Title said it all. Im staying at Agriturismo Savernano for two nights. Balancing cost, stress and the intangible benefits of driving - what would you do?
As always, thanks!
Trains run fast between the big cities and take you right downtown, so that's my first choice for connecting those cities. On the train, everyone can relax, eat snacks, read a book. Our usual preference is to pick up the car in Florence or other train stop near your destination (see other posts on this forum about car rental in Florence.) One benefit of driving further might be that the car rental price stays about the same for 1, 2, or 3-day rentals and for 5, 6, or 7-day rentals. Test some rates through Auto Europe, for instance. Of course, you'll also pay for gas and highway tolls.
For me this is an economics question. which is less expensive and less time consuming for you. the drive from Venice to Chianti, if done on the autostrada, is pretty boring. the country is flat and mostly agricultural.
Driving through Tuscany and Umbria is enjoyable and you can see some of the towns along the way. I would chose #2. However, renting a car near the train station is easy but it isn't easy driving out of the centro storico. I prefer to rent at the airport. It can be down but for me it was frightening and I swore I wouldn't do it again. Same for Rome, I won't drive in the city.
As we speak we are departing Bologna for San Marino to drive through the hills of Emilia Romagna and northern Tuscany.
If Florence is not in your plans, I would rent in Venice and drive to Chianti. Picking up a car in Venice (Piazzale Roma) is easier than in Florence as the rental companies are not at the station in Florence and you would need to haul your luggage from the station to the rental agency. Accessing the freeway from Venice is easy too. Also some people find driving in Florence intimidating. Lastly, gas and tolls are less than the train fare for two people from Venice to Florence. Trains are faster than cars, but once you include the hassle of picking up a car in Florence, you don't save any time by taking the train.
If you intend to include Orvieto in your itinerary, it's a good idea to drop your car there and proceed to Rome by train.
