Our Trip to HGVC Borgo alle Vigne

[Cyberc]

I am going in March (alone) and now I'm a bit hesitant to drive myself. But, I have driven in NYC (Manhattan) many times. Is it similar?

I’ve never driven in NYC, but compared to LA I’d prefer LA over Florence and the aggressive Italian drivers.
I think my problem with the aggressive Italian drivers are that they anything but predictable. It’s as if they think the traffic laws don’t apply to them.

 

[theoriginalAva]

I have driven twice in Italy while staying at Borgo. As @JIMinNC said, Borgo is located in the country. We took the train into Florance. I wasn't going to drive there. I would put the address into Apple Maps (bought a 30-day Italian phone/data plan) and just follow the directions. Honestly, I think that it is much easier than driving in NYC. Now, again as @JIMinNC stated, you must not drive into any restricted zones (city centers such as Pisa, Siena, Lucca, and Florance). But the GPS will help you out with that along with speed cameras. {Note: I also like the adventure}. For the other areas of Italy (Rome, Venice, Milan, Lake Como) we used the train to get there and then local transportation such as buses, vaporetto, or ferries. Now, I actually enjoy trying to figure out the local transportation system in any foreign country that I visit.

Where do you plan to pick up the car?

I have not figured that out yet but after reading above I am thinking I will fly into Florence and rent a car there and head right to the resort. Then I will take a train into Florence when I want to visit. I would not find driving in congested cities in Italy and worrying about restricted areas an adventure lol. I'd be stressed out. So I will take the train and taxi and just drive around the less congested areas. Does that sound like a good idea?

 

[jehb2]

How far is the train ride from the resort to Florence?

We flew in and out of Milan (we visited 5 countries that trip and the RT to Milan was way cheaper my guess because of the World’s Fair.

However, our friends who stayed with us flew into the Pisa Airport. We took the train from Milan to Pisa and picked up our rental car at the Pisa airport. The Pisa airport is easy to get to from the resort. Be sure to bring your own GPS. There are a lot of round abouts.

I think you will have no problem driving around Tuscany. I even drove to/from the resort to Venice. It was just the Florence area that was crazy.

But you DEFINITELY need a rental car if you are staying at the resort.

 

[jehb2]

It is interesting reading the responses about driving in Italy. I've never had a problem w/ driving there -- they do drive a bit differently, but they are consistent and predictable, and I will take that over the crazy, untrained drivers over here any day.

Kurt

You’re probably like my husband. He can drive anywhere foreign and domestic. My dad was military. He would drive in downtown Turkish cities crazy like locals with one hand on the wheel and the other holding his cigarette.

 

[JIMinNC]

I have not figured that out yet but after reading above I am thinking I will fly into Florence and rent a car there and head right to the resort. Then I will take a train into Florence when I want to visit. I would not find driving in congested cities in Italy and worrying about restricted areas an adventure lol. I'd be stressed out. So I will take the train and taxi and just drive around the less congested areas. Does that sound like a good idea?

Since you are staying at Borgo and it sounds like you plan to use the train to visit Florence instead of booking a separate hotel stay in Florence, you don’t need to restrict yourself to just flying in and out of Florence. Also look at flights into and out of Pisa. Pisa is closer to Borgo, it is a bigger airport than Florence, and you can rent a car there. You should also have less traffic congestion getting in and out of the Pisa airport. Flights into Pisa may be more reliable than Florence because Florence has a very short runway for jets. In certain wind/weather conditions, Florence flights have to divert to Bologna or Pisa.

For our trip, we opted to fly in and out of Florence only because we wanted to be able to turn in our rental car and then be able to take a taxi into Florence city center for a five night hotel stay after our week at Borgo. Had we just been going to Borgo, we would have also considered/preferred Pisa.

 

[jehb2]

Rick Steves describes an incident when he was in an Italian taxi cab. The taxi driver drove through three red lights. And Rick Steve said “you just drove through three red lights.“ And the taxi cab driver said “yes I look and there are no cars coming. If I stop, and there are no cars coming, then the police will think I’m an idiot.”

 

[theoriginalAva]

Since you are staying at Borgo and it sounds like you plan to use the train to visit Florence instead of booking a separate hotel stay in Florence, you don’t need to restrict yourself to just flying in and out of Florence. Also look at flights into and out of Pisa. Pisa is closer to Borgo, it is a bigger airport than Florence, and you can rent a car there. You should also have less traffic congestion getting in and out of the Pisa airport. Flights into Pisa may be more reliable than Florence because Florence has a very short runway for jets. In certain wind/weather conditions, Florence flights have to divert to Bologna or Pisa.

For our trip, we opted to fly in and out of Florence only because we wanted to be able to turn in our rental car and then be able to take a taxi into Florence city center for a five night hotel stay after our week at Borgo. Had we just been going to Borgo, we would have also considered/preferred Pisa.

I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me this! So helpful.

 

[GT75]

I haven't rented a car at the Florence airport but @JIMinNC did explain why they did (because I was certainly wondering). Anyway, I rented the first time in downtown Florence (not my recommendation but it worked) and the second time from the Pisa airport (recommendation from myself and others). We actually took the trains (several of them) from Lake Como to Pisa airport. I certainly agree with what @JIMinNC has stated about the drive from the Pisa airport to Borgo (but do have a GPS) {probably the easiest from what I have read}. On the second visit to Borgo (for a week) we drove to Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre (drove to La Spezia and took the train to Cinque Terre), Siena, Sam Gimignano, Florance (took the train from Pontedera, with parking next to train station)

 

[PigsDad]

Since you are staying at Borgo and it sounds like you plan to use the train to visit Florence instead of booking a separate hotel stay in Florence, you don’t need to restrict yourself to just flying in and out of Florence. Also look at flights into and out of Pisa. Pisa is closer to Borgo, it is a bigger airport than Florence, and you can rent a car there. You should also have less traffic congestion getting in and out of the Pisa airport. Flights into Pisa may be more reliable than Florence because Florence has a very short runway for jets. In certain wind/weather conditions, Florence flights have to divert to Bologna or Pisa.

