We've got a group of about 10 people planning a trip to Italy in May 2012 (for many of us this will be our first time in Italy). We’re tentatively thinking 2-3 days in one of the cities
We've got a group of about 10 people planning a trip to Italy in May 2012 (for many of us this will be our first time in Italy).We’re tentatively thinking 2-3 days in one of the cities and then renting a villa (5-6 days) somewhere which would be relaxing yet allow day trips or wine-tasting excursions, etc.
I’d love to get some advice on a good home base for the villa as well as the best way to get around.Thanks in advance!!
With a group that large you will need to rent several cars or a sizeable van.
Depending on the configuration and enthusiams of your group (ages, couples, singles, children?), you might prefer to rent several conjoined apartments with kitchens on an agriturismo/farm complex that also has a restaurant onsite, rather than a villa. That way, you'd only need to shop, cook and clean up when you really felt like it. Nor would you all need to pile into cars every night to drive to a restaurant and back, hoping nobody gets lost and with designated drivers. Another option might be to find apartments or a villa within walking distance of a town with restaurants.
One advantage of multiple conjoined apartments is that you usually get more bathrooms per person and a much better configuration of beds. Many of these apartments are in the same building of a farmhouse, so you don't feel separated. If you really would prefer an independent villa, you should look for one that advertises itself as sleeping 12 or 16 people -- unless you are certain some in your group will be okay with bunk beds or fold-out sofas in the living room.
Last of all, apartments give a bit more privacy to everybody. You'll still have plenty of outdoor space on the farm to share, plus the apartment living rooms are usually spacious for hanging out.
In May, most everywhere in Italy enjoys beautiful weather. There is significant wine production not far from Venice, not far from the Italian Riviera, or Milan or Turin, not far from Florence and Siena, not far from Rome and not far from Pompei. So depending on which one of the cities you pick for your entry, you don't have to travel far to be in wine country, and there are loads of beautiful places to rent in all price categories and at all levels of amenities. You should choose a location on the basis on what kind of activities other than wineries would most interest your group.
Another firm is Eleganteturia.com - Mary Jane Cryan
google Elegant Eturia
We met her on a trip to Italy in 2008 - and she is an American who has lived sometime in Italy. I believe she also might be a tour guide. Met her Viterbo - about an hour north of Rome - lots to see and do in this area.
I agree on looking into agriturismo. Lots of choices, and much cheaper than some villas! A friend introduced me to this one: http://www.lamontagnola.it/ It's in Umbria, just outside Perugia, so a drive if you want to go to Chianti (she still does, and goes to Florence, but I think it's too much), but there is a small wine region close by and other things to do. Am sure you will find something that will make everyone happy!
I strongly endorse everything that Mushroom said. Depending on the ages (children?) and willingness of your traveling companions, I would recommend multiple cars so that you can go to different places based on your interests. You will likely find that two small cars can be rented as cheaply as a larger car. If your drivers can drive a standard shift, so much the better. You pay a very significant premium for a car with an automatic transmission.
I agree, too, it would be very comfortable for you to have the option of an on-site restaurant or being within a short distance of a town where you could go out to eat.
Many people, when staying at a villa, go exploring during the day and eat out in the town where they are. When they return to the villa, they often prepare a simple meal at dinnertime with products they've bought in their travels, or better yet, at a great grocery at a nearby town.
Your group will have a lot of logistics to work out in terms of decision making and budgeting. How do you choose who gets which bedroom? Will you have a kitty for the food and wine you prepare "at home." How do you pay for dinners when you all go out to eat? Who will drive the car or cars? (You must pay extra to add other drivers.) All drivers should have an International license, which you can obtain very inexpensively (less than $20 the last time we bought them) from AAA. The website Slow Travel, in its Italy section, provides guidelines for planning a trip for a large group.
Note that most rentals in May rent for a full week. If you plan to stay less than that, you may still have to pay for a full week.
The properties that have already been suggested look lovely. Here's another you might want to consider, Il Poggerino:
It does offer dinner on site, also cooking classes and a tour of the vineyards and winery. A sister, my husband, and I spent a very happy week here. It is less than two miles from the center of Radda in Chianti (with restaurants, excellent grocery store and other food shops, cafes, etc.) and is a lovely walk (about 2 miles or less) to Volpaia, which is home to the Castello Volpaia winery, most ingeniously concealed behind the walls of this medieval town. Volpaia has an excellent restaurant and a winebar, too. Radda is located about halfway between Siena and Florence, both of which we visited while staying at Il Poggerino.
