After visiting Venice for few days, my husband and I would like to spend about 9 days traveling from Venice to Lago di Garda, the Wine region in Eppan and to Bolzano, Brixen, the Dolomites, etc. Based on the distances, does anybody know if it is best to rent a car, or try the train to each destination? Also, if we rent the car, the hire will be in Venice (or Verona) and drop off in Vienna (our "hub"). Do you know what will the drop off fee might be?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Were I doing it, a car would be ideal........except that (doing a quick check on kayak for an arbitrary nine days in May) renting a small Fiat would cost $335 if you renturned it in Italy and $1055 if you ditched it in Vienna.
Posted by
OP
BLAINE, WA
4 posts
I agree with Ed, the cost is prohibited. Not a good option. Couple of thoughts for anybody to provide me input/comments:
a)In Bolzano, rent a car for 3 days to travel in the countryside (Wine/Alpine country and small villages); all other travel by train; or
b)Rent the car in Vienna for the round trip. This would require parking the car in Venice for 4 days while visiting there and its surroundings.
Anyone aware of best train connections to Salzburg from Bresonano, Bolzano or Trento?
Again, MANY THANKS for your comments!
Posted by
OP
BLAINE, WA
4 posts
Thank you everybody for your good advise. The more I do cost comparisons, it looks like the train/car option is the best; and yes, we already have the IDP. The itinerary would be like this:
Train from Vienna to Venice; short trips by train from Venice to Padua and Verona; Train from Venice to Bolzano.
3 day car in the Bolzano/Dolomite region.
Train from Bolzano to Salzburg (THIS IS THE ONE I AM NOT SURE OF? -) anybody know?
Train from Salzburg back to Vienna.
Altogether it is a 10 day trip.
PS: What is "ztl?
Posted by
Puyallup, WA, USA
881 posts
We did the reverse (pick up in Vienna, drop off in Venice), it made sense for 4 people - but not for two. Called around though, and the drop off rates varied wildly.
If you drop the car off in Italy though, then catch the train to Vienna, there drop off fee may not be that bad. (I've seen them range from 0 to 125 to $700 for Venice to Rome as an idea).
Posted by
Puyallup, WA, USA
881 posts
PS- 4 days of parking in Venice is not very expensive at all (especially when compared to drop off fees), and with the big parking garages there, fairly simple. (I think you can leave vehicles for 4 days, - worth checking though.)
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
We used a car, which worked well. Be sure to bring a GPS, signage is pretty horrible and the time you save will more than pay the cost of a good GPS unit. By one here (Garmin or TomTom with European maps included) and learn to use it before your trip.
Drop in Verona, Trento or Bolzano on your way to Vienna and take a train from there. Whereever the faster train stops.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Maria,
Given the destinations you'll be visiting, a combination of train and rental car would probably be best, somewhat along the lines of Option (a) in your second post. It would help to know which places you'll be visiting and in which order?
As someone else suggested, a GPS along with a good map for 'backup' would be a really good idea. One other important point to note is that for driving in Italy, the compulsory International Driver's Permit will be required. This must be used in conjunction with your regular D.L. Failure to produce an I.D.P. if requested can result in fines on the spot! I haven't heard of any ZTL areas in Bolzano, but you might want to check some of the other posts here on the topic.