1. We never get it but I suppose opinions differ. Do you usually get it when you travel domestically ?

2. In many cases: If you have a hotel inside the ZTL (not LTZ) zone, it is ok to drive to the hotel to check in and drop off your stuff. Tell the hotel your license number when you check in, and they will call the police and tell them to remove the fine. (They have to call the police anyway to register your presence, which is the law in Italy, so its not a big deal.)

You probably want to contact the hotel and check that you can do this.

The hotel will also have suggestions about where to park out of the zone. You are allowed to drive in an out of the ZTL -- its just for dropping off and picking up your luggage.

3) Don't know.

To clarify: you are NOT allowed to drive around in and out of the ZTL while staying at the hotel.

Thanks. I don't usually get the extra in the US but the consolidators are so serious about it for Italy that it gave me pause. Especially now that the economy is rocky, there may be more temptation to take advantage.

Thanks for the correction on the ZTL and how to work with the hotel on it. Different forum postings have such horror stories about it and I want to avoid hassles.

Parma has a ZTL.

Where are you driving between Milan and Florence that requires a car? You can easily reach Bellagio, Parma and Florence using public trans, by-passing all of those ZTLs and foregoing parking issues everywhere. Some trains Parma-Florence involve a change at Bologna, and there is luggage storage in the Bologna station. Bonus!

From their websites looks like Bellagio and Parma do have ZTLs.

The best way to avoid problems is to become familiar with what the street signs look like. You'll see red circles, and signs saying Zona Traffico Limitato with fine print about the hours of regulation, and cameras.

There may be plenty of traffic in a ZTL, but it is for local residents only. Don't assume it will look like a pedestrian area.

We always take the full insurance. I would if you plan to drive to Bellagio---that inside road is really tight.

Actually,I would not get the car until you leave Bellagio---I would ferry to Como and get the car there. The savings will pay for a driver to Bellagio, or just train to Como and take the ferry from there.

Some hotels have garages and if you are staying their they can register your car and give you official permission to enter a ZTL. But, you MUST arrange this in advance. Trying to do it afterward very rarely works.

Like nytraveler, I would caution you also on ZTL's to contact your hotels in advance. Some smaller hotels are NOT "registered" with the local authorities regarding ZTL's (yes, this happened to me in Pisa many years ago) and thus, they don't (or can't) call on your behalf. So don't wait until you get there to ask your hotel.

ZTL tickets are expensive and Italian authorities are getting more aggressive in their follow-up so I'd be careful. Most cities do have maps online. Of course, Florence and Rome are the largest... you can read an article on the ROME ZTL'S with some humorous videos here: http://tinyurl.com/Rome-ZTL

Living in Italy we did not own a car... so we rented perhaps 25+ times over the years. I also PAID for the insurance and thankfully so as perhaps 10% of those trips resulted in a "ding" door, etc. (no big incidents!) and even those are 500 euro in Italy!

And don't forget your IDP: http://tinyurl.com/Italy-IDP
Good Luck!

Out B&B inside ZTL's took our license tag number and sent it to the police. We were allowed to go in and out of the zone which we did daily as we left parking at the B&B and went about. so not clear on capxxx's comment that you are not allowed to drive around and in and out. Obviously talk with your hotel.

Often your credit card will cover CDW. Information we read here several years ago before a trip to Ireland (one of the countries that is usually not covered by most cards) led us to get a World Mastercard (which does cover Ireland, Jamaica, Israel not covered by our other cards); we used the WMC for the car, did not get CDW.

However, I read on another thread here regarding CDW a couple of months ago is that it is required by law in Italy, whether your credit card covers CDW or not. Anyone know more about that?

If you have an Amex card, then check out this program.

https://www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-rental-insurance-coverage/home.do?source=CCSG

I have a Citibank Amex card that takes care of this. You can look your card up onlne.

Thanks to all for the advice on the ZTL's. The youtube is crazy and very useful!! I'll contact our hotels along the way and see how they handle it.

On the CDW, indeed, it's required and I may think about the higher level just for peace of mind. My travel insurance provider has a good product so I'll try pricing it that way, too. I'll check with my AMEX folks, too.

On trains, we're using them the second half of the trip but this first leg is so beautiful to drive, thus the car. Indeed, thanks, too for the reminder on the intl drivers's license. We'll both do it!

Happy traveling ALL and thanks again!

Bobthenavigator... you mentioned hiring a car with a driver? We may want that option in Trieste to go up to Slovenia for a day or two. Any suggestions on arranging for one? just contact the hotel? How would you go about it?

Rastaguytoday... AMEX seems great for most places but not Italy or Ireland and a few other countries. I'll use their product in the USA, for sure. Thanks.

NO idea in that area, but we did taxi to Koper and got a car in Slovenia one time from Trieste.