Lowcostaxi.net

Thank you for your thoughts. We want to travel by car to CT because there is at least a 3 hr difference than the train. Not so much difference to Rome from CT. So we may consider the train for that. The quote we were given from lowcostaxi was €580. We were also given a quote by a private driver for €1100. So we thought this was significantly cheaper but didn't know how reputable the company was. So far other comments I have found on line have been positive. To afraid to drive on our own :)

Well, their website touts Brad Pitt and the "Moonlight" crowd as clients so they can't be cheap! Since they are based out of Venice, I'm interested in what they are quoting you - especially the CT-Rome link. To get to Milano from Venezia for four folks, their website quotes €450... and you're stil not to Cinque Terre. If you feel the need to travel by car, it would far less expensive to drive to CT (never thought I would recommend that). Frankly, you don't need a car in CT, so why not take the train? It's far less expensive and probably far more comfortable than HOURS in a car/van. I guess I find it hard to believe a Venice-based company would drive to CT... so they could then drive you to Rome. Doesn't make a lot of sense - but could make a lot of €€€€€ for them??? You might want to get their quotes in writing... and unless you're unable to physically, consider the trains.

Here's another vote for the train. You can get up and walk around, and even go use the bathroom, without losing any travel time. You don't have to worry about traffic on the highways and those "crazy" Italian drivers. And you might meet some interesting people to strike up a conversation with.

According to ViaMichelein, it's about 5 hours driving from Venice to the CT area. According to Trenitalia, depending on the trains you get, it's about 6 hours - so one hour longer (not three?) by train. The cost per person is €45-€55 for a 2nd class ticket. A savings for your group of perhaps €360. To drive from CT-Rome is 4:44 by car and between 4.5 and 5 hours by train - so about the same. Tickets run €37-€55 for a 2nd class ticket. Again, the train is the least expensive alternative. If you got creative and purchased Trenitalia MINI tickets for segments of the routes, you could save even more money! Booking on the Trenitalia Website is easy if you can get your US credit cards to work.

How is €580 "low cost"? I wish I had money I could splash around. €580 would get me two more nights on the Grand Canal at my favourite hotel...

You know that for €580 you can easily rent a small car for a month, right?

Take the train. Cheaper, you won't get lost and you can enjoy the scenery.

Easy folks. If you think the quote is reasonable then do it. For most of us on this board who believe in traveling light and low. $812 to get from Venice to CT is outrageous. But for some who have it, it is not a big deal when considering the convenience factor. So, the short answer to Hein's question. if anyone on this board has used that service, is -- I doubt it !! I would suggest you take that question to board that caters to more upscale travelers.

My two cents, Hein: It's 240 miles. The last 80 miles or so is narrow, winding roads. The Trenitalia web site says about 6 hours. Google Maps says its a 4.5 hour drive. Do a little research into the high speed trains in Italy. They are wicked fast, and comfortable and roomy. MUCH nicer then sharing a car with four people and some crazy driver who is trying to make a 4.5 hour drive in 3 hours. Can you say air sick bag? Take the high speed train from Venice to Parma. Even with the transfer in Bologna, it will get you there just as fast as if you had driven a car, and for alot less money. If you want to hire a car in Parma to take you the rest of the way to CT, then do that. For my own preference, I would just use the train because that is what everyone does. You know that you can't DRIVE in CT, right? No cars allowed? You'll need to schlep your bags from a remote parking lot because...you can't drive in CT! You can drive to it, that is true, but you can't drive in Vernazza or any of the small villages. We're going to Italy in June. Milan, Cinque Terre, Tuscany (farm house near Siena), Florence, Bagni Di Lucca, Back to Milan. 21 days. The only car is when we get picked up for the farm house in Tuscany. Everything else is by train. Sounds like fun. Have a good trip.

Thanks again for all your insights. After meeting with my fellow travelers, we have unanimously decided to take the train. We don't have money to throw away(traveling on a tight budget). We have never planned a foreign trip
before(been a stay at home mom of 4 kids for 13 yrs) and did not know the difference in pricing for car vs train. Still no one answered my question on how reputable lowcostaxi is but I guess only the very wealthy would know the answer. :)

Hein, Make sure you check out the Mini Fares on the high speed trains. As I'm sure you know, you're either going to approach CT from the south Via La Spezia or from the north via Genoa. It looks like most of the trains to Genoa from Venice take about 5 hours. The mini fare is about 40 Euros. Going to La Spezia can take as much as 6 hours or as litlte as 4:40. Trenitalia web site or my ISP took a dump so I don't know about the fares. There are four of you, and if driving is an option, then think about it. You probably would end up parking the car in CT because renting it for one day probably costs as much as three. A four day rental of a Fiat Doblo from Hertz, picking up in Venice and dropping in Rome, is about 205 Euros on Kayak.com. I think that would handle four people. We'll be in CT June 8-11. Maybe we'll see you there.