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auto freindly hotel in florence

we are renting a car in orvieto and touring the hill towns. we plan to spend two nights in florence before dropping the car off in Venice. does anyone know of a hotel in florence that does not require driving into the city, where we can park the car and use public trnasportation in florence. Having been to Florence, i'm reluctant to drive there.

Posted by
7209 posts

Is there a reason you can't just drop the car in Florence and train to Venice?

Posted by
9110 posts

Alberto La Foresta, an old convent up in the hills to the south. Drive the car down the hill, park in the station lot, and take a half-hour train ride into Florence.

Posted by
3057 posts

If you want to be closer to the city center than suggested above, take a look at Hotel David. It has been the top-rated hotel in Florence on Tripadvisor for at leat two years now. It is on the south side of the Arno, 1.5 km from the city center, and outside the ZTL. They offer free parking to guests.

Posted by
15043 posts

I need to know the following: 1. How much you want to spend 2. How far you want to be from the historical center (walking distance, under 15 min bus ride away, farther away) and if you plan to do out of town trips from that hotel or if you just want to see Florence during those two days. 3. Type of accommodations and amenities (Agriturismo, hotel, rooms in villa etc)
4. Approximate period of travel.

Posted by
86 posts

roberto,there are 4 of us ; we need two doubles. plan to spend 100 euros per couple per night. 15 minutes bus ride would be fine, dont care about accomodations, just dont want to get caught in florence traffic with car. jue 30th july 1 is when we plan to be there.

Posted by
86 posts

tim, there is no big reaso. we certainly can train to venice. not sure how that factos in to hotel choice

Posted by
186 posts

I also suggest turning in the car upon arrival in Florence and taking the train to Venice. You don't need a car in either city.
There are frequent trains between Florence and Venice.

Posted by
86 posts

thanks nancy. so is there a drop off place that is not directly in the city? again, my main issue is not wanting to drive into florence!

Posted by
15043 posts

I also agree that you shouldn't keep a car if all you have left to visit is Florence (city) and Venice. Below I will give you hotels that have free parking and that I know well, however keeping a rental car just to stay parked (no matter if free) is still expensive, because that rental car in Italy will cost you about 50 euro a day min. for a car large enough for 4 people. It is true that driving 4 people to Venice will likely be cheaper than 4 train ticket, but you won't save once you factor in the rental cost. Here is the math: Cost of Keeping the car 3 extra days and drive to Venice: 150 euro rental+40 euro gas to VE+ 20 Euro tolls to VE=210 Euro total Cost of ditching the car in Firenze: Euro 172 for 4 train tickets (assuming no discounted tickets available). Maybe 190 euro total if you take a taxi to the station. You still come out ahead by dropping the car. Dropping off locations are at the FLR airport and, in the city, for the most part downtown around Borgo Ognissanti, near the US Consulate area. Hertz also has a location in via del Sansovino. Europcar has several locations outside of the city center in the periphery. You should keep the car in Florence only, and only if, you plan to use it to visit the countryside around Florence, rather than the city (for example the Chianti, or the small towns. In the latter case stay at:
http://www.hotelvillaliberty.it/ It's near the Hotel David but cheaper and almost within your range (110 euro). I'll be there the day you go to Venice. The have free parking and bikes for rental. You can actually even walk to the city center, if you don't mind a 15 min walk or take a bus (5 min). I like to use their bikes. If you ditch the car, stay in the city center proper.

Posted by
86 posts

thanks roberto, so everyone is saying ditch the car and i get it. however, one of our party must use a nebulizer and i was cncerend about the lenght of time between re-charges from hotel(in florence)- then train - to hotel (in venice).
whereas in the car we can pug him in. anyway thanks

Posted by
15043 posts

Recharge in the train. Seats have outlets (actually they are near your knees under the tables). They are for computers, but you can use them for anything. Even to shave with an electric shaver at your seat (that would be funny!)

Posted by
7209 posts

The trip from Florence SMN to Venice S. Lucia is 2:05 and if you book your tickets early enough you might get lucky and end up with the cheap 19Euro fares. Just be sure to book the very first day (and hour) they're available on trenitalia.com

Posted by
3057 posts

I am thinking he doesn't want to actually use the nebulizer on the train-the privacy of a car is preferable. Check out Roberto's suggestion and Hotel David. Roberto speaks from experience with that particular hotel, so I'd take that over Tripadvisor recommendations.