For all those newly engaged couples out there who are considering tying the knot in Lucca in September of 2007, a word to the wise- book early. According to all of the villa, hotel, and B&B owners I've talked to this year, September is the most popular month in Lucca to book accomodation. My calendar confirms this as well, as I am completely booked for September.

The good news is, some hotels still consider the third and fourth weeks of September as middle to low season, that means some considerable savings for those that plan and book in advance.

This tip goes for all of Tuscany actually. Medieval cities are beautiful. There can be no denying this. However, they do require seemingly endless teams of construction workers to repair and maintain the wear and tear of so many centuries passing by and leaving their mark. As a result, it is not improbable that near the hotel you book, or even in the hotel you book, there would be considerable noise from a work site of a building undergoing repairs.

Always ask before you book a restaurant for your reception or a hotel for your stay, if there is to be any construction done in the neighborhood during your stay. If they don't know, have them check and get back to you. I once booked a place in the country side that was supposed to be quiet and romantic, it turned out that the inn was having a major overhaul done to one of its out buildings when we came and the noise was nerve racking. Of course, when we booked this inn, no one mentioned to us this "trivial" detail.

If you or any one in your family are big lovers of air conditioning, make sure that the place you hold your reception in has air conditioning if it is indoors, or alternately is located in the cooler Lucca Hills if it is outdoors. Many of the restaurants in and around Lucca are not air conditioned, so make it a point to ask first, before booking anything if this is important to you. Air conditioning is not a given here.