RochesterIBC
Member
Hello!
My girlfriend and I are flying into Milan early August and plan to visit CT and Tuscany for 15 days (at the tail end of the trip, stop in Venice 1 night and Milan 1 night before returning home).
My thoughts are to go directly from Milan to CT and spend 3 nights. Do you recommend staying in one of the 5 towns or might you suggest Lerici or Portofino and just do day trips to CT? Is 3 nights too many? Not enough?
From CT my thought is to go to Firenze and stay in the city center for 3 nights. The thought is to spend 1 day visiting Pisa and Lucca, but the rest of the time really experience Firenze. If you think this is a good idea, have you any recommendations where to stay? Or are all hotels rather equal here?
From Firenze, we would like to travel a bit farther into southern Tuscany and spend 6 nights. We would like to relax, but also see the sights, go to wineries and eat wonderful foods. We don't necessarily wish to be touristy but would rather experience real life in the region. We do enjoy nighttime, so staying someplace that may have restaurants/bars at night may be nice, but we also do not wish to stay in a bustling, noisy area. We would like to visit so many towns: Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Val D'Orcia. So we would like to stay somewhere that's not too far from any, but travel is not much of a concern (just not wanting to drive far after visiting wineries nor too far in the dark, etc.). Had originally thought of staying in Pienza, but it seems like it may be too desolate at night. Any recommendations what town might be most suitable?
After Tuscany, our thoughts are to visit Venice 1 day/night then to Milan for 1 day/night before our flight home.
What do you think of these plans? And have you thoughts on trains vs. car rental? I know we will rent a car for at least the southern Tuscany portion of our trip, but wasn't sure if a train would be good from Milan to CT and then to Firenze. I am a bit concerned about having to drag luggage on the trains.
Your advice would be MUCH appreciated!
Ian
My girlfriend and I are flying into Milan early August and plan to visit CT and Tuscany for 15 days (at the tail end of the trip, stop in Venice 1 night and Milan 1 night before returning home).
My thoughts are to go directly from Milan to CT and spend 3 nights. Do you recommend staying in one of the 5 towns or might you suggest Lerici or Portofino and just do day trips to CT? Is 3 nights too many? Not enough?
From CT my thought is to go to Firenze and stay in the city center for 3 nights. The thought is to spend 1 day visiting Pisa and Lucca, but the rest of the time really experience Firenze. If you think this is a good idea, have you any recommendations where to stay? Or are all hotels rather equal here?
From Firenze, we would like to travel a bit farther into southern Tuscany and spend 6 nights. We would like to relax, but also see the sights, go to wineries and eat wonderful foods. We don't necessarily wish to be touristy but would rather experience real life in the region. We do enjoy nighttime, so staying someplace that may have restaurants/bars at night may be nice, but we also do not wish to stay in a bustling, noisy area. We would like to visit so many towns: Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Val D'Orcia. So we would like to stay somewhere that's not too far from any, but travel is not much of a concern (just not wanting to drive far after visiting wineries nor too far in the dark, etc.). Had originally thought of staying in Pienza, but it seems like it may be too desolate at night. Any recommendations what town might be most suitable?
After Tuscany, our thoughts are to visit Venice 1 day/night then to Milan for 1 day/night before our flight home.
What do you think of these plans? And have you thoughts on trains vs. car rental? I know we will rent a car for at least the southern Tuscany portion of our trip, but wasn't sure if a train would be good from Milan to CT and then to Firenze. I am a bit concerned about having to drag luggage on the trains.
Your advice would be MUCH appreciated!
Ian