Hotel Jardin de Villiers Paris, Or alternative ideas. for 5 people christmas

I don't know the hotel but we have stayed in this general area and like it. It is very non-touristy. It is a bit far out for Christmas in Paris for only 5 nights but it is a nice area. There is an excellent pizza place right around the corner on rue Legendre Pizza Sonia; we loved the little bistro Petit Canon for its charm and wine list although the food is not great (good though and good on the classics like cassoulet, duck confit etc) It is also on Rue Legendre. Reserve a day ahead to be sure of seating in the pretty front rooms. (you can see snapshots here of this restaurant: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/dining-out-three-experiences/
The market street Rue Levis also nearby and it is a good place to pick up cheeses or sandwiches or baked goods for a picnic or snacks in the room. Square Batignolles is a lovely little park not far away although I suspect the cute caroussel doesn't operate in winter.

To get to Rome if you want to stop in Florence, fly to FLorence (pisa airport) by Easyjet and take the train or bus into FLorence and stay for a couple of nights and then take the high speed train to Rome and finish there. I don't think you quite have time for both. and if you plan to it it were me I would spend 3 nights/2 days in Florence to be able to see the Uffizi (reserve ahead by phone) the Academia and David (same deal, reserve ahead) the Brancacci Chapel (best thing in Florence IMHO) and see some of the great churches and the baptistry. You would then have 3 nights two full days for Rome. The afternoon of day one -- get there as early as possible -- you could visit some of historic Rome (the Pantheon is my must see and the Colloseum) and would then have a day for the Vatican -- Vatican Museums and St. Peters -- reserve Vatican Museum through the Vatican web site.
and you would have a final day for more of historic Rome. Tight but a nice taste. This puts you in Rome for your flight out. both train tickets and plane tickets are much cheaper several months out.

Janettravels44 .wow .what great information.
what hotels would u stay at instead.needing at least 2 rooms.
loved your link on the food.
We are fast siteseers.do u think 3 days in Rome is good.wife wants to see Tuscany countryside.st least a 1/2 day.any thoughts.

Janettravels44 .wow .what great information.
what hotels would u stay at instead.needing at least 2 rooms.
loved your link on the food.
We are fast siteseers.do u think 3 days in Rome is good.wife wants to see Tuscany countryside.st least a 1/2 day.any thoughts.

"Tuscany is a large area. Without your being more specific, I'd say you will probably want more than a 1/2 ay in Tuscany. Technically, Florence is in Tuscany, although not what most people here mean when they say Tuscany. For Tuscan villages, you need a car or private tour, since the trains don't go to the most picturesque villages.

Thanks
we were thinking about renting a car.possibly just a few villages around florence so she can see the countryside.won't look great in December but it's our only time

If you want to see Tuscany in this very very compact time frame, I would rent a car and drive to Rome -- this takes you through the prettiest part of Italy. You could stop at a beautiful hill town for lunch -- I'd do Montepulciano which is stunning and the old part of town can be walked easily in an hour and there are many many good restaurants. The towns north of Rome in Latzio are also interesting. We once stopped at Saturnia and took a quick swim in the hot springs of the public park there. You will smell like sulphur for several days and there is no bathing suit changing facility so you have to try it by the car under a towel -- but very cool. http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hot_springs.htm
someone needs to keep track of the property while others soak and I would not open your trunk at the site with luggage in the car. come already in bathing gear.

Sovana is a tiny town in the center of many Etruscan tombs still in the hills. We got a map in town and explored some of these tomb sites. Just north of Rome there is Tarquinia and Cevetari two great tomb villages of Etruscan tombs and they are quite different. With a car and easy quick visit.

Rather than taking a side trip from Florence to do this, I would just get a car at the airport at the crack of dawn on your transfer day and spend a day wending your way from Florence to Rome taking in some of the hill towns, tomb sites etc along the way. Orvieto is another amazing hill town with an interesting underground of caves and such in the tuffa which can be visited. We usually drop the car at the airport but with 5 of you, you might want to find a drop closer in to where your hotel is.

Wow.you don't know how much this helps.
Can we make it from florence to Rome in a day if we stop at these places that look so awesome.or stop half way.