus connection, or one with a good train connection (Prato), park and take public transportation in.

PS: Some of the agriturismi near San Gimignano are within walking distance of San Gimignano, so if you want a town to walk around in at night, that might work for you. But if you still want Siena, I would limit you time there to 3 nights, including a day trip to Firenze, and would not have a car there. If you want to day trip from Siena in addition to Firenze, take a bus to San Gimignano.

Google Bellavista, Radicondoli. Gorgeous agrotourism villas on a fully functioning olive grove/winery. Very nicley appointed, with a full time manageer. AND a swimming pool.

Thank you for all your input. I am in the midst of checking out all the places right now. And Zeppole thanks for your advice not to stay in Siena with a car in July and with kids!!! I realize how right you are. I will change to somewhere with a pool for sure. At least at the end of the day,the kids can cool off.
I will get back to you all when I decide where to go.
Thanks again!!!