I've seen it recommended that if making any stops while touring Tuscany by car its better to have a car with a true trunk in lieu of a car with a hatchback (e.g., Volkswagen Golf) if you'll have luggage in the car on those stops (such as stopping in Orvieto en route to Siena from Rome, Lucca en route to CT, etc.).
Is this a rational concern? It seems that the added expense to get into the larger car is roughly US$200.
Thanks in advance for your help!
It has been quite a few years(10 or so) since we have rented a car with a trunk. We have never had a problem with theft of items from the hatchbacks. They have a cover to conceal luggage. We always take care to never leave camera, laptop, GPS, etc in a parked car. We drove all over Tuscany last spring without any problems but also never parked in an area that was sketchy.
If you park with the hatchback against a wall, tree,
fence, whatever a thief is unable to lift the hatch
- thus, your 'stuff' is safer.
We always have a trunk. We've usually had an Opal desil with 6 speeds.
If the hatchback has a cover it would be fine. Just verify that before you drive away. Backing against a wall is ok - but if items are visible - glass is broken.
Never leave anything of value in the car. Don't leave maps out. Sometimes, we leave a current italian newspaper on the seat.
We spend about three months in europe each year -- all over the continent and the UK -- and have for a long time. Always have a car, always the smallest and cheapest -- which means a hatchback. Heavy luggage stays in it, small bag goes into hotel at night.
Never had a problem. Period.
We usually have a hatchback and, like others, we don't leave maps, tour books, etc. in the car. We also buy a local Italian newspaper and/or magazine and leave it visible on the seats. When we stay at pensions or zimmers, we take a small bag with our clothes, etc, in and leave our main luggage in the trunk. So far, (knock on wood) we have not had a car theft problem. By the way, we left the car in Orvieto for 4 nights in the free, train parking lot mentioned in Rick's Italy book. Have fun driving around Tuscany and Umbria!
