We will be in Italy in March (driving in from Nice). At first - with help from folks on this forum - we decided to drop our car off in Florence, stay 3 nights and then pick up another rental to spend 4 days is Tuscany/Umbria before dropping the car off in Rome (staying there 5 nights).
But the drop off charge is about $400 - and we're thinking it's cheaper to park the car in Florence than it is to turn the car in. I am told that there is an English version of the Florence parking website - but I can't access it? Does anyone know how to get to the English version of www.firenzeparcheggi.it? Also does anyone have any ideas of places to park a car in Florence for 3 nights (that aren't horribly expensive)? Thanks in advance - you guys are all so helpful!
Posted by
Green Bay
21731 posts
Simply open the website with google tool bar and hit translate. Looks like a rate of 2 euro/hour for over 24 hours at the center city location I looked at. Probably beat that outside of town at a train station. What is your drop charge in Rome? Still think you should pick up an Italian rental at San Remo or Genoa.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10849 posts
Agree with Sam that you should drop your car at the train station in Menton, which is right on the French side of the border, or even Nice a little further from the border, and pick up another in either Italian city he suggested.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16379 posts
The huge drop off charge will likely apply even if you return in Rome. That's because you pick up the car in France and return it in Italy and there are huge international drop off charges when you pick up in a country and return the car in another.
Frankly in your shoes I would return the car in Nice where you picked it up, then take the train to Florence. It's a long 7 to 8 hr trip with at least 2 changes, but it would be relaxing and with jaw dropping views of the Mediterranean coast (including the Cinque Terre). I've driven back and forth from Florence to Montecarlo multiple times. Even without major traffic (and you will likely find some around Genoa for sure) it's at least 5 hour drive plus pit stops for food and gas, therefore you are looking at 6 hours even with a car.
With a train you could leave with the 9:52 train from Nice and arrive in Florence at 18:07 (i.e. 6:07 pm). You could save some time going through Milan, but the option below affords better views.
It would require 4 trains (3 changes) :
NICE 9:52 - VENTIMIGLIA 10:40 (Regional Express 86021)
VENTIMIGLIA 10:59 - GENOVA PIAZZA PRINCIPE 13:06 (InterCity 745)
GENOVA P.P. 13:47 - LA SPEZIA CENTRALE 15:19 (InterCity 665)
LA SPEZIA C. 15:40 - FLORENCE S.M.N. 18:07 (Regionale 23387)
Then once in Florence you wouldn't need a car at all until you decide to leave to take your 3 day tour of Tuscany/Umbria and return the car in Rome. There would be no drop off fees, and you would save 3 or 4 extra days of rental (and parking) while you are in Florence and a car would be just gathering dust in a parking structure (you can't drive inside Florence's city center).
Parking in Florence is not cheap no matter where you park around the city center. Hourly parking is €2/hour or €20/day.
Posted by
Portland
3649 posts
If you're not using the car to get to places in Italy before Florence, I'd recommend the train. I know, from having researched the question for our upcoming trip, that you can't return a car in San Remo on Sundays, so I assume you also can't pick up one. You'd have to ride to Genoa, at least. Other days you can probably get one in San Remo; but if you're on a train and heading to Florence, why not just stay on? I've also looked into the parking question, as we will be in Florence for 2 nights as part of a lengthy car trip around Tuscany. There is a parking facility near the Sant' Ambrogio market (where we need to be) which has reasonable rates - - I'm remembering 20 euros/day. I think I saw at least one more such place listed on that website.
Posted by
OP
22 posts
Thanks for all of this excellent guidance. There are two factors that we are contending with that are pushing us toward having the car the entire way: First, there are three adults, hence the cost of public transport will not be cheap. And, second, we had hoped to have the car for at least one day in Nice (Villefranche-sur-mer) to do a day trip to Avignon. (And then there are the hill towns where we will be for four or five nights...).
Having said the above, I think it's beginning to look like picking the car up in Italy might be the better option (leaving Avignon for another trip).
Thanks for all of your help!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16379 posts
If you keep the car the total cost will be 4 to 7 times as much as the train, even with 3 adults.
I also found a train with fewer changes departing Ventimiglia at 11:50a with one change only at La Spezia. You will be in Florence at 8:07pm. There are several trains from Nice to Ventimiglia and the trip is only 47 min long.
The cost from Ventimiglia (just across the border) to Florence is only €30 per person. I couldn't find the price from Nice to Ventimiglia off hand, but it's a very short ride so it's not going to be more than €10 euro.
So the train fare for 3 adults from Nice to Florence would probably be less than €120.
The rental car will be at least €50 day (with insurance). Add €50 for fuel (approx 425 km). The freeway tolls from the border (Ventimiglia) to Florence are €40 (not sure about the short French portion). So you have spend more just for the day of travel. However you need to add the rental for 3 days in Florence (maybe another €150) when you cannot use the car and will be parking the car the whole time at €20/day (=€60 for parking). So the car option will cost you at least €350 vs. only €120 with the train.
If you also keep the same car you had in France, you need to add €300 for the international drop off fee.
To me the choice is clear. And yes, I have worked in accounting/auditing all my life.