Buon viaggio! The GPS will sometimes try to take you on routes that aren't the way you really want to go. we could split the time up - 2 days each place. 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. Home / Blog; Posted on November 23, 2016 by . 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. Practicalities. Rick Steves at the Siena’s Palio: an experience not to be missed. We spent one week in Tuscany/Umbria, and absolutely loved it. Tuscany - Rick Steves Travel Forum Going to spend a week in Tuscany in mid March and would like to stay in one location. Learn to use it before you go. I suggest you rent a car. Posted by JP (Salem) on 06/12/10 05:17 PM. 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. New to the forum? And it’s becoming clear that nobody will (or should) be going anywhere this winter. Only two self-contained apts. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. 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!). Both had great owners who would spend as much time as you wanted providing tips on what to see, where to eat, etc. Rick Steves Pienza « Previous Entry. Retrouvez Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2012 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Frallarenza) was just outside of Orvieto, and we used it as a base to explore the area for four days. Both places were central locations that we used as bases to explore the surrounding hill towns and places of interest. Get Started; Community Guidelines; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Noté /5. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Get help planning your trip. Smaller text Larger text. See http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm. In Chianti there was a wonderful!osteria right down the road. Let me echo Scott & Frank. We use their web site, and then book and pay for our car here. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Find everything you need for packing — and planning your dream trip to Europe. Getting lost is fun (if you're going to get lost in Italy) but the road signs are confusing and frustrating. Retrouvez Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. My Account. 1) Rent a car. 8 Things to Do in Tuscany in 2016 . Have a wonderful trip. 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. We are on a tight budget and we like rustic! This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. 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 Public transportation is limited, but available on certain routes. we have four days before we return to car to rome. I have EyeWitness Rome, Lonely Planet Italy and Insight Guides Italy. There are some incredible knock-your-socks-off free hot springs in Saturnia. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. Take a cooking class — … These detailed maps will be very helpful in navigating to parking areas. Thanksgiving in Tuscany: A Treasured Travel Memory. JP, Also, do some research for holidays during the time you're going. The best price they offered this time was with Hertz, but I paid a little more and used their second choice; Europecar. AND, I would print out detailed city maps for the smaller towns from Google or Mapquest to also use as references. My Account. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. 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. Rick Steves. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on July 31, 2019 August 7, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. Visit the slowtrav site, check out these directions (http://www.ballofdirt.com/entries/8228/163992.html) to Saturnia, or google Saturnia hot springs. Smaller text Larger text. You can look at the map and add a "way point" on your GPS route to keep you going in the right direction. Monday Night Travel. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Italy / Tuscany; Please sign in to post. Smaller text Larger text. For all of the details on everything described here, check out our Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany guidebook. Retrouvez DEL-Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2005 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. How do I get to Tuscany and what are the best ways to travel in Italy? My friends and I are renting a villa in Tuscany (near Siena)for 1 month in July. Feel free to browse to post questions and answers. Join our lively community of travelers who exchange advice, tips and experiences. Picked up at Rome airport and dropped off at Florence airport. Wedged between Florence and Rome, rural Tuscany offers the quintessential Italian experience: sun-soaked hill … Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. First 2 weeks in October is a fabulous (free) chestnut and jazz festival in Soriano nel Cimino near Viterbo. Learn about Rick Steves' small-group tours with more than 40 great itineraries for 2021! Sagras are a local festival that lots of towns have. We wanted to limit car rental but not totally against it. (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). Wonderful helpful owners. Smaller text Larger text. Experience Tuscany: Lick Artisanal Gelato. A Garmin Nuvii that will accept an SD card will be your best friend. Our next stop was in the Chianti area, and the self contained apt was wonderful at the Agri Borgo Sichelle. They are all a little different and kind of specialize in different things. Train service is minimal in and thru Tuscany. Check Trenitalia website to see train routes. Our favorite restaurant in Orvoieto was La Palombo. Get it as soon as Wed, Feb 5. We've been contemplating renting a car, but won't need it for the whole month. Get a small car so parking will be easier. I was Italy in April and Tuscany is very difficult to navigate (several Italians agreed with me on this point). It can easily be returned in Siena (Avis) if you only need it for a short time. Roads are easy to navigate. Photo: Cameron Hewitt. 