Planes, trains and automobiles help!

Tiffany, As this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend that both of you read Europe Through The Back Door prior to departure. It provides a LOT of good information on "how" to travel in Europe. After that use the country or city-specific Guidebooks to plan sightseeing, transportation, etc. Especially for the your first trip to Europe, I'd suggest using public transit rather than a rental car, as there are some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of when driving in Italy. EACH driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. Those failing to produce an IDP when asked, can be fined on the spot! There's also the issue of the dreaded ZTL areas (hefty fines!) which exist in many towns in Italy. Having said that, there are some "caveats" to be aware of when travelling by public transit also. To summarize, tickets on Buses and Regionale trains MUST be validated prior to boarding on the day of travel, or hefty fines on the spot! Travel on the premium trains such as the Freccia high speed trains have compulsory reservations, and those without reservations or on the wrong train will (you guessed it), be fined on the spot! Regarding each of your journeys: > Rome to Siena - I'd use the train. However on arrival in Siena, you might ask the B&B people if they can pick you up. > Florence day trip - take the SITA bus as that's the easiest. The station in Florence is close to Firenze SMN rail station, so very central. > Siena to Pisa - again, I'd use the train. There's a station right at the Pisa Airport, so you won't need a car. If the people at the B&B have offered transportation, I'd probably use that when possible. continued....

Tiffany - continued...... You can use the Trenitalia website to research train journeys. Some of the trips will involve "changes" so it would be a good idea to do some research on that. Changing trains is not really too difficult, but getting from one Platform (Binario) to another often involves a trip down to a Sotto Passagio (tunnel) with only stairs, so be sure to pack light! Good luck with your planning!

Thanks ken. Good information. I have Europe through the back door and I just ordered the Italy one. Transportation was going to be my husband's responsibility but he's no longer able to go so now trying to figure it out. It seems like some places you take a train and some places the bus and so for a person is not really seasoned in this it is a bit daunting however I know it's going to be so worth it. When you talk about having your ticket validated is that something you do at the station. And is it better to buy tickets online or just wait and get them that day?

Tiffany, good for you for ordering the RS Italy book. My advice now is to wait until it arrives and then look at it for answers to your transportation questions, rather than trying to piece things together on this site. Rick is really, really good at laying out all the logistics that you'll need to master. Then you can come back here and ask any remaining questions that you have. Happy travels.

Tiffany, Tickets are validated (time & date stamped) by placing them in a small machine located close to the tracks. The machines in Italy will either be bright yellow or blue & gray, with a small digital display on the front. The validation machines for Buses will sometimes be on board the Bus. Only tickets for Regionale trains have to be validated. Tickets for the premium trains such as the Freccia high speed trains are specific to a particular train, date and departure time, so they can ONLY be used on the train shown on the ticket and don't need to be validated. You can save money by purchasing tickets for the premium trains online, but that will "lock" you into a particular train and departure time. I usually just buy tickets when in Italy, a day or two before I'll be travelling. While it costs a bit more, it allows me some flexibility according to conditions at the time. You can buy tickets either at staffed ticket offices (which sometimes have long queues) or at automated Kiosks. You may find it helpful to read this section on the excellent RoninRome website (there's a photo of the validation machines shown there somewhere): www.roninrome.com/transportation/train-travel-italy Cheers!

Just a few comments: I'd suggest public transit for a first trip to Italy because it's cost effective and more relaxing than figuring out parking and driving. You don't mention your age, but there are more strict age-limits in Europe for renting cars. Be aware that in Siena many of the buses going between cities stop at both the train station at the bottom of the hill and the main bus station at the top of the hill near the old town. If your b&b is picking you up, be certain you know which station.

Thanks all. I look forward to getting this book and reading about this. I am 34 and my friend is 33.

For you trip the car could be used only to visit the Tuscan countryside and smaller towns while you are staying near Siena. Car is not needed for any of the cities you mentioned.

Hi all , I got my rs Italy guide boom that is very helpful but I still have questions We will probably leave from Florence to go to stay in Siena. I know the bus is preferred but since we need to leave on Sunday at 5:30pm ( we might do a tour ) the choices for the rapid bus don't seem to work but they do for the regular one. How long of a ride is the regular bus? Would the train in this case be better ? Our inn keepers are picking us up. It looks like I can't per purchase bus tickets. We decided against the car :)
Thanks!