Travel Answers

Are there any overnight trains or buses that run from Nice to Florence or Nice to Venice?

We are arriving in Florence by train (SMN station) and need to pick up a car to drive to our rented villa in Tuscany. I remember getting a car in Florence before (but can't remember the pick up location) that was not too far from the Autostrada toward Siena.

We need to reserve our car with Europcar, but don't know the best location to avoid the ZTL.

Also EuropCar has a mid-size car Alfa Giulietta (or similar) they say will seat 5 people. We have 4 adults traveling together: In past travels to Italy it was just my husband and me and we had plenty of room. Does anyone have experience with a mid-size car with Europcar?

Thank you in advance for your response.

I'd like to know some opinions about poggerino.com as luxury accommodation solution in Tuscany. Regards

I am planning a dinner at a restaurant in City Center Firenze with a group of friends on June 24. Some people have written back saying that June 24 is Saint Giovanni Day in Firenze. Is there anything I should know about that day in Firenze? Would it be a problem to go into City Center that evening?

Thank you in advance.

How long will it take to travel from the Port of Livorno where cruise ships land to the Livorno International Airport (Galileo Galilee airport)?

I will be travelling by train from Rome to Florence, arriving well before I check in to my accommodation. Are there places I can store my luggage so I can start exploring immediately?

How long does it take to travel by train to Florence from Nice? Is it better to fly or take the train? I thought there was a hi-speed train going to Florence from France.

Will be in Florence for four days in September. Need information on renting an apartment for that period. Possibly from Sept. 26-30. There will be 4 of us.
Thanks

We are spending days in Florence at the end of June and will have a car. We have a few additional days. A couple of questions - do we need hotel reservations or can we play it by ear that time of year? Should we pick towns in advance or decide as we go? Do you have strong feelings on particular cities? Thank you.

We bought a beautiful set of pottery bowls in Montalcino many years ago and I'd like to buy more, but I don't know the name of the store. Can anyone recommend a reputable local pottery seller in Montalcino?

Is there any district which is both reasonably close to the city centre but off the tourist track where the locals eat? I'm interested in restaurants serving "food as eaten by normal people" rather than menus listing pretentious food preparations to be eaten by aspiring gourmets.

Even if it only fits the second part of the specification viz it is far from the centre but it is where the locals eat out, i would be pleased to know.

Would appreciate recommendations for a hotel or B&B for two nights in Florence in July 2013 for family of three adults. Is there any area of Florence we should stay away from for lodging? We are looking for something moderately priced. Thank you!

hi! i have booked tickets for milan on 8 may. can i have tickets from the centrale station to go to firenze? there(at the station) will be more expensive or be closed from the trenitalia site?

We are staying in a villa in Gragnano and planning to take the train to Lucca or Pescia and then the bus. Can anyone give me info about the bus route between Lucca and Pescia and roughly how much a taxi would be from Lucca and Pescia to Hotel Country Club in Gragnano (nearest bus stop I can find to the villa).

I know that the temperatures in May will be in the mid-teens however in Calgary often we were short or capris when the temperature is 17C. Is the humidity different there so that it feels colder or should i pack the same as i would wear here. I realize already appropriate clothing for churches

Are there any vintage or antique shopping areas in Rosignano & Castiglioncello in Livorno? I am looking for vintage/retro clothing & accessories, & furniture & homewares.

We have 3-4 Options for this trip, but i am not sure how to start with which city.. 1-Option: Thursday Night at 22pm arrival in Pisa. Sleeping there, friday 2 hours seeing tower, going to florenz by train, seeing the florenz all day, sleeping there, in the morning going to Rome. Sa-Su-Mo 3 days in rome sleeping, seeing around. Tuesday we have to go back to Pisa to take the return plane which is at 19.40. The thing is, we have to go back through florenz central station (train change). That's why i was thinking whether to visit florenz at the end of the holiday..

