My husband and I are flying to Venice to travel to Dolomites. I am thinking best way to get there is by a rental car, because we are not really savy in traveling via train or public transportation and we will have 4 luggages plus 2 samll bags.My concern is will there be a rental car return place near the dolomites somewhere, I am thinking the closest place will be somewhere in Bolzano.. We dont have a clue what will be best way to travel to Lake como from the dolomites after staying there for 4 nightss. Then we are traveling to Rome to get on a cruise ship after staying in Lake Como for 3 nights. Please please share who is the reputable rental car vendor, in Venice to get a rental car, and if someone has a better suggestion as to how we should transport ourselves from Venice airport-Ortisei-Lake Como-Rome? we have made reservations for hotels but a bit challanged by the trasportation between our dentinations.Taxi is crazy expensive... please help
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
Are you arriving at Venice airport after a long flight from North America or other distant location? You will be very tired and jet-lagged, making driving a long distance through the mountains difficult and even dangerous. If you are going to rent a car, stay over night by Venice first to rest up. You can go into Venice and tour for a few hours. Next morning, you'll be rested and ready to go.
You can use www.viamichelin.com to plan driving routes. Venice to Ortisei is mostly austostrada (with tolls) to past Bolzano, then up into the mountains to Ortisei.
By train and bus is not too difficult. Start with a bus from the airport to Venice Mestre train station, then a train to Verona where you change to a train to Bolzano, then a bus to Ortisei.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Are you spending any time in Venice?
Are you spending any time in Rome? There's a direct train from the city center to Civitavecchia, versus trains from Fiumicino airport (if you drop the car there) will double back through Rome. Or if you're skipping Rome, you also can drive right into Civitavecchia; traffic was heavy when I did passed through two years ago, but the main road seemed adequately signed. Europcar, Avis, and Hertz are all there.
Where are you staying on Lake Como? Varenna is easy enough by train, so you don't actually need a car if staying there. Train route from Bolzano to Varenna would include connections at Verona and Milan. From Varenna to Rome, you only have to connect in Milan.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you all for very helpful advice. after thinking things through, I am opting to take a
Bus to the Venice train station from the VCE, then train to Verona-to Bolzano -Ortisei (Bus)
From Ortisei, will take the train to Lake Como, (we are staying at the Piazza Cavour) then to Rome via train
We are not going to do Venice or Rome. We arrive in Rome to stay one night before heading out to Civitavecchia) to get on a cruise ship.please let me know how you would advise me traveling from Ortisei to Lake Como, Lake como to Rome via train. Thank you so much