Tuscany in September - where to stay?

[PSaulino]

Anyone have experience with going to Tuscany that time of year? We are a group of 7, 4 adults and 3 kids. There are so many places to choose from, looking to hear about experiences from those who have been there and can make recommendations.

Thanks!!
Paul

[MES10]

I was there in October 2009 and the weather was just perfect. It was harvest time so it was nice to see the hustle and bustle of bringing the grapes in for wine making. With all of the hype surrounding Tuscany I was fully expecting to be disappointed but I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful it really is.

I enjoyed the smaller non tourist towns best but they are all pretty nice. Pisa was the biggest let down. Recommend: San Casciano dei Bagni (find the natural hot springs) and Cetona.

[cruisemates]

Keep this in mind - Venice is on the Adriatic and Florence is closer to the West coast (Livorno). You probably want to be about halfway between them so you can see both of them. If you stay near Cremona you can easily go to Milan, Verona, Venice, Florence & more.

They also say the northern areas near Como are just beautiful. You vcan even easily head north to Switzerland and Lichtenstein.

There is a park called Cinque Terre near La Spezia. If you can stay in any of the towns along that stretch it would wonderful.

Montecatini also has hot springs. The Town of Lucca is also a very beautiful place.

I would consider renting in the country if it is cheaper and have a rental car to see the sites - there are so many in that part of Italy. Stay away from Genoa and the bigger cities. They are very busy. Look for a small town with a marketplace, etc.

[harvestmark]

We went in September 2010 with 7 adults. It was late September so it was a little cool, but nice. We stayed in a very small community called Ripoli near the village of Monterchi. We stayed here;

http://www.palazzorosadi.com/

Of the 2 villas on the site, we stayed at Torre del Cielo. It was truly fantastic. We made day trips to Tuscan villages, plus into neighboring Umbria. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Mark Miller

[PSaulino]

GREAT replies - a reason I love this board so much

THANKS! Keep them coming :-)

Paul

[Phil M]

Reminds me of The Maestro on Seinfeld:

"You won't find a place to rent ... there's nothing available. It's booked SOLID."

I'm very envious of you, BTW. Sounds like heaven.

[harvestmark]

We went the last week of September, which was the first week of the offseason. It was very affordable, from accommodations to food. And the food was really great.

Mark Miller

[MES10]

We stayed in a great little hotel in a small town called Piazze. The staff were friendly, there was a bar and a couple of restaurants we could walk to. Actually, it was a bar at night, but during the day it was a coffee shop so we'd walked down in the morning and grab an esspresso and we'd walk back at night for a Lemoncello.

On the edge of town was a local vintner who sold really decent table wine so we'd literally buy it by the case and walk it back to our hotel. We'd sit at the small tables out front and have a couple of glasses of wine as the sun was setting.

http://www.locandatoscanini.com/

[hogy]

Take few days and visit the island of Elba off the coast. One of my favorite places on earth.

[nwobhm_uk]

You may find this (long thread) helpful

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291799

[nsureit]

Rent a villa. That's the way to go.

http://www.invitationtotuscany.com/

http://www.rent-a-villa-in-tuscany.com/

http://www.tuscanynow.com/Villas_Tuscany.aspx

[screamtone]

Well if you're thinking of getting a place there don't bother. There's really nothing available.

[Crackpot]

http://inalbi.com/

I haven't stayed there but I eat there. Nice place, great food (not really remarkable in Italy), and the best Tuscan olive oil ever.

There's a bus stop down the road and it's a short (twisty) ride into Florence. From there you can take the train for day trips to Sienna, Pisa, and Lucca. And if the trains don't run (it's Italy, after all), well... so what? You're in Firenze!

[Edit] September is perfect in Tuscany. Enjoy.

[BadAssBill]

Stayed there last year. A few nights in Flourence, and a few nights in Sienna. I can't recomend these two places enough. PM me if you decide to stay there, the places we stayed...while hard to find, were fantastic.

[Blue Light]

Florence is beautiful but so very crowded. My favorite city is Sienna -- and hands down the most amazing, surreal cathedral I've ever seen.
But the best time I had there was in a small city south of Florence called Arezzo. It's got all the old medieval churches and great places to eat and a fantastic huge square in the middle of town. Only it's not all that crowded.
It's where they shot that Roberto Benigni film, Life Is Beautiful.