We are six weeks away from our first trip to Italy and I would appreciate a little advice on getting around. We will leave Florence for four days in Tuscany (where we would like to have a car to explore the area) and then move on to Rome.
I was thinking we should take the train from Florence to Siena, rent and return the car in Siena and then train to Rome.
Is this a good/efficient/wise plan?
If you have other suggestions on how best to move around and rent the car, I would love to get some feedback.
And thank you, folks! This forum has been invaluable in planning our trip!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
You'll be glad you have the extra flexibility that a car gives you to explore the Tuscany countryside.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
nancy,
"Is this a good/efficient/wise plan? "
It depends on where you are planning on staying. Check Autoeurope for prices picking up in Siena and returning in Chiusi or Orvieto.
This may help http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
360 posts
You'll definitely want the car in Tuscany to get around the area and not have to be limited by the train or bus routes. We priced out the car for a Florence pick up vs. Siena and it was cheaper for us to pick up in Florence and then it was cheaper to drop in Rome, rather than Orvieto. It may have just been the timing of our particular dates, as others have commented that it was better for them to do the opposite (we rented through Budget). And I agree with one of the earlier comments, the difference in price by even one day (earlier or later) can be different -- if you can do an exact week, that's usually the best pricing.
Posted by
Chicago
8721 posts
I would pick up the car at the Florence airport and drive the Chianti road to Siena and spend a night there; the hotel Ravizza and the Athena are two hotels I have stayed in that have parking within the walls. I would drive to Rome and drop the car there -- we usually drop at FCO and train or cab to our lodgings in Rome. The area from Siena to Rome is the most gorgeous part of Tuscany and there are wonderful places just north of Rome. There are the Etruscan tombs of Cervetari and Tarqunia, the amazing hot spring water fall of Saturnia where you can bathe for free in this magic place; there are little towns like Sovana surrounded by Etruscan tomb sites in the hills.
Another great spot to stay would be Montepulciano and there is a hotel fairly near the main gate with parking.
There is no point in the added hassle and expense of training from Florence to Siena and then on to Rome (which is not well connected by train to Siena) when you will be renting a car anyway. Most agencies don't charge a drop fee within country; if you are quoted one, use a different company.
Posted by
Tacoma, Wa, USA
34 posts
Just to add to the already informative comments-
Train from Rome to Orvieto. Walk across the street from stazione Orviet-Scalo to Hertz and you're off to Civita Di Bagnoregio or other nearby towns in Umbria.
Train to Chiusi (from Roma or Firenze) and Hertz is across the street. Now you have southern Tuscany- Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Cortona within your grasp. Drive the back roads north out of Pienza to see where English Patient was filmed and walk around the town of Montisi. Amazing.
You can reserve Hertz rental before you leave USA.
Also, you can arrange a rental car through vendors in Cortona. Take the train to Camucia/Cortona, and have it arranged for them to drop the car at stazione, or just walk to their office nearby.
Get super cover supplemental insurance (you can't add this until you get to the Hertz office and it's not much more), to get your deductible down to ZERO. Otherwise any damage can cost you as deductibles are high.