Fiu to Praiano first trip to Italy.

We arrive in FIU around 9am.

FIU-?

FCO Rome. If it's an overnight flight, you may be impaired with respect to making at least 2.5 hour drive; maybe spend the night in the seaside town of Fiumicino and get an early start in the AM.

Mon-Sat, you could drop a Hertz car in Chiusi, half block from the station. The first train to Napoli Centrale is at 10:54 with a change in Rome; direct at 11:45. Have a driver lined up from Sorentocars to take you to Praiano [probably around €110].

If you choose to drive to Rome, navigate to

Circonvallazione Nomentana, 532, 00162 Roma

the Hertz office across the street from the Tibertina station. There are frequent trains to Naples.

Praiano to Rome, one option would be a taxi to Salerno and a train. A transfer to Naples might be preferable.

Siena, like other towns in the area, you park outside and walk in. Florence, which you can't drive into, one option is to park at the Figline Valdarno station and take the train.

Read this about driving in Italy and restrictions involved [ZTLs]; avoid leaving anything of value in a car when parked:

http://driventoit.blogspot.com/

Be sure to get the IDP, without which you are not licensed to drive. We arrange our cars through Autoeurope, for which we have a toll free number; get zero-deductible collision.

Florida International University?

I thought it was the disease, flu.

Ooops

FCO sorry for the confusion!

1) What is the best option to get to Praiano from Rome? 2) How should our time in Tuscany be spent? ex) Florence/Siena/small towns/wine tours/ private tours ?. 3)Tips for traveling in Praiano? 4) Any big pitfalls to avoid? 5.) We will be driving north toward Florence and south towards Siena. What would be the best place to park and access the city?

So several questions there - let's see.

Starting at the end, number 5. Avoid ZTL's. Very expensive. If you need more information on them, ask. We can save you hundreds.

Park outside Siena in one of the official carparks. My favourite is just under the edge of the city. Avoid the ZTL. Florence, you need a car like a boat anchor. The most ZTLs of all. Easy to avoid, park outside the centre.

Number 4 - other than ZTLs be sure you understand the road signs and information signs. Understand how to navigate using the next town not the compass point. Have cash for the tolls. Understand about TUTOR, the speed cameras. Don't drive in bus lanes. Be sure that every driver has an IDP - if you need more information on any of these, ask.

Number 2 - you've really answered your own question. You need to think what each person in the group would prefer to experience and then tailor the places you go to meet those needs. No sense in going into Florence if nobody has any interest in Renaissance art, sculpture or architecture. A wine tasting tour would be wasted on a person who has no interest in wine. See what I mean?

Number 3 - sorry, I haven't been there.

Number 1 - you don't say in your profile, or in your post, where you are coming from. But if it is a long way off, perhaps involving a long flight, I'd suggest a while in Rome or Orvieto or elsewhere to recover a little from jetlag before driving after a long flight.

No number - congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.

Thank you! We are coming from Detroit. Our Plane leaves at 6 Pm or so and arrives around 9:30 In Rome. We have an Enterprise rental car lined up through Locauto that we are picking up near the airport. Hopefully we can obtain some sleep on the way over as not to be to weary driving in a new country. Has anyone had any experience with Locauto? We are staying in the Baberino di Val D' Elsa region in Tuscany. Are there any rec's on wine tours in that region? When we make our trip to Florence I was thinking about parking in the Villa Costanza parking lot? It seems like a good choice for us. We are split on what to do in Florence, as we both appreciate art however we are not sure if we want to do all the museums (uffizi, galleria, bargello) my fiance loves gardens so I think we are definitely doing the Pitti Palace. The Altarno seems to be a neat place to check out from what I have been reading are there any hidden gems that are worth checking out around that area. Fiesole also catches my eye. We head towards Praiano on the 7th. We drive south to drop off the car back at the airport. We have heard varying methods on how to get to Praiano from the airport. EX) Highspeed rail to Naples, then circumsusviena bus to sorrento, than sita bus to praiano? Is that the best option? We are open to spending more rather than worrying about connections. I appreciate everything you guys have given us! It is our honeymoon so we are aiming for a more relaxing affair versus trying to cram everything into the two short weeks we are there.

arrives around 9:30 In Rome

You do realize that is 330AM to your body clock? And you then plan a 3.5 hr drive .

I suggest giving this part of your plan some further thought.

If we are tired we can rest. Thanks