The easiest way to get to Venice from Florence is to take the train, of course. The Frecciargento fast train line runs from Florence typically every 45 minutes from the Santa Maria Novella station and will get you to Venice in just under 2 hours, arriving at the Venice Santa Lucia station. Tickets can be purchased at the station either from the ticket office, “biglietteria,” or the self-service ticket machines throughout the station. The ticket machines require that you enter

We love the challenge of planning trips for clients who have never visited Italy. In the case of Tuscany, everyone seems to have a certain expectation of what they will experience, formulated from their unique established travel tastes and aesthetics. In planning a romantic getaway for a busy professional couple who scarcely had time to discuss their travel plans among each other nonetheless Google boutique hotels in Tuscany for hours on end, we chose Villa Fontelunga in the

1. Relax, stay awhile... The Tuscan experience is best enjoyed on Italian time. Many of the most desirable properties we represent limit bookings to a Saturday-Saturday stay. While they are willing to make occasional exceptions during the off season upon request, during June-September, expect to book for a week if you are looking for a quality self-catering option. For stays of less than a week, an agriturismo/b&b or country estate are the alternatives. Staying for at least a

Researching and booking a hotel or vacation rental can be a daunting task for every traveller, but the stakes are especially high when travelling abroad with children. In Florence one of the best family-friendly places to stay is at the Palazzo Belfiore, a 14th-century palazzo recently refurbished into spacious holiday apartments in the characteristic Oltrarno neighborhood, our favorite area to stay in the city. Family run, these residence apartments offer the benefits of s