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Florence/Tuscany
Posted on 3/4/24 at 11:27 am
Posted on 3/4/24 at 11:27 am
After what seemed like 1000 different changes to our plans, it looks as though we’re locked into arriving in Rome on Tuesday morning 5/14 and we have 3 nights to kill before returning back to Rome for our “awards trip” to begin. We’ve somewhat settled on the Tuscany region to spend those 3 nights. We will not hand a car and will rely on trains, public transportation, bikes, walking, etc…
Our biggest question is…where do we stay? Any help is greatly appreciated and the more detailed the better. Any experience with a certain hotel, villa, rental, etc would be awesome!
I do have a very high status with Marriott and plenty of points to book a Marriott property in Florence (there appears to be 4 of them) if wanted.
Thank You!
Our biggest question is…where do we stay? Any help is greatly appreciated and the more detailed the better. Any experience with a certain hotel, villa, rental, etc would be awesome!
I do have a very high status with Marriott and plenty of points to book a Marriott property in Florence (there appears to be 4 of them) if wanted.
Thank You!
4
Posted on 3/4/24 at 11:57 am to The Donald
If you plan to see a lot of the sights in Florence, I would suggest San Firenze Suites and Spa. I stayed there a couple of years ago. It’s in a great location. About a block from the Palazzo Vecchio and less than a half mile from the Duomo.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 12:14 pm to The Donald
With three days and no car, I would stay in Florence. My favorite hotel is the Davanzati, a small hotel near the Duomo.
You need a car to see the Tuscan countryside because the hill towns are spread out and not very accessible by anything but cars. Florence, on the other hand, is walkable.
Maybe you can take a day trip.
You need a car to see the Tuscan countryside because the hill towns are spread out and not very accessible by anything but cars. Florence, on the other hand, is walkable.
Maybe you can take a day trip.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 1:26 pm to Someone
Also stayed here, great spot and good rooms for a very reasonable price
Posted on 3/4/24 at 1:48 pm to Someone
Anything near the Duomo or Palazzo Vecchio is a good location. All of the main sights in Florence are easy to reach on foot from that area.
If you are interested in seeing the small towns in Tuscany, either rent a car that you would get at the Florence airport on look into day trips thru operators such as Viator. Siena is about one hour south - plenty to see there. Also recommend you look into trips that include Montepulciano or Montalcino. Either is a great destination if you are interested in wine & food, and both old walled towns. Great scenery.
If you are interested in seeing the small towns in Tuscany, either rent a car that you would get at the Florence airport on look into day trips thru operators such as Viator. Siena is about one hour south - plenty to see there. Also recommend you look into trips that include Montepulciano or Montalcino. Either is a great destination if you are interested in wine & food, and both old walled towns. Great scenery.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 2:58 pm to StringMusic
Yeah, that’s more of our scene as opposed to the city of Florence. Wed like to do the smaller towns, wine, etc…
Would 3 nights in Siena be too long?
Would 3 nights in Siena be too long?
Posted on 3/4/24 at 3:30 pm to The Donald
quote:Not if you take day trips to places like Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimigiano (sp) and some of the other hill towns.
Would 3 nights in Siena be too long?
Siena is a wonderful place to visit and it is smaller than Florence, but if you have never been there, I would not recommend passing up Florence.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 3:51 pm to The Donald
quote:
Would 3 nights in Siena be too long?
If you only have 3 nights in Tuscany, stay in Florence and use that as your base. Plenty to see and do in Florence plus many food options. On at least one of the days, take a car to Sienna and the small towns, or a small group tour with a guide.
We spent 3 nights just outside of Montepulciano and 3 nights in Florence and I would do all of that again.
Also, some of this may depend on when you are going. Florence can get very busy in certain areas during the tourist season. If that's not an issue then spend the nights in Florence. If you prefer quite evenings in the country, book a place in Siena or just south of there.
3 nights in Siena would not be a problem but you should plan to use the days seeing the countryside and the small towns.
Forgot to mention Pienza - another small hilltop town that's easy to navigate.
Finding food & wine in this area would be as easy as finding potholes in NOLA.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 4:00 pm to The Donald
Give Volterra a look, or spend a night in Orvieto on your way from or back to Rome. It is on the trainline and has a funicular to get you up to the town on the hill. Absolutely one of the best churches to visit.
St Michael's well is also impressive.
