Tuscany itinerary

Dennis: That sounds like it works. Obviously every traveler would do this a little differently. You've been hanging around the Helpline long enough so that I know you know the Florence rental car pick-up location drill: pick up the rental car in Florence anywhere other than a pick-up location that causes you to (deliberately or accidentally) drive through the historic city center (within the ring road) that has the ZTL cameras (zones of limited traffic), which are eagerly waiting to snap pics of your license plate and enrich the Florence city coffers by about $120 of your hard-earned money every time your car drives by one of the cameras (hey, David needs a new pair of shoes).

Kent,
I'm hoping the people at the rental car pick up place (which there are two to choose from in downtown Florence) can help guide me out of town and bypass the city center.

Dennis: Okay, but be advised, that exact plan (asking the rental car company for guidance to avoid the ZTL) has not worked well for several travelers reporting in here. Logic and common sense say your plan would work, but of course logic and common sense have nothing to do with driving in Florence.So far the Helpline record for most Florence ZTL fines is $120 x 5 = $600 in a couple of hours (at least €82 for every time you drive past one of the cameras). When you get back, let us know if you beat that. We have an Oscar-like statuette of Rick that we award for Most ZTL Fines.

Have you picked up a rental car in Florence? I am not familiar with Florence but I do plan to leave the city as soon as I have the car. They have 2 locations to pick up the car-perhaps one is better suited for me.

No, I myself wouldn't pick up a rental car in Florence so I don't have any personal experience with that. Here's what I've learned about the Florence ZTL zones, when the site opens, scroll down a little and you'll see pics of your friend the ZTL cameras Florence ZTL FinesMaybe someone has a map showing the location of the zones?

Maybe I should take a bus to Siena and pick up the car there.

What's worked for some people is picking up the rental car at the Florence airport, which is well outside the ZTL zones.

Ahhh, the pleasures of driving in ItalyThis pic was taken just before a car showed up going in the opposite direction.

What would you do? Siena? Florence airport? (even though I'm driving south of the city and it's on the north side)

I'd pick up at the Florence airport, then print out and follow these instructions (the ones at the link, scroll down a bit for the applicable part of the driving instructions) for getting from the Florence airport to the autostrada http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/sv_florence_airport.htm

Kent,
After reading your advice, I've decided to pick up at the airport. The route seems easy to follow and knowing me, I'd get the award hands down for those tickets in Florence. Many thanks.
Dennis

If you're going to travel via Autostrada and visit large towns or cities then I would recommend taking the bus.

If you are going to drive then I would encourage you to get off the beaten path and visit small towns instead of places where cars are useless (and expensive to park!)

So, I may be missing something, but I would consider picking up your car after Siena instead of in Florence. I can't remember off the top of my head, but perhaps Chiusi if not Siena itself.

If you do rent a car in Florence, definitely pick up your car at the airport.

For a map of the ZTLs in Florence, click here. IF you zoom in to about 200% on your browser, you'll be able to read the street names. The yellow lines indicate transit routes....ways to get thru ZTLs without being ticketed....but don't venture off them!

I plan to pick up my car at the airport and drive to San Gimignano and Volterra on the first day.

Hey Norm, thanks for the ZTL map. I remembered somebody posting it here last year (probably you) but hadn't bookmarked now, now I have.How did you figure out that the yellow lines are safe transit lanes? (as if anyone could be sure of staying on them in Florence, right?)

I'll stick to the airport

The downtown rental offices are on the Borgo Ognissanti which is the street with the yellow traffic permitted designation in Sector A.

I say do anything to avoid driving in the city centre of Florence. We had a car an attempted to pick up my niece from a hostel she was staying at.
We could not find our way to the highway! The entrance we knew to use was closed and we could not understand the Italian highway workers when they kept giving us directions as we drove around in circles for almost 2 hours! Then I saw a tour bus and told my sister, follow it and it will take us to the highway. Sure enough it did! Never again will we try that. That's what trains are for!

Happy Travels!

Dennis,
Get yourself a map or check on line directions. Do not use the Slow Travel link, that will take you to the A1 autostrada and you want the Raccordo Siena- Firenze.