Train vs Car or Both

I am definitely a car person, so I would vote for a car after you leave Rome, of you can take the train to Florence, then visit there for a day or so and pick up your car then to visit the Tuscan hilltowns. I assume since you are leaving next week you don't have any reservations? Given that you fly standby I guess its not a good idea to prepay a room anyway. I usually travel without reservations, and while some people just can't handle that, it always works out... and yes, sometimes there is a bit of stress finding a room, but there is just as much stress for me booking hotels months ahead and then being on a strict schedule. Just look for hotels as soon as you decide which town you want to stay in, or in Tuscany you can find a town you like and stay a few days and do some day trips. With a car, it's pretty easy... if all else fails, drive to the next town. And oftentimes, I find some quirky little place that I would not have booked on line. It's just a different kind of trip, but your kids are old enough to learn how to 'wing it'. As far as CT, I have drive there, but parking, etc. can be challenging. I have also gone a number of times for a day trip and parked in LaSpezia and taken the train in. I have also stayed a few times in Allesandria (don't know if that's on your route) but left the car there and went for the day with our room secure when we returned at night.

Terry Kathryn, Thank you. Thank you. Such good advise!

Both. Car for countryside visiting.
Public transport for everything else.

I would also do both. I would take the train from Rome to Orvieto and pick up your car there. Have the car for the hill towns, then drop it somewhere and train to the Cinque Terre. From there train to Zurich. Be aware that it is VERY expensive to rent a car in one country and return in another. They charge a hefty drop off fee that can be hundreds of euros. If you plan to drive in Italy you will need an International Drivers Permit (IDP). It can be obtained at AAA. Also I suggest you study the road signs in Italy and become very familiar with what a ZTL sign looks like. Avoiding those zones will also save you hundreds of euros. Rent the smallest car you can get away with. A room for 3 is more difficult than a room for 2. I'm not a travel on the fly person, but from what I understand if you go to the Tourist Information (TI) offices they can help you locate a room. I've heard that in the Cinque Terre there are people waiting around the train stations looking for travelers to rent rooms to. I didn't see that, but I already had a place to stay so I wasn't looking. They don't have typical hotels in those little towns. Monterosso is the largest town and would have the most options. If you totally strike out in the CT you could take a short train ride to La Spezia and look there. Have fun!

I think if you want a car in Italy and Switzerland, and don't mind returning to Italy, that could work. Why return to Florence? I would think it would be easier to get a flight out of Milan or Pisa. Or drop your car in Italy, train to Switzerland and get a new car there, then fly out of Zurich as you originally planned. If you only want one car you could train from Rome to Orvieto and get your car there. Stay in a hill town and day trip into Florence and Siena. From there go to the CT or nearby. Drive north to Switzerland, then back to Milan. You could see Lake Como or another lake on the way to or from Switzerland. Or just go from Rome to Florence by train and use that as a home base for Tuscany. You could do day trips using public transport. Then train to CT. After CT train to Switzerland and pick up a car there.

Thank you Andrea. Yes, you're right. As I've been researching places to sleep, places for three are not in abundance, therefore more expensive. Was thinking about renting a car in Rome on our way out, head up North, but am now thinking getting the car up north may be a better idea. Yes. I've heard car rental companies charge that drop off fee and it's not very well disclosed at the time of pick up. Perhaps we should just drive around southern Switzerland and then head back to Florence to fly out. What do you think?

Thank you Andrea. You have good advise. My biggest problem is we only have eight days and that includes the day we arrive and leave. I know I'm trying to fit a lot into this time, but it's the max time my daughter has off. - - If I trained out of Rome and picked up a car in Terni or Orvieto, how would you suggest we visit Chique Terra? We'd love to spend two nights there (not somewhere else as a home base). What do I do with the car while we're there? Perhaps we should just rent a car for a few day and drop it before CT, then train up to Switerland and rent another car as you suggested.

I would train from Rome to Orvieto and pick up a car for the hill towns. I would not stay in Florence with a car or drive into Florence with a car. Research ZTL's. After hill towns find a place to drop your car. Maybe La Spezia? It would be a very short train ride to the CT. From there, train to Switzerland.

We went the other way, sort of. We arrived in Venice, then went to Florence, Siena, visited the hill towns and then went to Rome. However, we rented a car for one day and traveled Asciano, Pienza and Montepulciano and made Siena our home base. So we rented out of Siena and returned to Siena. We used the train and buses all the other times. The train schedules was frequent enough that we didn't need a car between the major cities. Just a thought, however, we did travel during off season.

Susan, Since you are on stand by and already have that stress level, why are you trying to do so much in 8 days? You will be jet lagged from the initial flight and looking for a room. Whatever you do, do not drive in or out of Rome, Pisa, etc due to the ZTL's. I would suggest you decide on 2 or 3 places and go with that. We have stayed in Rome, Sienna, Florence and Lucca, and visited CT and loved all, so do your research and see what you would like, then plan accordingly. The train and bus system is great in Italy (I have been on a train twice and a public bus once in the USA) and have no problems with their transit system. If you decide on the smaller hilltowns (they are magnificent, really) you will need a car, but parking can be very difficult, so estimate your travel time accordingly. Good luck!