Getting From Milan to Arezzo

Old May 29th, 2016, 08:00 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Getting From Milan to Arezzo

Family trip of 5 people that includes a toddler. We need some guidance on how to reach our destination which is a little town outside of Arezzo.

We: Fly into Milan on a Saturday and had planned to pick up a car at airport and drive to villa (4 hours away). Thought of taking a train from Milan to Arezzo--but-- the car agencies close 12noon and of course, closed on Sunday! We would be without transport to the villa.

Then: Considered a train from Milan airport to Florence and rent car there --but-- we found that car agencies are not at train station. We would have to leave the family for what could be a long time to taxi to get the car and then, have to drive back to train station to pick them up--- may not be the answer (probably a fine zone to drive to train station!).

We already have our villa starting on the Saturday we arrive---anyone drive from Milan to Arezzo on day of arrival and have advice? Which route: A1 and around Florence to Arezzo or A1 towards Bologna and then along the eastern roadways towards Arezzo? The least hectic roadways would be best with a large group!

Lastly: since we are a family of 5, I have had to research at least a larger-sized SUV to accommodate us and our luggage. I had thought to get the larger vehicle to the villa and then change over to a more moderate size for day-to-day travel and do the same thing for the return trip to Milan when we depart.

Researching the cost of renting a car for a month in Italy has proven to be staggering! The prices range from $4-10,000 for a month for an automatic with air cond---I did not add GPS when looking! I did not expect the pricing to be so high; we have rented vehicles in Sicily and in Rome; I do not recall the pricing to be so exhorbitant---is there a reason for such a steep price?

We would not get a car, but our villa is a bit remote in a town near Anghiari, Arezzo. So to get to the grocery store, restaurants, etc. we felt it necessary. Our sightseeing plan includes a trip to Perugia, Siena, Florence, Pisa/Lucca, Ancona (?), Assisi and perhaps Venice. Except for our trips to Florence and Venice via train, we did feel a car would be fine for the other small local towns. Are we correct?

Travel advice to these towns is most welcome! Suggestions for other towns and places of interest is much appreciated!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and advise us. We are very excited about this trip and would like to plan so we can enjoy living like a local!
arb152 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 08:20 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Firstly, it sounds like it will be a lovely trip, Anghiari is a beautiful town. I don't know that it is a good idea to drive from Milan after a long flight.

Yes, you are correct in thinking you will need a car for your location and all that you want to do.

You could train from Milan to Florence (Santa Maria Novella station) and then there is a shuttle bus to the airport where you could pick up a rental car. You would then avoid driving in Florence itself. The shuttle bus leaves every 30 minutes apparently. The airport in Florence is not far from the city centre.

I went on the Auto Europe site and see that there is a Hertz agency not too far from the train station but if it were me I think I'd rent from the airport.

But then you are going to need to change the car for a smaller one? To avoid all that what about the option of taking the train Milan to Florence and then having a car service take you all to the villa, then getting the appropriate sized vehicle on Monday?

Have you already booked the tickets, because it would be much easier to fly into Florence, pick up a rental car at the airport and proceed to your villa.
raincitygirl is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 08:23 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm sure there are car rental agencies at Santa Maria Novella train station, or in the immediate vicinity. You just have to be very careful about getting out of the city without crossing into a ZTL. The rental agency should give you precise directions. Or, you could take the bus to the airport as suggested above.
bvlenci is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 08:26 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also, where have you looked for a rental car, because those prices do seem too high, even though automatic cars in Europe are more expensive to rent than standards. Can you not drive a standard?

Do a little research on the ZTL's in each of the towns/cities you want to drive to also because I'm sure that Siena and Pisa at least have those as well.
In Siena we parked near the train station and took a cab to the city centre.
raincitygirl is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 09:36 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee at the airport in Venice in March and it was approximately 200 USD per day including winter tires, automatic transmission, GPS, 2 drivers and every single extra insurance we could get. So some 6000 USD for a month sounds reasonable for a SUV, but definitely not for a smaller car. A smaller car should be much less. It may have to do with the fact that there are no smaller automatic cars at the location you checked.

