We are currently in Italy and rented a car through AutoEurope. We took a bus from Montepulciano to the Chiusi train station which was easy. We purchased the paper tickets at the bus station (although you can buy them at the tabaccheria which wasn’t open when we needed to leave). You fold the paper in half as instructed (the bus driver showed us) and make sure you validate the ticket when you get on the bus. Half way through our one hour ride to Chiusi, a controller hopped on and checked tickets. We noticed he checked someone’s passport. It went smoothly. Upon arrival in Chiusi, we walked a block from the train station to Avis. We had a cappuccino at a restaurant a few steps away from Avis while we waited for our reserved time to pick up the car. The entire experience was great.
Posted by
Gulf Coast, usa
1161 posts
Thanks for posting this. We were going to take a train one day from Cortona to rent a car for the day in Chiusi from Budget/Avis to Montepulciano. You have intrigued my interest in this bus. Does it run frequently enough so that instead of having to rent a car we could actually just bus there? Does it make a lot of stops?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15161 posts
Three bus lines to choose from: FT2, FT4, FT5. Slightly different itinerary but they all connect Montepulciano to,Chiusi train station.
https://www.at-bus.it/media/mod_timetables/timetables/EXSI/FT2.pdf
https://www.at-bus.it/media/mod_timetables/timetables/EXSI/FT4.pdf
https://www.at-bus.it/media/mod_timetables/timetables/EXSI/FT5.pdf
Posted by
OP
62 posts
Roberto - Thanks for the bus schedule links!
The bus was actually quite calming and was only an hour. If you would like to see more than Montepulciano, then renting a car might be worth it, however for a day, I’m not sure. We have a car for a few days. I was disappointed in Pienza, honestly.
Posted by
OP
62 posts
Update - we returned the car at the Avis location which is less than a block from the rail station. There were absolutely no issues with the return. We purchased "no deductible" so if there was any damage, the agent said we wouldn't be liable. We took pictures of the car before and after. However, we are not sure if we will yet be fined. While our drivers were diligent in staying within the speed limits, the speed signs changed quickly. The police cameras were marked and were usually in a short orange posts that had a black and white sign of a police hat. We guess that by the time you see them, you have already been seen. It is very true that many of the Italian drivers would ride your bumper and pass whenever possible - even when it didn't seem possible causing a few backseat drivers to have a loud reaction (including myself).