Where should we stay in Tuscany?

[yama]

I've just booked (not so when you add all the extra charges) cheap flights to Pisa.

I know nothing about Tuscany except that I've always wanted to visit Florence.

Please - any advice on where to stay with a 2 year old would be gratefully received.

We're going on the 9th of April. I looked at a map and Siena looked to be quite a drive from Pisa Airport.

If it's worth it though .....

Wow - that looks beautiful Jura. Lucky you.

It takes about an hour I'd say to drive from Pisa to Florence along the motorway. That stretch is full of interesting towns. We're hoping to go south of florence this year, between there and Siena.

What are you hoping to stay in?

I've been looking at apartments but there are so many. We'll hire a car but I don't want to be too isolated.

Thanks, I guess I needed a break from looking at hundreds of possibilites. I've been at it all night.

We stayed here for a week last Summer. It's a lovely holiday park/campsite in the Chianti region of Tuscany. It is very convenient for visiting Florence. The train station is in the town about a mile down the hill. Regular trains to Florence, the trip takes about 25 mins.

There are mobile homes and brick bungalows on the site that you can book direct. The bungalows are well located, close to the shop, restaurant, playground etc., but still quiet. There are apartments in the villa too but I've heard they aren't great.

I believe it's an easy drive from Pisa, but we flew to Bologna so I don't have first hand experience. Most of the people we met there had flown to Pisa and driven to the site.

We loved it, and Tuscany too.

Hey Cali, fancy seeing you here on a Tuscany thread! I think we have the same favourite subject.

Girasole, how flat was that site? We're considering it but I'm concerned it might be a bit hilly. I don't mind that per se, but at the one we stayed near Vinci our pitch was on the side of a mountain, surrounded by trees. Sounds lovely on paper but with a steep drop just next to the "patio", the view blocked by trees, and the back of the caravan in darkness because of the grass embankment it was up against, it actually felt quite claustrophobic.

Basically, did the pitches have space to play around them? We'd be after a caravan.

And if there's anything else re Norcenni you'd care to reminisce over, I'll be all ears.

Yama, I've posted relentlessly here about our holiday last year and have bored the pants off several people already Try and search on my name in Travel and you'll get everything I think on the subject (ha ha ha!) plus a really useful thread on Florence and things to do with children there. We're going back at the end of May.

Will do Peaches - thank you. There is just so much choice. My brain is buzzing (for a second night).

HappyTwo - I have been studying the area on Google maps and noticed that Empoli was bang in the middle of the road between Pisa and Florence. Good to know that it has a major station.

Girasole - I'll have a look at that website. Thank you.

At the moment, I'm looking at farmhouses and apartments along the wine trail between Pisa and Florence although I have been tempted by a beautiful house near Lucca (Montecarlo). My dp says it is a tad expensive though.

Keep the information coming - it all helps.

Yama - will watch this thread with interest as am looking at villas in the same area!

We stayed near Siena last September - it was SO beautiful...

has anyone on this thread taken the train from eurostar... am considering doing this as all my family hate flying!