Renting a car or taking trains

I drive all over Italy and have never been without a car for a single day, BUT there's no use for one in Florence, Venice, or the CT. To me it looks like an extra week of car rental (plus parking fees) for a car you won' t be using. Also, if you rent a car in Italy (as opposed to driving a rental in from some place else) your credit card won't cover CDW so you have to cough up the insurance money yourself - - this can be almost as much as the basic car rental. I have no feel for the Lake Garda area since I've only driven along the eastern shore once and that was a long time ago.

I enjoy taking the trains in Italy. Florence can be tricky to drive around with the ZTLs, and like the other comment said, you won't have need for your car in Florence or Venice or CT. Also, when comparing prices between car rental and train tickets, keep in mind that petrol is much more expensive in Europe than the US.

We've driven all over Italy and enjoy it. However, we do not drive into the larger cities. The ZTL's and the parking in the cities, along with the traffic, is something we do not like to deal with. For convenience and ease of driving, you could take an hour train ride from Rome to Orvieto and pick up the car at the Orvieto train station. As you mentioned, you could have the car for day trips out of Cortona and then turn the car in back in Orvieto or the Florence airport. If you want the car for the rest of your trip, I would stay on the outskirts of Florence and Venice. For Florence, we stayed at the Hilton Metropole & took their free shuttle into the city. For Venice, we stayed at Villa Dolcetti and took the 1/2 hr bus ride into Venice. I would not drive into the CT. That is a disaster waiting to happennarrow streets, traffic and crazy drivers. As others have mentioned, you might want to turn the car in once you get into Florence. Before you leave the States, you will need to obtain an International Drivers Licence at the AAA office. No test is required. Also, get a GPS with the car and buy a Michelin map which you can purchase in the tour store on this website. AutoEurope and Kemwel are the car brokers I rent from. They'll arrange a car with Avis, Hertz or Europcar. Have fun on your trip making lifetime memories.

Don't even THINK about having a car in places like Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre. Total waste of time not to mention a waste of money.

Just to give your husband a little support on this issue, although it's true that you won't need a car when you're actually in Florence, CT, and Venice, you will want one during your 8 days in Cortona. You can take great day trips from there. It'll also be nice to drive from Cortona to Florence, Florence to CT, CT to Lake Garda, and Lake Garda to Venice. (You'll like having a car in Lake Garda.) Since Venice is your last stop, you can turn the car in when you get there. I've driven those areas. The roads are good. There are interesting places along the way. A car gives you a lot of freedom. Since your husband likes to drive, I think he'd enjoy it.

Your daughter is there now- what is her opinion? I lean heavily toward a train / bus combination.

The only reason to rent a car is if you want the flexibility of driving to lots of different places or if you're staying in an agriturismo that a train doesn't reach. Driving around Tuscany is the best example of when you would want a car. But don't rent a car just to get from one major city to another. Use the train for that.

Thank you to everyone who replied. I have another question. We are planning to stay 3 nights in Lake Garda and 2 nights in Venice. Im wondering if we are making a mistake here. Is it better to give Venice more time? We would only have 1 1/2 day's to see Venice, not sure that's enough time. The only way we can add more time is to take it away from Lake Garda and I hear there is alot to see there too!!

The simple answer is BOTH. A car will almost be a necessity when you're at the villa for the first 8 days. You can then drive to Florence and return the car. Search the archives or someone here will have a good suggestion for a place to return it without having to drive through in the city. You can then continue your trip using trains

Ooh - hard question b/n Lake Garda and Venice. I've never actually been to Lake Garda, but it looks gorgeous! I won't go unless I have several days for exploring, though. I have been to Venice twice; same thing, though - I won't go again until I have perhaps a week to just BE there. (this fall, I have to train right past Venice...Must.Be.Strong.) How set is everyone on Lake Garda AND the CT? Not that they're the same, but I would visit them for similar reasons - relaxation. Especially after Cortona - I would think of Cortona as relaxing. Have all of you actually figured out just what you'll be doing in all of these places? You may discover the answer to your question... And 'yes' to the driving around Cortona. BE SURE whoever might be driving gets an International Driving Permit; they're REQUIRED in Italy. You must bring your drivers license, too; the IDP isn't a substitute. $15 per person. I'd go to a AAA office, esp. considering the time crunch.

Carolyn - How great for you to be able to spend time with your daughter in Cortona! For many Americans, having a car is a requirement. For many Europeans, it's a privilege! They are SO expensive to own, operate, maintain, put gas in, and insure in Italy. We've been almost four years without a car - and on most trips we rarely rent a car. You become pretty adept at local transportation - by necessity. Yet in Tuscany I always recommend a car. Getting lost in Tuscany will be one of the highlights of your trip. To save you some money - unless you can get a GREAT rate and cheap daily insurance - I would suggest a hybrid approach. Use a rental car from Rome to Cortona and while in Cortona for 8 days. Then either drive down to Florence and turn it in or do so in Cortona and train to Florence. Do Florence, CT, and then returning from CT, train back to La Spezia and get a SECOND rental car and head to Lake Garda... Turn it in upon your arrival in Venice. You'll save some money on parking, insurance, the daily car rental rates, and avoid the costly restricted driving areas - especially in Florence. As suggested, you'll need an International Driving Permit and a GPS. There are many options of where to rent your car in Rome, but I'd suggest somewhere outside the costly ZTL's in the central area. If you're departing from Rome on a Saurday or Sunday morning, all the better! Make sure all yor paperwork is in order before leaving either rental desk. Always carry your IDP, US drivers license, and passport when driving as you may run into a Random Traffic Stop. Driving in Tuscany is one of our most enjoyable trips. We have been lost there for days - and loved every minute - Have fun!

