We are renting a car in Florence and driving through Tuscany a couple of days then driving to Rome where we will turn in the car. Need advice - should we turn in the car at the airport or in the city. We will have a couple of pieces of luggage and would rather take it in to the city then get a taxi to our hotel. However, I have heard it is hard to drive in Rome. Suggestions welcome.
Posted by
THUNDER BAY, ON
23 posts
We have done both. Returned our vehicle at a city location, which was very stressful, and returned at airport. City return was a nightmare. Negotiating traffic, used GPS to find rental location, which was non existant, trying to get a taxi back to hotel......no fun.
Airport return was easier. Took train back into city. Many on board were traveling with luggage. Much less stressfull. Although you may pay more for airport return, it's up to you as to what experience you want to remember!
Good luck
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15273 posts
Return it at or near the Tiburtina train station. That is very easy to drive to from the freeway which is right there. Once you return it ask the agent to call you a taxi to get to the hotel. No reason to drive to the airport 20 miles out of town. That's totally unnecessary.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11372 posts
I agree with Roberto. As much as I dislike driving in Roma, returning the car to Tiburtina is not bad at all adn will save you time. Do bring a GPS, though. You'll need it in Tuscany too.
Posted by
Kansas City
180 posts
I agree with not returning it in the city. We had GPS which kept telling us to enter the ZTL (because GPSs don't know about them) and we're running out of gas and couldn't find the place. We circled for over an hour before finally just driving through the ZTL. We never got a ticket, but I definitely wouldn't want to do that again!!
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
How far is the Tiburtina station from the historic center of Rome?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15273 posts
The Tiburtina station is about 5km from Piazza Di Spagna (Spanish Steps).
The Termini station is closer to the city center and frankly not difficult at all to reach. The rental returns at the Termini station are in the multistory park structure next to the Radisson hotel. I generally return there.
There might be closer locations depending on which company you use and where your hotel is located. I could give you better advice if I knew those details.