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? on Parking in FLR - cheaper to keep car than to take train

? on Parking in FLR - cheaper to keep car than to take train

Old Aug 16th, 2005, 11:51 AM
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? on Parking in FLR - cheaper to keep car than to take train

I've heard all the warnings - NO ONE wants a car in Florence. The only reason I thought of it is b/c our b&b (B&B Peterson) says carpark is right in front of their building. However, carpark website has no English version - only a few English words like "Home, Links..."

http://www.firenzeparcheggi.it/index.php

There would be four of us traveling from Bellagio to Florence, then two days later to Panzano/Tuscany. The price to have the car sit in Florence is only $85 more than picking it up when we leave - cheaper than the trains from Como/Milan.

But I still don't know how much parking is. Does anyone know? If not I will email the b&b, but I thought I might get some advice here first.

Does anyone REALLY want to talk me out of this on issues not based on price?
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Old Aug 16th, 2005, 12:27 PM
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ira
 
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Hi T,

>.... B&B Peterson says carpark is right in front of their building.<

Can you tell me just what you wrote and just what Mrs Ancilotti said?

I've stayed there.

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Old Aug 16th, 2005, 12:39 PM
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Ira, I'm staying on your recommendation! I thanked you on an itinerary review a few weeks ago and said I had mentioned you were an 'internet' friend. Mrs. A. said you are a wonderful friend to them!

But I didn't actually ask them yet, there is a mention of it on their website and the link I posted...

"There are parking facilities and a bus stop just outside the main building entrance."

Is that a bit misleading?
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Old Aug 16th, 2005, 12:47 PM
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I can't speak for this particular place, but I've learned over the years that it is quite common for a European hotel to say "parking is available" and mean that they happen to be on a street that sometimes if not too full and it isn't the day of the week when parking isn't allowed and if you are a bold enough parker to squeeze into a space that is 2 inches longer than your car and if you promise to move the car every three hours and if you pay for the ticket and display it properly -- then there is in fact parking available.
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Old Aug 16th, 2005, 12:59 PM
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LOL, you're doing a good job trying to talk me out of this without discussing the price Patrick!

In my head it seems much easier to get the car and keep it, even if the cost is a wash (I'm guessing parking is minimally 20 EU a day, but have no clue!). Its not like we're skipping the train exprience, we will still have plenty of that.

I'll see what Ira tells me and may have to email the owners.
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Old Aug 16th, 2005, 03:15 PM
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Not sure if this is any help either, but our first time in Florence we had a car (part of a very long lease car through Europe plan) so, of course, we kept it while in Florence. We stayed at the Hermitage Hotel right by the Ponte Vecchio. It took us a long time to arrive at the hotel as we kept running into one way streets that would take us clear across the river or into construction that closed the route we were trying to take (despite having a map). We were thrilled when we finally arrived at the hotel and a young man came out and offered to take the car for us and park it somewhere. For the next three days we never knew where it was and didn't care, until we got ready to leave and he brought it to us.
If it makes sense to keep the car (and it sounds in your case like it does) then do so and find out where and how you park the car. How bad can it be for two nights?
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Old Aug 16th, 2005, 08:02 PM
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You can locate parking in Florence (and other cities) on www.mappy.com
Enter Florence Italy on the map info and on the righthand side under practical info click on car parks. They will appear numbered on the map with a list with weblinks below the map. You might find one nearby with English on their website.
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Old Aug 17th, 2005, 06:02 AM
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Hi T,

"There are parking facilities and a bus stop just outside the main building entrance."

Since Mrs Ancilotti is not a native English speaker, she can be forgiven for not putting a comma between two independent clauses.

You can park in the metered lot on Via Belfiore, but I don't know the rules or the fees.

There is a bus stop directly in front of the building.

As KYB suggests, look up the address on www.mappy.com.

You can find walking distances to the nearby parking lots if you change "express" to "pedestrian".

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