We are traveling throughout France and Italy in June. We plan to use the train for 3 days (Venice to the Cinque Terra then to Florence then to Orvieto) and rent a car for 3 days in France. Forgetting the point to point travel debate, does getting the rail pass that allows for a car rental make it a good option for our plans?
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
It is a terrific option, so long as you forget about the amount of money you are paying. Dunno what you consider a "good option" but would guess you just want people to say that your decision to get a rail/car pass is a good one.
Posted by
OP
Hamilton, NJ, USA
132 posts
I guess I mean "value wise" to include the price that I would cost me to rent the car separately for 3 days plus the convenience of having them make the car rental reservation for me.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Are you taking the train to France and then getting the car? I would just book the train and car separately. There are several good car companies out there and they are really easy to book. Save yourself some money and book separately. donna
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32929 posts
I'll bite and say that's a great idea. ... Except .... hmmm .... how are you getting from Orvieto to wherever in France that you are collecting your car? .... and ... Wouldn't it make more sense to take a fast train from Venice to Firenze then loop down to Orvieto and back to Firenze for the connection to La Spezia and then over to France? The route you suggest seems to go west south west then east then south then northwest? ... and ... if you are getting a pass (because you are forgetting the point to point travel debate) to include France and Italy, hmmm ... aren't you using the pass in the country where trains are cheap(er) in Italy and using the car bit where trains are less cheap (France)? most likely I have missed something or some other thread which would explain all.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
Hi Mike, Since most people on this thread would recommend that you get point to point tix for this trip, no one is likely to recommend a pass as a good option, with or without a car. Since you would prefer to forget the p2p travel debate, then my response would be that it does not make a good option for your plans, unless you're willing to pay extra for the service of someone else booking for you. However, you can do that for less money through a travel agent (even in the states. I booked a car in Arles last minute from a Travel Agent in Pennsylvania). If you know your exact dates in each city (I assume that you do, since you're travelling in June), then why not get your tix, then arrange your car to be picked up in your departing/arriving city (unclear when you're getting the car) before you leave?
Hope this helps.