Florence Rental Car Drop Off

We have had several reports from people who tried what is recommended in the first post who nevertheless ended up getting the big fines in the mail months later--apparently because the Italian rental car or hotel employees didn't do what our travelers thought they were supposed to do.

The standard advice being given here, and by the Florence DE at Tripadvisor.com, is: don't pick up or return your car within the Florence ZTL, if you have a reasonable alternative. Less risk. The fines are big.

Click here for prior posts on this subject.

NO, just turn it in at the AIRPORT and leave it at that. You don't want to risk getting an expensive fine. Don't count on your car rental agency to report the plate to the local authorities.

I dropped of my rental in Florece after driving all over Tuscany,including big cities Rome and Pizza and got a hefty ticket when I dropped off the rental,next time I will go to the airport,the fine was well over $200

I had a feeling the airport would be the better way to go. I will call Autoeurope and change my drop off location. Better safe than sorry. What is the best way to get into town from the airport? Taxi or do they have a bus or shuttle of some sort?

Thanks to all for your advice!

The cost to take a taxi from the Florence airport to the city is a flat fee of 25 euro, plus 1 euro for every suit case, that's the drivers tip. It will be the best money you will spend.

Greg
Canada

The cheapest way to get to the train station from the airport in Florence is the ATAF Volain bus. You simply go to the 'City Bus' stand. All the other buses look like big tour things. The Volain bus looks like a city bus. Just ask the driver if it is going to the train station for peace of mind. It is just a few Euros per person and had no stops between the airport and the train station.

FYI on cars, I used my Garmin GPS with an Italian SD card and drove directly to the Avis car rental on Borgo Ognissanti, from Pisa. No fines. It did try to send me the wrong way on a one way street (recently changed) but some general knowledge of city layout got us to a recalculation and right to the Avis door.

I have already changed my drop off location to the airport. We will be staying 2 nights in Florence after dropping off the car, so we can either take the bus to the train station and walk to the hotel (I don't think it is too far away) or take a cab directly to the hotel. A cab is less expensive than a ticket!

The taxi from the airport is the way to go as you won't have to worry about...is this the right bus?, where do I get off?, how am I going to get on and off with my luggage?, will it be full?, how far will I have to walk?... Just crawl into the taxi and have the driver take you to where you need to go.

Greg & Scott - I think you have the best idea. A cab sounds like the way to go.

Thanks everyone for your advice.