Suggested sigths to see on driving trip

Where does your cruise end (Civitarecchia?)? Any particular reason to drive from Modena to Vienna? The shortest route goes by Venice where you don't need a car, plus you'll pay a big drop-off fee to leave the car in another country. Taking the train sounds like the reasonable way to go unless you have a really good reason not to.

What kinds of things does your group like to see and do? Are you active types who like to hike; or interested in history or art; want many or few museums? And what kind of wine does the group like, and what kind of winery? Italian wine? Or Austrian? Before you commit to driving, investigate what the drop charges would be. We've paid them on occasion, despite a large fee, because it was the best way to get where we wanted to go, and do what we wanted to do. And with some countries, the fee isn't a huge amount.

Roz, One important point to note is that for driving in Italy, each driver must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any CAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some case is offered at the issuing office). Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! Have a look at This Website for more detailed information. You may also want to have a look at some of the other posts here concerning the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent on many Italian towns & cities. EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! A GPS along with a good Map would also be a good idea. Be sure to also give some thought to the question of CDW. If you accept the CDW offered by the rental firm, it will be expensive but will provide "peace of mind". Some "premium" credit cards provide rental vehicle insurance, however I've found this to be somewhat complicated so I just accept that offered by the rental firm. Check the Car Rental section in Europe Through The Back Door for further information. In the same circumstances, I'd probably rent a car for one day to visit the Winery, but use trains for the trip from Modena to Vienna. Note that you'll also require a Highway Tax decal for driving in Austria! If you're caught without that, you'll face hefty fines! Happy travels!

A route to consider: Modena to Bolzano. Stop in Bolzano for a short visit at the museum where Otzi the ice man is located. Then for some fantastic scenery take the Dolomite Road from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo. Stop along the way for a night in the Dolomites. From there you could drive to Heiligenblut, Austria and then take the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and spend 5-6 Hours viewing the Grossglockner peak, Austria's highest, and the Pasterze Glacier, Austia's longest. While there you could soak in the views while enjoying a meal at the Panorama Restaurant. From there travel on through Zell am See to Salzburg and on to Vienna. You would have to choose where to stop for a night depending on when you have to arrive in Vienna and how much time you wish to spend there. The little town of Heiligenblut is a small relaxing town with a good view of the Grossglockner and may be a place to consider. We enjoyed our overnight stay there. I cannot help with the winery part. As others have mentioned there will be a hefty drop off fee for dropping the car in a different country than you picked up. You can get a ten day Austrian vignette sticker and it does not cost much. There is a toll charge for the Grossglockner Road but it is worth the fee. Most credit cards do not offer CDW when picking up the car in Italy so be sure to check with yours if you are thinking of that. If you are in a hurry to get to Vienna then my suggestion would not be the best choice as it is not the quickest route.