Excellent suggestion. We were at Borgo for 11 days in September this year, and we flew in/out of Pisa. It is a fairly small airport so we found it easy to navigate. Renting a car there was no problem, and the airport is on the outskirts of Pisa towards Borgo, so we didn't have to drive through any part of Pisa itself. It was a little over a half hour drive to Borgo, mostly on smaller roads.

Kurt

 

[rdw95]

We routinely fly into and out of Florence for our yearly stays at Borgo. We are owners there and enjoy going every year. We rent our car at the Florence Airport - the pickup is just outside the airport, and find the traffic not bad. We use WAZE and have never had a problem.

 

[Cyberc]

We routinely fly into and out of Florence for our yearly stays at Borgo. We are owners there and enjoy going every year. We rent our car at the Florence Airport - the pickup is just outside the airport, and find the traffic not bad. We use WAZE and have never had a problem.

Do you book an EV or a regular on gasoline?

 

[letsgobobby]

when you drive from Borgo to Florence, what is a good location to park the car? Could you park at the airport or train station and then take public transport into the city center?

we went to Florence many years ago sans vehicle.

 

[GT75]

when you drive from Borgo to Florence, what is a good location to park the car?

Closest train station is in Pontedera about 20 minutes by car away.

I wouldn't recommend driving into Florence, just take the train from Pontedera. You can park and leave (paid parking) your car there at the train station.

 

[letsgobobby]

that's 20 min from Borgo, right?

 

[GT75]

that's 20 min from Borgo, right?

Looks like 25 mins (16.1 km)

Google Search

 

[rdw95]

Looks like 25 mins (16.1 km)

Google Search

Yes, an easy 20- 25 minutes. The train ends just next to the central market, and an easy 10 minute walk to the Duomo. Plus, the train is inexpensive.

 

[GT75]

Plus, the train is inexpensive.

Very true and the train ride can s very relaxing. We purchased round trip train tickets at the station. They were open tickets so we could take whatever train that we wanted. Just make sure that you get the tickets stamped by the correct machine prior to boarding.

 

[rdw95]

As stated before, we really like our visits to Borgo. We just closed on 2 more weeks of ownership there. It gives us 4 2BR weeks, and 2 3BR weeks. But, we may sell our 3 BR weeks there. That way, we can always book a month there 12 months ahead with our 2BR weeks.

 

[MM9]

I’m attaching a picture of coffee filters.

@JIMinNC

I would just run that through the Dishwasher / Pot Wash until it became clear.

Honestly, after my last visit to HGVC Elara, where the silverware felt sticky and the glasses looked unwashed - I've made a habit of re-washing everything with the in-unit dishwasher, or hand washing things before using them. I don't trust that anything is clean to my standard anymore.

 

[MM9]

Putting that aside, for those of you who have visited this Resort. How does it compare to other accommodations in the area? I looked into it for a bit last year, and it felt very secluded and lacking amenities. Curious what everyone's thoughts are.

 

[rdw95]

It depends on what amenities you are wanting. It has a very nice pool, underground parking, washer and dryer in the units, wifi, and close to so many places. Elizabeth and the entire staff are excellent and accommodateing. There is no restaurant there, but there are some excellent ones close by.

 

[MM9]

It depends on what amenities you are wanting. It has a very nice pool, underground parking, washer and dryer in the units, wifi, and close to so many places. Elizabeth and the entire staff are excellent and accommodateing. There is no restaurant there, but there are some excellent ones close by.

That's actually most of my disappointment - which is the lack of an on-site restaurant. Even mediocre food (Waikoloa Village) can be acceptable when you are hungry and do not feel like leaving the resort.


For you, how far of a drive is it - to nearby restaurants and places? Is it 20 minutes, 5 minutes? Is it as secluded as it looks? I am curious about this location. My main concern was that it'd be so isolated that you'd feel somewhat stuck the whole time.

 

[GT75]

Is it 20 minutes, 5 minutes? Is it as secluded as it looks? I am curious about this location. My main concern was that it'd be so isolated that you'd feel somewhat stuck the whole time.

There are restaurants in the nearby town (w/i 5 min) and some not much farther away (~15 mins).

Is it as secluded as it looks?

Yes. IMO, if you just want to just stay at the resort, then I would suggest picking another resort. I feel this resort is best to be used as a hub for visiting the area.

 

[Eggrollcreative]

I'm hoping to go in October! Hopefully your post doesn't get around to too many people so there will be some availability! Florence is my one big target while I'm there . . . and the magic wine that doesn't make me sneeze.

 

[letsgobobby]

There are restaurants in the nearby town (w/i 5 min) and some not much farther away (~15 mins).


Yes. IMO, if you just want to just stay at the resort, then I would suggest picking another resort. I feel this resort is best to be used as a hub for visiting the area.

i'd think being secluded means it's better for staying at the resort, and not so good as a hub. that's my hangup about booking - that it's not actually at anywhere we want to see (Florence for example). that, and the fact that suddenly it's gotten very hard to book and you have to walk for months to get anything in the summer.