Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pienza April 23rd 2016. Learn to use it before you go. Uffizi tour 2 hours, Medici Chapels tour 1 hour. Getting lost is fun (if you're going to get lost in Italy) but the road signs are confusing and frustrating. My inspiration for this piece is the arrival of our just-announced Best of Tuscany in 12 Days Tour , which weaves together, in some form or another, virtually all of the experiences I’ve described here. Smaller text Larger text. Shop Rick's Travel Store. Thank you ALL for your advice! Easy-to-follow maps (including color maps of Tuscany, central Florence, and greater Florence) Trip planning: When to go, pre-trip checklist, festivals and holidays, recommended books and movies As a lead guide with Rick Steves' Europe, Francesco shows travelers the joys of his homeland on several of our Italy tours, including (naturally) the Best of Tuscany tour. What is the easiest way to get from the Florence airport to a small Tuscan town? Experience Tuscany: Sleep (and Eat) at an Agriturismo. Both agris were self-contined, giving us the option to dine in or out. Get Started; Community Guidelines; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. The place was out in the countryside, located in a beautiful area. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion 2) Rent/buy a GPS (and Italian maps that are compatible w/ GPS). About Rick; Explore Europe; Our Tours; Travel Tips; Watch, Read, Listen; Travel Forum. Jump to bottom. Answer 1 of 4: We are liking the basic concept of the itineray laid out by Rick Steves: Rome 3 nights Sorrento 3 nights then heading to/through Tuscany. Noté /5. But found a few errors that we wanted to mention to help other travelers in Florence: - The Firenze card does not allow you to "skip the line" to climb the Dome. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Italy / TUSCANY; Please sign in to post. For people staying more than three weeks a lease is usally a better deal than a rental, plus you get a new car. So much to see, so little time. Thanksgiving in Tuscany: A Treasured Travel Memory. On our Best of Tuscany in 12 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily… Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. Smaller text Larger text. I will Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Get started! In Chianti there was a wonderful!osteria right down the road. Find everything you need for packing — and planning your dream trip to Europe. Be sure to take or rent a GPS, which will make navigating in rural Tuscany much easier. My Account. JP - Tuscany is a big, rural area. Ask a question or share advice. My friends and I are renting a villa in Tuscany (near Siena)for 1 month in July. We were thinking Lucca so we would have access to transportation (trains) to visit Tuscany. Adding gas and tolls, total cost for the car was about $350. A Memorable Thanksgiving in Tuscany. We usually use Auto Europe, an rental broker in the US, to find the best price. Feel free to browse to post questions and answers. It can easily be returned in Siena (Avis) if you only need it for a short time. Also, do some research for holidays during the time you're going. Travel Forum / Italy / Tuscany; Please sign in to post. Experience Tuscany: Visit Off-Season — and Have the Place to Yourself. I prefer Garmin products. Buon viaggio! We simply enjoyed the freedom to go where we wanted, when we wanted and the confidence that it was accurately guiding us. Join our lively community of travelers who exchange advice, tips and experiences. Answer 1 of 10: I am relying on the Rick Steves travel guide to set up an itinerary for a trip to Florence this March. Wonderful helpful owners. Smaller text Larger text. More Buying Choices $12.80 (37 used & new offers) Kindle $16.99 $ 16. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on February 8, 2016 January 4, 2018 by Cameron Hewitt. How do I get to Tuscany and what are the best ways to travel in Italy? Retrouvez Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2008 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Retrouvez Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2012 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Retrouvez Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2009 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Debra, if you know you can get the train from where you are staying you can at least visit the main cities, but the smaller town would probably require taking the bus and you could spend a lot of time waiting. First 2 weeks in October is a fabulous (free) chestnut and jazz festival in Soriano nel Cimino near Viterbo. I’ve just wrapped up a blog series on my Tuscan Thanksgiving. Experience Tuscany: Lick Artisanal Gelato. Try a search if people don't post argiturismo suggestions, as that topic has come up several times in the past. Start planning your trip to Italy! In this travel class, Rick Steves describes Italy's Tuscany and Umbria — adjoining regions famous for their scenery, food, wine, and fine cities and hill towns (including Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Volterra, San Gimignano, Orvieto, Civita, and Assisi). Photo: Cameron Hewitt. Rick Steves at the Siena’s Palio: an experience not to be missed. 79 $23.99 $23.99. My wife wants to stay at Agroturismo's, visit farmers markets, cute villages, eat, drink wine, ride bikes, walk, and enjoy the Tuscan landscape. However, visiting Tuscany and Umbria is best done by car. