Anonymous wrote:it is super easy to drive in Italy and the drives and hillside restaurants are what make the landscape so special and enjoyable! would really miss out of you dont drive.

People can hire a car...

Flights to Milan- if money is a concern, our often much cheaper than Rome. You do have to connect flying to Milan, but it was a great option for our Florence/Tuscany trip.

Fly direct unless you either 1) want to explore Rome and have a road trip or 2) like to suffer.

We flew directly into Florence via Zurich from the US. We figured even if we flew into Rome we'd have to find our way to a train station and take the train to Florence which seemed more work than just getting on another flight in Zurich. The Florence airport is fine - there is an inexpensive tram that leaves the airport and takes you right downtown. We toured Florence and then rented a car to drive around the rest of Tuscany. You don't want to deal with a rental car for a stay in Florence.

However, if you don't plan on spending any time in Florence then driving from Rome might make sense. We did it in reverse at the end of our Tuscany trip and flew out of Rome.

it is super easy to drive in Italy and the drives and hillside restaurants are what make the landscape so special and enjoyable! would really miss out of you dont drive.

Anonymous wrote:Unless she is an invalid, don’t treat her like one.

She asked me to go easy. So i am just going by her wishes..

Anonymous wrote:I don’t feel like I can relax or sightsee if I drive on vacation. Parking is also very challenging in the small Tuscan hillside villages.

I took a train to Siena, sightseed there, and then took two day tours of the surrounding villages with this company.

https://www.tuscanescapes.com/day-trips

The family/farm dinner you have on the Sunset tour is amazing (so authentic, with a wonderful local family, on a farm with gorgeous views). You do walk at the various stops, but it was not demanding at all (I am 68).

Thanks! I will check it out.

Nonstop to Rome, spend 2 nights there trying to recover from jet lag and then train to Florence. Easy.

Unless she is an invalid, don’t treat her like one.

I don’t feel like I can relax or sightsee if I drive on vacation. Parking is also very challenging in the small Tuscan hillside villages.

I took a train to Siena, sightseed there, and then took two day tours of the surrounding villages with this company.

https://www.tuscanescapes.com/day-trips

The family/farm dinner you have on the Sunset tour is amazing (so authentic, with a wonderful local family, on a farm with gorgeous views). You do walk at the various stops, but it was not demanding at all (I am 68).

Anonymous wrote:Once you can discuss exact logistics -- pls discuss this with her. Make sure she is enthusiastic.

Ha yes, this is already my concern. I know we need to slow our pace a LOT from our normal.trips. So trying to figure out what that looks like.

Once you can discuss exact logistics -- pls discuss this with her. Make sure she is enthusiastic.

It’s 2.5 hrs of easy highway driving from Rome to Pienza for example. I would just fly into Rome, especially becauze it’s an amazing city. Spend a couple of nights, recover from jet lag, and then drive to Tuscany.

Anonymous wrote:We are taking MIL to tuscany for her 70th birthday. She has never been to Europe. Is it better to fly to Rome then take the train or drive to the Tuscany or fly directly to Florence..there are obviously more options with flying to Rome (and it is a lot cheaper) but dont know if it is just better to fly to Florence. I have heard mixed reviews regarding the Florence airport.

We took the train from Rome to Florence. Very simple and fast. Even With the train cost it is still much cheaper than flying into Florence (and no connecting flight needed)

We are taking MIL to tuscany for her 70th birthday. She has never been to Europe. Is it better to fly to Rome then take the train or drive to the Tuscany or fly directly to Florence..there are obviously more options with flying to Rome (and it is a lot cheaper) but dont know if it is just better to fly to Florence. I have heard mixed reviews regarding the Florence airport.