Finalized Itinerary and the Lucky Hotels

Well, after much thinking and planning, i've solidified the itinerary for the trip that I previously posted about, and booked all the accommodation. Hurrah!

Leaving Oct 14 and arriving Florence Oct 15.

2 nights Florence - La Dimora del Centro B&B (new place and not many reviews, but dayum it's well-located and looks nice!)
3 nights Bologna - Hotel Paradise
1 night Parma (I'd normally never ever stay one night somewhere, but most of the trains to Cinque Terre have to double back through Parma anyway, so why not stay a night. I just hope that the morning of my departure, I can find a parmagiano cheese tour :() - B&B Rubra (how cute does this place look!)
3 nights Cinque Terre - Martina Callo's Rooms (look at that sea view!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
8 nights agriturismo outside San Gimignano - Podere Poggio ai Cieli (8 nights for 360 euros for a 1-bedroom FLAT are you joking!!?!?!!)
1 night Florence - same B&B as the initial two nights

Did a lot of research. Hopefully these places work out well. Yay! It's important to me this time around to stay at smaller, friendlier places. Have small places for everywhere except bologna (but that hotel is less than 20 rooms yay), I couldn't find a centrally-located nice-looking B&B there. guess it's b/c it's so much primarily a business/convention city. too bad, but this one should work out well anyway and the price was very right!

Picking hotels and whatnot seems to be the hardest part because of the research involved, but there's still much left to do, like planning itineraries and whatnot. You know me, anal retentive planner :) But i'm happy that way :)

gotta love the airlines....

So I booked my flight, leaving Oct 14, coming back Nov 2, for $579 a couple days ago. Today, that same exact flight is $817. Thank god I had the guts to book it when i did. Of course, with all the insanity with airlines, it's likely to go down again, but I doubt it'll go below $579, so I feel like I won the lottery I bit. PONTE VECCHIO HERE I COME!!!!!!!! :D

So now i'm starting the initial research, making up the actual itinerary, etc. 18 days may sound like a long time, but when you want to see the whole damn country, it's pretty difficult! This is what I'm thinking initially:

Arrive 7pm Florence

2 nights Florence

3 nights Bologna

1 night Parma (b/c it's silly to do a day trip from Bologna and then have to go back to get the train to Cinque Terre there anyway)

3 nights Cinque Terre

8 nights Tuscany probably near Siena/Central tuscany area in an agriturismo with car

get rid of the car and spend last night in Florence b/c the flight back leaves at 9:30am and I'd rather not try to navigate the roads at 6am!

It's Really Gonna Happen!!!!

When you find airfare from LA to Florence for $579 on a good airline at fairly convenient times, you take it. So, I took it. ITALY HERE I COME!!

Now the fun begins. Last time, I kinda had to work out the itinerary before booking flight, since I was flying open jaw. This time I have more flexibility - and 18 glorious nights to decide how to spend.

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!

And the planning begins....

Due to moving, getting health insurance through my work, and getting a bigger-than-expected tax refund, it looks like Italy Fall 2009 is going to go ahead as planned. Ideas, itineraries, questions, dreams, wishes, hopes, plans, and everything else are spinning in my head. At least it might mean this blog can become alive again :P

Thank you!

I just wanted to say thank you to the people from the Rick Steves helpline (a fantastic and friendly resource of all your Europe travel needs and questions) who have said many kind things about my little blog. I wish I had more inspiration and words to keep updating. Feel free to read my trip blog from last summer and come back or subscribe for updates, maybe I'll find some inspiration soon :)