Italy-Driving from Florence to Rome

Old Jul 9th, 2005, 04:28 AM
  #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.
dglewis is offline  
Old Jul 9th, 2005, 08:04 AM
  #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.
Wayne is offline  
Old Jul 9th, 2005, 10:35 AM
  #3  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi dg,

I suggest that you ought to give Florence at least a day.

If you then stop in Orvieto on your way to Rome

You don't need a car.

ira is offline  
Old Jul 10th, 2005, 03:12 AM
  #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
dglewis is offline  
Old Jul 10th, 2005, 04:38 AM
  #5  
eri
 
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.
eri is offline  
Old Jul 10th, 2005, 12:35 PM
  #6  
ira
 
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/

ira is offline  
Old Jul 11th, 2005, 02:48 AM
  #7  
eri
 
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!
eri is offline  
Old Jul 11th, 2005, 04:11 AM
  #8  
rex
 
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
rex is offline  
Old Jul 11th, 2005, 09:25 AM
  #9  
hdm
 
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.
hdm is offline  
Old Jul 11th, 2005, 01:39 PM
  #10  
ira
 
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.



ira is offline  
Old Jul 12th, 2005, 11:34 PM
  #11  
eri
 
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?
eri is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rolitta
Europe
9
Feb 5th, 2013 08:32 AM
Gabriela_Carrique
Europe
6
Aug 25th, 2012 09:34 AM
kern227
Europe
4
Mar 7th, 2007 12:31 PM
susanlovesthesea
Europe
4
Sep 23rd, 2005 03:04 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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