We have a party of nine people who need to travel from Florence to a villa near San Gimignano where we are staying for a week. We plan to rent 3 cars in order to do day trips around the countryside. It looks impossible to rent a car in Florence and drive out of the city. Should we train to San G and rent cars there? We are hoping to take the rental car to Milan at the end of our week and drop at the Malpensa airport before we fly out.
Posted by
Toronto, Canada
415 posts
Why does it look impossible to rent a car in Florence? There are rental offices just outside of the limited traffic zone, or even within it which you can use and then just drive out of the city. Or you could rent at the airport and drive out onto the autostrada quite easily for your trip to your villa. I've rented cars three times in Florence, so really need to understand why it is impossible. Please give more information.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33821 posts
Should we train to San G and rent cars there? That will be difficult because San Gimignano is a hill town and trains don't go there. If you are scared of the dreaded ZTLs in Firenze you could go to the airport and rent there.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
We have picked up & returned several times at the Hertz with no problems - easy drive out of city Via Borgo Onnisanti, 137R
50123 Florence, Province of Florence, Italy
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8319 posts
There are a number of Hertz suburban locations in addition to the airport. Any can give you directions to going south to San Gimignano via Poggibonsi with staying clear of the downtown ZTL. And Tuscany is best seen by automobile. The roads are easy to negotiate. I would choose a city rental car operation over the airport to minimize taxes and other charges. Check AutoEurope.com beat Hertz's rates last year, and I picked the car up and returned it at Hertz.
Posted by
OP
Buffalo, New York
20 posts
Thanks for the quick replies. Perhaps I was reading too much into some people's descriptions of difficulties in driving out of Florence. You have all given me more confidence about it and I will look further into rental locations on more the edges of town. Thanks