Driving from Camogli south along Tuscan coast?

If you’ve been to Camogli already, 5 nights is a lot. Also, I would use Camogli as a base to see Genoa as well (I’m not a fan of Genoa, but I would consider visiting some sights from nearby Camogli).

In my opinion the best stretch of the Tuscan coast, beside the islands, is Monte Argentario peninsula area. So from whichever Ligurian place you come from, I’d go straight to it and use it as a base to visit a bunch of places nearby without changing hotels. From Porto Santo Stefano you can visit Talamonw, Massa Marittima, Capalbio, Saturnia. They are all one hour away or less. You can even see the Island of Giglio on a day trip (50 min by ferry)

In Porto Santo Stefano I usually stay here, but you can find plenty of fancier accommodations.
https://www.hvittoria.com/
Some of their best rooms are not always advertised on the website, but when you get there ask to see them. The view is to die for (the drive up to it, also, so be careful not to scrape the walls). This is where they are located.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UF1sYc1g6io2VB35A?g_st=ipc

Hey eks,
I know you like a nice pool. While still beyond my budget, I have seen this new place that looks to be about half the rate of Il Pellicano: La Roqqa in Porto Ercole.
Monte Argentario and environs is one of my most favorite places in the world. I stayed in private homes in Orbetello and Porto Santo Stefano. I parked near this place for a hike and it looks lovely: Boutique Hotel Torre Di Cala Piccola. I personally would prefer to be close to town for dining where I can walk home, but if you don't mind that, it's in a sweet spot.

To make the most of your precious time, I suggest less time in Camogli. I highly recommend stopping in Lerici for 2 nights or more. While there bus from Lerici to visit beautiful Tellaro, and also ferry RT from Lerici to visit Portovenere. The Doria Park Hotel has parking and a spectacular location overlooking the town and the Gulf of the Poets.
Lido di Camaiore is nothing special, go to Viareggio next door instead. It was/is the resort for Florence since the early 1900's and has unique architecture, a lively boardwalk, cooling pinewood parks and more. An historic upscale hotel in Viareggio is the Grand Hotel Principe Di Piemonte.

Valadelphia...My secrets are out with you!!! I looked at LA ROQQA a while back. They must have a great Pr machine because I've seen them mentioned in Conde Nast and a few others publications in the past few months. But take a look at their prices!!!! The whole emphasis on being chic and stylish kind of put me off...but I will look again. I wonder if, for that kind of cash, the Belmond in Portofino might be worth looking at..I'm saying this only partly joking....

But most important is your rave about Monte Argentario. I know you are on the same wave length, more or less, as I am, so when you say that's it's a favorite of yours, that carries a lot of weight.

I wonder now if we ought to go from Camogli, with one stop, and then on to the Monte Argentario--I looked at the two hotels: Cala Piccola and Villa Domizia...both are out of town so we'd have to drive to dinner but we could manage in May, early June....

Mike that's all so helpful. I did not mention beautiful Tellaro or Lerici because while I thought that stretch was gorgeous, I could not find a hotel where I could swim so early in the season. (I'e driven in that area during my stay in Camogli and in SML, but not starred there, but I do have a few hotels marked......Those towns are so close to Camogli.... at this stage, my partner is adamant about staying in as few destinations as possible....so we could go there to visit while staying in Camogli....

But the entire Tuscan coast idea....apart from Monte Argentario....maybe I ought to eliminate those "marina" towns, and just choose one B&B a bit inland, before ending up in one of the hotels near Porto Santo Stefano..I've not read much, after asking about this stitch of coast, that continues to draw me there......

Roberto...you are a treasure here, so please keep your advice coming..

I know I look pretty fussy with the insistence on swimming In a heated pool, but I could, of course forgo that, if I had to.......I wrote to many small, well-rated and beautiful-looking lodgings a bit off that coast and none of them have heated swimming pools......I think I ought to refocus my expectations a bit (!!).

You're all been so helpful..I'll say that again...I am glad I "discovered' this forum; I had thought it was only for travelers who joined RS tours, but now I see otherwise....please, all, have some patience with me, a I'm kind of new here......and thanks to each of you, once again....

ps. Valdelphia....I know I "know" you from somewhere.....I'll have to puzzle this one out!!!

We've been following each other around on Fodors/Chowhound (RIP) as well as in the real world for years--I have gotten some great ideas from you and I hope vice versa!
I should reveal a real issue for Monte Argentario--it can be buggy (my husband had sand fly bites for days), but we do a ton of hiking (when you'll be having lunch or scouting some rare ingredient). We planned to walk home from dinner in Porto Santo Stefano (we drink too much wine to ply those roads, even a short drive uphill) and were told in no uncertain terms not to--cinghiale. But I like my paradise a little rough around the edges and this area just speaks to me. We dined in San Miniato at a well regarded vegetarian place and the chef told us his favorite town was Orbetello (I felt so seen).
But I like the parts just to the north also--I don't think you can go wrong and I'm sure you'll find the perfect spot, not too fancy (this area is such a mix of high-end and "regular"--hope it can retain the balance). Maybe in the vicinity of Piombino/Campiglia Marittima, where you were zeroing in on your TA thread, you'll come across something just right. Maybe some of the hot spring/spa places would be up your alley? That's an unfamiliar world for me though.
I got a lot of ideas from this author who lived in the area: https://www.emikodavies.com/travel-italy/
One of the best meals of my life was courtesy her recommendation and prepared by the former fisherman who operates this rustic "glamping" place in Vetulonia: https://www.baciarino.com/

Hi there! I felt the need to chime in because we are taking a very similar trip in September….after seeing the region (Maremma) in the spring staying at https://www.locandarossa.com/en/ in Capalbio. I toured around with a friend and thought, after seeing the Monte Argentario area, I needed to come back in beach weather. So I booked a trip back! This time with DH, we are staying 4 nights in Moneglia, 4 nights again at Locanda Rossa inland as I loved it, and then 4 nights at Torre Di Cala piccola. Hope you have a great trip!