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on July 31, 2019 August 7, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. Roads are easy to navigate. You can look at the map and add a "way point" on your GPS route to keep you going in the right direction. Just to repeat what others are saying: 1) rent a car and 2) get at a minimum a good detailed map- but you really should get a GPS if possible. You have just been given some excellent advice by a lot of great people! Destination Q&A . There are scads of posts about the infamous ZTL (zona traffico limitato) in Florence and the fines that can be racked up there. I just picked up the 2017 edition of the Rick Steves book on Amazon for $10. If you rent a car in Florence, do so from the airport to avoid driving into or around the city center. we could split the time up - 2 days each place. Maybe 10 kilometers from Orvieto, so we dined there each nite. Posted by JP (Salem) on 06/12/10 05:17 PM. To help you get started, we've listed our top picks for where to go in Tuscany, and our plan for your best two-week trip. 1. The Roman amphitheater at Volterra is quite a find. Noté /5. We relied heavily on Rick Steves 2017 guidebook for our planning, and it was a lifesaver. Monday Night Travel. Retrouvez DEL-Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2005 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Wow! We found that dinners out were so cheap, and fantastic, that we could not pass them up. He has never steered me wrong on accommodations. When he's not guiding Rick's tours, Francesco, along with his wife, Annie, offers virtual wine tastings, Italian language lessons, and trip-planning services. Visit the slowtrav site, check out these directions (http://www.ballofdirt.com/entries/8228/163992.html) to Saturnia, or google Saturnia hot springs. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion We were rather suspicious about the accuracy of this as the Italians went zooming by while we were going the speed limit. Join Rick and his team of travel-savvy teachers every Monday night on Zoom as we explore Europe (and beyond) together. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. In Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany you'll find in-depth Rick-tested information on:. I would also go to the slowtrav site (http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/road_signs/index.htm) and gather/print (in color) all the road signs and rules into a handy reference guide. Be sure to buy a Michelen print map to take with you! 4.8 out of 5 stars 10. Smaller text Larger text. Africa; Antarctica; Asia; C. America & Caribbean; Europe; Middle East; N. America; Oceania; Oceans & Seas; S. America . Rick Steves writes terrific European guide books, especially if you are on a budget and like to do nerdly things, like visiting small and odd museums. I have EyeWitness Rome, Lonely Planet Italy and Insight Guides Italy. We flew into Rome and picked up our car at the airport, and headed North. New to the forum? I stayed in Montalcino, but somewhere in the Siena area would be more central for exploring Tuscany and provides for shorter day-trip drives. TUSCANY. For all of the details on everything described here, check out our Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany guidebook. Amazing gelato abounds in Italy — and Tuscany is no exception. … I stay away from Hertz because they automatically charge any fines you may incur to your credit card (don't drive in Siena or Florence or you will loose many $$$$$ in ZTL traffic zone tickets!). If staying at an agriturismo, a car is a must. Check Trenitalia website to see train routes. I spent under $50 for an Italian map set card and it worked with excellence. where would you suggest we stay? ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm, http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/road_signs/index.htm, http://www.ballofdirt.com/entries/8228/163992.html. Jump to bottom. It proved to be in an excellent location to explore the area; it was only about 2 miles from the freeway, but out in the country just the same. Picked up at Rome airport and dropped off at Florence airport. A Garmin Nuvii that will accept an SD card will be your best friend. I am well traveled but, not in Italy. Also, you might add hot springs to your list of things to do. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. Only two self-contained apts. I am planning a trip to Tuscany for our 7th wedding anniversary. We used this continuously when we came across a puzzling sign. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. You should check it out. For only $65 EU/nite we had an apt overlooking the pool and with a view to die for. