We have a somewhat complicated itinerary coming up in August -- flying in to Milan, spending 1st night in Parma, then exploring some of Tuscany with Florence, Lucca & Sienna for about a week. A day trip to Cinque Terre. Then wandering down the coast to pick up our 2 daughters at Naples airport & on to Salerno as a base for several days of exploring Amalfi Coast. Then back up the coast to Florence again (now it's 4 of us) & departing from Milan (19 days, not counting flights). Wondering which would be more cost & time effective: car rental at Milan Airport & just hanging on to it til we depart ("storing" for a few days during Cinque Terre & Amalfi area)? Or combining a few car rentals with train? Not sure how complicated it is to actually park & leave ... Any & all advice would be really appreciated!
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Sometimes the long term rental is cheaper, but only you can figure out all of the transport, parking, etc. I have done this on occasion and found the way it worked for me was to stay in a hotel that had parking , leave the car there, take a train to the location where you do not want your car (Amalfi) then return by train to that hotel and pick up your car. Obviously this is arranged with the hotel and there will be some sort of charge for parking while not a guest at the hotel. It can be complicated, but a few times it was the easiest option. I have also parked at train station a few times, but it was actually more than what the hotel charged me. Florence is a problem with a car also. You just might be better off with 2 separate rentals... Possibly picking up in Milan and dropping in Naples... continue on without car and return to Florence by train. Then get another car if you want to explore Tuscany and return car in Milan.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for the input! Are u familiar with Milan's airport? My husband feels it would be easier on jet lag to rent a car right there & drive to Parma, even tho it's close, rather than haul ourselves for an hour to the train station first. And once there are 4 of us, the cost for a car will be less than train tkts. That makes sense, however neither of us has been to Italy so the logistics of parking, etc., may be much bigger than we anticipate. Does anyone know of specific, good places to store a car in Salerno? Maybe a B&B in Tuscany area that would allow?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15224 posts
It's a decision that only you can make.
I find a car useful for all places outside big cities. If you happen to have it and want to keep it while visiting a big city, it is important to choose your accommodations carefully. Accommodations outside the ZTL (limited traffic zone) with parking is ideal and those accommodations are available in any city, including Florence. That generally requires to stay just outside the historical center. For Florence I can recommend a few places. But an even better alternative is to stay outside the city altogether (in the countryside or small towns nearby) and commute in for a day visit by car or train or bus. If commuting in by car, you will need to park in the parking lots outside the historical centers.
A car is also not necessary at the Cinque Terre. If you happen to have one and want to keep it the days you are there, I recommend to find accommodations in Monterosso, which has parking availability. Alternatively you could stay in some other town outside the Cinque Terre, and go to the Cinque Terre by train. Levanto or Bonassola, are good alternatives just 5 min away by train. Wherever you go you need to inquire with the hotel about parking availability.
Of the Cinque Terre towns proper only Monterosso and Riomaggiore have unrestricted public parking availability (for a price of course).