My son and I will be traveling to Northern italy, flying into Milan 9/5/2012. We want to travel by car(!?!) through Norther italy and then on to Vienna.
which guidebooks can i buy specific to the region and my (adult) son would like to "eat his way through Northern Italy" and visit friends in Bolzano. any suggestions, warnings, places to stop?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32392 posts
Dora, As you want to travel by car, there are definitely some "warnings". To begin with, if you're planning to rent the car in Italy and drrop-off in Vienna, you could be charged a horrendous fee. Here are the usual "caveats" regarding driving in Italy: It's important to note that for driving in Italy, each driver must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any CAA/AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some cases is offered at the issuing office). Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! Have a look at This Website for more detailed information on driving in Italy. You may also want to have a look at some of the other posts here concerning the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many Italian towns & cities ( especially Florence!). EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! There's also the issue of parking tickets and the possibility of having "The Boot" applied. There's also the issues of high fuel costs, tolls, etc. A GPS along with a good Map would also be a good idea. Be sure to also give some thought to the question of CDW. If you accept the CDW offered by the rental firm, it will be expensive but will provide "peace of mind". Some "premium" credit cards provide rental vehicle insurance, however I've found this to be somewhat complicated so I just accept that offered by the rental firm. Check the Car Rental section in Europe Through The Back Door for further information. continued.....
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32392 posts
Dora - Part 2, Travel by train would likely be faster and much easier. For Guidebooks, you could check your local Library to have a look at a variety of books - Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Frommer's, Let's Go, Rough Guides or others. They may not be specific to the region, but there will be sections covering the areas you'll be visiting. Note that some Guidebooks are now available in E-Book format, so if you have a Reader, Laptop or iPod Touch you could just order the part covering the area you'll be travelling. Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Buffalo, NY, USA
8 posts
Thank you, Ken - for the information on driving i Italy. I guess things haven't changed much since the 1970's. I've done some research on renting one way - and the one way fees are horrendous!
Have been thinking about renting a camper and saving money on the hotel fees? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!
Posted by
OP
Buffalo, NY, USA
8 posts
Thank you, Ken - for the information on driving i Italy. I guess things haven't changed much since the 1970's. I've done some research on renting one way - and the one way fees are horrendous!
Have been thinking about renting a camper and saving money on the hotel fees? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!