Italy-Driving from Florence to Rome
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Italy-Driving from Florence to Rome
Hi,
I'll be reaching Forli Airport and will be in Italy for 6 days only, at least 3 of which we'd like to spend in Rome.
We'll be renting a car from Forli to Rome and would like to know where we should spend the 3 days travelling down south. We'd prefer driving along the coast and spending some time in Florence.
I'll be reaching Forli Airport and will be in Italy for 6 days only, at least 3 of which we'd like to spend in Rome.
We'll be renting a car from Forli to Rome and would like to know where we should spend the 3 days travelling down south. We'd prefer driving along the coast and spending some time in Florence.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I assume you are going some time this summer. I would spend the first night in Florence unless you arrive at Forli very early in the morning. An early morning, either after airport arrival or after a night in Florence, will allow you to drive to a Cinque Terre city, probably Riomaggiore, catch a train, and visit a couple of the CT villages.
Driving "along the coast" is almost impossible if you really are going to make any progress. Besides, there isn't a whole lot to see other than some glimpses of the water, unless you want to stop at some of the coastal villages enroute. I would go along the A12-E80 coastal route, though, and stop in Orbetello / Porto San Stefano for a night. Next day, on to Rome. Good luck.
Driving "along the coast" is almost impossible if you really are going to make any progress. Besides, there isn't a whole lot to see other than some glimpses of the water, unless you want to stop at some of the coastal villages enroute. I would go along the A12-E80 coastal route, though, and stop in Orbetello / Porto San Stefano for a night. Next day, on to Rome. Good luck.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the replies guys.
The reason we have the car is I thought it would more flexible as to where we could go and stay instead of waiting at train stations with our luggage. Is that bad thinking for Rome?. The car was not too bad too..112 euro with insurance for 3 days and I do have to give the car off at Roma airport.
Thanks,
David
The reason we have the car is I thought it would more flexible as to where we could go and stay instead of waiting at train stations with our luggage. Is that bad thinking for Rome?. The car was not too bad too..112 euro with insurance for 3 days and I do have to give the car off at Roma airport.
Thanks,
David
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Take a taxi to a hotel in Florence. It is a relatively short inexpensive ride. Parking in Florence is a real headache (and expensive). The next day, rent a car in the city, drive to San Gimigniano. Any town you stop on your way is a treat. Stay either there or in/around Siena. Then drive to Rome (about 4.5 hours on the toll road. On your way you can stop in Orvieto. Get rid of the car in Rome. Unless you have a hotel with parking. Driving and parking in Rome is awful. Take a taxi or shuttle to the airport.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi dg,
Train schedules are at www.trenitalia.com.
Unless you are planning on 3 days in
Tuscany, I suggest that you go by train.
From Florence you can visit Siena for a day by SiTA bus.
See http://www.sita-on-line.it/
Train schedules are at www.trenitalia.com.
Unless you are planning on 3 days in
Tuscany, I suggest that you go by train.
From Florence you can visit Siena for a day by SiTA bus.
See http://www.sita-on-line.it/
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Honestly, Ira, Have you ever toured a place and enjoyed it while carrying your luggage along? If dglewis can afford a rented car, why not enjoy the 3 days without dragging suitcases or worrying about storage? Believe me, dglewis, you'll enjoy Italy and especially Tuscany if you drive leisurely, stop whenever you feel like it, dine or stay overnight even in agroturismos that are scattered all wround. A trip to Italy should be enjoyed, not a punishment!
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<112 euro with insurance for 3 days and I do have to give the car off at Roma airport.>>
From whom have you obtained this quote? Does the quote include the (mandatory onsurance?
And why does it have an obligatory return to FCO?
I think you know what suits you best, and unless you plan to spend > 25 hours of your 3 days in Florence, then a rental car plan is perfectly sound.
Part of the "analysis" of what you should do is sorely missing one important piece of information: how many people are in your "we"? For two adults with two kids, then car might clearly be the better (and cheaper) alternative.
And barring some very unusual restriction that I do not understand, you should return it IN Rome - - after driving directly to the front door of your hotel to leave your lugggage and othr passengers. That's one of the benefits of arriving in Rome by car.
One way to get the car back to the car rental place is to ask a taxi to lead you there, and bring you back.
Best wishes,
Rex
From whom have you obtained this quote? Does the quote include the (mandatory onsurance?
And why does it have an obligatory return to FCO?
I think you know what suits you best, and unless you plan to spend > 25 hours of your 3 days in Florence, then a rental car plan is perfectly sound.
Part of the "analysis" of what you should do is sorely missing one important piece of information: how many people are in your "we"? For two adults with two kids, then car might clearly be the better (and cheaper) alternative.
And barring some very unusual restriction that I do not understand, you should return it IN Rome - - after driving directly to the front door of your hotel to leave your lugggage and othr passengers. That's one of the benefits of arriving in Rome by car.
One way to get the car back to the car rental place is to ask a taxi to lead you there, and bring you back.
Best wishes,
Rex
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just one caution about visiting San Gimigniano. We thought we'd stop and spend some time there on our way to Florence. We drove into SG about 10:30 a.m. on a Saturday and it was impossible to find a parking spot anywhere, even one with quite a hike to the walls. We drove around the town a couple of times without any luck and then just left. We were advised by a parking attendant that we would have to get there before about 9:30 a.m. to find a spot. No one else seems to have had this problem so maybe we were just unlucky.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>Honestly, Ira, Have you ever toured a place and enjoyed it while carrying your luggage along? <
My Lady Wife assures me that we have not yet gone anywhere where we did not "drag" our luggage along.
She also assures me that we have not yet found any place in which our enjoyment was diminished by havung to "drag" our luggage.
She also tells me that she wouldn't mind having someone else handle the luggage.
My Lady Wife assures me that we have not yet gone anywhere where we did not "drag" our luggage along.
She also assures me that we have not yet found any place in which our enjoyment was diminished by havung to "drag" our luggage.
She also tells me that she wouldn't mind having someone else handle the luggage.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ira,
I really wwould like to know how you do it. Getting on the train in Flornce with an average 30 pounds suitcase and maybe a hand bag, getting off in poggibonsi, getting on the bus to San Gimignano, draggin (yes, dragging) your suitcases in the alleys of SG, getting on the bus to Siena, and "having a great time".
Of course, the other option is not to get to all those places.
But wouldn't it be much more "enjoyable" if you could afford renting a car and stopping anywhere you feel like it? Visiting small Tuscan towns, stopping at wineries, staying overnight in farms on the way, dining in small road restaurants.
You cannot do all those things with public transportation. Why not do travel in a more relaxed way?
I really wwould like to know how you do it. Getting on the train in Flornce with an average 30 pounds suitcase and maybe a hand bag, getting off in poggibonsi, getting on the bus to San Gimignano, draggin (yes, dragging) your suitcases in the alleys of SG, getting on the bus to Siena, and "having a great time".
Of course, the other option is not to get to all those places.
But wouldn't it be much more "enjoyable" if you could afford renting a car and stopping anywhere you feel like it? Visiting small Tuscan towns, stopping at wineries, staying overnight in farms on the way, dining in small road restaurants.
You cannot do all those things with public transportation. Why not do travel in a more relaxed way?
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mishka
Europe
9
Aug 9th, 2004 11:28 PM