Our family of 10 has planned a trip to Italy but have to change itinerary due to my wife having a knee injury. We want to stay in Cinque Terre for 3 days the travel by car to SanGimignano in Tuscany as a home base for 6 days.
Any ideas from Boston where to fly in and return that will create the least car travel when there.
Genoa is 1 hour 20 min from CT and Milan is 4 hours. On way back would Florence be the best.
Confused on best international airports to use in Italy that again would be less car travel for her.s
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2201 posts
I'd factor in the prices of airline tickets. Flights to major airports are usually cheaper and with 10 people traveling that could end up being a significant amount.
Has your wife fully recovered? Neither CT nor San Gimignano would be easy for someone with knee problems. CT towns are steep. There's not a lot to do other than walk and hike. San Gimignano is the same, being a hill town many of the streets are steep.
You speak of using San Gimignano as a home base, yet speak of concern for car travel. I you plan on exploring the countryside, you'll be spending a fair amount of time every day in the car.
When are you planning to travel? Have you been to Italy before? How many vehicles are you planning to rent?
Posted by
Boston
1804 posts
Airport: The best airport for CT is Pisa. Use the 'Pisamover' shuttle train from the airport to the Pisa Centrale train station then to La Spezia, then the train for CT.
Vehicle: a vehicle for 10 people will cost a ton, and may not be available at some locations, but ... leaving CT, you can rent from the Avis/Budget office in La Spezia which is walking distance from La Spezia Centrale (but they are closed at lunch & Sat./Sun. - go figure). There are also Hertz and Europcar offices a short taxi ride away. You can also backtrack to Pisa Airport where there are more choices. Do not fall for low price offers, I urge you to rent only from Avis/Budget, Europcar. Hertz, or Sixt, either directly of through the broker AutoEurope.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16623 posts
We want to stay in Cinque Terre for 3 days....
Randy, that you don't say that you ARE staying in the CT for 3 days is an indication that you've not made accommodation bookings yet. If not - and you're traveling sometime late spring into fall - you might have difficulties finding something that can accommodate 10 people, and especially at at this late date.
If you've booked, ignore this heads-up. If not and you run into trouble, look at Levanto, which is not IN the CT but just a couple minutes away by train. I will echo Doug's caution about trying to explore the CT with a troublesome knee. :O(
Posted by
OP
Rutland Vt
56 posts
Thanks for the great information it helps a lot. My wifes knee isnt great so I will look more seriously at thise suggestions . Thanks for your time
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7234 posts
Consider a flatter hill town
Lucca or Pienza off top of my head
Consider a lake location rather than CT
Stresa on Lake Maggiore is flat, easy to get to from MPX
Check towns on Lake Garda
Posted by
Los Angeles
1207 posts
Please look at this other post from today raising concerns re using San Gimignano as a base:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/volterra-san-gimigano-siena
Also, have you considered family apartments at an agriturismo in Tuscany? Or renting a house? It may be more suitable for a large group. Plus it may be easier to park a vehicle [or two] in a rural setting.