With gently undulating hills topped by olive groves, sunflower fields, and verdant vineyards, the southern Tuscan coast is one of the best places to bike in Italy. And although it’s still off the beaten path, this part of Tuscany has never been easier to explore—for a limited time in 2012, the award-winning tour operator VBT (tel. 800/245-3868; www.vbt.com) is offering Frommer's readers $200 off any new booking of any European bicycling vacation, including tours of this region. This offer is valid through June 15, 2012.

Tuscany’s wild southern coast isn’t just for bikers, of course. Whether you prefer touring scenic medieval villages or lounging on sun-kissed beaches, the coast and its neighboring attractions offer the best of Tuscany without the crowds you’ll find in landlocked Florence or Siena.  Here are 6 of the top ways to experience Tuscany’s overlooked southern coast.

Take in Sweeping Views of the Tuscan Countryside
The ancient hill town of Capalbio is one of the most beautiful undiscovered gems in southern Tuscany. Explore the town's winding medieval streets and its striking fortress, and stroll along its ramparts to take in unmatchable views of the valley below. After sightseeing, reward yourself with a stop at the much-admired restaurant Da Maria (tel. 39/0564-896014) for local delicacies like cinghiale (wild boar). You can sample even more cinghiale if you visit during the Sagra del Cinghiale—held every September, this festival celebrates the end of hunting season.

Visit a Nature Reserve
Wealthy and famous people flock to the luxurious resort peninsula of Monte Argentario in far southern Tuscany (Sophia Loren reportedly has a vacation house here). The peninsula has one of the region's best beaches, the sheltered and shady Tombolo della Feniglia, and it's convenient to the nearby Etruscan settlement of Orbetello, whose 5th-century walls guard the city against the saltwater lagoon that surrounds it. Protected by the World Wildlife Fund, Orbetello’s lagoon and nearby Lago di Burano are significant stops for birders—roughly 200 of Italy's 450 bird species live or pass through here annually. 

Sample Gourmet Olive Oil
No trip to the southern coast of Tuscany is complete without sampling the region’s famous olive oil. At Frantoio Andreini (tel. 0564-592-707; www.frantoioandreini.it/), a Maremman olive mill, you'll learn not only how this sacred oil is produced, but the difference between "virgin" and "extra virgin" (it has to do with acidity), the crucial role of crushed pits (they're ground up and included for flavor), and the proper way to test for "good" olive oil (it should burn your throat after you sip it). Frantoio Andreini produces its own wine as well, so you’ll have an opportunity to sample another of the region’s main exports during your visit. 

I love this area - part of the city where you can almost still feel the sense of history of the formerly working-class neighbourhood oozing out of the dark brickwork of these old London townhouses.

So the Tune doesn't have that historical feeling, and is clean and modern, but it does offer what seems to be one of the best value hotels (this is not a hostel) in a really vibrant part of the city. And the low prices mean you're able to make as much of an investment as you can in one or many of the locally owned market stalls and shops.

Considering the area is quite busy, the hotel is remarkably quiet, and the only noise is the rumbling of the Tube below from morning till evening (it stops running at midnight so the nights are quiet). Rooms are bright and white, the floors a dark wood laminate, and the bathrooms are all sparkling. The room I had (no. 131) provides a nice big double bed and plenty of space around, so while most beds have room to store your suitcase underneath, this one could accommodate a roomful of cases. 

The room also overlooks the huge outdoor garden terrace, which is so rare to find in such a great value hotel.

This Tune hotel is part of a larger group of budget-style hotels, the other existing London hotel, the Tune Hotel Westminster, I have already reviewed here. Tunes all definitely offer value for money and if you book early enough the price for a room at this London lodging can be as low as £35 for the night, which for the location in one of the most expensive cities in the world, is a real bargain. Don't forget this works on the same principle as budget airlines, in that the earlier you book the better prices you are likely to find.

The whole hotel is air-conditioned and you can adjust the heat or the cool as you wish at no extra cost. As per all of the Tune Hotels, all extras come at a very small price. Hiring the large wraparound bath towels, including small bar of soap and some shampoo, is only £1.50 (so you don't have to lug your own with you). The flatscreen TVs and Wi-Fi cost £3 each for 24 hours - at such a low rate, I was much happier using the laptop in my room than searching the area for a coffeeshop or free hotspot. And while you're out and about shopping, I recommend paying to have the safe for a fee of £2 for the duration. You also don't need to bring a hair dryer (£1 to hire), and you'll also find an ironing room with a couple of ironing boards at no charge, so you don't have to leave the hotel all crumpled.

After an evening out, I arrived back at the hotel past midnight, and found two staff at reception (it is manned 24 hours) so felt quite safe, and they were able to satisfy my thirst and hunger with a cup of tea and a chocolate bar at a small cost.

This is definitely a hotel I would recommend, and probably come back to, and in the past week I know a number of travel writers who have also stayed in Tune hotels and raved about them, so that's a high accolade indeed. 

Tune Hotel Liverpool Street; 13/15 Folgate St., London, E1 6BX. http://www.tunehotels.com/our-hotels/liverpool-street-london. Tel: +44 (0)20/7456-0400.

Rooms from £35.
Photos courtesy of Tune Hotel Liverpool Street.

Since its 1950s and 1960s heyday, the Eden Roc has gone through several ups and downs, and had been somewhat forgotten for a period of time. But about three years ago, it underwent a major expansion and complete renovation that added a new 21-story tower and utterly transformed the look and feel of the hotel. Owned by Marriott’s Renaissance hotels, today the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach has returned to its former glamour, attracting celebrities, glitterati, and more.

The lobby bar at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach. Photo courtesy of the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach.

Despite having a whopping 631 guest rooms, the Eden Roc Renassiance Miami Beach has the distinct and intimate feel of a boutique hotel. The circular lobby, with a round bar as its central its focal point, is the first thing to greet visitors. The sleek bar, surrounded by striking columns, serves as a central gather place, setting the tone for the hotel as a warm yet hip hang-out. Just beyond the bar are floor-to-ceiling windows that look out at the property’s sprawling gardens.
 

The hotel uses its ample outdoor space very well, with lots of outdoor furniture encouraging guests to while away their time outdoors, lounging on wicker chairs sipping piña coladas, sunbathing on sun beds or chaise lounges, or playing ping pong or bean toss. And when the Miami heat gets to be too much, guests can swim in one of the hotel’s four infinity-edged pools or take a dip in the clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, abutting the hotel.

Each guest room was cleverly designed to take advantage of the hotel’s location on the beach and its accompanying sprawling water views. Many rooms allow guests to enjoy the ocean views while lounging in bed or even taking a shower--in many rooms, the shower is located behind the bed, and has sliding frosted glass doors which can open to reveal the same beautiful views of the turquoise waters.

There are several dining options here--including the relaxed beach-side Cabana Beach Club, and the more upscale 1500°, serving farm-to-table fare. But the star amenity here is the new ELLE Spa--the first of its kind in the world. The hotel teamed up with ELLE Magazine to envision and create a luxe spa that would embody the style and aesthetics of ELLE. With whitewashed walls and sleek yet soothing stone flooring and natural wood and water elements throughout, this spa is meant to provide a relaxing escape that evokes the feel of the Mediterranean. The spa offers a wide range of treatments including the ELLE Spa signature facial, which uses pure essential oils and oxygen therapy, and the Forever 25 body treatment, which exfoliates and hydrates the skin so that guests emerge looking and feeling younger.