Looking at renting a car from Florence to San gimignano. Staying at a place close to there.
We were looking at renting a car from the Florence airport, but after researching feels like a trek/more steps to get from in the city and then train, shuttle to car rental
So now debating about car rental from downtown area. Nervous about the ZTLs getting out and back into the area. Looking for past experience.
I think the ease of driving in and out of the airport far outweighs the extra faff of getting to the airport on the tram. The in-town car rental places are mostly by the train station, and from the train station it's a single tram trip to the airport with no changes.
There are multiple posts here describing in detail how to exit Florence from rental agencies and avoid ZTL violations
A search will bring them up
Or simply take a taxi to the airport rental location-about 24 euros from the historic center
Make sure all drivers have an IDP-required by law
Look for a car rental place in the outskirts of town near the highway. Take a taxi from your hotel to the rental place. There are several rental places near the Ponte Amerigo Vespucci.
Using www.autoeurope.com choose the company that best works for you.
As pick up point select FLORENCE ALL LOCATIONS.
Once you decide which company to rent from (Avis, Hertz, etc.) I’ll get you out of there.
The rental company will give you instructions on how to get from their location down to the San Gimignano area avoiding any ZTLs.. It may only be a 45 minute drive.
We stayed outside Certaldo and San Gimignano on an agriturisimo and it was great. We especially loved touring around from city to city--and Volterra.
Note that if you are going to be looking to buy any groceries, there are two big supermarkets in Poggibonsi--close by.
Looking at going out of Europcar Florence downtown.
Europcar downtown I think moved its garage at the Firenze SMN station underground garage, although the office is still on Borgo Ognissanti.
Here are instructions from/to the SMN garage to Piazza Gaddi, outside the ZTL. Then from Piazza Gaddi use any navigator to lead you to San Gimignano. Just be aware of the speed camera on Ciale Etruria (if you take the A1 route) or the one on via Senese, if you take the via Senese route. Waze will warn you of both.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/car-rental-return-at-firenze-santa-maria-novella-station
If the Europcar personnel brings the car for you in front of their office, then below are the instructions out of Borgo Ognissanti. See my last comment in the thread below:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/car-rental-in-florence-airport-vs-train-station
Be aware that Europcar has 3 offices in Florence: the one downtown, described above, the one at Novoli, on via Forlanini, on the way to the airport and along the T2 light rail tramway to the airport, and lastly at the airport. Check the prices at their Novoli office as well. Since it’s not at the airport itself, there will be no airport extra fees from that office either, and that office is far outside the ZTL. If you pick up at that location, use any navigator to lead you to San Gimignano.
