Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[manderson]

Hello everybody, I need help organising 6 of us visiting Italy next June for 4 weeks. We are looking at staying in private villas at each destination. Have been to Rome and Venice already so thought a week in the CT area would be nice but not sure weather to stay in Monterosso or perhaps Portovenere and travel to different downs each day. Could we then drive from CT to Tuscany and where to stay, Siena, Piemont, Livorno help, I am confused, have also heard that Verona is beautiful, is that near enough to Florence to visit for a day trip??? Thought a week on Sardinia might be a nice break as well but do we spend the whole week in one place or break it up a bit? Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

[lucinate]

I need a cheap place to stay in Venice and Rome and quick!

I just can't justify paying 185 Euros for just me.

[tav]

I need a cheap place to stay in Venice and Rome and quick!

I just can't justify paying 185 Euros for just me.

I got back from visiting Italy two months back and have some good reccommendations for you.

In Venice try out a B&B called Room in Venice. Yes, it's that simple - roominvenice@yahoo.it / www.roominvenice.com
This place is in the Rialto district of Venice. On the thrid floor of an apartment building, just 3 minutes walking distance from San Marc's square. It's bang in the centre and not too expensive, considering how comfortable the rooms are. A room cost me 80 Euros a night. In effect, it actually cost me 40 euros a night as I was there with a friend. Since you are alone you may not like to pay for a full room. Anyhow, a decent breakfast is included. The host is very helpful. An en-suite room would cost more, I imagine. Also, if you are going very very soon and have not yet booked, it might be more expensive.

As for Rome, I stayed in a hostel called Colors. It is on the other side of the Tiber, almost 10 minutes walking distance from the Vatican. very quiet area. Two metro stations within easy reach. I only took the metro to and from the railway station. On all other ocassions my friend and walked. A bed in a 5 bed mixed dorm cost me 25 euros a night. Very clean and quite comfortable. Cereal, tea, coffee, pasta shells and other knick nacks are free in the kitchen. You will have to stock up on other stuff. I would not reccommend this place if you want to stay in the centre of it all. You can find it on the internet by the name of Hotel Colors.

[nickeblewis]

... Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I can highly recommend the Amalfi and Sorrento area. We've been there twice in two successive years. Ravello is a stunning place, it has a number of hotels and restaurants. Sorrento is better though for choice and Ravello is still reachable from sorrento by sea (via Amalfi) or bus (the former option is the quickest)

[andyfanfa]

If you plan spending one week in Tuscany I can recommend Villa La Nievolina in Montecatini Terme.
It was the perfect starting point for our daily tours in the area.
We took a trip to Pisa and Lucca on the same day, one day we went to Cinque Terre and on the way back stopped by the marble caves in Carrara, 2 days we went to Florence by train (hey, don't think of driving in the city!), 1 day in Sienna and San Gimignano, 1 day in Montecatini Terme and Vinci (home town of Leonardo) and one day we rested in the pool.

My suggestion is to try to see as much as you can!

Contact me if you need any kind of help or tip.

I'm willing to share my memories with anybody...

Arrivederci!

[andrea]

I LOVED Italy but my favourite place was by far Cinque Terre, a string of 5 tiny fishing villages on the northwest side. It is a beautiful place and there is an amazing hike between the villages. I think it is a bit of a hidden gem - our guide book didn't even mention it. We heard about from other travellers and could have stayed there the rest of the trip!

Andrea

[alltall07]

I recently returned back from a wonderful trip throughout Italy... You plans in Italy sound great and you seem to be hitting all of the beautiful hot spots and more. Finding a place to stay was a challenge for me as well when I was first planning the trip. However, I stumbled upon this new site which gives informative travel guides for numerous destinations. It eliminates all unnecessary information and links you to the best sites for exactly what you seem to be looking for.

Here is the link....
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides.html...l/Europe-Travel

I hope you have an enjoyable trip!
ps- I gave you the exact link to the Europe information on the site.

