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I have two professor friends who will be in Germany for Sabbatical April/May/June. Very suddenly, circumstances have changed and they are thinking of being gone February and March as well.

We're brainstorming a village or area that would be good to look into hanging out for those months, low cost, doing work. Sicily they say - but suddenly looking at lists of VRBO it's all so overwhelming and worrisome that in Winter it would be a ghost town.

Some access to internet is important
Availability of simple enough apartment (2 parents, 2 kids)
Some shops and restaurants available in Winter
Might be nice not to have to have a car for everything

I suggested the Lucca Area - perhaps a little more going on... but without finding some deals on a longer term apartment it won't be feasible.

I wish it were me, but I love thinking about the travel so much that I'm invested in helping them figure it out.

Just seeking ideas....

bobthenavigator

I like the Sicily idea. Better weather thta time of year and lower cost. Surely there must be long term apartments.

Leely2

I was in Sicily in March and it wasn't dead, just not thronged with tourists. The weather, that year anyway, was beautiful.

Jean

Two months in Lucca would send me around the bend. Others may disagree.

Since it sounds like the budget is a paramount concern, I assume there will be no rented car for getting around. If so, I would look for a place with good access to general food shopping, a variety of restaurants AND good transportation options for short excursions to other towns.

Consider Perugia which is a provincial capital and university town, so it will not be empty. It's also a regional transportation hub.

But we're talking winter here, so if they want warmer weather look at Sicily.

Leely2

Without a car and with two little kids, Jean may be onto something...