Hello all, I will be headed to Italy in a couple of weeks. So excited! I'm trying to figure out how to best handle the time during which I will have a rental car. My plan for that time is a little unorthodox due to a side trip to my sister's birthplace, Vicenza. The tentative plan: Pick up the car after a couple of days in Florence (I know...don't drive in Florence) and head to Vicenza. Stay overnight in Vicenza and drive the next day to Montepulciano. I'll spend several days in Tuscany, followed by two days in Rome. I will drop off the car before my time in Rome. My question really is: where should I pick up and drop off? If I pick up at the Florence airport and then drop off at the Rome airport (even though both will require extra taxi/train fare), is that the best bet? I also considered taking the train from Florence to Vicenza and then returning Vicenza to Siena. That way, I could pick up and drop off the car in Siena, which would be a little cheaper. Then I'd also have to take the train from Siena to Rome. So perhaps the train fares would make this option just as expensive. Words of wisdom/experience? Would be so grateful. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Tulsa, OK
355 posts
We picked up and dropped off a car in Siena several years ago and it worked great. We took the train from Florence both to and from Siena. It's a local train, so slow. But it was so much easier than attempting to drive out of Florence. I don't know much about the train from Siena to Rome - but I do know that driving in and out of Siena is very easy.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Heather,
It appears that you just need the car for the time around Montepulciano, if so, just train to Chiusi and pick up the car. Drop the car back at Chiusi and train to Rome.
Posted by
Monterey County, CA (formerly Verbania Italy-Lago Maggiore)
1626 posts
Absolutely have a GSP! Germany, Austria and Switzerland driver's are very orderly, but once you cross the border into Italy, you are in a "different" world. Most roads are not clearly marked with Hwy #'s or names, you pretty much have to look for the signs for the cities are are heading toward. Wihout the GSP, we'd still be in Italy looking for the Florence airport.....