First trip to Europe!

Linda,

My first suggestion would be to allot more time to Rome than just a day trip. It's an incredible city with LOTS to see!

The easiest transportation method from Firenze SMN to Roma Termini would be via train. The EuroStar Italia / Alta Velocita makes that trip in as little as 1H:40M. There's absolutely no way you could travel that quickly via Car!

Next, Florence is about the WORST place in Italy to have a rental car, due to the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato zones. They're basically designed to discourage traffic in the historic centre of the city, so anyone that drives through one (or more) of the automated Cameras without the appropriate permit can expect to receive a nasty surprise in the mail after they get home. In Florence especially, a ZTL ticket is issued every 40 seconds! You may wish to read This site for more details.

Note that to drive in Italy you'll require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which you can obtain at any AAA office for reasonable cost. This MUST be used in conjunction with your home D.L. and ALL drivers must have an IDP. Failing to produce one when requested can result in a fine on the spot!

You might find that for your first trip to Europe, using public transportation might result in a more stress free trip.

I'd also suggest that you read Europe Through The Back Door (if you haven't already). Take special note of the "Rail Skills" section.

Linda:

I echo the previous poster's advice. When we live in North america we cannot imagine being without a car! In Europe you do not need one and it can be an expensive handicap. As well as the congestion taxes, gas is expensive, parking is difficult, scarce and expensive. Trains take you city centre to city centre, are clean, fast, comfortable and most staff speak English. In Italy you may find some who do not, but I think in Rome and Florence this will not be a problem. Locally, buses, trams and light rail transit are easy to negotiate and again, fast and well signed - rolling banners and voice announcement of stops, etc.

On the other hand, I do not know your full itinerary, but as your first visit to Europe, I would suggest you stop in UK or Ireland to become familiar with public transport in a language you are conversant with before venturing onto continental Europe.

We're staying at Castello de Montegufoni-that's the reason for the odd city. We are flying from Chicago to Rome to Florence via Alitalia (another scary thought), where we pick up the car. I know everyone says skip Pisa, but I really want to see that silly tower..and we can totally allow more time for Rome if we need to. Does the Vatican really only give tours twice a day, or am I worrying over nothing?

I'm going to echo much of what has been said above.....for Florence you do not want a car. Parking is absurd and I guarantee you will rack up a few hundred dollars in fines that you will have to pay. (Search the helpline and you'll read horror stories about driving in Florence.)

If you want to visit smaller towns around Florence, then renting a car, outside of town, for a day or two would be a better bet.

As for Rome, one day isn't enough but if that's all you have, then I suggest the train.

Even though it's a German site, go here to get the rail schedule between Florence and Rome. Just check the little British flag at the top of the page to change it to English.

If you want to include Rome in your itinerary. Fly open jaw out of Rome either in or out and train between Florence and Rome. That will eliminate half the travel time. Ordinarily, I wouldn't consider Rome a daytrip from Florence.

If I were to have a car in Florence area, I would either do as has been suggested - rent for a day or two to take trips out of the city and not keep it the entire time or (option b) stay just outside of Florence at a place with convenient public transportation into the center of Florence and free parking for my car.

We were just handed this trip, so it's not possible to try out another country first. The car is part of the gift, but we don't have to use it. We arrive on a Saturday morning and leave the next Saturday morning. We don't have a set itinerary, we just know we want to see Pisa, Venice, Florence, and Rome. I'm just so confused by all the train talk that I'm not sure where to start or what to buy...fast train vs. slow train, pass vs. point to point, reservations vs. not needed, 1st class vs. 2nd class...you get the point. We're actually staying in Montegufoni, which is right outside of Florence...

I have to be honest: if you used the car for just a day, to drive south of Florence into the Tuscan countryside (visit a few smaller hill towns as a day trip, or maybe spend a night at an Agriturismo farm/B&B), that's about the only practical value it will have to you. Otherwise, it would have the potential to actually ruin your trip. Venice is under 3 hours from Florence via train, and Rome is about the same distance heading south from Florence. Buy 2nd class tickets at the station as you go, or from the automated machines. No reason in the world to buy in advance, and no reason for 1st Class. If you share where you are flying in and out of, perhaps we can offer some thoughts on how to divide your time, employ the car for a country day trip, and see what you've identified as priorities. As for Pisa, I think most here would say skip it. Siena is just an hour from Florence via comfortable bus (or car), and is a much nicer town to visit. It's also on the way to Rome (just a direct 3 hour bus ride from Siena to Rome). Apart from possibly racking up high fees for driving accidentally in city centers, traffic and congestion, getting lost, and coping with the somewhat chaotic Italian driving culture, you'll have to park far from anywhere you really want to be--and the car just isolates you from Italian locals you may meet and chat with on the trains. I say go European, and leave the car in the garage!

Linda,

Given the location of Montegufoni, you may need the Car for that, as there doesn't appear to be any rail service. It's quite likely there is Bus service, but I don't have any details on that. That's a bit of an unusual location for a first visit??? If you pick the car up and return to the airport (or other location outside the city), you hopefully won't have to deal with ZTL areas.

