Considering Lucca, Prato, pistol, Arezzp, Cortona , etc. Purpose of trip is to practice Italian over 2 weeks. I have been many times but never rented. Not looking to do much sight seeing. In appartamento wifi is required and I want to be in a city as I will not be renting a car. Single teaveler. Any and all suggestions welcome, but please elaborate on why you are suggesting something. Graze!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11835 posts
I'll bite. Haven't stayed here yet although we will in December: http://www.casaspello.com/english/welcome.php/ Highly rated on TA. I picked Spello because we can go many places by train. It is very close to Assisi.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Washington, USA
105 posts
Can anyone offer suggestions?
Posted by
Atlanta
1001 posts
I have rented this lovely 1BR apt in Lucca, one of my favorite Italian towns. http://www.vrbo.com/232190 Lucca is a great walking town; a car is unnecessary. The train station is about a 15 min walk from the apartment. Florence is only a 30 min train ride away. So many other places are reachable by train. I've stayed here a week at a time and could have stayed longer.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Washington, USA
105 posts
Thanks for the feedback. Any other comments are welcome. I am leaning toward Lucca, but the apartments seem more expensive there than Florence.
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Mary, go to both VRBO.com and Homelidays.com and look at their selections in the cities that you are considering. We always find a good deal by searching both. Another good option is to look at the apt recs on the local town website. Make sure that you understand exactly what floor it is on, and if they have an elevator. Find one that has good "customer" reviews. And, when you narrow it down, get the exact address and Google "Street View" the streets and neighborhood. Make sure that you are not over a noisy restaurant, or on a main street.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Washington, USA
105 posts
Thanks. I spoke with the apartment owner today about 2 apartments he has in Lucca. Because of a knee problem I am looking at the ground floor or 1st floor Italian (which I know is 2nd floor american). My biggest need is WiFi in the apartment, which I am surprised that this is not common (living in the tech world of Seattle... doesnt everyone have wifi <G>). Anyone have experience with travel/rental insurance? I have seen that advised.
Posted by
Atlanta
1001 posts
Mary, I recommended the apartment in Lucca, but if you have knee problems it may not be the best. It's on a safe, quiet side street only a block or so from a main pedestrian street BUT there are definitely stairs. Think it was on 2nd floor (3rd floor in US.)
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
MaryLou, go to Squaremouth.com and input all of the particulars of your trip. Then sort thru the various trip insurance policies, making sure that you do not duplicate insurance that you may already have (thru VISA, etc.) If you buy it 15 days after your 1st purchase, "generally" most will cover pre-existing conditions. You do not need to know how much your total trip will cost. What you are trying to do is cover all of your fixed expenses, and then ensure that you are covered if you have major medical problem......might have to flown home on a special plane, your partner gets sick and you both have to cancel, the volcano blows up, etc. We want trip insurance that covers what we think is important. Each person is different.