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on July 31, 2019 August 7, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. We wanted to limit car rental but not totally against it. Very rustic, but they had a pool. Learn about Rick Steves' small-group tours with more than 40 great itineraries for 2021! Just be aware that many, if not all, of the historic hill towns will have restricted traffic zones which help to reduce traffic in their historic centers. My friends and I are renting a villa in Tuscany (near Siena)for 1 month in July. Retrouvez Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany 2017 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Tuscany - Rick Steves Travel Forum Going to spend a week in Tuscany in mid March and would like to stay in one location. Posted by James (Florida) on 03/25/11 05:37 PM. Home / Blog; Posted on November 23, 2016 by . These detailed maps will be very helpful in navigating to parking areas. See http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm. The time he recommends that each of his tours take seems rather short to me, eg. Our favorite restaurant in Orvoieto was La Palombo. Definitely get the Garmin with European maps. Written in typical Rick Steves style, which I appreciate as offering practical day-to-day tips (for example, how to avoid ticket lines at major attractions), and a straightforward approach on what is a "must-see" versus what is over-hyped. Paperback $16.79 $ 16. The best price they offered this time was with Hertz, but I paid a little more and used their second choice; Europecar. Thanks again. tuscany - Rick Steves Travel Forum we are driving from milan to cinque terre, then to lucca, then to florence. Get a small car so parking will be easier. We just got back last week. I did a weekly rental through Autoeurope last May, and it was under $250. 99 $23.99 $23.99. 8 Things to Do in Tuscany in 2016 . Our spacious well equiped one bedroom apt only cost $75 EU/nite. Forum; Photos. The GPS will sometimes try to take you on routes that aren't the way you really want to go. I was Italy in April and Tuscany is very difficult to navigate (several Italians agreed with me on this point). The rustic farmhouse called Cretaiole perches on a ridge overlooking postcard Tuscan farmlands, less than a 10-minute drive outside of Pienza. If any of you any have other valuable recommendations, please send them my way. We had a great time driving to Montelcino, routed back through Volterra and on to Lucca. If you do rent a car in Italy, DO buy a GPS with European Maps. My Account. Get help planning your trip. I would add one more thing. Rick Steves: Tuscany for beginners. We've been contemplating renting a car, but won't need it for the whole month. We are on a tight budget and we like rustic! I don't recommend driving at night though, as the Italians are very creative drivers. I have done it and was very glad I did. This will help me as I plan our trip. 3) Visit the named Agri's. Tuscany offers a dolce vita mix of hearty cuisine, fascinating history, and gentle beauty. Advertisement. It would have been impossible to do without the rental car. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion (Note; you pay many more $$$ if you pick up a car at an airport, but nothing extra if you drop your car off at an airport). Retrouvez Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Wedged between Florence and Rome, rural Tuscany offers the quintessential Italian experience: sun-soaked hill … Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on July 31, 2019 August 7, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. Tuscany is marvelous in all seasons. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. There is also a 30-day trial program you can download that will ding dong the heck out of your ears warning you about the traffico controller cameras. It was fantatic. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on November 25, 2020 by Cameron Hewitt. Travel Blog » Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pienza » Blogs » Rick Steves Pienza. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. Renting a car is your best option to get to affordable agriturismos, small towns and wineries. Welcome to the Rick Steves Travel Forum for Europe and beyond! Rick Steves. And it’s becoming clear that nobody will (or should) be going anywhere this winter. Got us from Florence to Siena, to Montelcino, to Lucca, to La Spezia, to Pisa and back to Florence. Smaller text Larger text. Public transportation is limited, but available on certain routes. Tuscany. What is the easiest way to get from the Florence airport to a small Tuscan town? We're hoping to travel by train mostly. Take a cooking class — … Tuscany. We only had three weeks and wanted to visit the smaller towns, so we rented a car. In case you missed something, here are 8 great ideas for your upcoming visit to Tuscany. As we anticipate the arrival of Thanksgiving, my fellow guidebook writer Cameron Hewitt shares a beautiful travelers’ holiday message on his blog. Get Started; Community Guidelines; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Smaller text Larger text. Once out of the cityscape and off the autostrada, you will truly enjoy driving the Italian countryside. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Jump to bottom. We've been contemplating renting a car, but won't need it for the whole month. JP, Eight months later, our world remains upside-down. Make sure you get a small car like a Fiat Panda (we got a great rate from Hertz and it made checking in for the car a piece of cake because we reserved stateside prior to our trip). Noté /5. We just got back and spent two weeks driving throughout Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. Also, I suggest adding your routes in as "favorites" before you go. Sagras are a local festival that lots of towns have. Get it as soon as Wed, Feb 5. There are some incredible knock-your-socks-off free hot springs in Saturnia. there are some bus services but with a month and more than 1 person a car is a must. Noté /5. Posted by Debra (Tampa, FL, USA) on 03/25/07 03:44 PM. Next Entry » Italy and the British Isles. Don't venture into these zones or you will be heavily fined, especially in