[provencebill]

Hi Manderson - several Websites are good for looking for renting a villa for a week:
www.holiday-rentals.co.uk
www.vrbo.com

You can check out where each one is, to see if you want to base yourself there - www.mappy.com helps you locate small towns. Better buy a map of Italy to be able to plan your trip.

Watch out for the rental car agencies in Italy - my last two trips there ended up with extra charges on my VISA card afterwards, which I was never able to get back. Avoid Eurocar and AutoEurope especially.

You'll love Ravello. Actually you might rent a villa somewhere on the Sorrento Peninsula for a week and visit the entire area: there's certainly enough to make a week of it.

Buone viagio,

Bill

[desdemone]

Hello, your trip sounds really interesting and I do truly believe that you will have a wonderful holiday during that period.
Although not many people stop where I currently live, Turin is a very nice city. Hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 2006 and it is rich in history and places to see. Close by there is also Alba, famous for the truffles, wines and good food. You also have the amazing scenary of the Alps which not many cities such as Turin have. It would be worth stopping for 3 days.
The 5 Terre are indeed something you should see. Liguria is a very nice region to travel accross as it has some really nice sights and the 5 Terre are really close to one another and there are good train links as well as walks you can do.
Tuscany is my region...for that I would say to visit it a whole week. From Florence, to Lucca, to Pisa (Pisa only has the tower, so I wouldn't stay there too long), Siena and Arezzo. You also have the island of Elba, which would be nice to visit for a couple of days to relax in the sunshine. Some friends of minehave a house there which is very nice and I visit at least once a year.
There is also Umbria which is meant to be rather beautiful and full of brethtaking scenaries.
As far as it goes to Sorrento and Amalfi, I visited once, beautiful place, but it did not excite me as much as the others, but this is only personal taste. I would stick to four regions: Piemonte, Liguria, Toscana, Umbria and maybe try and add one week in Sardegna if you like.
As far as for villas, might be pricy. try out Agriturismi, these are relatively cheap and cosy. Some of them also have apartments you can rent.
try:
www.agriturismo.it
www.agriturismi.it
Just check by location

[tito.clari]

Hi. You can have an very nice stay in Tuscany. There are thousend of wonderful places to stay in farmhouse. I sell an apartament in Volterra and my friends from Dublin rent one. Contact me for any advice.

[nicco1977]

Hi. You can have an very nice stay in Tuscany. There are thousend of wonderful places to stay in farmhouse. I sell an apartament in Volterra and my friends from Dublin rent one. Contact me for any advice.

We have found great deals on this site: http://www.filaretenet.com
which have the best web prices on some hotels, farmhouses, apartments and b&bs.
Take a look.

[dedemax]

Hello everybody, I need help organising 6 of us visiting Italy next June for 4 weeks. We are looking at staying in private villas at each destination. Have been to Rome and Venice already so thought a week in the CT area would be nice but not sure weather to stay in Monterosso or perhaps Portovenere and travel to different downs each day. Could we then drive from CT to Tuscany and where to stay, Siena, Piemont, Livorno help, I am confused, have also heard that Verona is beautiful, is that near enough to Florence to visit for a day trip??? Thought a week on Sardinia might be a nice break as well but do we spend the whole week in one place or break it up a bit? Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Hello,

Last year, i went to tuscany to visit the different estates. It was simply magic. I went via trust and travel. I let you the adress, for sur you will find apartements or nice villa. http://www.trustandtravel.com. And if you like agritourism holidays, this is the best way to find villas for rent, apartements rentals in tuscany.

Chance and bon voyage

Cordialy

[jillma]

Hi, you could check out this site, wonderful place to stay, a good base for visiting all the beautiful cities, towns and villages in Tuscany and very reasonable prices. www.tuscany-orciatico.it.gg
Will you have a rental car? For me it is essential to be able to travel Tuscany by car.

Happy holidays!