Taking the train to Florence and renting there sounds incredibly complicated. The autostrada Milano-Bologna is very good, after that at some point you have a choice of two autostrade to Florence, the panoramic one will probably have less traffic but the other one may be faster. They join before Florence.

In my experience you are correct about the car. My family has a house in the hills/mountains in Tuscany and a car is a total must.
ticino is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 09:41 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you both for your advice.

Raincitygirl we looked into a driver from Milan, not from Florence....I will try that, but I do not know how we could get from the villa to the car agency?? Do they drop off cars to customers as they do in USA??

I have looked on many sites for automatic, a/c and for the larger SUV for 5 ppl/3 luggage for almost 1 month:
auto-Europe site / europcar is $4600 for Audi Q5 or similar and $5400 with extended insurance. Or auto-Europe / Range Rover Evoque for $9100. Both pu and return at Milan airport. We are getting an automatic so we can share driving, if needed. I understand the upgrade, but this is really high!

I researched the airfare extensively and the cost of the villas....but, never thought that the car rental would end up being the big concern! Don't understand it.

Non-Stop flight to Milan was by far the least expensive option for the 5 of us v Florence with no NS service from NYC area and at least $300 pp more...so, we had to choose Milan. Driving from Rome was 2 1/2 hours and $300 more, Florence was 1 hour and 40 mins --- so, I chose Milan.
Thank you for looking up the agencies. If you have any other advice---would appreciate it.

BTW: I just looked up auto-Europe with a Florence airport pu and return: $9147...they only have a Range Rover. The rest are mini vans. So it's not just high prices at the Milan airport. I will look at off airport sites in both cities.

bvlenci: unfortunately, the car rentals are not at the train station. I have looked. Now that I just researched and saw that the Florence a/p is also expensive; I will begin to research other locations.

I read on some of your previous posts that you live in Italy---any thoughts on what to see or where to eat in any of the towns we will visit: Perugia, Assisi, Arezzo, Lucca/Pisa and possibly San Gim. We are familiar with Florence, Venice and Rome ---- and if you have recommendations for these areas, we would be most appreciative.

Is A1 as mountainous as a few have posted? Could you advise if it is better to drive around Florence and south or around Bologna and the east coast to Arezzo?

Again, thanks to you both and hopefully, we will find a reasonably priced car. Ciao!
arb152 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 09:50 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,817
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
The drive from Malpensa to Anghiari is well over 4 hours. The train from Malpensa to Florence is nearly 3 hours, then 30 minutes to the airport, rent the car, and then drive nearly 2 hours to Anghiari. Either way doesn't sound good coming off a long flight.

You're more likely to get the exact vehicle you want/need at either of the airports and not at one of the agencies in the city of Florence, even if they promise up and down that the car will be there. I would look for a van rather than an SUV which might be considered a 'specialty' car.

I think your day-trip plans are too optimistic, esp. with a toddler. The drive from Anghiari to Pisa is at least 2.5 hours each way; the train is about the same but you'd have to get to Arezzo first. The train from Arezzo to Venice is 3.5-4 hours each way, and again you need to get to Arezzo first. The drive to Siena is at least 90 minutes each way, more if you get hung up in the traffic outside Siena. Ancona is over 2 hours each way.

I suggest you think closer to Anghiari... Arezzo, Gubbio, Sansepolcro, Cortona, Montepulciano, maybe Pienza. FYI, almost every town, no matter the size, has a ZTL.
Jean is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 09:54 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dear Ticino--

Thank you so much for the verification on pricing and the need for the car where will be staying.

When driving rom Milan, did you find the roadways on A1 south (around Florence) to Arezzo better than A1 to Bologna and then E45 east toward Ancona, on to SS71? We are unfamiliar with this section of Tuscany, safety is a concern and we want to take the less narrow, mountain roads, if possible.

