We are planning our return trip to Italy. I need advice on transportation suggestions.
Flying into Milan, spending 2 days. Taking train to Riomaggiore. We want to see the following areas, Siena, San Gimignano and Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Should we base out of Riomaggiore and take the train for day trips, should we rent a car in Florence and base out of there? We will work our way down to Rome and fly out there. Looking at a total of 11 days.
Thanks for your suggestion!
Basing out of Riomaggiore for your intended destinations IS NOT a good idea.
Given your desired destinations in Tuscany, if I were in your shoes, after your visit in Riomaggiore, however long that is, I would take the train to nearby La Spezia (10 min from Riomaggiore) and rent a car.
By car I would then travel to a base somewhere in the province of Siena, but probably not Siena itself, since the city of Siena has traffic restrictions to non resident cars. When you visit Siena by car, you need to park outside the city walls. There is plenty of parking at the Fortezza Parking lot near the stadium. Just follow directions to the stadium (Stadio), often symbolized by a soccer ball logo on Italian road signs.
San Gimignano also has traffic restrictions inside the city walls (like most Italian ancient cities and towns), just park at the parking lots surrounding the ancient walls.
I recommend a car for your trip (after your visit at the Cinque Terre) because you seem to want to visit smaller towns and a car is more efficient for your destinations. The abbey of Monte Oliveto also requires a car as I don't think there are public transport options (it's in the middle of the countryside).
Once you arrive in Rome, return your car upon arrival and go to your hotel by taxi from the rental office where you drop off the car. Big cities are not where you want to have a car.
For rental cars I suggest using a consolidator:
www.autoeurope.com
www.kemwel.com
The above are part of the same corporation after a merger years ago. They work similarly but check both as prices vary. They work primarily with Avis-Budget, Europcar, Hertz, etc. but offer better pricing than directly with those companies. Select a pick up in La Spezia and a drop off in Rome.
If Hertz is your selection and you intend to visit Orvieto, you could also return the car in Orvieto (which has a Hertz location) and proceed to Rome by train. If you return in Rome, there are many locations to choose from with all rentals (Avis, Hertz, Europcar). The Tiburtina train station is easy to reach from the freeways. But I would use the website of the company you want to use to find their office locations. Choose one easily reachable from the GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare, the ring like beltway circling around Rome. Most companies have an office up on via Salaria, at the northern end of Rome near Settebagni. That is good to reach.
Have a GPS with you.
Milan - 2 nts
Riomaggiore - 2 nts
Siena - 2 nts
Florence - 2 nts
Rome - 3 nts
Rent a car in Siena for San Gimignano and Monte Oliveto Maggiore. The rest would be easy by train.