Research the timing of the mosquito and midge problem in the Monte Argentario area.

https://www.dw.com/en/italy-a-mosquito-plague-on-a-coastal-beach/video-72738019

You all deserve my greatest thanks!

I will look into the "biting" issue.
But the thought of walking and running into a few cinghiale, as long as they are little and cute..sounds a little exciting, but will of course, keep that advice in mind! Probably will not be doing much walking, in any case. ( I sound brave here but can assure you that if I ran into one of these furry critters, I would probably drop on the spot, never to recover...)

Perthie. Your plan sounds right up my alley. So it's not too much in there same area to say at both LCOANDA ROSSA (I have that on my list) and at either TORRE DE CALA PICCOLA or VILLA DOMIZIA???

Can you distinguish anything better or worse between CP and VILLA DOMIZIA?

We'd have a car, as I know I'm not doing any penetration of the cinghiale neighborhoods. on foot....(they probably live in gated communities, anyway....like near Miami....)

So maybe go from Genoa (four nights) to Camogli (six nights, more or less)

Then a few nights on the "northern" Tuscan coast closer to Ligurian border. Hotel still to be found.

And then:

LOCANDA ROSSA or nearby, and finally, Monte Argentario....

And finally:

I found a place near SANTA MARINELLA that looks good for a night or two....very close to FCO. (We've always stayed in Fiumicino town, but this might be something different for us, and interesting)...I'd love to learn what you all think...SANTA MARINELLA, FREGENE (which I read is not as nice as SM), etc.....

I mean, how could anyplace be BAD--we'd be in Italy!!!! I always seem to put out all these "must haves" and then its turns out that almost anyplace we book turns out great....

Here is the one in SANTA MARINELLA:

https://www.hotelvilladellepalme.it/en/

https://www.gamberorossointernational.com/news/summer-dining-the-best-beaches-in-rome-and-15-favourite-restaurants-2/

But finding a place at the end, near Rome, is not a big concern now..I just want to get out the main part of the trip sorted...

I'm thinking of 4 nights in Genoa to begin....

I am so glad I "found" this forum!!!

Can you distinguish anything better or worse between CP and VILLA
DOMIZIA?

Just regarding location: CP is on on the edge of the promontory, so would require a longer drive to go anywhere (more of a get away from it ALL selection, which could be appealing). Villa Domizia is right at the edge of PSS near the road via Gianella, so if you will be going to the mainland frequently or just want proximity to PSS, then it would be more convenient.

Both of my visits were in late May, and we did not encounter the midge problem, which I think (not 100%) is confined to Orbetello proper (maybe because it is flat and abuts the lagoon, whereas the Monte Argentario places are further up on rocks--just a guess though).

Hi ekscrunchy, I went through some of the same questions! Re CP or Villa D, I decided that I liked the CP view better - even if it was further out of the way. For the Q re whether there and Locanda Rossa were too close, I thought we would focus on inland touring/visits to hill towns etc from LR and then coastal from CP.

I hadn’t counted on this many mosquitos though so will look more closely at that! I am doing this trip in September so will report back!

Perthie, Please report back!!

This trip looks as if it's shaping up, but I would love to read your comments and wish yo a wonderful trip! I hope that you, Valadelphia, and anyone else will continue to post comments here when you think of anything relevant!!

It seems as if PSS is out of walking distance from both of those hotels, Cala Piccola and Villa Domizia, right?
I suppose there are taxis if we don't w ant to deal with the parking when we go for dinner..and I'm also sure that taxis must be pretty pricey!

It's fun planning a trip when we can go back and forth and share ideas..

Eks, "Jb" is the driver I used in PSS--we communicated by WhatsApp: +39 329 290 9920. There are very few taxis in PSS. After our first calamitous night when we realized we could not walk back from town and a kind waiter gave us a ride, we booked rides two nights and I don't recall the prices being anything notable. I can't recall his name but he was a young guy who had once been to the US for an Olympic trial in track and field, nice fellow. Pick up and drop off were seamless.

At Cala Piccola, you are fairly isolated (don't know anything about their restaurant). At Villa Domizia, you may be close to some walking distance restaurants, but you are on the main road into PSS so a drive would not be too costly. We were always able to find parking in May during the day but only drove down from our rental house one night.
I am pescatarian so did not take advantage of this, but there are some places up in the hills (think grilled meats and such) that you might want to check out. In PSS, I liked Molo26 and Il Veliero, but I know you'll find all the gems. I really wanted to try Phermento but missed it.

Have not even read this yet, but looks as if it's pertinent to this thread:

https://italysegreta.com/versilia-keeps-villeggiatura-alive/