2) Rent/buy a GPS (and Italian maps that are compatible w/ GPS). It was fantatic. there are some bus services but with a month and more than 1 person a car is a must. You have just been given some excellent advice by a lot of great people! What is the easiest way to get from the Florence airport to a small Tuscan town? The time he recommends that each of his tours take seems rather short to me, eg. If you do rent a car in Italy, DO buy a GPS with European Maps. In Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany you'll find in-depth Rick-tested information on:. Experience Tuscany: Sleep (and Eat) at an Agriturismo. ©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. For people staying more than three weeks a lease is usally a better deal than a rental, plus you get a new car. Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pienza April 23rd 2016. I don't recommend driving at night though, as the Italians are very creative drivers. Thanks again. Africa; Antarctica; Asia; C. America & Caribbean; Europe; Middle East; N. America; Oceania; Oceans & Seas; S. America . About Rick; Explore Europe; Our Tours; Travel Tips; Watch, Read, Listen; Travel Forum. Smaller text Larger text. 1. He has never steered me wrong on accommodations. 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. Also, you might add hot springs to your list of things to do. For only $65 EU/nite we had an apt overlooking the pool and with a view to die for. By Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. Wow! The Roman amphitheater at Volterra is quite a find. Tuscany. where would you suggest we stay? 3) Visit the named Agri's. Tuscany is marvelous in all seasons. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on February 8, 2016 January 4, 2018 by Cameron Hewitt. Try a search if people don't post argiturismo suggestions, as that topic has come up several times in the past. I will It would have been impossible to do without the rental car. Ask a question or share advice. Also, I suggest adding your routes in as "favorites" before you go. Retrouvez Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2008 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Renting a car is your best option to get to affordable agriturismos, small towns and wineries. 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. Adding gas and tolls, total cost for the car was about $350. Tuscany offers a dolce vita mix of hearty cuisine, fascinating history, and gentle beauty. Amazing gelato abounds in Italy — and Tuscany is no exception. Noté /5. 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. We were rather suspicious about the accuracy of this as the Italians went zooming by while we were going the speed limit. Travel Forum / Italy / Tuscany; Please sign in to post. Jump to bottom. 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). Forum; Photos. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on July 31, 2019 August 7, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. Got us from Florence to Siena, to Montelcino, to Lucca, to La Spezia, to Pisa and back to Florence. I prefer Garmin products. I would add one more thing. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Next Entry » Italy and the British Isles. If any of you any have other valuable recommendations, please send them my way. Smaller text Larger text. 4.8 out of 5 stars 10. We found that dinners out were so cheap, and fantastic, that we could not pass them up. Travel Forum / Italy / Tuscany; Please sign in to post. What is the easiest way to get from the Florence airport to a small Tuscan town? I am planning a trip to Tuscany for our 7th wedding anniversary. In the video here on the right, Rick Steves describes Tuscany with fondness, showing us beautiful images of the Siena and Florence countryside. Paperback $16.79 $ 16. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Travel Blog » Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pienza » Blogs » Rick Steves Pienza. 79 $23.99 $23.99. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon . We flew into Rome and picked up our car at the airport, and headed North. 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. I am well traveled but, not in Italy. 