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Advice on preparing for a train strike - my travel leg is on a sunday

As previously mentioned in my past posts, my itinerary is now July 18-21 Florence, July 21-23 Cortina D'ampezzo, and July 23-26 in Venice. (3 nights Florence, 2 nights in Cortina, 3 nights in Venice. I will be flying in to Rome, taking the train to Florence to stay for 3 nights, and then taking a train from Florence to Venice Saint Lucia Station to pick up a rental car for the two-night trip in the dolomites, and then I will be dropping off the rental car and be within walking distance of my Venice hotel to stay my last three days.

I like this way because i would rather avoid taking a rental car all the way from Florence to the Dolomites. I would much rather take a train to Venice and then drive from Venice to cortina as it is only about a 2 hour drive.

My problem is that my travel leg to get to Venice from Florence on the train is on a Sunday, which does not have any guaranteed trains since those are only Monday thru Saturday. My train tickets are purchased in advance from 8:20am to 10:30am so that I may have an hour to pick up my rental car at 11:30am. Hertz closes on Sunday at 12:30pm, so it is IMPERATIVE I make it to pick-up my rental car on time.

I would just like assistance in preparing in case of a strike. Here are the options that I have come up with.

Option 1) Change only my pick-up location with Hertz from their Venice/ Piazzale Roma location to their VCE Airport Location so that i no longer have to worry about the 12:30pm closing time, and if any strike comes, I may take a bus instead and not worry about closing time being sooner than later. This means I would be able to wait up until the moment of my train departure to see if the strike happens or not. If no train strike occurs, I will simply take a bus from Venezia Saint Lucia train station to the airport to pickup my rental car. My drop off location will remain at Piazzale Roma.

Option 2) Purchase back-up Flix-Bus tickets in advance as I've seen on July 21st, there is a direct bus from Florence Piazzale Montelungo to Venice Tronchetto from 4:55am to 9:30am. In this case I will have to just stick with leaving that early because, if I risk waiting to see if the train strike actually happens or not, and if it does happen, I will have missed my chance to make it with this bus. Then I will not make it to Hertz by 12:30pm.

In any case, I was also wondering are ALL strikes announced in advance? Could one simply happen with no announcements at all? Because if that is the case, it would be best to prepare with option 1. Any advice or recommendations whatsoever are appreciated. The strikes for May 4-5 and May 19 both happening on Sundays are what have me concerned because I saw how it really messed up a lot of people's plans.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by
7566 posts

The OP posted:

The strikes for May 4-5 and May 19 both happening on Sundays are what have me concerned

Posted by
6439 posts

Beginning of her post has her actual travel dates
July 18-26
The train strike day she is worried about is Sunday July 21
No strikes have even been announced for that date

She is concerned/worried because her day is a Sunday so she is comparing that to the Sunday strikes in May

Posted by
7566 posts

The OP’s concerns are clearly about the unknown situation for future travel in July. But just as the previously announced May 19 strike got canceled (postponed?), and proposed strike in July might never happen, either. Be prepared for a potential strike, but don’t overstress about it.

To alyssajensen214, go with the airport rental car pickup, so that the Sunday hours aren’t a concern, and your bus travel option would work as Plan B.

We’ve had problems scheduling car rentals in Italy where rental locations had either restricted hours on Saturday, or weren’t open at all on both Saturdays and Sundays. Being open on a Sunday is a bonus, but make sure your schedule will allow getting to the rental place while they’re open.

Posted by
6439 posts

Alyssa

Do a search here or on Google for train strike info

I am almost positive that strikes are ALWAYS announced days if not weeks in advance.
I also think just from seeing news of strikes here that most announced strikes don’t actually happen

Be ready to buy the Flix bus ticket because that or changing your car pick up to Florence would be your only options if there us a strike and you would have advance notice.

IMO taking a Flix bus at 4:30 am all the way to Venice and then a bus and shuttle to car pick up at VCE doesn’t make a lot of sense
You’ll need a taxi prearranged to get you to Flix bus on time as well
That makes this plan a “4 seat” transit all to avoid picking up car in Florence and just driving to Cortina
Yes it’s more “driving” but it’s a heck of a lot less travel

Posted by
64 posts

Ok I tried to change the car rental pick-up from piazzale Roma to the airport but on the voucher it’s worrying me because it says I “must show flight info” and on the website it says that you must show your flight information when picking up a rental with Hertz from their airport location. Their hours are not available to call right now. I will just switch it back to pick up & drop off at piazzale Roma. I have a higher chance of this going fine as long as there are no train strike.
I won’t worry about a strike unless it’s announced.
If that time comes then I’ll have to find some transportation to make it by 12:30pm the latest. If not at least I tried my best to make my itinerary fail proof

Posted by
6439 posts

Once again
The OP is worried that there will be a strike on HER travel date which is July 21

OP
This is where a toll free call to the very helpful and knowledgeable folks at AutoEurope would be wise

I believe you would have to cancel your current reservation then rebook a new one

But the person to ask is the person at the AutoEurope toll free number

Posted by
64 posts

i switched it back. Pickup & drop off Piazzale Roma. I called the Hertz location I am supposed to pick up from and they said depending on how late I would arrive from a strike they could help me. So at least I know they are willing to help if any case.
If there is no mention of a train strike, I would like to doubt that there would be one on the high speed trains unannounced.

Only if one gets announced, I will plan accordingly and book a rental car to make it before 12:30pm. I see why people say just don’t worry about it until if it happens because it’s too much worry about me missing my rental car! Haha