We are landing in Milan, late september ...wanting to visit Lake Como, Parma, the Ferrari museum, Montepulcino, Orvieto and stay in Soriano Nel Cimino for 4 nights (timeshare), return the car in Rome and fly back. We have 5 days before we arrive in Soriano Nel Cimino.
At what point should we rent a car and return it in Rome airport? How bad is the drive around Lake Como up to Bellagio? Should we pick up a car in Milan or ? should we return the car in Bologna , travel by train to Orvieto, and pick one up in Orvieto for Montepulcino, Orvieto and surrounding areas of Soriano Nel Cimino and return it at Rome airport?
Posted by
12 posts
We are making a similar trip in mid-Sep. based on previous trips to Italy, we will rent a car and use it for the entire trip. We're landing in Milan and heading to Como, Dolomites, tuscany, Cinque terre and back to milan.
There are a few legs that might be train-able, but dropping off a car, transferring to a train and getting from station to hotels with luggage is too much of a hassle.
I also prefer the freedom of a rental car to go where we wnt and stay there as long or short a time as we choose at the time.
I've driven these roads and love being able to pick up supplies and have a picnic on the side of a scenic road.
Enjoy the trip, 2 weeks earlier, we could have met up for dinner,
Ciao
Posted by
OP
14 posts
Thanks for your reply. Any recommendation of a rental car agency?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
If you stay in Rome to visit the city, you should return it at a city rental car office as soon as you arrive. You won't need a car while in Rome and I do not recommend to have one because of traffic and parking restrictions. If you are going straight to the lake after landing, I'd pick up the rental at the Milan airport.
If you stay a few days in e city of Milan first, then you would pick up your car at the end of your Milan stay. A car in Milan is not recommended for the same reasons as Rome. Having a car in large cities is like having a car to visit Manhattan: expensive and useless.
Rent through a consolidator such as:
www.autoeurope.com
www.kemwel.com
They are both part of the same parent company (but check both prices, as they vary) and they work with the major rental companies in Italy, such as Europcar, Hertz, Avis-Budget.
Europcar has often the best prices for rental comprehensive of zero deductible full insurance (which I recommend you get). Go to the above websites for info and pricing.