We are planning a trip to Tuscany this fall for a group of six adults. We would perfer to all travel together in one minivan, especially on our day trips into the countryside and small hill towns, but we heard that parking could be a problem in a larger vehicle? How big an issue is this really? We know that most parking areas are outside the city/town center anyway, but can we fit into the parking spaces? Is it the width of the parking space, length of the minivan, both? Please advise?
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8371 posts
You'll need to carefully check with the rental car company about the vehicle you'll need.
European minivans are truly small vehicles, and 6 people and their belongings will probably require a larger size van. You should try to get a diesel if possible, as $9 per U.S. gallon gasoline is tough on the pocketbook.
I would also suggest you limit your 6 passengers to a single 21" carry on bag, as that's about all you'll have room for.
But don't worry about navigating Tuscany and the hill towns with a van. Parking is really a problem only in larger cities like Florence and Siena.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10742 posts
I didn't drive a minivan in Italy, but I did in Germany. In the smaller towns the parking spaces were usually very narrow. In Munich we parked in a multilevel garage for the duration of our stay there. We dropped our luggage at the hotel, then my husband drove a block away to park. He had to fold the side mirrors in and exit out of the rear hatch. Even driving on the narrow roads in small towns can be tricky. We had a Ford Fiesta in Italy, so we were able to avoid those problems.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I drove a 9 passenger van all around Provence and many of those villages, etc. are comparable to those I have driven to in Italy. You maybe can't squeeze into the smaller spaces but there is always somewhere to park in the smaller towns, etc. Even with the 9 passenger the width seemed the same as a normal car... it was just the length and height.. I have also driven when we had two cars vs. just one vehicle and that has its problems also... just trying to follow each other and find places to park for 2 vehicles.... much more fun to be all together and deal with it.
Edit: Yes, I do remember having to fold in the mirrors on occasion.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
If the city has a train station (often at the bottom of a hill), there should be commuter parking nearby.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
I have several friends with large families who own minivans in Italy. They don't seem to have problems finding parking. Historical centers have narrow alleys, but it's prohibited to non residents to drive inside even with a small car, so it doesn't matter. I think the biggest issue is how much luggage you all have and the cost of the rental. In many cases renting two economy cars is quite cheaper than one single van, even after factoring in the doubling of fuel. So, compare prices.