Rent car in Rome or pick-up on way to Siena?

We did the same thing you are doing. Are you staying at Agriturismo Marciano by any chance? I hope so, because it is great. Anyway, we decided to take the train to Orvieto and pick up the car there. The car rental places are about a block from the train station. We put our bags in the car there (parked in front of the rental office) and took to bus up to town. There is funicular, but it was not running the day were were there. Orvieto is a great little town and I'm glad we were able to spend a few hours there. Driving isn't too bad. A little weird maybe. For some unknown reason (no one could explain, and believe me...I asked!) some people straddle the line down the middle of the road, instead of driving on one side or the other. A GPS is a huge plus. Don't forget you will need to get an International Drivers Permit at AAA before you go. Be careful not to go into any ZTL's. Familiarize yourself online with the traffic signs and what they mean. Have a great time in Italia!

Simply: Take the train from Rome to someplace convenient to Siena, perhaps Siena itself, then get your car. I grew up in Los Angeles, a city built around the automobile and criss-crossed by 10 lane rivers of concrete called freeways. In LA, your car is your status symbol, fashion statement, cocoon, persona. That having been said, congratulations for reading these boards and picking up that getting a car in Rome at Termini would be the MOST stressful way of getting to Siena. I've driven from LA to NYC, Boston and Alaska. I've driven in Amsterdam, Paris and Geneva. I have been to Italy once, two years ago. We spent 6 days in Tuscany where we stayed in a farm house with hosts who became friends. They did all the driving, and after watching them navigate the area they had been driving in for 6 moths, I was SOOO happy we were sitting in the back seat enjoying the scenery! We have a trip coming up in June, 21 days. Milan,CT, Tuscan Farm house, Florence, Lucca, Parma, Milan. We will have a car for three days, picking up in Lucca and dropping in Milan. Otherwise, we use trains. The train system in Italy is awesome. If you're a technology/speed lover, you might even see if you can plan an extra day and take the high speed train from Rome to Florence, spend a day in Florence, then take the train to Siena or Arezzo and get your car. I have not taken the high speed trains in Italy but rode the TGV in France and it was cool. Some of the trains in Italy travel at 300 km/hr, 186 mph! They are smooth as silk and wicked fast. Learn to use the trenitalia web site, learn about mini fares. Click the british flag in the upper right corner to get the english version. I bought a Garmin 275T at Fry's. See if they have any more, they were only $130.

Ted: Thank you and what a wonderful reply. Certainly can appreciate the comments about LA/car culture and will definitely explore the trenitalia website. My husband commutes 80+ miles a day so driving and stress are not what we are looking for for this trip to Italy. Andrea: Thank you for your input - yes we are staying at Agriturismo Marciano. It may have even been your earlier post about it that caused me to make the reservation. Can't wait!

You will love Agriturismo Marciano. Be sure to have the optional dinners. I promise that they will be the best dining experience you will have in Italy. What room will you have?

Ted, last May we picked up our rental car at Rome Termini and drove to Tuscany. It was "a piece of cake"...there was no problem at all. I just turned on my GPS, and off we went. No horrible traffic/hard to find freeways...nothing. A few years ago we picked up our car at the huge multi agency auto rental lot under the Villa Bourgesee. Again, it was a piece of cake. We used this location when we were staying in Rome. It was easy to take the Metro, or a bus to the Spanish Steps, then take the escalator to the lot. The added advantage of this location, is that they are open on Holidays and weekends. But the real key is the day and time that you plan upon picking up your car. Rush hours would make VB a hassle. Orvieto is totally painless. If you have easy access to the train, don't mind dragging your luggage to the train station, and don't want to worry, Orvieto is a great option.

@ Allyson: :-) @ Steve: You clearly have more experience driving in Italy then I do, which is none. I've only observed. I mentioned that since we've made the decision to drive on this trip, I've bought a GPS to navigate. Allyson did not say they had a GPS with Italy maps. That makes a difference. We're driving for 3 out of 21 days on our trip, and I bought a unit for $130 for those three days. I'll probably sell it on Ebay when we return. That having been said....I still love the trains. As a child I rode from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City on the trains, so maybe I'm hooking into some childhood memories. Trains are relaxing. No navigation required. You get on the train, and get off at the right stop. Easy Breezy. Sounds like a vacation to ME! :-D

Allyson, As this is your first trip to Italy and first time driving there, a few important things you'll need to know... One important point to note is 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 AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some cases are provided by 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. You may also want to search other Posts here regarding the Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many towns in Italy (especially Florence!). EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! 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. Finally, you might find the Italy 2011 Guidebook to be VERY useful in planning your sightseeing. It's a fantastic resource! Most of the Guidebooks are now available in E-Book format, if you have a compatible reader or iPad. Happy travels!