Tripologist: Where's a good village for a long stay in Italy?

My partner and I want to spend four months in a village in Italy to experience local life, based in Le Marche or Umbria and making trips from there. What locations might work, and what long-term rental sites are there? I Davies, Philip Island VIC

While village life might look appealing, living there can be limited. Shops might be some distance away, dining options few and some places are virtually retirement homes, with neither employment nor stimulation to attract younger generations. In Le Marche, Ascoli Piceno, population 50,000, is a real gem, and it's close to both the Adriatic coast and to Monte Sibillini National Park. Nearby Urbino is a UNESCO World Heritage walled city, one of the cultural centres of the Renaissance, set against the green backdrop of the Apennines. In Umbria my picks would be either Spello or Bevagna. Spello is a hilltown surrounded by olive groves, Bevagna sits in the valley below, a mid-sized town that dates to pre-Roman times. Spello gets more tourists, which means more cafes and places to eat but Bevagna has easier access and it's flat. Both are well placed for wider explorations. Try Idealista [idealista.it] for long-term rentals. If you both have Australian passports, you are allowed to remain in Europe's Schengen Area, which includes Italy, for a maximum of 90 days in any six-month period.

I'm interested in visiting Central America but most of the tours seem geared towards backpackers. Are there any other less basic options, or small-ship itineraries? K. Hawke, Annandale NSW

National Geographic Expeditions [nationalgeographic.com/expeditions] has several Central American trips to both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts and the price for some – close to $1000 per day – puts it well beyond the backpacker market. However there are also a few NG Expeditions, in Costa Rica in particular, that cost about a third the price. Explore [exploreworldwide.com.au/] also has a 15-day Costa Rica tour with premium hotel and lodge accommodation and another to Guatemala and the Yucatan. Chimu Adventures [chimuadventures.com] also has Central America itineraries with various levels of accommodation. Cruises are another option, especially if you want to see several Central American countries. Luxury operator Ponant [ponant.com] and small-ship specialist Lindblad Expeditions [au.expeditions.com] both have cruises in the region.

We're looking for suggestions for a week's driving holiday somewhere in southern Europe before heading to the UK in November. We're interested in classic rural travels, towns rather than cities, culture, good food and wine. D. Parker, Geelong West VIC

For a self-drive trip at that time of year, you really can't beat Provence. It's got the works – great food, culture, wine, history, markets packed with charcuterie and some of the prettiest villages in France. Gateway is Avignon and while it has plenty to offer, stay just south at Saint-Remy-de-Provence, a lovely town with smart accommodation and dining. Use this as your base to explore the surroundings, including Gordes, Roussillon, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Arles and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the antique centre for southern France – don't miss the Sunday market. Next stop, Cassis, at the western end of the French Riviera, where the pastel-coloured facades of the bars and cafes that line the waterfront cast dancing images across the tiny harbour. From here you can take a cruise to explore the Calanques, the dramatic limestone cliffs that line the coast as far as Marseille. Finally, Saint Paul de Vence, just inland from Nice, a medieval village where the locals play petanque in front of the cafe, with connections to some of the glitterati of the art world including Chagall, Renoir, Matisse and Picasso. If you can, time your trip for October rather than November, and better still if you can spare 10 days.

After visiting New Orleans my wife and I want to drive north to Washington DC but we're wondering what route to take to experience some of the Old South. We have 7-10 days total. W. Hoffman, Rose Bay NSW

The Natchez Trace Parkway could be the drive for you. This is a classic, an ambling journey along 715 kilometres of quiet road through some of the loveliest landscapes in the American south between Natchez, on the banks of the Mississippi in southern Mississippi, and Nashville. As well as a beautiful drive,the parkway is one of the touchstones of American history, a natural corridor used by Indian tribes and pioneers and designated as a postal route as early as 1801. All you need to help plan your itinerary can be found on the Natchez Trace Parkway website [scenictrace.com]. From Nashville you might drive north-east to Waynesboro to pick up the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, which runs for 170 kilometres along the crest of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The Skyline Drive website [visitskylinedrive.org] has all the information you need. The drive ends at Front Royal, 100 kilometres west of the national capital.

Got a travel question? Include your name and suburb or town and send it to Michael Gebicki - tripologist@traveller.com.au

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances.