Florence to Avignon by car

Both the French and Italian riviera are right along the way. How are you going to pay for lunch if the fee to drop off the car is something more than five hundred bucks?

Ed's right - for example, Hertz's one-way drop fee for a rental commencing in Florence and ending in Avignon is 735 euros - $967 at today's exchange rate. And that's just the drop fee.

Thanks, to both of you. I know the drop charge, but from what I've learned about the train options, it seems like the way to do it. Actually, we are then driving to Paris, so the drop charge isn't nearly as bad there. I think the two rivieras are a natural..but what about other places along the way? good lunch spot, (yes, Ed, we can afford a cheap lunch) and other places of interest? Thanks, again.

'so the charge isn't nearly as bad there' Charge is a function of leaving the car iin a second country, not in a particular city.

I have done the drive along the Riviera many times and it is beautiful. One of my favorite places along the stretch is St. Maxime's just west of Nice. It is a smaller town so easier to find parking and it has a great beach as well as nice restaurants and shopping. Another favorite is the small town of Gassin. It is a few miles from St. Tropez and has wonderful views and a few good restaurants. There are so many places along the way any place would be great.... or possibly a picnic on the beach.

Have you considered dropping the car in Ventimiglia and taking the train to Nice where you could pick up another car. There is no easy way of getting from Avignon to Florence, four trains or 9+hours driving. All things considered, flying is probably the best option.

Thanks for the replies...all good. How would one actually fly from Florence to Avignon? I'm not seeing a way to do that. Also, for Ed. I think it's a cheaper drop in Paris (and it is, by a couple of hundred) has to do with the ease with which the original car will get someone to drive it back to Florence. Probably lots more traffic from Paris.