Yike! Might as well be my first trip to Italy-- its been 20 years! Please advise

1. Take train from Rome to Florence. The recommended route is the following.
   Rome > Florence (by train)
   Florence > Tuscan country side (by car rented in Florence at the end of your Florence stay))
   Tuscan countryside > La Spezia (by the same rental car. Return car in La Spezia)
   La Spezia > Cinque Terre (10 min train ride)
   Cinque Terre > Rome (by train. Via the coastal route)

2. Stay in the city center. Hotel Torre di Bellosguardo is too far to walk (and the street is very narrow and dark at night), so you'd be forced to take taxis a lot. Besides the cost (which is probably not an issue for someone who stays at that luxury hotel), there is the inconvenience of not being within walking distance of the sights for someone who plans to stay in Florence just a couple of nights.

3. See no. 1 above.

4. If you have a car don't stay in Siena. Siena is not car friendly as it is largely closed to traffic within the city center. Any small town, country villa or Agriturismo will work much better. You can visit Siena in a day or less. You can do so by car from your out of town location (just park outside the city walls in the Fortezza/stadium area). Or you could even go there by bus from Florence (if you stay in Florence long enough).

Although you will be under the Tuscan sun during the day, the nights in Tuscany are dark. Turn your lights on when you drive at night, and you will have nothing to worry about.

I am not fond of driving at night, but Roberto's advice is good

I also prefer to stay in the city center if possible, so nighttime activities are walks rather than drives.

After 20 years, be prepared for more crowds and lines.

Just some thoughts...
I am not clear on exactly how many nights you have in Italy- is it 11 nights? If you are flying back out of Rome, you need to spend the last night there. Normally I would suggest traveling directly to your farthest point upon arrival and then working your way back to the city of departure to minimize hotel changes. But I understand your anxiousness to see your dtr.
Also, I don't think you should feel like you need to visit the 5 Terre because of Rick Steves. If it really appeals to you because of the hiking or scenery or something else, then include it. (I have been to Italy 12-13 times and still have not made it there--maybe next time)

I would def keep Florence and Tuscany together before or after 5 Terre depending on train travel ease.

If you want to visit Florence, def stay in town. I would not want to spend any time trying to get in and out of that city, when you can be enjoying it in the early morning or later at night without worrying about busing it back to your hotel.
I have only visited Siena on a day trip from an agriturismo nearby but someday i will stay in town.

Have fun with whatever you decide.

Thank you so much--I appreciate the help with the itinerary very much!
So we will take a train from Rome to Florence and then get a car for Tuscany in Spezia and then take the car back to Spezia for CT .. Couple of Questions to help us clarify and keep our journey as stress free as possible:
1. Do we have to pick up the rental car inside the city of Florence? is there anywhere outside that will be easier to get out of?
2. We are thinking of spending 3 days driving from outside of Pienza as home base throughout Tuscany but that will mean either only spending 1 night in CT or 2 nights in Florence instead of 3. Are we best cutting Florence slightly short or CT ?
current agenda: Arrive Rome 10/10- 10/13 stay in Rome 3 days
Florence: 3 days 10/13-10/16-
Tuscany : 3days 10/16-10/19
CT: 1 day 10/19-10/20
Rome: 10/20-- depart 10/21
Are we best cutting Florence from 3 to 2 days and 2 days in CT- or as is above?
3. Any suggestions on areas within Florence city center that are great proximity- and ideal? i.e.., nearer to Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi or Duomo or Campanile or Santa Maria?
4. In tuscany- from what I have read- Siena, Lucca- Pisa (briefly) and then the hill towns of Montalcino etc? Any other suggestions if we just want to enjoy the sights and foods of Tuscany?

thanks so much-- this forum is fantastic!

1. Use www.kemwel.com or www.autoeurope.com (two consolidators) for best deals on rental cars. They work with the major rental companies (Avis, Europcar, Hertz) Europcar has a location on via del Gelsomino which is easy to get out of town from. Hertz has one on via del Sansovino.
2. It depends on your interests. Florence is Art and Entertainment. Cinque Terre is postcard fishing villages perched on sea cliffs and hiking in the nature.
3. Any of those areas work. The historical center of Florence is small and walkable. Wherever you are you are within minutes from everything.
4. www.borghiditoscana.net/eng/ will give you some ideas. Neither Pisa nor Lucca need to be visited by car. Trains are just as fast for those two. A car is convenient for small villages like Pienza, San Gimignano, Volterra, Monteriggioni, Montepulciano, San Quirico, Chianti hills, and many others.

Hi,
This is very helpful. I tried Europcar and they indicate no availability but Kemwel does. The issue is where I can easily pick up the car in florence. I really don't want to drive in the city.

the location on via del Gelsomino is only open on saturday's and we would be picking up on Thursday morning. Does any one have any suggestions?
Also- how hard is the trip from Pienza to La Spezia- are the roads easy to drive given we are new to the country ?

If we are interested in a nighttime excursion in Tuscany where we could have a paid driver- to take us to dinner etc- how would we go about finding a driver?
thanks again for your help!
Lisa H.

We picked our car up at the airport. We took bus from town to the Florence airport .

Be sure to get International Driver Permits before you leave the US, both of you.

I would think again about the CT. It is lovely when the sun is shining, but in October, it's hit or miss. If you get bad weather, there's not much to do at all. Yes, it's picturesque, but so is most of Italy. I suggest you consider Orvieto instead. It's a completely different experience from Florence and Rome.

1. Any suggestions on areas within Florence city center that are great proximity- and ideal? i.e.., nearer to Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi or Duomo or Campanile or Santa Maria?

Our family was just in Florence and had a delightful stay at Dei Mori B&B which was a very convenient walking distance to all of your listed sights. Via Dante Alighieri, 12