Hello Friends,
I've got 3 nights on my own before meeting a friend in Venice and I'm trying to decide how to see the Dolomites and where to stay. I arrive in Venice on Wednesday May 20th around 1:00 p.m. and have to be back at Venice airport (Marco Polo) by 11:30 on Saturday to meet up (we are staying 4 nights in Venice so I'm not short-changing my time there).
I originally planned to rent a car at the airport and drive to a town near Cortina on my day of arrival and then drive some of the passes on Thursday and Friday then drive back to VCE Saturday morning. I've been to Italy 7 times and am comfortable with driving there although I've always had a navigator so driving alone to places I have not visited yet will be a bit challenging. I know many of you will say not to drive the day of arriving from the west coast and I may decide not to but I've flown into Rome and then driven to Pienza and it was just fine.
The more I mull it over the more I think it might be better to fly in, train to Verona or somewhere north of there, stay overnight then rent a car and drive into the mountains. Maybe stay in Ortisei Thursday night, Cortina Friday night?
How would you do it?
After Venice we are heading south, staying in Tuscany 4 nights, Atrani 5 nights, Rome 4 nights before flying home.
Grazie.
Posted by
872 posts
We arrange our cars by calling up the broker Autoeurope; get zero- deductible collision, which covers any damage to the body of the vehicle. Read this about driving in Italy and restrictions involved [ZTLs]; never leave anything of value in a vehicle when parked:
http://driventoit.blogspot.com/
Consider a stay in Trento [Hertz, Avis and Europcar]. Surprisingly low rates at the luxurious Grand Hotel; great breakfast buffet. Dinner at the Antica Trattoria due More, one of our top five in Italy. Be sure to take a ride on the cable car.
Posted by
Green Bay
20361 posts
Are you holding on to the car for your entire trip.
You know better than I how you travel, but coming from SeaTac has to be at least 14 hours travel, plus the time it takes you to drive to SeaTac to arrive 3 hours before departure. I'd be pretty exhausted at that point. You asked how I would do it, so here goes.
After getting luggage, I'd rent the car and drive to the nearby Venice Resort Hotel, check in and relax, maybe by the pool. Early evening, take the bus into Venice, wander a bit and grab some dinner, then back for a good nights sleep. Next morning, drive to Cortina.
Posted by
872 posts
Two nights remaining, maybe Canazei. Look it up on google images:
https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en
Hotel on booking.com.
Posted by
OP
A tiny island in Puget Sound WA, USA
166 posts
Just to clarify: I plan to rent a car (usually use autoeurope) for the trip into the Dolomites and return it to VCE Saturday when meeting my friend. We will start a new rental when we leave Venice for Tuscany.
Posted by
Massachusetts
847 posts
I also have rented cars on the day of arrival (in my case only from the US east coast, so less travel than you) and it was 'fine'. But now I realize, things are 'fine' until they are not and why risk killing/hurting yourself or others. I think your plan to take the train somewhere and rent the car the following day is much better. Verona is great so if you haven't been there I'd do that. But Trento and Bolzano are also worthwhile. I based in Bolzano and did driving trips up into the Dolomites - a bit extra drive each day (about half hour each way) but I was really glad to be in an interesting town each evening. I though the smaller towns in the region were pretty boring but really enjoyed both Bolzano and a day trip I did to Trento. I had more time than you though.
Here's my photos of the area - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p484153363
Posted by
Tennessee USA
111 posts
We'll be driving on May 14 from Venice to Canazei, a different part of Dolomites from what we've seen before. On a previous trip we drove from Bolzano to Corvara, then drove to VCE to return rental car. I would suggest you NOT drive into the mountains until you are well rested and over jet lag. Once you get off main highways, the roads are narrow and very curvy in some spots and require alertness. We once rented a car on arrival at VCE and headed toward Malcesine on Lake Garda, but that flight arrived late afternoon so we only drove to Soave for overnight stop (just east of Verona, small town, nice castle and winery, easy to maneuver even when exhausted and enjoyable short visit). I suggest a small town is a good alternative for a stop, a couple hours out of VCE - pick one after you decide whether you'll go through the mountains from east or from west. Either way, it's beautiful.
Posted by
Australia
1006 posts
Have you considered Pozza Di Fassa it’s in the heart of the Dolomites and not far from Bolzano.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
374 posts
We went to the Dolomites in May 2019. I actually found it difficult to get good info on where to stay, so I went with Rick Steve's favourite town, Castelrotto. It actually was pretty great. I found the most gorgeous hotel-- Hotel Lamm. Beautiful pool and small spa area. Highly recommended. The weather was lousy, but we had a great time anyway.