We would like to drive from Roma to Dubrovnik in September. I have heard that crossing into another country with a rental car is expensive with insurance and pick-up and drop off in seperate countries. Any ideas, tips? Would a train from say Trieste to Ljubljana, Slovenia and then car down to Dubrovnik be a good idea?
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
Are you trying to get to Dubrovnik with as few stops as possible along the way? If so, your best bet may be to get from Rome to Trieste somehow (car, train, etc.), then take the bus from Trieste to Rijeka, Croatia, pick up your car there and continue on to Dubrovnik. However, given the great distance, you will want to consider overnighting a few times along the way.
Taking the train to Ljubljana doesn't really do you any good, as you'd be picking up the car in Slovenia and dropping it off in Croatia, thereby incurring the hefty drop-off fee. Unless, of course, your trip is being planned so you will drive back north, too. But then you may as well pick up and drop off the car in Trieste.
Or, and this may seeem like the least desirable option to you given you indicated you'd like to drive, you could take the ferry from Venice to the Istrian peninsula and go from there. Ferries also leave from Italy at Ancona and Bari, but I believe those ferry routes will drop you off further down the coastline of Croatia.
Let us know what your plans are (i.e. how many stops you'd like to make, places you'd like to see, how much time you have, etc.) and that might help in getting the best advice. Hope this helps!
Posted by
Puyallup, WA, USA
881 posts
I think you've got the right idea. That would probably save you money.
We've found drop off fees in that area to be pretty excessive ($598USD ish), so we're doing a combination of train and car. Slovenia is very small. It might be worth your dollar (if you really want to drive) to stop in Venice or Trieste, and then take the bus or train (or as mentioned stop at one of the ferry points), and get another car in your final destination if you need one.
There's also the Eastern European driving fee which varies from company to company, but we've found it to be about 60.00EUR.
PS - The train from Trieste main station actually buses you up near the border, then you hope on a train (30min bus trip). It's included in your train fare, but just kind of a pain, so fyi.
If you can do without the car, might be an idea... Larry on here knows a lot about getting cheap tickets in Italy! :)
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Sounds like you want the rental car for Italy and Croatia, but will only be passing through Slovenia. If that's the case, you're best bet may be to take the train from Trieste to Zagreb and rent there. If renting in Croatia, consider Uniline. Like Enterprise, they will bring the car to you during business hours (must arrange in advance). For a minimum 3 day rental, Uniline won't charge extra to pick up in Zagreb and drop off in Dubrovnik.