I recommend getting hold of Request Italy. Robert and Barbara Seaver are excellent at arranging Italian vacations. They are in Lucca and you can find them online with their company name. Ciao
You're going to have such fun! A group of our friends (7 couples) rented a villa just south of Florence 4 years ago. Splitting the cost, we each paid about $120 USD per night---the cost of a hotel room. We had a different experience than has been posted, and, of course, our group still talks about our villa experience. It's all in what you will enjoy doing. The first night upon arrival, we lessened the hassle of figuring out dinner by having our meal catered. You may ask the rental villa owner about this. Also, many villa websights will show an option of catering being provided...for a price, of course. Then each couple (or sometimes 4 of us) took one night each cooking dinner during the rental week. This was an unexpected joy in that we actually grocery shopped or went to local markets (a great experience) for what we needed to cook and got a bit more immersed in Italian culture. Our evenings were great fun, sitting around the big table and sharing what we had experienced that day. Our last night, we had our meal catered. If your group likes to cook or wants a different experience, this might work for you.
We stayed at the Villa Costa in Marlia, near Lucca - http://www.italianrentals.com/. We took day trips to Florence, San Gimingnano, Sienna, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Luca, etc. It's close to shopping, and Maria Bandoni is very accomodating.
I can recommend Borgo Il Melone near Cortona, you can stay in an apartment to the hotel; the Hotel La Palma in Stresa on lago Maggorie(my favorite); the agrotourismo La Granica in Fontanile in the Peidmonte or a sweet villa in pianella Called the La Piccolo Scuola that sleeps 10(near Sienna)
I highly recommend Villa Catignano near Siena. From Siena you can take day trips to Cortona, San Gimignano, Florence, and if you wish to visit Rome, you can take the train from Siena. If you google the name of the villa, you will be able to find their website.
We have stayed at Fontegallo, in Umbria near the Tuscan border, three times and love it! It's very centrally located, although you will need cars. The owner, Harris, is a font of information and suggestions, a wonderful host. On our last visit, nine of us rented all of his apartments and had a marvelous time. Located near the lovely town of Castiglione del Lago, Fontegallo is perfectly situated for day trips to many Umbrian and Tuscan Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissancetowns, from Cortona, Montepulciano, Assissi, Orvieto, Todi, and Gubbio, to mention a few. There's a nearby train station for day trips to Rome or Florence.
I agree with comments above by Mushroom and Idyllic Italy, the apartment style properties work very well as everyone gets a bit of private space - but you can all be together for an evening dinner; my family used Classicvacationrental.com, Carina the owner takes a very personal approach to helping clients find just the right property. She spent many hours with us to put us in just the right area to meet all our various demands. She seems to know Italy very well. Great to work with.
My husband and I spent two glorious weeks with four other couples (and a two-year-old) at a heavenly villa not far from Pisa. The owner cooked a delicious meal for us one evening. I couldn't recommend it highly enough: Il Ruscello - http://www.flipkey.com/tuscany-villa-rentals/p269822/
As for getting around, I found the best rental car rate via Sixt. We flew into Rome, took the train to Pisa & picked up our rental car there. Friends of ours cycled EVERYWHERE, but they're pretty badass. We drove to Cinque Terra and stayed a night there - pure heaven, though I'm sure the recent mud slides are posing travel problems for that wonderful area. So sad.
In 1996 my 2 sisters and my husband & I rented a villa in Castellina In Chianti and the fond memories of the town and surrounding vineyards took us back a few years ago and stayed in an apartment (Il Cellese). If anything the town is prettier and the restaurants even better. The town is on a hilltop half way between Florence & Sienna. Rome is about 4 hours south. A car is necessary and as suggested by others more than one is a good idea so the group can do different things. The surrounding vineyards and hilltowns make for wonderful day tours and having a michellin starred restaurant in town is great if you want to go out to eat. The kitchen means you can prepare meals and shopping at the local market is wonderful. Many of the best apartments or villas begin booking late May dates now so make your plans soon.
Hi all – thank you so much for your wonderful advice!We are a group of 10, mostly in our 40’s and a combination of couples and singles.We’ve traveled together extensively so have worked out the issues with splitting costs, rooms, etc. (although appreciate those words of wisdom as it can be difficult with a new group!).It sounds like a villa or group of apartments would both work for us and the information about getting cars is something we will definitely look into.It’s exciting yet a bit intimidating as there seem to be so many wonderful places to visit!!!
