Hello all...
We will be driving from Venice and are considering a couple places to stop en-route. one is Padua to see the Chapel and stroll about before we make our way towards Lake Garda and the other is Sirmione. Curious if it would be too much to do Padua in this fashion. I'm open to other suggestions as well! Thanks in advance...our Itinerary is loosly as follows:
Venice
Malcesine
Bolzano
Sestri Levante (from which we will explore Cinque Terre)
Tuscany (San Gimi, Pittagliano)
Roma
MY biggest concern is, presumably, leaving your bags and valuables in the car while you tour around. While common mostly only in super-touristy areas car break-ins can and do happen and will completely disrupt your vacation.
Just be conscious of the risk if and when you do this. Have everything packed and out of sight - do not migrate stuff to the trunk and debate about what to take or leave before you walk away. Be aware of where you choose to park and how you park - can you back in all the way to a wall? Is there an attendant who looks like they are paying attention.
They make rental cars much less obvious now exactly for this reason, but you never know. In the old days I knew someone who advocated for putting an Italian language newspaper on the dash to make your car look more native as a precaution.
Hate to be a downer but be smart and safe,
=Tod
We will have a rental van with either five or six passengers. It will be full of luggage. I've parked overnight in many cities throughout Italy and never really worried about this, but your post is making me question how safe this is. We will not be able to obscure the amount of luggage on board...is this a security concern unique to Padua or would you say the same about Sirmione as well?
hey hey Matt
since your plan is to drive, make sure you get an IDP (aaa.com/IDP) for each driver before going. i'm assuming your are flying from USA/Canada?) when are planning this road trip?
it is mandatory in italy. read up about rules, laws, ZTL's, tolls, road signs and what else your are required) internationalpermit.com
are are driving venice-padua-lake garda-malcesine? that's a lot of miles without stops. parking will be your worst enemy, where you will "hide" luggage (any changing do it way before you park somewhere and get out. take all you valuables (rolex, diamond jewelry, gold necklace). the places you mentioned are always listed here which is so influence by social media/instagram/tiktok and to me had ruined it with so so many tourists to take photo with crowds to say been there done that
sirmione is another crowded/tourist haven. many bus/train tours plus private from milan/verona for daytrippers morning to late afternoons. we stayed in bardolino for their annual wine festival "festa dell'uva), was fabulous and less crowded. be prepared driving around lake can be really slow with lots of bumper to bumper traffic and again the parking if trying to stop for a photo shop.
we loved what we did see of lake, don't wanna sound like deloris downer just be prepared with packed patience. enjoy
aloha
I have no experience renting cars in Europe, so I've never had to deal with luggage security on the road. However, I recall earlier suggestions on this forum that a chain or heavy cable be threaded through the handles of multiple bags and locked so it's much harder to grab luggage and run. You might even find a way to secure the chain to the inside of the trunk.
I will be going from May 30th-June 17th. Picking up car in venice from Sixt on June 3rd and driving the whole way. Perhaps we don't stop in Padua if vehicle security is a big deal.
