Suggestions, please.......

Rent only if needed for the Tuscany section.

Thanks, Bob. I have been reading that driving can be a bit scary. Have to admit, the train system completely baffles me!

It is fairly straightforward- consider it all part of your adventure! We use a bus if no train goes were we wish to go.

I agree with Bob. Having a car in Tuscany is pretty much a must if you want to wander the little towns and villages. Make sure you study up on the traffic signs in Rick Steves' books on Italy. It really helps. Also, the signs will not tell you how far it is to the next town, only to go that direction. Get a good map of Italy, too. For Rome and Venice no car. Using the train to get to either of those places is easy and gives you some down time to relax in between places. We just came back from 9 days in Italy and found we could purchase tickets on the same day with no problem at the station either at the self pay kiosk or at the counter. Have a great trip!

Hi Judy, May I ask how many days will you have in Tuscany and what would your "dream" Tucan days involve? Art, shopping, wineries, Florence, Siena, history?????

Judy, Travellling by train or Bus is far easier as there are no worries about parking, tolls, high fuels costs, CDW, ZTL areas, etc. However, a car can be useful for getting to places not well served by public transit, or if it's difficult to fit the timing of public transit into your schedule. My suggestion would be to rent a car for specific trips if you need it, but stick with public transit most of the time. As this is your first trip to Italy, it would be a good idea to do some research on riding the rails there, as there are some "pitfalls" to be aware of. You might find it helpful to have a look at the "Rail Skills" chapter in Europe Through The Back Door or the Italy Guidebook. If you do decide to include car rental, be sure you're aware of the usual "caveats" regarding driving in Italy. If you need further information, post another note. Happy travels!

Thanks all for your great answers! We don't know how long we will be in Tuscany. We are still planning. We aren't shoppers, and we typically immerse ourselves in the local culture when we travel. We love history, architecture, touring, eating good food, drinking great wine and meeting interesting people. We plan to stay at at least one "Agriturismo". I'm not sure what a dream vacation in Tuscany would be - other than seeing enough to want to keep going back. Is it best to break trips down into regions instead of trying to see so much of Italy in one trip?

Public transit in Rome would be better than driving. The Metro is very straightforward and the announce the stops (whereas buses do not, so I would not use them unless if you absolutely know where you are going). The Metro will even list what popular tourist attractions are near what stops and will announce it on the train ("Cipro Musei Vaticani"). The only thing I will say is that if you do take the train note that there will be a button on the door that you have to press in order to open the door, they do not open automatically (was so confused the first time and the doors did not open!). Also walking in Rome is not so terrible. For example, if you want to get between the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, it is easier to walk.