How long to keep our rental car?

I would keep the car. much more convenient. you aren't limiting where you go or what you see.

Absolutely keep the car from the time you start your vacation until the last day. I have traveled Italy both my car and by train. The flexibility and convenience of travel by car, in my opinion, makes it a no brainer. Way too much time spent getting to and from the train station and lugging all the suitcases around. Suggest you call Auto Europe for your reservation, they are easily the go-to guys and experts in European car rental. Use your Visa card for your Collision Waiver and save a lot of money on insurance. Tell Auto Europe you would like a diesel compact; they run forever on a tank of fuel. Respectfully, I see holes in your itinerary; you are planning too much. What I would do is to fly in and out of Rome. Spend your first week in Rome. Take a bus to your hotel. Bus back to the airport and pick-up your car. Head for the hill towns of Tuscany/Umbria and spend your 2nd week there. Return the car to the airport then head home. Two years ago, we arrived in Rome and spent the whole 2 weeks just visiting Tuscany and Umbria. You will still be able to see Florence; it is a much smaller town and you can drive it without difficulty. Save Pompeii and that part of Italy as an excuse to return to that great country.

Thanks for the replies! We'll definitely check out that rental company. We have a lot of places in Europe that we want to get to ( and I don't see us traveling that much internationally once we have kids) so we definitely want to visit Pompeii on this trip.

Richard's advice is spot on re picking up the car @ Rome Airport and returning it there. One thing, if Florence is on your list MAKE SURE your hotel/apartment is not in the ZTL Zone (no driving unless you are a resident) because you will pay a hefty fine if you accidentally wander into it. If it is, see if they can recommend where you can leave your rental car as you enter the city, maybe a public parking lot or the train station? Or stay just outside Florence, like Fiasole, and take the bus into Florence for touring that city.

Also, Make sure you take a trip to AAA before you go and get your International Drivers Permit. They are required by law. You won't need it unless you're stopped by the Police, and again another fine. The Int'l license is only $15.00 and well worth the peace of mind.

We have an inexpensive Garmin that suction cups to the windshield and we use it all the time in Europe. Load the Italian maps on before leaving. A backup Michelin Map is also a great idea, just in case.

Also agree with Richard that your itinerary would be too many days driving and not enough just drinkinbg in Italy.

Congratulations on your wedding! Lucky Bride, great choice! We all LOVE Italy here!

Here's the rough itinerary we're working with at the moment:

Day 1 Arrive in Rome ( this is going to be the cheapest, arrive in the morning) and take the train to Florence
Day 2-3: Tour Florence
Day 4: Morning Florence, afternoon pick up car outside of the city and transfer to agriturisma in Tuscany
Day 5-6: Tuscany
Day 7: Travel south to near Pompeii, there's a few sites along the way we'd stop and see during this drive ( about 4 hours).
Day 8: Pompeii
Day 9: Visit Sperlonga?
Day 10-13: Rome
Day 14: Fly home

We really wanted to at least see the Italian sea side, and Sperlonga looked small and charming, but we could probably eliminate that detour. If we do, I'd add an extra day is Tuscany. More than 4 days in Rome I think would be too much for us.

Forgot to add the other alternative would be to travel to Rome from Tuscany ( dropping the car outside the city) and then taking a day trip to Pompeii, but I've hard mixed things about how enjoyable that is.

Your next to last itinerary sounds perfect! Enjoy!

Drive to Sorrento/Amalfi Coast. Keep your car while there (however you need to check parking arrangements with your hotel, since parking is difficult on the Amalfi Coast. Use your car to drive to Pompeii for your half day visiting of the ruins. You don't need to drive to Sperlonga to see the sea. If you stay on the Amalfi coast the sea will be there and the beaches on the Amalfi coast are better than Sperlonga's.

Donna makes several very good points. The $15 for the International Driver's permit is cheap "peace of mind" - I have driven perhaps 20+ times in Europe and altho have been stopped by the Police have never had to produce the permit. I gambled this year on a trip to France without my Garmin. Got back and several weeks later here was a ticket for speeding in the mail from the French police. My Garmin has generally been able to pick up the radar/speed camera zones but without the Garmin I was caught going slightly over the speed limit. Oh, yes, if you are wondering - did I have to pay the fine? No. Did I pay it? Yes. Why? It's only right, isn't it? The nice thing about hirst17 'dilema" is that it is a win-win which ever route she chooses. She is also smart going to the Rick Steves Helpline for answers. I have always said that you can have the best guide books in the world, see all the documentaries available, etc., but there is no substitute for the opinions of those you trust and have been there. And that is why this website is valuable not only for the first-time but also forthe experienced traveler.