In the past, we have driven from San Giustino Valdarno to Arezzo, Cortona and Siena....those roads were quite curvy through the mountains. For a short drive, we can manage, but---for 4 hours and with a larger group, we prefer not!

Grazie for your time and advice. Ciao
arb152 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 10:07 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dear Jean...

With much thanks on all the tips; I will pass along to the others.

Rome is a definite over night stay. We will take the train and spend a few days to show our granddaughter the highlights. Venice, we have been to several times and not a "must do".

Pisa...would be for our gd, so she could see the Leaning Tower. I have been there and I am not rushing for a redo!! We will keep this as a maybe

I have never been to Gubbio or Sansepolcro; wanted to include Montepulciano or Pienza, if possible. Now that you included them on your list....I will definitely fit in at least 1, maybe 2 when I check out the distance from the villa. Most of us have been to Cortona.


We will be there a month and will most likely do 2-3 daily visits per week to nearby towns.

Thanks again!
arb152 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 10:08 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,817
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
When looking at car rentals... Rather than pay a daily charge for GPS, consider buying a Garmin or Tomtom with European maps. There are some on eBay for +/- $100, and you can resell it when you get home. People also use their phones, but make sure you understand your data plan, etc.

On www.autoeurope.com, depending on your dates, Avis offers a minivan for a month, pick-up at Malpensa, for +/- $4000.
Jean is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 10:12 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,817
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
If anyone wants to climb the Leaning Tower, you need to make timed reservations. There's also a minimum age limit. Ten, I think. If you arrive with any bags or backpacks, they need to be checked before you can climb, so be sure to arrive well before your reservation time.
Jean is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 10:36 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I really don't understand your travel plan. Are you planning to visit all those places as day trips from your villa near Arezzo? I'm afraid you're not aware of how long it would take to get to these places, whether by car or by car and train. I would never consider such an ambitious sightseeing plan, and especially not when traveling with a small child.

You could get to Assisi in about two hours, and maybe also stop in Perugia the same day, but it would be a bit of a long day. Sansepolcro is an easy day trip, and worth the trip. It's a small town, and you could see it fairly quickly. Driving northeast from Sansepolcro, you'd see some very beautiful scenery in a little-visited part of Italy. We just spent a few nights near Pennabilli, and I really think we saw some of the most beautiful scenery in central Italy. You could easily include Sansepolcro and a scenic drive to the north in a day trip. If you can get as far as San Leo, you could visit its beautiful castle on a steep cliff, and also a few very old churches in the lower town.

Arezzo itself is a very nice small city. If you're interested in Renaissance art, there are some masterpieces by Piero della Francesco in both Arezzo and Sansepolcro.

A trip of about two hours would take you to Urbino, passing through some lovely countryside and charming little towns.

The A1 is fine between Milan and Bologna. I don't care at all for the A14 between Florence and Bologna. In this part of Italy, you can't really go very far without driving on mountainous roads, though.

What was your purpose in going to Ancona?
bvlenci is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 10:42 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I found it hard to believe that all the car rental agencies had left the area around the station of Santa Maria Novella. I just checked, and all those agencies are still there. I don't know why you're not finding them. These are major rental offices, not small town agencies like those in Chiusi and Orvieto, which close for lunch and from Saturday noon until Monday morning. I'm pretty sure you'd have no trouble getting a car with automatic transmission there.

However, going to the airport is certainly not very inconvenient, either.
bvlenci is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 11:36 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I guess it is too late to change your flights but for me, especially travelling with a little one, flying to the airport closest to my destination would be my preference. When you consider the hassle and the money to get from Milan to your final destination..

There is no direct flight from Vancouver where I live as well but I find it less hassle to check my luggage straight through to Florence, change planes in Frankfurt and then arrive without a whole lot of hassle.

Anyway, to answer your question about how to get to the rental agency from your villa, I would think you could get a taxi. Do you know how far the villa is from Arezzo? I think the villa rental agency could advise you on taxis.