Hello everybody, I need help organising 6 of us visiting Italy next June for 4 weeks. We are looking at staying in private villas at each destination. Have been to Rome and Venice already so thought a week in the CT area would be nice but not sure weather to stay in Monterosso or perhaps Portovenere and travel to different downs each day. Could we then drive from CT to Tuscany and where to stay, Siena, Piemont, Livorno help, I am confused, have also heard that Verona is beautiful, is that near enough to Florence to visit for a day trip??? Thought a week on Sardinia might be a nice break as well but do we spend the whole week in one place or break it up a bit? Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Hello,

Last year, i went to tuscany to visit the different estates. It was simply magic. I went via trust and travel. I let you the adress, for sur you will find apartements or nice villa. http://www.trustandtravel.com. And if you like agritourism holidays, this is the best way to find villas for rent, apartements rentals in tuscany.

Chance and bon voyage

Cordialy

[logantait]

Hey,

I am newbie here, I would like to suggest Bibione. It is a good tourist place in Venetian coast. I was there the last time and got all things to enjoy. You can find many hotels and restaurants. I stayed in a hotel Bellevue Hotel . It provided me a very good service and I really enjoyed too from my heart.

Hope this will help you,
Good Luck!!

[kitkatgo]

I'm looking at Travel & Leisure magazine right now and it lists a couple websites for villas (I have no experience myself though:

Communicart: communicart.it
Dream & Charme: dreamcharme.com

Have a great time on your trip!

[beautiful]

Hello everybody, I need help organising 6 of us visiting Italy next June for 4 weeks. We are looking at staying in private villas at each destination. Have been to Rome and Venice already so thought a week in the CT area would be nice but not sure weather to stay in Monterosso or perhaps Portovenere and travel to different downs each day. Could we then drive from CT to Tuscany and where to stay, Siena, Piemont, Livorno help, I am confused, have also heard that Verona is beautiful, is that near enough to Florence to visit for a day trip??? Thought a week on Sardinia might be a nice break as well but do we spend the whole week in one place or break it up a bit? Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Your Vacation Apartment in Florence
Home in Florence offers very comfortable and well furnished lodgings located in the Centre of the town for temporary stays, holidays, tourism, artistic and cultural tours at convenient prices.

All the houses are inside ancient and historical buildings of the Old Florence, they are independent flats, very close to the most important museums and amenities of Florence city. Duomo, S.Croce, Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio), Piazza Signoria, Uffizi, the river side (fiume Arno), are close to these Florentine houses, not far from the train station.

The apartments, country style furnished, are typical and characteristic homes of “Firenze Centro”.

In the historical centre
The apartments located in the historical are located in via dell' Agnolo, via delle Conce, via Faenza.

The houses are all well furnished and full equipped for short or long period of stay, vacation, study, job, artistic trips, cultural tours and so on.

Home in Florence proposes a homely management in fact all the flats belongs to the owners that directly offers them at very low prices, high quality and kind hospitality.

A good and warm hospitality and high quality of their flats are at the first place for HomeinFlorence.net People seeking a lodging in the full Centre of Florence (downtown) can find the right accomodation visiting our site.

Our Apartments
Apartment "Agnolo"
Max 2 people
280€/week
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Apartment "Le conce"

Max 6 people
650 €/week
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Apartment "Faenza 1"

Max 4+1 people
550 €/week
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Apartment "Faenza 2"

Max 2+1 people
280€/week
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Home in Florence - Your vacation apartment in Florence - email: info@homeinflorence.net - Tel. 0039 055 402261

[beautiful]

Hi. You can have an very nice stay in Tuscany. There are thousend of wonderful places to stay in farmhouse. I sell an apartament in Volterra and my friends from Dublin rent one. Contact me for any advice.

Your Vacation Apartment in Florence
Home in Florence offers very comfortable and well furnished lodgings located in the Centre of the town for temporary stays, holidays, tourism, artistic and cultural tours at convenient prices.

All the houses are inside ancient and historical buildings of the Old Florence, they are independent flats, very close to the most important museums and amenities of Florence city. Duomo, S.Croce, Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio), Piazza Signoria, Uffizi, the river side (fiume Arno), are close to these Florentine houses, not far from the train station.

The apartments, country style furnished, are typical and characteristic homes of “Firenze Centro”.

In the historical centre
The apartments located in the historical are located in via dell' Agnolo, via delle Conce, via Faenza.

