We'll be renting a car when we leave Rome May 10 this year and would like advice on whether to return to the airport from city center to get the car or to pick it up at the main train station where we have been told there are lots of cars available. Recommendations appreciated.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4436 posts
Last time I rented in Rome, the Avis office was in a parking garage under the Villa Borghese. Hard to find and then tricky to exit the city heading towards Florence. Also got into a minor bumper meeting along the way. Don't do it!
Posted by
Tennessee USA
111 posts
A couple of years ago, we picked up a rental car at the airport. It was not difficult to get there on the train. Then it was fairly easy to drive from the airport (no big crowd, not much traffic) and get onto main highways, without having to maneuver thru Rome. We missed one exit off the highway, but discovered it must have been a frequently missed exit because the very next exit went nowhere except to turn around on the interstate! Good idea.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8170 posts
Airport and train station rental car pickups often come with surcharges and high taxes.
If you're going north toward Florence, catch a 70 minute train ride Rome Termini to Orvieto. The Hertz office is across the street from the train station which makes it a popular pickup/turn in location for those coming into and going out of Rome. You won't have the hassle of navigating the big city's roads. You can either go thru Hertz or book the same car thru AutoEurope.com--whichever is less expensive.
If you're going elsewhere, you can pickup a car at a Rome city location other than the train station or airport.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15238 posts
I know people here will suggest you to go to Orvieto and pick up your car at the Hertz there.
That might make sense if a visit in Orvieto is part of your itinerary. But you don't say so, therefore I'm not going to make that suggestion.
If someone were in San Francisco and wanted to rent a car to drive to Los Angeles, I wouldn't recommend they take a train to Sacramento to pick up their rental car. Yet that it is what some are suggesting. Orvieto is nearly 80 miles from Rome, almost the same distance between San Francisco and Sacramento.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do: rent your car in Rome.
There are many rental locations in Rome, so it really depend on where you are going next. However the rentals near the Tiburtina train station are close enough to the TANGENZIALE EST - A24. Just follow the green sign directions to GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare), then once on the tangenziale, follow the directions to wherever you want to go (FIRENZE? NAPOLI? L'AQUILA?)
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11359 posts
Excellent advice from Roberto.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for such fast replies to our question. Very helpful!!