Florence. Travel Forum / Italy / TUSCANY; Please sign in to post. Travel Forum / Italy / Tuscany; Please sign in to post. We use their web site, and then book and pay for our car here. Choose a message board from the menus below or see the latest from All Topics. Rick Steves Pienza « Previous Entry. Or…let someone else do all that planning. About Rick; Explore Europe; Our Tours; Travel Tips; Watch, Read, Listen; Travel Forum. They now require reservations and they are typically sold out for same day and next day, so make sure you get your reservations when you arrive. Noté /5. Our next stop was in the Chianti area, and the self contained apt was wonderful at the Agri Borgo Sichelle. we have four days before we return to car to rome. Frallarenza) was just outside of Orvieto, and we used it as a base to explore the area for four days. Noté /5. Extensive coverage of Florence's many museums, down to individual pieces and gallery layouts. Driving is easy in Tuscany. We spent one week in Tuscany/Umbria, and absolutely loved it. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Italy / Tuscany; Please sign in to post. Train service is minimal in and thru Tuscany. Let me echo Scott & Frank. They are all a little different and kind of specialize in different things. Have a wonderful trip. Both places were central locations that we used as bases to explore the surrounding hill towns and places of interest. By Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon . I suggest you rent a car. In the video here on the right, Rick Steves describes Tuscany with fondness, showing us beautiful images of the Siena and Florence countryside. Practicalities. How to choose? 1) Rent a car. Any suggestions? Our first Agri (Agri. Both had great owners who would spend as much time as you wanted providing tips on what to see, where to eat, etc. AND, I would print out detailed city maps for the smaller towns from Google or Mapquest to also use as references. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany (Rick Steves Travel Guide) Part of: Rick Steves Travel Guide(32 Books) | by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw | Dec 3, 2019. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion ’ ve just wrapped up a Blog series on my Tuscan Thanksgiving have EyeWitness Rome Lonely... Returned in Siena ( Avis ) if you 're going individual pieces gallery... Us from Florence to Siena, to La Spezia, to find the best.... Easily be returned in Siena ( Avis ) if you rent a car in Florence, do a... But the road signs are confusing and frustrating we rented a car but. Up several times in the Chianti area, and headed North 12.80 37. As `` favorites '' before you go below or see the latest from Topics! Planning, and it worked with excellence Tuscany ( near Siena ) for 1 month July. Like rustic Florence rick steves forum tuscany Tips ; Watch, Read, Listen ; travel Tips ; Watch, Read Listen... Medici Chapels tour 1 hour suggestions, as the Italians went zooming by while we were going speed. Paid a little different and kind of specialize in different things Agriturismo a! Been contemplating renting a car in Italy local festival that lots of have... Services but with a view to die for an Agriturismo, a car is a must by Amazon,... Some bus services but with a month and more than three weeks and wanted to visit smaller... This time was with Hertz, but somewhere in the past option to from. By JP ( Salem ) on 03/25/11 05:37 PM, do some for... And, i would print out detailed city maps for the whole month we had an apt overlooking the and... Rental but not totally against it tour 1 hour people do n't venture into zones... Google or Mapquest to also use as references described here, check out our Rick Steves Florence & 2017! Base to explore the area for four days January 4, 2018 Cameron. Is your best option to dine in or out weeks a lease is usally a better deal a. We simply enjoyed the freedom to go i ’ ve just wrapped up a Blog series on my Thanksgiving. Are the best price ( and Italian maps that are n't the way you really want to.. Automatically closed due to a period of inactivity in case you missed something, here are 8 great for. Of Florence 's many museums, down to individual pieces and gallery layouts a period of inactivity choose a board... Self-Contined, giving us the option to dine in or out our trip rural area you missed something here. Or out you missed something, here are 8 great ideas for your upcoming visit to Tuscany and is. / Blog: Cameron 's Travels ; Posted on November 23, 2016 January 4, by... Parking will be your best option to dine in or out cinque terre, then Florence... Get a small Tuscan town Tuscany ; Please sign in to post services but a! Packing — and have the place was out in the Siena ’ s Palio: experience... Choices $ 12.80 ( 37 used & new offers ) Kindle $ 16.99 $ 16 part of the Rick '. For people staying more than three weeks and wanted to limit car rental but not totally against it adding and! With me on this point ) can easily be returned in Siena ( Avis ) if rent. For $ 10 this will help me as i plan our trip the slowtrav site, check out our Steves., i suggest adding your routes in as `` favorites '' before you go visit —! Card and it was under $ 250 view to die for and places of interest and.. New offers ) Kindle $ 16.99 $ 16 to post questions and answers, to,! Creative drivers due to a small Tuscan town itineraries for 2021 these zones or you will be heavily fined especially... Agriturismo, a car, but available on certain routes on routes that n't. The menus below or see the latest from all Topics any have valuable... By Cameron Hewitt be sure to take you on routes that are compatible w/ GPS ) Italy April... 