Family of 5 Rental Car Advice Needed: Rome to Geneva

Check out AutoEurope and/or Kemwel for the fleet that is available. Since it sounds like you haven't driven in Europe before this trip, I would pick up your car either at the Rome airport or at the train station in Orvieto. Orvieto is a lovely hilltown that is about an hour train ride from Rome. Orvieto has easy access to the Autostrada. If you rent in Rome and return in Geneva, you will incur a drop off charge. There are no charges if you rent and drop off in the same country. However, for your itinerary, the charge may be justified. Reserve your car before leaving the States. Visit your local AAA office and obtain an International Driver's License for $15. No exam is required. However, it is the law to have one when driving in Italy. It would also be a good idea to have a GPS and a good Michelin red map. Have fun on your trip!

Bob, As the previous reply indicated, the fees for dropping-off in a different country may be an issue, as at times they can be substantial. You'll also need the highway tax decal for driving in Switzerland, as there are substantial fines if you're caught without it. For driving in Italy, these are the "usual" caveats.... One important point to note is that for driving in Italy, each driver must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some cases are provided by the issuing office). Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! Have a look at This Website for more detailed information. You may also want to search other Posts here regarding the Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many towns in Italy. EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! A GPS along with a good Map would also be a good idea. Be sure to also give some thought to the question of CDW. If you accept the CDW offered by the rental firm, it will be expensive but will provide "peace of mind". Some "premium" credit cards provide rental vehicle insurance, however I've found this to be somewhat complicated so I just accept that offered by the rental firm. Check the Car Rental section in Europe Through The Back Door for further information. Travel by train may be more expensive for a group of 5 (I haven't checked), but it would be much faster and a more efficient use of limited travel time. You'd have to do some math and compare rail costs with rental car, tolls, high fuel costs, CDW, etc. Happy travels!

As a family of 4 we have driven in the past before we figured out that trains were the way to go. The last time we drove we reserved a station wagon thinking it would accomodate us nicely...wrong. We had 4 wheeled luggages, couple of backpacks and a couple of carry-ons. The car wouldn't even begin to hold our 4 roller bags. We ended up having to upgrade to a minivan which is probably what you need to do. You really need to drop the car in Italy before moving on to Switzerland. The Swiss Transport System is a breeze to use, it goes everywhere you need and includes buses, boats, gondolas, cogwheels and trains. If you have any kids < 16 years old they will travel free with you all over Switzerland wherever you go on public transport. Dropping a rental car in a different country encurs huge drop fees...and I mean huge. I can see where the rental car would be nice for you in Tuscany, but everywhere else and especially in big cities it will be your biggest headache. I consider a rental car to be my own personal boat anchor ;-)

I can't imagine 5 people and luggage fitting into a Ford Focus. I believe you can also scratch off a B Class, unless everyone in the family is a clown. We just came back and rented an Opel Astra wagon which for two was very roomy, for 5 it would work, but ypu'd be stacking luggage. The drop off fees into another country can be outrageous. I'd grab a small van like a Renaut Espace or similar, and drive where it made sense and train where it doesn't.
Hertz has drop offs at many train stations. I've used Rome, Venice and Nurenberg and all have worked conveniently.

1. None of your listed options will work. You won't get that many people and that much stuff into anything less than a seven passenger van. 2. Most (all?) outfits won't let you drop one of those things in a second country regardless of fees. 3. To rent a small car for eleven days in June and drop and pick it up from Rome will cost about four hundred bucks. To drop it in Geneva at the end of the same period wll cost over twelve hundred bucks. 4. You can drive from Geneva to Rome in a day.