Car rental for day trip to hill towns

Gayle: Your one week trip to Rome-Florence-Venice is very fast for so much to see. You could take a train out of Rome to Orvieto, and the Hertz office is across the street from the train station. From there, it's about 1 1/2 hrs. up to Siena, which is surrounded by hill towns. You can turn the car in when you get to Florence. A train ride is easy on the 150 miles trip up to Venice.
Your best option would to go from city to city by train, and save the Tuscan hill towns for another trip. 2 days, 3 days, 2 days is not nearly enough time to see the basic tourist sights for Rome, Florence and Venice, respectively.

I agree with David. You don't really have time to spend a day seeing hill towns with the short time you have. As for your time, how many nights are you spending in each locations. Don't underestimate the time it takes to get from one city to another. What airports will you be using? If you have to adhere to this itinerary and you want to see a very nice hill town you might consider taking the train to Orvieto, spend a few hours there, then continue to Florence where you already have a place to stay. Or just go from Rome to Florence and spend one of your days there taking public transport to a hill town. I just don't think you have time to do that though, without taking away from the little amount of time in the other places. I would save Tuscany for another trip.

Thanks to you both for your advice. Andrea, we fly in to Rome, spend 2 nights there, then to Florence for 3 nights- with a possible side trip to the Cinque Terre- then to Venice for a night. Then we're off on a cruise for 7 days. I can rest then! I appreciate the help and will follow it. And David- yes, we'll take the trains from city to city. Thanks again!

That's exhausting just to read. For example, did you know the train from Florence to Riomaggiore in the CT is about 3 hours each way? But, hey, to each his/her own. I hope it works out well for you.

You don't have a lot of time. 2 options, IMO: 1. Pick up the rental in Rome as early as possible in the morning, get on the freeway A1, exit at Bettolle. Take the Raccordo PG-Siena then the Raccordo SI-FI. Visit Monteriggioni and San Gimignano or even Siena, on the way to Florence. 2. Go to Florence as early as possible via train. Go to the hotel and check in early. If room not available at least they'll hold your bags while you start visiting Florence.
Next day, rent a car very early and take a trip to Chianti, Siena, then take freeway back to Florence and stop to San Gimignano along the way. Return the car. Make sure it's a location that permits late returns or return the next morning. The next day, spend the last day visiting Florence again. Don't do the day trip on your last day in Florence. That's when you have to do the packing.

Nope, actually didn't know that. Wish I had more time....more research required on transportation obviously. Any recommendations on an easier day trip from Florence? I don't mind starting early, say at 7am. My husband wants photos of things outside of the city centre.

It's entirely possible to do a day-trip out of Florence to one or two hilltowns in Tuscany. We went quite comfortably to San Gimignano and Certaldo in an easy day, enjoyed the drive through the gorgeous Tuscan countryside, the short funicular ride from Certaldo Basso up to Certaldo Alto, and were easily back in Florence for dinner. One caveat: We were there in the deep off season; traffic in peak season is probably different, so speak to someone locally about it if you can. Or Roberto may offer an opinion and advice.

If I were you, I would forget renting a car and do this all by train: Rome 3 nights, leaving early in the morning Stop in Orvieto for lunch and maybe dinner on the way to Florence (2 hrs to Florence) Florence for 2 nights
Venice for 2 nights Orvieto is a gorgeous hilltop town that's just on the Umbrian side of the border from Tuscany. Here are some photos I took of Orvieto in May 2011, in case you're interested. Don't fall into the trap of spending half your time traveling between places. Enjoy the places where you are.

Roberto- I like the 2nd option- it looks doable. And Michael- Orvieto looks good too. We'll narrow it down to one of those, and as you mentioned Michael, enjoy where we are instead of being stressed about getting to the next place. Thanks again, everyone, for the great replies. We're new to this and appreciate the help.