Hi- Love the 2014 edition of your Italy book. We have a trip coming up 6/24 to 7/10 where I'm using Marriot hotels as much as possible because I have lots of points. We're starting in Zurich, then to Lucerne, Milan, Florence and ending in Rome. We are currently reserved at the Boscolo Milano hotel for 5 nights and then on to Florence before Rome. Most of our trip should be easy by train. But after reading your book, we're now thinking of cutting Milan short and staying a day or two in Barga and or Pisa (both have Marriot properties). My question/concern is how to get from Milan to either of those towns and then to Florence? This is our first trip to Italy, and I originally thought to just use trains to keep it simple. But should I rent a vehicle for just this portion of the trip? There are six adults travelling. Can I rent a car in Milan one way and drop off in Florence two days later? Or is there still a good rail option? I can't quite tell, and we also don't want to spend a day changing trains several times due to our schedule. Any suggestions you have would be great.
Dave
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Dick,
Thanks so much for all the details in your response. You clearly researched this in depth for me. Much more than I expected! And your efforts to help are truly appreciated. Actually now thinking of taking the train non-stop from Milan to Pisa, getting a car there for the trip to Barga, and return back in Pisa to get the train on to Florence. If you have any further thoughts, I'm open to hearing them.
And, yes, free hotels for six people trumps just about everything else (couldn't afford this trip without that). We promise to avoid the hotel burgers and eat out :)
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Thanks, Dick. And I do think that 5 nights in Milan is at least 3 too many.
Posted by
Cincinnati, OH, USA
768 posts
My wife and I will be in Italy in September and I made an inquiry on this site regarding trains from the Cinque Terre to Pisa. Among the thoughts I was "floating" was a possible trip to Siena. I couldn't work the Siena trip into our plans because it's not on a main line, but if you'll be going between Pisa and Florence, you might consider a visit to Siena--not an overnight stay, but a part-day visit. RS has a lot of nice things to say about the city "...Siena seems to be every Italy connoisseur's favorite town".