Mumsnet Talk

Really fancy Italy this year - Umbria? Tuscany? East coast?

Any thoughts on where to find a nice rural house with a pool. I have spent ages browsing holidaylettings etc but not sure how to narrow down the areas.

Any offer advice about holidaying in Italy?

Don't go anwhere South of Rome/Amalfi coast if you are a nervous driver (think huge cars, narrow medieval streets, no-one slowing to let you past plus mopeds coming at you from all directions!

Depends what you want to do? laze by pool or visit cities? Tuscany lovely but v. busy and v. pricey. Umbria is lovely and relatively empty - not too touristy but with fewer must-see cities. East coast can be v.v. busy in high season - huge tailbacks on the motorways etc. When are you likely to go and what are your criteria?

We have stayed just North of Rome near Viterbo (lake Bracciano) which was lovely and v relaxing and also inland around Parma/Bologna/Ferrara you can find some fabulous villas. I always find the East coast a bit same-y as many of the beaches are identical but I guess it depends what you want to do when you are there? Is scenery a priority?

Try the Sabina area of Lazio on the border with Umbria. Beautiful region and easy to get to Rome, Florence in a couple of hours, Sienna, take your pick really. Lakes with swimming accessible and lots of lovely villa's but not at all touristy. I can help you look if you like, just give me a brief. (I live in the region)

We stayed in a fab place in Tuscany a couple of years ago. Part of the owners house but you really wouldn't know, they kept themselves to themselves. Except to bring us baskets of produce from the garden....tomatoes, lettuces, cucumbers, lots of soft fruit, even home made jam.
2 bedrooms, comfy for 5. Well equipped, great garden with hammocks under the fruit trees and a lovely pool.
As soon as dh gets back I'll ask him where the details are, because I really can't remember what it was called, price etc. I think it was quite expensive but it was our first proper holiday in years.

www.traditionaltuscany.co.uk/pages/lazio_sabina

This is it

http://www.loftconchiglia.com/

Try browsing the James villas web site here

I've been with them before and can recommend them.