Mittens 2010 Italy -- Sat 31st July - Sat 7th Aug. Last few spots remaining!

MrColossal · Wed 27/01/2010 20:05:59

We're talking about Mittens here not your love life, Esseb.

I am fine with most weeks also. Preference is to sync up with earlier times we've had in the past.

AGA · Wed 27/01/2010 20:06:40

Okay, a couple of issues:

1. Is everyone (or at least most people) okay with Italy as a destination?
2. I've spoken with bicilotti, and he's willing to act as our man in Italy, in the event we need somebody to help with speaking Italian during the booking process (assuming Italy is the eventual setting). I know there was some fuss previously about his not having attended Mittens before and blah blah blah. However, he's been an AGS member for ages, and seems trustworthy and reliable. Personally I'd be more than happy of his help.

Probable attendees:

AGA
Andail
Becky
bicilotti
Chrille
CJ
Creed_Malay
custard
DarkStalkey
Darth Mandarb
Disco
Esseb
FSi
Grundislav
Jake
Jess
Miez
Mods
Nacho
MrColossal
Quintaros
Radiant
Snarky
Tier
(24)

Possible:

Dualnames
Layabout
Pablo
Wesray
(4)

Becky · Wed 27/01/2010 20:09:05

I might be there. Anytime from mid-June onwards is fine with me.

Oh yeah and I'm happy with Italy.

Privateer Puddin' · Wed 27/01/2010 20:09:36

Si, Mittens. Si, Italia.

Esseb · Wed 27/01/2010 20:14:40

Quote from: MrColossal on Wed 27/01/2010 20:05:59
We're talking about Mittens here not your love life, Esseb.

So you're cancelling? I bought these tickets months ago.

Edit: And Italy is perfect.

Mr Jake · Wed 27/01/2010 20:24:19

I will come. Whenever! (+ for Italy)

Darth Mandarb · Wed 27/01/2010 21:00:28

Italy is perfecto by me!

That place AGA linked to looks freakin' sweet too!

Looks like it's not too far from Roma either (and I have to visit Rome). I'm sure some of the Bastogne road-trippers wouldn't mind making a day(or two)-trip into Rome (or anybody that is interested of course)!

AGA · Wed 27/01/2010 21:01:21

I deleted my last post, because the location was fully booked for most of the summer.

Here are some other large Italian places:

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/arezzo/49413
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/reggello/31484
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/southern-tuscany-umbrian-border/15513
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/siena/40245
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/barberino-di-mugello/107632

They vary in cost quite a bit though. And most of them say 'car advised' or 'car necessary'. Which could obviously be a problem.

Tuscany does seem nice though, and it isn't too far (3-4 hours) from Rome for people who want to do that.

AGA · Wed 27/01/2010 21:14:17

Hmm, this place: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/siena/3969 looks pretty great. However, it's quite a long way from anything. It's very cheap, and has good facilities though. We'd need a few people driving though, in order firstly to get to/from the train station (15km away), and secondly to actually buy food and such. We were fairly distant at France Mittens though, and it seemed to work alright.

Grundislav · Wed 27/01/2010 21:15:01

Mittens in Italy! Yes please!

AGA · Wed 27/01/2010 21:26:33

So who would be willing to either drive from their home country, or rent a car in Florence (nearest airport) and drive? Something like five cars overall would be ideal.

Dualnames · Wed 27/01/2010 21:31:03

I haven't really though of how, but I'm really happy with the where, and I know the why!

I will however only declare interest, and have a definitive answer later on.

bicilotti · Wed 27/01/2010 21:31:44

Quote from: AGA on Wed 27/01/2010 21:26:33
So who would be willing to either drive from their home country, or rent a car in Florence (nearest airport) and drive? Something like five cars overall would be ideal.

I could try to borrow a car from my family, but can't say right now if they need it. I'll see them this weekend though, so I can give you an anwer in a couple of days.

Snarky · Wed 27/01/2010 21:34:05

I'd be happy to rent a car. Though since I only drive in the US, I'd probably need one with automatic transmission.

Disco · Wed 27/01/2010 21:37:13

A couple others I found the other day-

http://www.perugiaonline.com/anticaposta/ a "Hamlet" here, for 24 though :S

http://www.villafossi.com/holiday-homes-tuscany.html close to Florence apparently.

I'll likely be training to the closest station, no drives. Though I'm sure the cars we don't have coming we could all split for.

AGA · Wed 27/01/2010 21:53:01

The place I previously posted (http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/siena/3969) is 2 hours from Pisa Airport (which Ryanair fly to, for cheap connections from the UK), 2:45 from Rome, and 1:15 from Florence. So pretty reachable from various airports. There is also a rail station in Siena, which is about 15km away. So it seems pretty well situated, as long as we can get enough people to give rides from the rail station to the house. This Italian rail site: http://www.italiarail.com gives a price of about $29 USD from Pisa to Siena. So probably a bit more to Rome, and a bit less to Florence.

AGA · Wed 27/01/2010 22:29:08

ARGH. So it turns out that place is a lot more expensive than it seemed. In high season, it's 6755 Eur for a week for 32 people. Although that's lots of little apartments, so we could probably take fewer space if we needed. Still, it'll be something like 210 Eur per person for that...

MillsJROSS · Thu 28/01/2010 04:17:54

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to attend this year. I got a couple of upcoming expenses and simply can't afford to go this year. But I'll look forward to the pictures/stories, and, hopefully, will make it the next year.

-MillsJROSS

The Ivy · Thu 28/01/2010 05:47:00

MITTALY

I'm interested in going this year, but I'd have to see what my finances are like closer to the date. Going to Italy...that would be quite an expensive date (even if Eric and Esseb were involved).

Bulbapuck · Thu 28/01/2010 09:53:13

Awww.. :'( I have no money..
I want to attend some year, I'll try to save some up money 'til the next one.