Need help with Self-Guided 4 day bike tour in Tuscany

[CopB8]

Hello All,

My wife and I are trying to put together a short 4 day, 3 night motorcycle tour in Tuscany from September 7th through 10th of this year. We'll be based in Florence the nights before and after the tour.

I've spent hours reading this forum about bike tours of Tuscany and I know there's a wealth of experience here (Beemerdons being one). I've read the following thread and links (https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=113142 plus many, many, many other Google search threads. It's OVERWHELMING.

After reading the rave reviews here about Edelweiss Bike Travel I reached out to them for help. Unfortunately they don't have a tour that matches our dates or duration and don't rent motorcycles outside of their tours. They also had no recommendations for companies that rent just bikes.

So that leaves us with having to patch the whole thing together ourselves. We need to work out a source for bike rental (hopefully a R1200GS or R1200GS), plan our routes, stops, and overnight stays. We're looking for suggestions on specifics of hotels (or B&B's), back roads, wineries, and cities we must try and either visit or spend the night in.

HELP!

TIA

Bart

 

[beemerdons]

Bart, I am leaving on an FJR ride to Prescott, AZ in a few minutes. It is going to be 110F today here in Phoenix, so I'm leaving early to get back to the Valley of the Blast Furnace by Noon. I will put together a list of places I recommend to stay at tonight, but here are four MUST-SEES in Toscana, Italia:

1. The towers of San Gimignano

2. Piazze of Siena

3. Jewelry makers of Arezzo

4. Castles of the Mugello

La Pregunta, paisano! Do you plan to make a base camp in Florence and ride out to destinations every day? Or are you going to spend the night out on the Tuscan roads each day and spend every night at a new location? Be advised, the four MUST-SEES are less than 100 miles from Firenze!

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/150808-tuscany-by-scooter-in-2014-with-edelweiss-couples-tour/page-1

 

[beemerdons]

"Sam, can you please help Bart out with Tuscany Tour and Lodging recommendations."

CopB8: I sent a Private Message to puppychow, Sam is also very knowledgable of Tuscany and hopefully he will contribute to your Request for Information! JSNS!

 

[CopB8]

Thanks! Any and all help is very much appreciated.

Thanks for the highlight cities. They'll be on my agenda.

I'd prefer to spend nights away from Florence since we'll already be spending 3 nights there. I'd love to try some country hotels. I like the idea of spending the night in Siena but I realize it's only 50km from Florence.

 

[Enn]

If you want to experience really cute rustic accommodation, check this out https://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhouse/tuscany

I have been spending few nights in agriturismos in Italy and they are very fine. You can find them also on Booking.com.

As for places to visit, do not miss Montepulciano and its fantastic wines.

 

[2fjr]

4 hours north of Florence in the incredible riding area of the Dolomites is a motorcycle and bicycle oriented hotel that I spent a week at in 2012. Great place and very friendly staff and owner that rides. It is called Hotel Diana near Nova Levante https://www.diana-hotel.it/en/hotel-diana-karersee/welcome.html This could be a nice overnite destination for you. I would give it two thumbs up! The route would also take you by the beautiful Lake Garda. Wherever you go.......have fun!

 

[Klunkshift]

You can rent Guzzy's at Mandello del Lario close to the Dolomites. Norges are not bad bikes and are more fun to ride than Bimmers IMHO.

https://www.agostinimandello.com/

Have fun and ride fast - It is Italy after all.

 

[beemerdons]

Bart, mi piace…

1. San Gimignano: https://www.palazzoaltorrione.com

2. Siena: https://www.hoteletruria.com or https://www.tredonzelle.com

3. Arezzo: Stay 2 nights in Siena and make a day run over to Arezzo!

4. Mugello: Visit here on your way back to Florence from Pisa, my lodging recommendations for Pisa: https://www.hoteldellaspina.it or https://www.royalvictoria.it

 

[beemerdons]

4 hours north of Florence in the incredible riding area of the Dolomites is a motorcycle and bicycle oriented hotel that I spent a week at in 2012. Great place and very friendly staff and owner that rides. It is called Hotel Diana near Nova Levante https://www.diana-hotel.it/en/hotel-diana-karersee/welcome.html This could be a nice overnite destination for you. I would give it two thumbs up! The route would also take you by the beautiful Lake Garda. Wherever you go.......have fun!

+1, Gunny; second this recommendation and I've also stayed at Hotel Diana, shame to fly to Italy and not ride the Dolomites for at least a day and night's stay!

 

[CopB8]

Sorry for the delayed response. Just back from the lake for the 4th

Brad, mi piace…
1. San Gimignano: https://www.palazzoaltorrione.com

2. Siena: https://www.hoteletruria.com or https://www.tredonzelle.com

3. Arezzo: Stay 2 nights in Siena and make a day run over to Arezzo!

4. Mugello: Visit here on your way back to Florence from Pisa, my lodging recommendations for Pisa: https://www.hoteldellaspina.it or https://www.royalvictoria.it

THIS IS GOLDEN ^^^^^

Thank you very much

4 hours north of Florence in the incredible riding area of the Dolomites is a motorcycle and bicycle oriented hotel that I spent a week at in 2012. Great place and very friendly staff and owner that rides. It is called Hotel Diana near Nova Levante https://www.diana-hotel.it/en/hotel-diana-karersee/welcome.html This could be a nice overnite destination for you. I would give it two thumbs up! The route would also take you by the beautiful Lake Garda. Wherever you go.......have fun!

I wish I could squeeze the Dolomites in on this trip but I just don't think I can make it happen.

You can rent Guzzy's at Mandello del Lario close to the Dolomites. Norges are not bad bikes and are more fun to ride than Bimmers IMHO.
https://www.agostinimandello.com/

Have fun and ride fast - It is Italy after all.

I'd love to have some Italian flare in my wheels. I'll definitely consider them.

Thanks ALL. Anything else that comes to mind please just post it here.

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/user/146-teerex51/ Bart, send a private message to Stefano S. - teerex51 here on the forum. He'll know a great bike rental outfit for you!

CopB8, can you speak/read/write Italian? If so, you can also reach Stef here: https://www.sport-touring.it teerex51 is in the middle, top row. Dolomites Ride!

 

[beemerdons]

[email protected] Here is an old email address I had for the Italian Sport Touring Forum, Stefano speak English way better than dcarver and HotRodZilla put together! JSNS!