My wife and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in Rome/Tuscany in June. (Yay!) I'm trying to determine the best way to rent a car based on our overall itinerary.
We will be flying into Rome, staying there for two days, and then renting a car to drive to a remote Tuscan villa somewhat near Sienna. We'll be there for several days doing day trips to different amazing places. From there, we need to return the car and fly out of the airport.
My question is to where to rent the car from...ideally, I wouldn't necessarily head back to the airport to get the car...but that being said, we need to return it at the end and fly away.
Put more simply, do we get back to the airport after time in Rome, rent the car there, and then return it at the airport for our return trip? Or do we rent somewhere else in/near Rome, return the car there after Tuscany, and then take transport to the airport? Any advice would certainly be appreciated. Overall, I am more interested in convenience rather than saving a few dollars. We don't get much time away from the kiddos so I'd like to minimize the hassle as much as possible. Thank you in advance!
Posted by
5250 posts
I would take a train from Rome to Siena, get the car there, and then return the car at the airport.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
I had assumed the drive from Rome to Sienna was going to be a beautiful experience we wouldn't want to miss, but this is an interesting option. Thank you for the idea.
Posted by
11653 posts
You can rent the car in Rome or at FCO, depending on your comfort level for driving within the city. Leaving FCO with a rental car is easy and you are the autostrada north quickly. I would not go through the hassle of taking a train, schlepping luggage on and off for such a short distance. We have rented at FCO upon arrival as well as as picking up in Rome center. Driving out of Rome on a Sunday morning is the easiest of all. Happy Anniversary and have a great trip.
Posted by
A tiny island in Puget Sound WA, USA
166 posts
I would rent a car on the ring road of Rome near an Autostrada entrance. AutoEurope will list plenty of locations like this. Return to same location or FCO depending on where you are staying. After your first couple days in Rome take a taxi to the pick up spot. Enjoy!
Posted by
seattle
2147 posts
We rented at the Rome Tiburtina station. It was very easy to get on the highway out of Rome from there. We then returned the car at FCO after our roadtrip. How many days total will you have in Tuscany? There are many places to see between Rome and Sienna.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
We'll be in Tuscany for three full days. We haven't decided what we're doing yet, but a day trip to Florence is certainly on the list.
Posted by
Land of La
9316 posts
Train from Rome to Chiusi and rent car there.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11831 posts
Becky has an excellent suggestion to rent at Tiburtina. Very easy. Personally I think the drIve is dull on the Autostrada but you would NOT want to take backroads just to get to Tuscany as you will have plenty of them in Tuscany. Orvieto also makes a nice place to rent. One hour train ride, take the funicular up into town for lunch, then pick up the car back by the station.
Posted by
New Orleans
1225 posts
Laurel has a great suggestion to rent in Orvieto (Hertz only, 1 block from the train station). I've done that and it was an easy-to-get-to location. If you choose to lunch in Orvieto, though, be careful about the Hertz afternoon closing hours.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2427 posts
hey yager
congrats on your anniversary and time away fro the kiddos. you'll have a fabulous and time with lots of memories. don't stress, if plan A doesn't work have plan B ready. if you're given lemons make limoncello!
don't know where you are flying from, if overseas (USA or Canada) you will need and IDP (international driving permit) from AAA/CAA, $25 and 2 passport photos for each driver. plus read up on the rules, laws, and signage of the roads. have fun
aloha
Posted by
11 posts
Orvieto is a great choice. I have dropped cars off there on my way south and rode the train into Rome. Next week I will be picking a car up in Orvieto after leaving Rome. It’s a short train ride but it gets you out of the city traffic before needing to drive.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34198 posts
yagercs1
I assume that you have read other threads around here based on your question, but I see that this is your first post - welcome.
If you have been researching about driving in Italy you will already be familiar with certain unique ways to spend money, so I won't go into explaining them unless you ask, but we do get a fair number of people through who didn't do the research and get home to find out that their vacation is considerably more expense than they planned when the tickets and fees start appearing - and then they shout about being scammed.
So please be sure that you clearly understand the following alphabet soup and their consequences:- IDP, ZTL, TUTOR, National Speed Limit, and how to pay the tolls on the Autostrada.