Train from CT to Chiusi

Mary, you are looking at a journey time of at least 5.25hrs and possibly a bit more. 3-4 train changes. Most runs will take you via Florence. First run from Vernazza departs at 7:14 and arrives Chiusi at 12:56. From Monterosso, the trains are a bit earlier. Here's a link to a picture of what I see on Trenitalia. http://gyazo.com/12c5bf8cf74f8ec2ce2b27791133830c

Thank you Larry for the information - most helpful. Can you please provide the link where you got the train schedule information so I can peruse my options?

My heartfelt recommendation is to change your rental pick up arrangements and pick up your rental car in La Spezia instead of Chiusi. La Spezia is just minutes away from the Cinque Terre by train. AVIS is located walking distance from the La Spezia station and many other car rental companies are located a short taxi drive from the station. From La Spezia to Montepulciano the drive is very easy, mostly on freeways, except for the last few miles as you approach Montepulciano after you exit the freeway at Bettolle. It will take you less than 3 hours from la Spezia to Montepulciano, pit stops included. Taking the train will at least double your travel time and will subject you to the inconvenience of multiple train changes (not fun if you have a lot of luggage). Since you plan to rent a car anyhow, you might as well do it a little sooner from La Spezia.

www.trenitalia.com There is an English selection. For your particular journey, you will be on Regionale trains all the way. You can see these runs but you can't buy the tickets online more than 7 days before the day of travel. You can buy your tickets a day or two in advance. No discounts on Regionale tickets. Also, there is no train information on the Regionale tickets. When you buy in Italy, the tickets are good for 60 days. You can ride any Regionale train that is making the run shown on the ticket during the 60 day period. Regionale trains cannot be sold out either. They can be really crowded with standing room only but they can't be sold out. You'll see this in the CT. But, at 5:30 in the morning, you won't be on any crowded trains.

Mary, Roberto posted a few minutes before me. His suggestion is better than taking the train.

Thank you so much Larry and Roberto. Your suggestions are very much appreciated. I like the idea of a 3.5 hour drive vs. a 5 hour+ train ride and then we're not restricted by train schedules. I'll look into renting the car in La Spezia and dropping in Chiusi. We will then be taking the train from Chiusi to Rome after our stay in the Tuscany region. One more question, does Italy car rental agencies have drop off charges? Thank you again you two.

Actually the drive is more like 2 and 1/2 hours, 3 hours max, if you make stops. There are no drop off fees within the same country, or at least I never had to pay any. The major companies present in La Spezia that you can use are: Europcar Maggiore Avis
Hertz If you are going to Rome, you might also consider returning the car in Orvieto (Avis and Hertz have an office there near the station) or in Rome itself. It's is not hard to drive to either the Termini station or the Tiburtina station. If you can drive in Seattle, you can probably drive to the Tiburtina station in Rome. Take a navigator with you (unless you rent an intermediate vehicle, which almost certainly has one).

Thank you again Roberto, you have been most helpful. To rent from Hertz or Avis, do you have to go through Autoeurope? I'll look into dropping off in Orvieto. Thank you for that suggestion.... Ciao Ciao.

You can go directly or through Autoeurope, a consolidator, whichever gives you the best deal.

We rented in La Spezia after CT, returned in Orvieto, before Rome. The majority of your drive is highway and easy driving. We rented from a Hertz office arranged through Kemwel (I think related to AutoEurope). No problems at either end. Thankfully we had full CDW, since when my husband parked in a small lot facing down hill in one of the hill towns, he accidently shifted into drive instead of reverse and did very minor damage to the front bumper. We'd just rented the car and the shift pattern was different than other 5 speeds he'd driven. When we turned it in, Hertz noticed, but said nothing since we had full coverage.

Thank you Roberto and Karen. We're going to go ahead and rent in La Spezia and return to Orvieto. Appreciate all the advise. Thanks again.

Karen, do you remember the location of the Hertz office you picked you car up from? On the Hertz website it is showing the address as: Viale San Bartolomeo 389 corner of Via della Pianta. Not sure of the proximity from the train station.