We are planning to return our rental car (picking up in Pisa) and see that there are 2 locations offered. Any recommendations on which location is appreciated. We see that 2 are offerred. We staying at Hotel Bernini near the San Domenico Church. The rental car drop off locations offered are
Siena Downtown Office 36 Via Simone Martini or Siena City Office 21 Viale Europa. Thank you. Stan & Janet
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Stan,
You don't really have two options, Via Martini is Avis and via Europa is Eurocar. If you pick up an Avis car you have to return it to Avis.
Avis is closer but both are less than 10 euro taxi to San Domenico church.
Posted by
OP
Loomis
27 posts
Thank you Henry & Kent.
We did a search with Auto Europe when we got 2 choices for pick up locations in Pisa and 2 choices for drop off locations in Siena.
Posted by
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
72 posts
Make sure you have EXCELLENT maps or a GPS unit. I must have spent over an hour near the Siena train station trying to find where to drop the Hertz rental car. I had an address and maps but still couldn't find the place for a long, long time. Fortunately, we had decided to drop the car the night before we left Siena for Vernazza.
Posted by
OP
Loomis
27 posts
Hi Eric,
We have the same plan to go to Vernazza after Siena. Did you go via Train? Any recommendations? Thanks.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Stan,
If you pick up at the airport you have a choice but if you pick up downtown Pisa it is Europcar only.
Posted by
Martinez, CA
3 posts
Was just there two weeks ago with my family and we picked up a car at the Via Simone Martini location. It was a short, easy walk downhill from the old center.
Posted by
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
72 posts
Stan and Janet:
Train travel to Vernazza was pretty easy. If I recall correctly, we may have had to change trains in Empoli and Pisa. No big deal. Just look for the schedule boards and make sure you are on the right platform.
We bought tickets at the station in Siena. I was surprised at how inexpensive they were.
It was a real relief dumping the car in Siena. While a car is great for visiting the hill towns, it is a royal pain inside of a city of any size, including Siena. Next time, I think I would sacrifice touring efficiency for more relaxing bus/train connections to the hill towns.
BTW, we picked up the car at the airport in Rome and drove to Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio the first day. Then to Pienza, Montelpuciano, Sam Gimignano and Volterra the next two days.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
Most of Siena, within the city walls is "Zona Traffico Limitato." The walk from San Domenico through town is wonderful.