We'll be staying in Cortona for 7 days and need to rent a car. Any advice or tips for over age 70 folks? We will be arriving and departing by train so that is a consideration for us to keep in mind.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3357 posts
Nearest car rental would be in Arezzo. Check rates and availability on AutoEurope website.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7827 posts
Pretty sure there is no car rental agency in Cortona.
Closest/best option might be Arezzo.
Where are you coming from/going to?
Do you have parking while in Cortona?
Do you only need the car for part of the time? Your post says you are arriving/departing by train.
There are multiple threads here about renting a car and driving in Tuscany- a search will bring them up. Be sure to filter search by Type: Travel Forum and Date: 6 months, 1 yr, etc
All drivers must have an IDP- get it at your local AA before leaving US.
We always use AutoEurope to book our cars. They are extremely helpful and knowlegeable- you can call them Toll Free
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1901 posts
I also recommend using AutoEurope. We have used them for about 20 years with no complaints. They merged with Kemwel, which is headquartered in Portland, Maine. They are a consolidator, and some of the car rental companies offered are Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Sixt.
Posted by
Surrey, UK
220 posts
it would be worth checking the small print for any company you choose - some have age limits (I'm afraid!) I know from experience that Hertz is normally OK.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7827 posts
If you book thru AutoEurope the system will ask age of driver and only offer those that are OK
We’ve rented several times over 70-Hertz, Europcar, Avis no problem
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16529 posts
where are you arriving from?
If arriving from Florence, then you can rent a car in Florence and drive to Cortona from Florence (about 1.5 hours) or go to Arezzo and rent in Arezzo. There is Avis-Budget across the street from the Arezzo train station.
If you come from Rome, then you can drive from Rome (2.5 hours) or you can take the train to Chiusi-Chianciano. There is an Avis-Budget a short walking distance from Chiusi. You can drive from there. You can also take the train further up to Arezzo but then you would be back tracking a bit to get to Cortona.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Thanks for the replies. We will be traveling from Sorrento and then heading to Lucca after Cortona. The apartment we are renting suggests renting a car while we are there so hopefully parking is included. Regardless we will want a car for touring the region.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7827 posts
The apartment we are renting suggests renting a car while we are there
so hopefully parking is included
Be sure to confirm parking.
I would take direct fast train from Naples to Florence. Pick up car there-(lots of threads here on how to do that)
Return car in Lucca- unless you have parking in Lucca and want the car there for more driving around countryside- you will not need or want IN Lucca.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16529 posts
Check also about renting in Sorrento. It's a longer drive (well over 5 hours, plus pit stops) from Sorrento to Cortona, but it's easy freeway driving almost all the way. Taking the trains would be longer since you'd need to change trains multiple times (Circumvesuviana to Naples, Naples to Rome, Rome to Chiusi or Arezzo).
Sorrento has offices of two major companies: Europcar and Hertz, both across the street from each other. Since those are likely franchises, you need to verify that you can pick up the car there and drop it off elsewhere.