To Car Or Not To Car: Verona - Dolomites - Venice

I don’t know what the big hype is about Kastelruth, much better the nearby Val Gardena, but nevertheless.
In Verona you won’t need a car, so rent a car on the way out of Verona.
Instead of returning the car at the Venice airport, return it in the city at PIAZZALE ROMA, which is the place where all parking garages are (no cars beyond Piazzale Roma). All or nearly all rental companies have an office at the City Parking garage, a multistory parking structure.
Then walk across the Piazzale and catch a Vaporetto (water bus), at the stop on the canal.

Thanks Roberto. I have noticed your distaste for Kastelruth in other threads ;) But we found a hotel that's appealing and affordable, so that's what we're going with!

I almost mentioned the Piazzale Roma option, because I did research that as well as it seemed most appealing. It is unfortunately quite a bit more expensive than the other options due to surcharges for dropping off in that location.

That village is pretty but very small and not much to do. I prefer the Val Gardena, like Ortisei or Selva, which are just as pretty and with more to do in the evenings.

Check www.autoeurope.com, I don't think there is a difference in the drop off fee between dropping at Piazzale Roma or the airport. Once you book through AutoEurope all costs will be in the invoice. If you are not satisfied you can cancel at any time before 48 hours and get refunded. They also match cheaper prices if you find them.

Thank you! Really appreciate the insight.

AutoEurope is what I was checking, and I just looked again to be sure I wasn't missing anything! The nearest option to Piazzale Roma is Santa Lucia station; PR doesn't actually come up. The estimated one-way fee is about 50 Euros more than the airport and 80 more than Mestre, plus the site is returning fewer companies and thus a smaller fleet.

All-in the costs for dropping at Santa Lucia were 378 Euros, vs. 307 Euros for the Airport or Mestre. So even adding in the cost of the airport transportation it still is the less expensive option. I was disappointed in this - but will keep checking as I know prices can fluctuate.

Spelling out all of the above in case I seem to be doing something wrong, but I can't figure out another way.

We originally were planning to stay in Ortisei, but it was substantially more expensive for the space we needed for our family. I'll give another look at Selva though, just in case!

uhm, there are pros and cons....

firstly "the freedom/flexibility of a car rental" might not be so if you attempt to go far within Bozen or Brixen (or Meran if straying west) due to the perennial problem of finding somewhere to park. And then there are the ZTL's which you would need to check about.

Public transport within Südtirol is as well organised as Germany, and on Sundays it's even better because they keep local buses running! But many Americans struggle with using public transport, so check out the network before you decide. https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/#/ and under "My Journey" download the network map.. Then using the route numbers from the map check the individual timetables from the link also under "My Journey". If this doesn't scare you, carry on with your planning!

As for "Pricing is similar in both scenarios." I supect you may have missed something. Your hotel ought to be providing you with a "Südtirol Guest Pass" included in the rate even if you don't use it https://www.suedtirol.info/en/en/information/suedtirol-guest-pass . This gives you inclusive use of virtually all local and regional transport within the Südtirol, which is a huge amount and you'll barely scrape the surface. They should be able to send it to you as a digital app or PDF via email so that you can use it on arrival day even before you reach the hotel.

In Option B for returning the car, I think you need to check prices again, I don't see how transport from Mestre to the hotel could be more expensive than from Verona.

Option A for public transport is viable, the new bus interchange is at the north end of the railway station after the various railway offices end. And as you walk towards it you may see a cable car going rising steeply from a little further on - that is also covered by the Guest Pass, as is the tram along the plateau when you reach the top. You probably haven't allowed enough time for this area!

Is 307 the cost of the one way drop off fee or the entire rental?
If it’s just the one way fee, then I would return it back to Verona and take the train to Venice and save the 300+ euro. I’ve never paid more than 15€ on one way fees, but maybe now they learned how to make more money American style.

If the difference between returning at airport or at Piazzale Roma is only 50€ then I’d bite the bullet and return it at Piazzale Roma. If you take a taxi from the airport to Piazzale Roma I think the taxi fare is at least 40€.

As drop off location on AutoEurope is S.Lucia Station, then that is probably Piazzale Roma, which is just across the Calatrava pedestrian bridge from the station. Cars can’t drive to Santa Lucia, unless it’s an amphibious vehicle that can float.

Thank you both! I'll get really nerdy and share my whole breakdown. These are in Euros. If I'm missing any factors or calculations please let me know! These are all in Euros. The auto rental cost includes all estimated fees including one-way dropoff; it's exactly what AutoEurope quoted as the total this morning.

I am not factoring any bus transport in the Dolomites as I know that's included.

Verona - Verona:
Car rental: €241
Train Verona - St. Lucia: €42.00
Vaporetto for 4: €40.00
TOTAL: €323.10

Verona - Venice Airport:
Car rental: €307
Water taxi: €72.00
TOTAL: €379.77

Verona - Venice Mestre:
Car rental: €307
Train to St. Lucia: €6.00
Vaporetto for 4: €40.00
TOTAL: €353.77

Verona - Piazzale Roma:
Auto rental: €378
Vaporetto for 4: €40.00
TOTAL: €418.84

Public transport only:
Verona to Bolzano: €66
Bolzano to Venice St. Lucia: €108
Vaporetto for 4: €40.00
TOTAL: €214 (**This is cheapest unless we decide to add private transport from Bolzano to Castelrotto)

If you want to save the extra drop off fee money at Piazzale Roma and still travel comfortably I would go with the car rental return at Mestre. I don’t know which company you picked with AutoEurope but all companies are pretty much across the street from the station.
You could even drop your family and luggage first at Piazzale Roma then you drive back, return the car, then take the bus or train to Venice without luggage and join your family. In this case you would even save three train tickets.
Or you could drop your family and luggage at the Mestre station, return the car (at most a block away), then walk to the station and join your family. No money savings but that way you don’t have to carry luggage at all, although the rental offices are really close.
I wouldn’t select the public transport only. A car is useful in Castelrotto. If you stayed in Ortisei you could get away without one and use the buses, in any case a car gives you more freedom to roam around and you can handle luggage better with kids, in spite of the extra cost (besides rental cost you need also to add gas and tolls).

Thank you! That's a very interesting thought re: dropping at Piazzale and circling back to Mestre. I really appreciate the advice!

Also just wanted to share this detail - since you mentioned that maybe the companies have found ways to make more money, American-style ;) AutoEurope's website bundles all fees, but when I look directly on Hertz it says this:

Hertz Car Rental Locations - Venice - Santa Croce 496 F
If you are returning your vehicle to the Municipal Garage above the location a parking fee of € 58.50 (including tax) will apply.

So that may be new but it's a whopper of a fee on top of the one-way fee!