Thank you Ron, That is excatly what we were thinking. We are staying at the Rome Cavalieri. I don't know where that is in Rome so not sure whether to rent the car near there or back at the airport. I can't tell by your map which would be better. We will be leaving Rome on Fri. morning so we want the quickest and easiest way out. With out a car in CT would you recommend Vernaazza or Monterosso al Mare? I have reservations in both because I can't decide!! Also do you think we are making a mistake by staying in Lake Garda for 3 nights and only 2 in Venice?
Thank you for your help.

Ciao Carolyn - I got the PM you sent. The Roma Cavalieri has both Hertz and Avis desks IN THE hotel - and it's an easy drive from there to the GRA (loop road around Rome) on Via Trionfale, so that may be an option to rent from either of those vendors. You might go through a consolidator like AutoEurope to get a better deal. The hotel is located on the Northwest side of town. Use the Roma Cavalieri link above or go back to the Car Rental Locations in Rome link and you can find where the hotel is and you can calculate directions to the A1 autostrada on the maps on either page. I like the backroads, up the SS2 (Via Cassia) towards Siena. Either of the two towns in CT you mention wil work without a car. Vernazza is quaint and smaller. I preferred Monterosso al Mare because it has a beach and is a little larger with more variety. I know I'll get yelled at for saying this, but after 7-8 visits to CT, I probably wil not be going back. It's just become too touristy and too over-priced... but it is beautiful if you've never been. I usually head to the beaches north of Pisa - where the Italians are! As far as Lake Garda versus Venice... that's really your personal preference. You can easily fill 3 days in each. With so much time in Tuscany and Cortona, I might be more inclined to spend more time in Venice - especially if it's your first time there... but again, that's a personal preference. Good Luck!

Carolyn: In your original post you asked for a guide in Rome. Try Francesca Caruso for provate tours. Can be reached at [email protected]. If she is busy she will recommend someone else. We hired her for a tour of ancient Rome - Colosseo, Foro Romano and Palatino that was fabulous. If you plan to see the Vatican Museums, I highly recommend http://www.walksofitaly.com. Very educational and highly engaging small group tour. We got to see the Sistine before the crowds. I think you will be glad to have more time in Venice than Lake Garda. You have relaxing time in the CT already. Personally I'd never spend less than 4 nights in Venice, 3 full days. There is more to do than can possibly be done because you will want to plop down in a piazza and simply enjoy; you will want to wander and get lost; you will want to ride the vaporetto out to the laguna islands. Ah, Venezia! Be sure to buy a vaporetto pass. You will save lots of $$ and you can save even more id you buy in advance at http://www.veniceconnected.com. Be sure you know what you will actually do at Lake Garda. Could be a little too quiet. FWIW we preferred Vernazza over Monterosso al Mare. It is so quiet and sweet, especially late in the afternoon and after dark. Of course no matter where you stay, you can go to another village for the experience. Try to eat at Il Pirata in Vernazza. Fabulous dinners as well as amazing morning pastries, and the Pirate Brothers are a constant source of entertainment.

On one of my trips to Vernazza I got into quite a discussion at Il Pirata - and I'd already had dinner there a few times in my visits. At breakast one trip I was to be charged 9,50€ for 2 coffee and 2 cornetti while STANDING AT THE BAR. When one of the brothers told me the price I balked, a discussion ensued, and at one point I said, "Abito a roma;" ( I live in Rome) and in my "home bar" in Rome this would cost me under 4€. Sarcastically, I was told, "You're not in Rome , are you? And we charge these prices because you tourists will pay them." We continued our discussion and he agreed to drop his price - for me - to 7,50€. That pretty sums up my apathy for CT. I can understand that it may cost more as CT is fairly remote (certainly not THAT much) ... But the arrogance and opportunist attitude was off-putting. I choose not to pay these ridiculous prices and ended up down the street for about €6 - without a debate. I think CT is becoming a victim of their own success. Too bad it's not like it was 8-10 years ago. Oh well, that's progress and ... over-exposure. Which I why I prefer Italian beaches "unmentioned" in the numerous travelogues.

If you plan to return your car in Florence you might want to do it at the airport. When we did that we took the bus/shuttle into town. It drops you off at the train/bus station.

Thank you everyone you have all been very helpful!! Im sure I will have many more questions for you! Best regards,
Carolyn