With only a week to spend, my suggestion would be to drop Pisa and concentrate your time on Venice, Florence and Rome. Just Florence and Rome (with a stop in Siena or Orvieto) would be even better as it's about 3 hours each way to Venice, which is basically taking one day out of your short vacation time. It won't be enough time to see any of them properly, but will give you a quick look.

For the few rail trips you'll be making, second class P-P tickets are the best option, so you don't need to be concerned with figuring out which Rail Pass will be most suitable. You can buy the tickets there, either from an agent (many of whom speak some English) or one of the automated ticket machines. Purchase of P-P tickets includes the reservation fee which is compulsory on some trains. This is NOT included with Rail Passes and must be paid separately. You might want to download the free PDF Rail Guide from this site (click the "Rail Passes" section at the top, and then look in the lower right corner).

As Gio mentioned it would really help to know which airports you'll be flying in & out of.

Cheers!

Given your flights, as much as I love Venice, I wonder if you shouldn't stick with Rome, Florence and Pisa, then. Pisa is also close to Cinque Terre, although those local trains are unpredictable and chronically late. What if you skipped out of your flight upon arrival in Rome, spent 3 nights there, followed by train to Florence, 2 nights Florence, 2 nights Pisa, then taxi to Florence airport for flight home through Rome? I still don't see how the car helps here, though, especially if not planning time in the country. Sounds like a city trip, and the car is liability. PS: On second thought, make Pisa a day trip via car from Florence, and stay 3 nights Rome and 4 Florence, or the other way around?

Perhaps this is not possible, but personally, I would advise extending your trip a few days. It's going to be a "whirlwind tour" trying to see all those places you mention in such a short time. You will spend what is left of the day you arrive just recovering from jet lag. Few people have the energy to do much the day of arrival. And, you will spend the last day flying home, so effectively you only have six full days in Italy -- Sunday through Friday.

You will note that even Rick Steve's very organized tour to Florence and Rome is nine days. That the minimum tour he offers.

Forgive me for putting it so bluntly, but you've got to be joking about trying to see Rome in one day by taking the train from Florence! It could be done, I guess, but you won't see very much.

Basically, my philosophy of trips to Europe is the same as Rick's -- don't try to see everything at once, and plan on coming back soon!

Website for the Vatican~~http://www.vatican.va/faq/index_en.htm

Linda,

Could you provide a few more details about your stay at Castello di Montegufoni. Are you booked there for the entire week? That will certainly have a bearing on other touring that you'll be doing.

Gio had some great suggestions and after reading your last reply I was also thinking that since you're intent on seeing Pisa, dropping Venice would be a really good idea.

It appears that having a Car will be the best method for getting to & from Montegufoni (according to Their Website). Having a car to get to Florence or Pisa for touring would probably be the most convenient method, but DON'T drive into the city. You might ask the Hotel about parking at the train station at Montelupo Fiorentino, which is apparently about 10kM from the Castle.

I'd highly recommend packing along a copy of the Italy Guidebook, as it will be a valuable reference source for you during the trip.

Are both your inbound and outbound fights via Rome / FCO?

Also, WHEN is your trip taking place?

It's okay to be blunt, as I need all the advice I can get. Just remember I've never been to Italy before so I have no idea of what's possible or not. I'm sure we'll go back-but I don't want to waste the precious time we do have.

Yes, we are staying there all week, from Nov 6-14. Both flights are into/out of Florence-Rome. I've ordered the guidebook that y'all are talking about.

I can't resist -- remember the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day?"

I'd change that to "Rome wasn't seen in a day!"

wow...okay....

A few thoughts here. First, check to see if your villa has transportation to/from the Florence train station. They may also know of organized tours to Pisa, Rome or Venice. If you go to Rome, you might consider staying overnight. The train trip is too long to see anything during the day and return to the villa. For the Vatican, you can book an escorted tour either through the Vatican or a private tour company. We took a noon tour (when the lines are shorter) with a private tour company. Afterwards, go on the Rick Steves' suggested walk through the city to see other sites. The next day, see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, etc. Personally, after looking at the villa's website, I would go to Florence, Venice and Pisa and enjoy what your villa has to offer. I would save Rome for the next trip. PM me for additional info.

Linda,

Some further thoughts on your trip....

Since you're going to be staying in the Florence area for the whole week, you might want to limit your touring to that immediate area. I would still suggest dropping Venice.

For example, from the Castello di Montegufoni you could take day trips into Florence (at least 2 days), a trip to Pisa (1 day?), perhaps a trip to the Cinque Terre (1 day?) and/or Siena or other "hill towns" in Tuscany (spend 1 day in each town?). That would pretty much cover the short week that you have available. Leave Rome and Venice for a future trip, as you really don't have time to see them properly in such a short trip.

Using the Car for some of the trips and train for others would be the method I'd use. Travel by train is usually quicker, it's less stressful, there are no traffic worries, parking costs, etc.

Hopefully the rest of the group will have further suggestions for you as well.