Driving advice

We did rent in Florence, it was a mistake. A few people mentioned that renting at the airport was easier. Other than in the cities and the main highway flooding, I did not find it hard to drive there.

Mary

I am in my 60s as well. I am a bit flummoxed as to why that is a factor in driving in Tuscany.

Read what Rick has to say about driving in Italy, also Google driving in Italy, check the slow travel website as they have info as well. Go to YouTube, they have some amusing videos as well.

Above all have fun .

I don't know what the big deal is about renting a car in Florence. As long as you rent it on your way out (in other words you don't need a car while staying in Florence). If you are fearful of getting lost downtown (nearly impossible) just rent from an out of downtown location, such as Europcar on 2 via Forlanini, or Hertz on 53 via Sansovino (both are near the A1 freeway entrance to get out of town). The airport (also at the edges of town) is another option, although picking up at the airport will cost more because of airport fees.
Use a consolidator to rent a car for less from the aforementioned companies.
www.autoeurope.com
www.kemwel.com

We used Avis and picked up outside the city without any issues at all. Getting onto the highway was very simple, no ZTL's to worry about. We will do it again next summer.

Donna

Thanks for all the great advice. We will check this out. Has anyone driven up to Varenna?

One other point to note is that EACH driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. so you'll have to pack that along as well. I.D.P.'s are easily obtained for a small charge at any AAA office.

You'll need to be vigilant to avoid the ZTL (limited traffic areas) which are increasingly prevalent in many Italian towns (hefty fines), as well as automated speed cameras and the Traffic Tutor system which monitors both instantaneous speed as well as average between two points. Violate both and you'll get two tickets. Motorways have tolls and be sure to budget for parking.

I'm in my 60's, those little diesel stick shift cars are FUN to drive :-)

Florence to Varenna is nearly all freeway driving. Not much different than driving on a freeway anywhere else. It can get intimidating on the Milan Tangenziale (beltway). Just follow the signs to tangenziale Est A51 first, then to Tangenziale Nord A52. Eventually you'll see a sign pointing to exit for LECCO.
You need to go toward Lecco and from there proceed up to Varenna.
If you can avoid the Tangenziale during commute hours, you will save yourself a lot of aggravation. It takes about 3 hours to get to Milan from Florence (plus pit stops). So time your departure from Florence so that you can avoid the Milan area after 4pm.

How do I know if a car rental is outside the city limits to avoid the ZTL?

Donna, which location did you use for Avis? Thank you.

The only location in the city center is Borgo Ognissanti and via Maso da Finiguerra (same intersection).
All rental companies have an office in either street more or less near that intersection.
All other locations are away from the ZTL.
Avis in Florence is either on Borgo Ognissanti or at the Airport. They don't have other locations.
Europcar tends to be cheaper than Avis.
Hertz is also cheaper than Avis.
Use the consolidators I gave you above for best pricing.

Thank you all for all the information. We will rent a car outside Florence and drop it off t the Milan Centrale Train Stationand then board a train up to Varenna.

Now for some planning to visit the wine country. Does anyone have any advise on this?

I don't see the benefit of renting a car just to drive from Florence to Milan Centrale. There isn't much to see along that drive, other than a boring flat plain. The train is much faster than the car (1 h 40 min vs 3.5 hours, or more depending on traffic, with the car).
If you purchase your tickets 3 to 4 months ahead of your travel, the train is much cheaper too, even for 2 or more people.

If all you want to visit is Bologna and some other cities, the car is not of much use in a city.

If you intend to take a few days to explore the countryside of Northern Italy by car, then you should keep the car at the lake as well, and maybe drive the Stelvio Pass or elsewhere nearby on the Alps. Then you can return your car when you depart at the airport.

Thank you Roberto for your input.

We do plan to use the car to drive through the wine region, ie Chianti (greve, fonterutoli, etc) and ultimately stay one night before heading north. Have heard that the car would provide far more flexibility when visiting this area. Our concern was parking and returning the car in Varenna vs Milan. Do you have any suggestions on a a two day itinerary for driving to Greve, etc?