St Michael's well is also impressive.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 4:27 pm to StringMusic
Thanks to everyone for all of the advice!
Where did you stay in each place?
quote:
We spent 3 nights just outside of Montepulciano and 3 nights in Florence and I would do all of that again.
Where did you stay in each place?
Posted on 3/4/24 at 5:16 pm to The Donald
quote:
Where did you stay in each place?
Florence - AirBnB - nice 1 bedroom apartment - bathroom was small but location was great - on Via Ghibellina next to the Barbello Museum - took a cab from the Florence airport to get here.
Montepluciano - Hotel I Due Cigni in Sant'Albino - small property, terrific owners/staff, would stay again, found this via Chase Sapphire travel portal. You'll need a car to get to this one. If I couldn't stay here, I'd like into the agriturismos in the area.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 5:22 pm to StringMusic
If you are interested in a guided wine tour, there are many available from Florence, Siena, and Montalcino. I tried this one and I was very happy with it - LINK /
We did a full day tour of 4 wineries with lunch. Nadia - owner and van driver - was excellent. We had to meet her at her home/office in Montalcino. The van can take 7 guests.
She offers other trips like half day tours, wine & cooking classes, etc.
We did a full day tour of 4 wineries with lunch. Nadia - owner and van driver - was excellent. We had to meet her at her home/office in Montalcino. The van can take 7 guests.
She offers other trips like half day tours, wine & cooking classes, etc.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 5:36 pm to Pfft
quote:
spend a night in Orvieto
This looks like an option for our 3rd night. Any particular part of the city to stay in/near?
Posted on 3/4/24 at 7:36 pm to The Donald
My wife and did Rome/Tuscany a few years ago. Not having a car will severely limit your small Tuscan town options- and that is no small thing.
We based in Monticchiello for 3 nights and took a day trip to Florence and Siena. We felt like a day was all we needed. We spent half a day in Orvieto when we left Rome, it was a wonderful afternoon.
In Tuscany we visited Montalcino, Montepulciano, Piensa. Spent time crisscrossing the Val d’Orcia. Absolutely beautiful scenery at every turn. On our way back to Rome we hit Cortona, another great spot.
We based in Monticchiello for 3 nights and took a day trip to Florence and Siena. We felt like a day was all we needed. We spent half a day in Orvieto when we left Rome, it was a wonderful afternoon.
In Tuscany we visited Montalcino, Montepulciano, Piensa. Spent time crisscrossing the Val d’Orcia. Absolutely beautiful scenery at every turn. On our way back to Rome we hit Cortona, another great spot.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 8:26 pm to slinger1317
Agreed. If you stay in Tuscany a car is a must. It’s no different than driving in the US. Just understand that there will be bicycles and respect is given to them.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 8:54 pm to Someone
quote:
San Firenze Suites and Spa
Just booked this for my early October trip. Thanks for the tip.
Posted on 3/4/24 at 10:05 pm to MintBerry Crunch
Unfortunately for us, it’s booked during the nights we’re there…but looks like a great place!
Posted on 3/4/24 at 10:06 pm to MintBerry Crunch
I'll echo the wonders of renting a car in Tuscany. It added to my enjoyment of the region immensely.
In September, we stayed at this fantastic B&B Farmhouse close to San Gimignano:
Tenuta Sovestro
Upon booking, we didn't realize that the same owners have a Michelin star restaurant on the property with Florentine steaks and amazing pastas:
Ristorante da Pode
In September, we stayed at this fantastic B&B Farmhouse close to San Gimignano:
Tenuta Sovestro
Upon booking, we didn't realize that the same owners have a Michelin star restaurant on the property with Florentine steaks and amazing pastas:
Ristorante da Pode
Posted on 3/5/24 at 10:49 am to MikeyFL
will be in Tuscany July 1-6th. Initial planning now. Flying form London to Florence - thinking two nights in Florence then renting a car and heading to a village in the hills for the remaining days/nights.
Anyone have opinions on great towns for a base outside Florence/Siena. Obviously want a place with great evening dining options.
Anyone have opinions on great towns for a base outside Florence/Siena. Obviously want a place with great evening dining options.
Posted on 3/5/24 at 12:40 pm to MAROON
I’ll be there 2 months prior, but flying in & out of Rome. In the research I’ve done and based on the comments above to my initial question, Orvieto is appealing to me for a night.
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