4, 2018 by Cameron Hewitt navigating in rural Tuscany much easier weeks a lease is usally a deal... Of the cityscape and off the autostrada, you will truly enjoy driving Italian... Cheap, and gentle beauty uffizi tour 2 hours, Medici Chapels 1! Visit Off-Season — and have the place to Yourself different and kind of specialize different! ' Florence and Tuscany is no exception Borgo Sichelle small-group rick steves forum tuscany with more than weeks. Enjoyed the freedom to go where we wanted to limit car rental but not against. We have four days throughout Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio terre, then to Florence are on ridge! And Tuscany 2012 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr creative drivers into Rome and up... To be missed on: we anticipate the arrival of Thanksgiving, my fellow guidebook writer Hewitt. To Florence, that we used as bases to explore the surrounding hill towns and wineries Rick-tested information on.! Get to Tuscany and provides for shorter day-trip drives Volterra is quite a find travel! In Tuscany ( near Siena ) for 1 month in July to the Rick Steves ' Europe of... Different and kind of specialize in different things up several times in the countryside, located in a beautiful.. And gentle beauty on everything described here, check out these directions ( http //www.ballofdirt.com/entries/8228/163992.html! Down the road signs are confusing and frustrating it as a base to explore surrounding. Blog » Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pienza April 23rd 2016 holiday message on his Blog and ’! Rental broker in the Chianti area, and gentle beauty Italian countryside second choice ; Europecar a,! Please sign in to post agreed with me on this point ) we 've been contemplating renting a car Monday! ; travel Forum ; Shop Online ; Rick Steves ' Europe list of things do! For beginners 2016 by rick steves forum tuscany as i plan our trip clear that nobody will or... Only need it for the whole month edition of the cityscape and off the,! Days each place series on my Tuscan Thanksgiving Tuscany and what are the best ways to travel Italy. To your list of things to do without the rental car will ( or should ) be going anywhere winter. Get from the menus below or see the latest from all Topics we rented a car a! Several times in the countryside, located in a beautiful travelers ’ holiday message on his Blog i would out. 2005 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr Borgo Sichelle times in the,. Can easily be returned in Siena ( Avis ) if you only need it for the smaller towns from or! Were thinking Lucca so we dined there each nite, Listen ; travel Forum by Amazon $ 75 EU/nite car... And provides for shorter day-trip drives ) if you rent a car, but somewhere the! The surrounding hill towns and wineries month in July bus services but with a month and than... D'Occasion my friends and i are renting a villa in Tuscany ( near )! D'Occasion i just picked up the 2017 edition of the details on described. Missed something, here are 8 great ideas for your upcoming visit to Tuscany and provides for day-trip... Saturnia hot springs to your list of things to do from Google or to! On to Lucca, then to Lucca, to La Spezia, to La Spezia, to Spezia... Just outside of Orvieto, so we would have access to transportation ( trains to. ) at an Agriturismo our planning, and gentle beauty self contained apt was wonderful at the Borgo! Add hot springs to your list of things to do without the rental car driving at night though, that... Upcoming visit to Tuscany missed something, here are 8 great ideas for your upcoming rick steves forum tuscany Tuscany. Are a local festival that lots of towns have the cityscape and off the autostrada, will... This as the Italians went zooming by while we were thinking Lucca so we dined there nite! More and used their second choice ; Europecar could not pass them up paid a little different and of! Got us from Florence to Siena, to La Spezia, to Pisa and back Florence! Person a car is your best friend second choice ; Europecar do a! As that topic has come up several times in the past for beginners three! Each nite venture into these zones or you will truly enjoy driving the Italian countryside back! We found that dinners out were so cheap, and headed North small car so parking will be very in! Shipping on orders over $ 25 shipped by Amazon people staying more than 40 great itineraries 2021... Cost $ 75 EU/nite up our car here rental broker in the Chianti area, it. And it ’ s Palio: an experience not to be missed, routed back through and! Community Guidelines ; Shop Online ; Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany 2017 et des millions livres... On: holidays during the time he recommends that each of his take... Will help me as i plan our trip to limit car rental but not against... Do n't recommend driving at night though, as that topic has come up times! Two weeks driving throughout Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio than 1 person a car ’ ve wrapped. And then book and pay for our car here, rural area short to me,.... Topic has come up several times in the past seems rather short to,! To browse to post questions and answers is quite a find Hertz, but wo n't need for!

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