The houses are all well furnished and full equipped for short or long period of stay, vacation, study, job, artistic trips, cultural tours and so on.

Home in Florence proposes a homely management in fact all the flats belongs to the owners that directly offers them at very low prices, high quality and kind hospitality.

A good and warm hospitality and high quality of their flats are at the first place for HomeinFlorence.net People seeking a lodging in the full Centre of Florence (downtown) can find the right accomodation visiting our site.

Our Apartments
Apartment "Agnolo"
Max 2 people
280€/week
Book Now Details

Apartment "Le conce"

Max 6 people
650 €/week
Book Now Details

Apartment "Faenza 1"

Max 4+1 people
550 €/week
Book Now Details

Apartment "Faenza 2"

Max 2+1 people
280€/week
Book Now Details


Home in Florence - Your vacation apartment in Florence - email: info@homeinflorence.net - Tel. 0039 055 402261

[aussiejohn]

all the places mentioned are great but you might want to try something a bit different. I'm planning a trip back next year and found this good website www.monasterystays.com which lists hundreds of monasteries all over Italy. They have places in Tuscanny and CT with reasonable prices(including thier fee) so I'd check it out.

[albertusmagnus]

Hello everybody, I need help organising 6 of us visiting Italy next June for 4 weeks. We are looking at staying in private villas at each destination. Have been to Rome and Venice already so thought a week in the CT area would be nice but not sure weather to stay in Monterosso or perhaps Portovenere and travel to different downs each day. Could we then drive from CT to Tuscany and where to stay, Siena, Piemont, Livorno help, I am confused, have also heard that Verona is beautiful, is that near enough to Florence to visit for a day trip??? Thought a week on Sardinia might be a nice break as well but do we spend the whole week in one place or break it up a bit? Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I would suggest staying in Bergamo, which is about 30K from Milano. From there you can go a lot of places, by car or by train.
Milan 30 minutes away
Brescia 30 minutes away
Lake Como one hour
Verona 1 hr 15 minutes
Parma 1 hour
Modena 1 hr 20 minutes
Venice drive 2 1/2 hours, train 1 hr. 15 min.
It is really a fantastic city, with lots to do and see there.
We stayed there for two weeks, and never had nothing to do, or no place to go.

Another place to stay is Santa Maria Ligure in Liguria. From here Florence is two hours drive or 1 hour by train. Portofino, 10 minutes, Rapallo, 5 minutes, Comogli 20 minutes. Pisa 1 hour, Portofino, 45 minutes, San Remo two hours, Monaco two 1/2 hours. Trains are shorter.
Great place, great food great location.
Ciao,
Alberto
p.s. 1st generation Italian American, parents from vicinity of Roma. Have been to Italy at least twice annually for the past 30 years. Just ask and I'll give you information.

[Massimo]

Hello everybody, I need help organising 6 of us visiting Italy next June for 4 weeks. We are looking at staying in private villas at each destination. Have been to Rome and Venice already so thought a week in the CT area would be nice but not sure weather to stay in Monterosso or perhaps Portovenere and travel to different downs each day. Could we then drive from CT to Tuscany and where to stay, Siena, Piemont, Livorno help, I am confused, have also heard that Verona is beautiful, is that near enough to Florence to visit for a day trip??? Thought a week on Sardinia might be a nice break as well but do we spend the whole week in one place or break it up a bit? Then thought we would finish off on the Amalfi coast for 1 week, is Ravello a good option. We are all in our 50's and like the option of a good selection of restaurants within a reasonable distance of where we are staying as after travelling all day may not feel like doing much of an evening but eating and walking around and of course having a cold white wine. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I'd say , on the Amalfi coast, Ravello is really pretty, but on top of a hill, and quite far from the beach... maybe stay in Positano, for me the cutest town in that area, and maybe take a daytrip to ravello.
In positano some great restaurants are right on the beach, and many hotels are 5-10 mnts walk from it..

For a private Villa, consider also Umbria, the towns of Orvieto, from where you can get to Civita di bagnoregio, or Todi, Perugia, there are also some nice villas just out of Rome, if you'll want to stay there..
Ciao!