We are 3 couples and 1 baby just under 2. Arrive Rome to spend 4 nights, then on to Montepulciano to spend 6 nights, then leave for home from Florence. Our trip is October 7-17, 2017.
Should we:
1. Take train from Rome to Florence, rent car and return it there when we return home from Florence?? This means train tickets to get us to Florence and a car rental cost from there.
2. Rent the car in Rome and return at Florence airport when we end our trip? We are a bit afraid of renting in Rome and driving out of the city from there toward Montepulciano, unless there is another option for rental car pickup in Rome for our group (with baby) that would save trying to find our way out of Rome city traffic and roadways. Everyone says don't drive in Rome!
Posted by
11689 posts
If you don't want to pick up your rental car in Rome, pick it up at FCzo with it's easy acess to the autostrada to Tuscany. Have a driver take you all to FCO car rental from Rome hotel.. Use Rome Limousines or Rome Cabs. Reliable, readonable. The train would be difficult with baby and luggage.
We have driven a rental car out of Rome and it wasn't a bad experience. Use AutoEurope for the car rental.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8362 posts
One problem is that 6 adults and a baby will need to rent a van. Not all rental locations may have a van available even if you make reservations. You would be most likely to find a van in Rome center city vs. picking up a rental car in one of the smaller rental locations. If you rent a vehicle at FCO, it will come with substantial tolls/charges that you won't have renting in the city.
The rental location can give you directions on how to get out to the motorway going north. Just try to stay out of Rome's rush hour and you'll be okay.
You can turn the rental vehicle in at Florence, but you'd better try to go straight to the airport and not go into the center city where ZTL's are.
And make sure all of those in your party travel extra light because European vans can be short of space with 6 adults and a child.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Some previous posts about renting a car in Rome suggested renting at Roma Tiburtina station which has easier access to the expressway heading north. You can get to Tiburtina by metro, although taxi may be the better option for your group. You would of course need to confirm the availability at Tiburtina of a vehicle that can accommodate 7 people and that the drivers will have the correct license/permit for a larger vehicle. Also, I've found GPS invaluable when driving in Italy.
Posted by
Caldwell Idaho
94 posts
With 6 adults and a baby, you may consider two small cars, which can be more economical and easier to navigate in Tuscany than a van. In May of 2016 our group of 5 adult travelers did just that, and it worked out fine for us. It was much cheaper than a van would have been.