mktopks

We will be travelling in Tuscany and/or Cinque Terre areas in late July. We have reservations in Florence for 3 nights, but then wanted to rent a car and wander for a few days. Is it wise to do this without any reservations for hotels? Or will everything be booked? We would be looking for inexpensive places to stay like small inns or B & B's. This would be for 2 40-ish female friends. Any advice would be welcomed.

Grasshopper

You can, I've done it and it frees you up to explore. But July is pretty busy so you might want to bring a list of places you would consider and call ahead a day or two when you have an idea where you will be. That will save time when you're trying to figure out where you're going to rest your head!

ira

Hi mk,

Small inns and B&B's don't have many rooms and tend to fill up quickly in the season.

I would reserve ahead.

Weadles

I wouldn't chance no reservations in late July. We were in Tuscany early last August, and it was quite busy everywhere we went.

Melissa5

We were in Italy (including Tuscany, Florence, Siena, etc.) in June and hotels were detinitely booked ahead. florence was especially booked. Good places with good prices always go first...the more expensive rooms seem to go last. Definitely book ahead.

Intrepid1

Book ahead unless you want some of that "valuable vacation time" spent searching for a decent place to sleep.

mktopks

Thanks for the advice. Any recommendations for inexpensive inns or B & B's (would like to stay under 100 Euros/night for a twin room) would be appreciated. Interested in Siena, Chianti, Pisa, or any other great places in the vicinity.

Weadles

I would visit Pisa either on your way to Tuscany from Cinque Terre, or as a daytrip from Florence. I would not recommend spending a night there.

Huitres

mktopks, after checking the Fodors hotel recs on this website, I would refer to the 'Let's Go Italy' travel guidebook. It is an indispensable travel resource for single, women, budget travelers with great tips on hotels in all price ranges, B&Bs, restaurants, sites to see, transportation, etc. I use it all the time and have never been disappointed the hotel choices I've booked.