Also in regards to the GPS, we have taken ours from home, you can get the Italian maps and load them onto it.
raincitygirl is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 11:39 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,853
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry, I meant to also say in the interest of hassle free, maybe the car service from Milan to the villa and then a taxi to the car rental place would be the least stressful thing to do.
raincitygirl is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 12:23 PM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi bvlenci....

Our travel plans are 1 month in Tuscany with sightseeing about 2 days a week; mostly within the nearby area by car or train. A few longer distances, like Rome by train and staying overnight.

Sightseeing in a town about 2 hours away just 2 days a week sounded good to me and not too ambitious -- you think otherwise? If it were up to the others in the group--they would travel more frequently!!

The sites to see on our list are: Assisi, Perugia, Florence and Arezzo for certain (although we have been to Florence and Arezzo). Possible sites: Montepulciano, Pisa/Lucca and somewhere in Umbria.

Sorry you got the impression that I said there are no car rentals near the Santa Maria Novella; I saw them on the map. What I stated was that I would have to leave the family at the train station while I left to go to the agency.... and I would be concerned when I picked them up (who knows how much later!!) that I would run into ZTL!!! What a start that would be!!

I will research Pennabilli, Urbino and San Leo per your suggestions.

And...

Thanks for the heads up on A14 -- which I am assuming is the same road as E45! On the map, A14 shows up further south from where we would turn off to stay on E45 to go onto Anghiari/Arezzo.

Jean: Thanks for all your help, including with the GPS! I do not think we will climb LT of Pisa (good info, though)--quick stop on the way to Lucca.

Ticino and raincitygirl: thank you both for your advice and reassurance!


Advice from all of you is much appreciated!

Ciao.
arb152 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 12:58 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry, I meant the A1! The A14 runs south from Bologna, and is fine for driving.

A trip that looks like 2 hours on Google Maps is often more like 2 1/2 hours. Then you have to find a parking space and walk from there to what you want to see. I wouldn't mind doing a trip like that once a week or so, but it looks as though you're planning such a trip nearly every day. How much time do you have altogether? In my experience, toddlers don't handle long car trips very well.

Assisi and Perugia are both in Umbria.
bvlenci is offline  
Old May 29th, 2016, 03:36 PM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi bvlenci....

We are there for 1 month!

I think 2 trips per week for us should be OK. Train rides will be fun. At 5, my granddaughter should do well for two hours in the car to the nearby towns. That is why I am looking for the less hectic roadways so that we are actually driving and not worrying about mountainous roads that are filled with curvy turns or rather narrow roads--which are not only a bit scary, but would slow us down.
She's looking forward to Perugia and going to the Baci factory! That will be fun! We will cook and bake, eat gelato and learn some Italian.

You seem to have travelled extensively in Italy! Thanks on the A1 v A14 clarification---we may do the A1 from Milan to A14 around Bologna and then take the S45 towards Sansepolcro Sud (Anghiari, Arezzo).

Have you driven these roadways in your travels? Better alternative to the A1 from Milan, around Florence and then to Arezzo in your opinion?

Now...to find a reasonably priced auto!! Ciao.
arb152 is offline  
Old May 30th, 2016, 02:59 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I live in Le Marche, so I've come to Arezzo from the other direction, over mountain roads. I've been on the A1 between Bologna and Milan, but don't ask me for particulars. All I can say is that we had no problems on that road.

I suggest you look at alternative routes on Google Maps. Enlarge the map in the vicinity of Anghiari, and as it gets larger, you'll see pretty clearly whether there are lots of curves and switchbacks on a particular road. In the vicinity of Anghiari you won't find a lot of flatlands, so you'll probably have to deal with curves.

Be sure to come back with a trip report to tell us how it went!
bvlenci is offline  
Old Jun 24th, 2016, 01:00 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have you considered leasing a car instead of renting it?
Luhimari is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -