We are 4 adults that will be visiting the Dolomite area in May 2012 for 4 nights (staying in Castelrotto). We will be arriving from Salzburg by train in Bolzano and were planning on renting a car there to drive to Castelrotto and use it for sightseeing around the region. It appears to be cheaper to rent from the airport location than from the downtown location (surprising to me). Is it easy to get from the train station to the airport rental sight with our luggage? I can't tell how far away it is. We would also need to drop off the car at the airport when we leave, as we are taking the train to Bellagio for the next leg of our trip. Or should we consider driving that leg and dropping the car in Milan before heading to Bellagio? Our preference would be to take the train, so we could all relax, but will consider driving to Milan if it is easier.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2432 posts
Hi Patti, We also plan on renting a car in Bolzano at the airport. There is no public transport to the airport in Bolzano. The closest bus stop to the airport in 600 meters away -Line 10A or 10B. I think the best option is a taxi. I found this website for a taxi in Bolzano www.ratbz.it. I'm sure there are others. Mary
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Sometimes, it is less expensive to pick up the car at the airport. This is because sometimes the rental companies at the airport have sales going on. On my recent trip, picking up an Avis car at the Frankfurt airport was less than in a nearby town with Europcar. I arranged for my rental through AutoEurope, a car rental broker. Also, it is always easier to pick up and drop off at an airport. Otherwise, you find yourself toting your luggage around the downtown streets searching for the car rental location. However, I have never picked up a car in Bolzano. If you are thinking of returning your car in Milan, return it at the airport. Again, it's easier. That's my opinion. If you return it to the Milan airport, you now need to determine your train routes for Bellagio. I have not driven the route from Bolzano to Milan. However, I prefer to drive than take the train. To drive to Castelrotto check your maps and route carefully and ahead of time. You WANT to drive towards Val Gardena to get there. It's not as winding of a road. My husband was just slightly irrate when he took the other road a few years back which is very steep and curvey. Of course, the co-pilot (me) was in error. Make sure you obtain your International Drivers License at your local AAA office. There is no test required. Just $15 and two passport type photos which they can take there. It's the law to have this license when driving in Italy. Have fun in the Dolomites. It is breathtaking!
Posted by
OP
Alpine, CA, USA
47 posts
Mary...thanks for the heads up on the taxi. I wasn't aware there wasn't convenient public transport to the airport sight. Denise...since we are going to Bellagio (by train) after the Dolomites, dropping a car at the airport in Milan seems a bit out of the way, so maybe we should just stick with it in the Dolomites. All our other travel will be by train, but I think we will need a car to see the amazing Dolomite scenery. Thanks for the tip on getting to Castelrotto too!