Archive for October, 2010
Renting a villa in Florence? Enjoy an unforgettable meal at Alle Murate
Where can you see the earliest known portraits of writers Dante and Boccaccio AND enjoy a gourmet Tuscan meal? Alle Murate. This Florence ristorante (open since 2006) is located in the Palazzo dell’Arte dei Giudici e Notai, a 13th-century guildhall covered with frescoes. Enjoy a memorable (if pricey) holiday meal while renting San Lorenzo 2 this winter.
Credit card news for travelers to Europe
Having issues with your credit card while renting a villa in Europe? You may need a PIN number. According to Rick Steves of Tribune Media Services, many automated payment points throughout Western Europe are converting to a chip-and-PIN system. Learn more from this article on Travelmole.com
Renting a Florence apartment? Visit Museo Galileo!
Attention, oenophiles! If you’re going to be renting a Florence apartment this winter 2010 or next spring 2011, don’t miss “Vinum Nostrum“, an exhibit at the Museo Galileo, or Institute and Museum of the History of Science, on the origins of European viticulture (through April 30th; 8 Euros). This museum is often missed and is truly on of the city’s gems; put it on your next Florence itinerary!
2011 deals on villas in Rome and the Amalfi Coast
Have you seen this week’s newsletter? More deals for 2011 in Rome and the Amalfi Coast—plus insider tips on all featured villas from Barbara, our veteran travel advisor. Book by November 15th and get 25% off any week in 2011.
Renting a Florence apartment: Day 1
You’ve arrived at your Florence apartment. Now what? Chances are you’re a little sleepy. According to research published February 2010 on jet lag, a combination of sunlight exposure, melatonin, and caffeine can help you reset your body’s clock. The afternoon of your Saturday arrival is a great time to explore your surroundings and buy provisions for the week (stores usually reopen for the afternoon from 3:30 – 7:30). On Sunday, everything almost everything is closed!
Arriving at your Florence apartment
Your best bet is to fly into the Florence Peretola Airport, situated 4 km from the historic center. From there you can hop on a bus (it’s a service called “Volainbus“) that will take you directly to the Santa Maria Novella train station in the heart of the city. Buses depart every 30 minutes from both locations. Tickets for the 20-minute trip are 5 Euros and can be purchased on board. You can proceed on foot to San Lorenzo 2 or take a taxi. Alternatively, there is the Galileo Galilei Pisa International Airport. There is train service directly from the airport to Santa Maria Novella; 2nd class tickets are approx. 5.80 Euros and the trip is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Renting a villa? Find cheap airfare!
So…let’s say you’ve booked San Lorenzo 2 in Florence for a week in December. Now, how to find the best flights? We use Kayak. Rated by Travel+Leisure and Time Magazine as one of the top 25 online travel resources, this “travel search site” offers a powerful tool that culls data from hundreds of travel sites at once. It’s simple, user friendly, and it works! If you want news, deals, and expert advice in addition to a travel-comparison tool, try Smarter Travel. It’s a similar service, but with a lot more content.