PisaCentral Florenz (direct)

Florenz Rome (direct)

Rome PisaAirport (over Florenz)

2- Option: Thursday Night at 22pm arrival in Pisa. Sleeping there, friday 2 hours seeing tower, going to ROME by train, Fr-Sa-Su 3 days in rome sleeping, seeing around. Monday going to Florenz (direct train). Monday afternoon-Tuesday morning seeing florenz. Then going to Pisa airport (direct train) from florenz.Which do you think is a better route? Or can you advise something different?

PisaCentral Rome (direct)

Rome Florenz (direct)

Florenz PisaAirport (direct)

3-4. Options: Going to Pisa at Sunday Afternoon (16pm). Seeing Pisa. Going to Florenz or Rome (as the 1.and 2. Options). In totalk staying 1 day less than 1.and 2. Options. (e.g. 2 Days in Rome).

Has anyone info on shore trips to Pisa/Florence from cruise port

I am wondering what is the best way to get from Livorno port into Pisa

We have a connection in Pisa Centrale to Monterosso with 15 minutes in between. Are the tracks easy to find with enough time to catch the next train.
Thank you.

We are trying to decide between ANFITEATRO - ELENA from Lucca Holiday Homes and Palazzo Froussard (property #994879) of HomeAway. . . Has anyone stayed at either? Thanks so much!

What is the best/most economic way to travel from Monaco to Tuscany?

Hi guys,

I will be visiting in late October this year and was wondering how is the weather like? Also, are the queues to attractions much shorter if I head there early in the morning?

Thanks for your advice!

Hello everybody! In a bit more than 3 weeks, we're going to Florence and we want to know if someone who speaks polish (or eventually french) in this city for tell something about the city or say some tips about?
Thanks for your answers!

Hi! we (me and and 2 children) will be in Tuscany in June. We will be flying out from Milan to go back home. Questions:
1. What high speed train do you recommend for Firenze to Milan
2. How do we get from Milan Termini to Malpensa International Airport
3. Will we have a hard time transporting our luggage from train to train? (Firenze to Milan Airport?)
Appreciate your suggestions thanks!
Catherine

IstheSanLorenzoMarketnearthePonteDeViechio

Can we ride bike in the Boboli Garden?

Fellow VTers, John, a newcomer to VT, posted this comment in the comment section for Taxi Tips in Rome. I am copying it here so that more of you all can see it and comment...Bill

• • *

Hello,

I am trying to find out how to file a complaint against a taxi company in Florence. The company name was Roma35.

I am in Florence with my wife on our honeymoon. We stayed for a few days at an agriturismo in Fiesole. We just took a taxi from the train station at Santa Maria Novella, and everything was great. We were charged a fare of €31, which seems very fair.

After that we took a taxi back to the city center to stay for a few days. The owner of the agriturismo called the taxi for us - it was the Roma35 company. He arrived and immediately had the tariff #2 on. I had previously read that #2 was reserved exclusively for highway travel (which we were not doing) so I asked the driver about it. He said it was for special charges since he had to come out to Fiesole (even through I believe they were based in Fiesole). He also had €8.31 set in supplemental charges - which seemed high since we only had 2 bags. When we entered the city center, I asked him if it should not be switched from tariff #2 to tariff #1 - and he looked at me but did not respond.

I was also tracking our trip on my GPS device win our route to the hotel all planned out. He did not realize it, however, because he diverted from the route four separate times to take numerous backstreets that basically drove us around in circles. When there was clearly a Main Street that led directly to the place we were going, he would turn off to avoid it.

When he finally dropped us off, the meter read €55.61. I gave him €70 (a €50 bill and a €20). I knew we had been ripped off so I asked for a receipt. He handed me a €10 back. I told him that the meter said €55, and why was he charging me €60. He said "because it coats more to come back" and drove off. So we ended up paying literally double the cost to get back as we did to get there.

I have photos of the taxi's license plate and tag number. Please help me figure out who to send this to.

John

safe areas of florence

I will be in the Florence area for about a week in July and am trying to find a place to stay where we can relax but also close enough to the main city that we can walk or get a ride in easily enough. As opposed to a hotel a villa or apartment would be what I am looking for most. Any suggestions?