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. However, visiting Tuscany and Umbria is best done by car. The rustic farmhouse called Cretaiole perches on a ridge overlooking postcard Tuscan farmlands, less than a 10-minute drive outside of Pienza. We only had three weeks and wanted to visit the smaller towns, so we rented a car. Tuscany. There are scads of posts about the infamous ZTL (zona traffico limitato) in Florence and the fines that can be racked up there. tuscany - Rick Steves Travel Forum we are driving from milan to cinque terre, then to lucca, then to florence. Or…let someone else do all that planning. Join Rick and his team of travel-savvy teachers every Monday night on Zoom as we explore Europe (and beyond) together. Jump to bottom. Experience Tuscany: Visit Off-Season — and Have the Place to Yourself. Retrouvez Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2009 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. If you rent a car in Florence, do so from the airport to avoid driving into or around the city center. We simply enjoyed the freedom to go where we wanted, when we wanted and the confidence that it was accurately guiding us. I did a weekly rental through Autoeurope last May, and it was under $250. Noté /5. Start planning your trip to Italy! Achetez neuf ou d'occasion The place was out in the countryside, located in a beautiful area. We're hoping to travel by train mostly. … I spent under $50 for an Italian map set card and it worked with excellence. We just got back last week. Get Started; Community Guidelines; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Driving is easy in Tuscany. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on July 31, 2019 August 7, 2019 by Cameron Hewitt. Eight months later, our world remains upside-down. Travel Forum; Shop Online; Rick Steves' Europe. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Be sure to take or rent a GPS, which will make navigating in rural Tuscany much easier. Rick Steves: Tuscany for beginners. Retrouvez Rick Steves Florence & Tuscany 2017 et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Thank you ALL for your advice! Jump to bottom. Once out of the cityscape and off the autostrada, you will truly enjoy driving the Italian countryside. TUSCANY. Destination Q&A . So much to see, so little time. You should check it out. 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). 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. Get started! Posted by Debra (Tampa, FL, USA) on 03/25/07 03:44 PM. Both agris were self-contined, giving us the option to dine in or out. In case you missed something, here are 8 great ideas for your upcoming visit to Tuscany. We had a great time driving to Montelcino, routed back through Volterra and on to Lucca. JP - Tuscany is a big, rural area. Extensive coverage of Florence's many museums, down to individual pieces and gallery layouts. 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. Very rustic, but they had a pool. 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. Noté /5. 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. Don't venture into these zones or you will be heavily fined, especially in Florence. 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. Uffizi tour 2 hours, Medici Chapels tour 1 hour. We just got back and spent two weeks driving throughout Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. My wife wants to stay at Agroturismo's, visit farmers markets, cute villages, eat, drink wine, ride bikes, walk, and enjoy the Tuscan landscape. More Buying Choices $12.80 (37 used & new offers) Kindle $16.99 $ 16. How to choose? Our spacious well equiped one bedroom apt only cost $75 EU/nite. About Rick; Explore Europe; Our Tours; Travel Tips; Watch, Read, Listen; Travel Forum. Our first Agri (Agri. This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. I have done it and was very glad I did. Definitely get the Garmin with European maps. Shop Rick's Travel Store. We used this continuously when we came across a puzzling sign. If staying at an agriturismo, a car is a must. As we anticipate the arrival of Thanksgiving, my fellow guidebook writer Cameron Hewitt shares a beautiful travelers’ holiday message on his blog. Posted by James (Florida) on 03/25/11 05:37 PM. Any suggestions? Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Posted on November 25, 2020 by Cameron Hewitt. Advertisement. Choose a message board from the menus below or see the latest from All Topics. We usually use Auto Europe, an rental broker in the US, to find the best price. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Travel Forum / Italy / TUSCANY; Please sign in to post. We've been contemplating renting a car, but won't need it for the whole month. 99 $23.99 $23.99. I just picked up the 2017 edition of the Rick Steves book on Amazon for $10. A Memorable Thanksgiving in Tuscany. Be sure to buy a Michelen print map to take with you! Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Italy / TUSCANY; Please sign in to post. I stayed in Montalcino, but somewhere in the Siena area would be more central for exploring Tuscany and provides for shorter day-trip drives. We were thinking Lucca so we would have access to transportation (trains) to visit Tuscany. 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. Maybe 10 kilometers from Orvieto, so we dined there each nite. I’ve just wrapped up a blog series on my Tuscan Thanksgiving. My friends and I are renting a villa in Tuscany (near Siena)for 1 month in July. This will help me as I plan our trip. We relied heavily on Rick Steves 2017 guidebook for our planning, and it was a lifesaver. 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. Welcome to the Rick Steves Travel Forum for Europe and beyond! Noté /5. 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.