dc2002

We leave tomorrow with our 3 kids to Italy. Fly into Rome then drive to Lucca (not planned that way..airlines changed it on us) Well my husband has a respiratory infection. He started the z pack yesterday but doesn't knowif he will be able to fly tomorrow. (And we don't have travel insurance, didn't even think of it!) If I have to go solo with him meeting us there I need to take the train to pisa and get our car there. Any way this can easily be done? Seems like it would be hard to land then take a train to the tirmini station and fo from there. Any suggestions to help this very stressed mom out would be greatly appreciated!!!!

tarquin

I think your husband may feel well enough to fly tomorrow, especially knowing that medical services in Lucca, a prosperous town, are likely to be good. And pharmacists can often provide medications you would have to have a prescription for in the states.

If he decides not, couldn't you collect your hire car from Rome airport instead of Pisa? In any case, a night in Rome to recover from the flight before driving to Lucca seems like a good idea.

bilboburgler

Right slow down, it is easy

You can buy the tickets on line and pick up at Rome airport. The station is easy too.
You need this website and these two names (the first is the sirport name and the second is Pisa station, one change in Termani.
http://www.trenitalia.com
Fiumicino Aeroporto
Pisa Centrale

To find the station at the airport you follow the train signs and basically after baggage you go along a bit and up.

Read seat61.com if you want more

bilboburgler

Two other thoughts, if you are stressed buy the first class ticket and have loads of space to sit while jet lag gets you. Italian trains are pretty good at leaving on time and while there are no porters you just need to walk to the end of a couple of platforms, also you will find loads of people to speak English to in these international areas.

Car pick up in Pisa, where is it?

bilboburgler

I've just re-read your enquiry. You need auto-europe.com and choose the stazione centrale pickup. There are at least two car hires at the station. Don't get the airport pickup.

You could fly with Al Italia Fiumincino to Pisa airport, which is a nice little airport with car hire there, there may be seats. www.alitalia.com/

DebitNM

3 same day airline tickets may be very costly, as would a last minute car rental, no??

bilboburgler

Last minute stuff does cost more, but once you accept this the issues I would worry about is

Jet Lag (both in driving and kids tantrums)
Unfamiliar territory and transport system (see above)

Driving a lot in these conditions would be risky. If the Villa you are staying in is not too far from Pisa why not take taxi, swallow the cost but save the lives.

nytraveler

Agree - if it seems that DH will follow a day or two later organize to delay the car a day and just get to your lodging using some other form of transport (taxi if needed) and let DH pick up the car when he arrives.

Also - I don;t see how old the kids are. Are they capable of helping out with all this - or are they little ones? If the latter I would contact the lodging and the car and delay them and just get a hotel and wait for your DH in Rome.

sandralist

Hi,

I once flew to Italy with a respiratory infection and ended up spending 16 days in an Italian hospital. I didn't have travel insurance either, and we had to cancel some very expensive non-refundable hotel reservations. We consoled ourselves with the knowledge that it was money we were going to spend anyway, so we really didn't "lose" it. Fortunately, the Italian hospital bill was a tiny fraction of what it would have been in the US and our insurance paid the balance anyway.

However, it might be best for your husband to stay home -- and maybe everybody else too.

But if you end up landing in Rome with your kids and not your husband, take a taxi to Rome Termini station, and then take a train to Florence, and another train to Lucca. Take a taxi to your lodgings from the train station. Don't bother with the car. Call the rental company and tell them you won't be needing it. Or if you do need it, then tell them you will pick it up later. But just go to wherever you are staying in Lucca using taxis.

bilboburgler

All good advice, Lucca is close to Pisa by taxi

bilboburgler

dc, so how did it go?

Pintxos

What did you end up doing?