LowCountryIslander

I am in the beginning stages of researching car rental options for a trip at the end of April/beginning of May.

Here is my scenario:

We are picking up a rental car at the Naples airport and will be staying in the Amalfi Coast area for a week. We fly out of Rome, so were planning to drive the car to Rome and drop it off, then check into our hotel and stay in Rome 2 nights before flying home.

I know driving in Rome will be a challenge (thankfully, for me, I will not be the driver). My question is:

How difficult is it to drop the car off at Termini? Will we be driving around the station in circles trying to find a place to drop the car? We have not yet booked the car rental and I know there are a variety of rental companies that operate out of the Termini location. What I'm really looking for is feedback on the logistics of the drop off process...any thoughts or helpful hints are welcome.

My other thought is to drop the car off in Naples and take the train to Rome, but I'm thinking driving to the Naples train station to drop off a car might be even worse then Rome!

lowcountrycarol

Hi LowcountryIslander,

Are you on HH by any chance? I just saw you post while posting a question I had... also for Rome this May. What rental car company are you using? While we have always picked up and dropped cars at Fuimicino, a friend recently dropped off a rental from Auto Europe (one of the best consolidator companies) near Villa Borghese which is much easier to access without driving in the "bowels" of Rome.

It might just be worth the extra $$ just to drop off at Fuimicino and get a car service to drive you into Rome, or take the train in, not to mention time saved if you get lost driving...including the stress that goes with city driving.

bobthenavigator

I think your premise is flawed. You will pay a premium for airport pickup. Are you sure you even want a car on the AC. If so, I would pick up and drop in Sorrento. I would not advise drop at Termini--very hectic--I did pick up ther one time and will not do that again.

Mimar

Well, if you have to fill up the tank before you drop off the car, do it just outside Rome. There aren't many gas stations in the vicinity of the Stazione Termini.

I have a vivid memory of driving around and around trying to find a gas station there. In central Rome, gas stations are 2 pumps on the edge of the sidewalk. We figured that out, found one, and just had to go around the "block" to get to it. Unfortunately, there are no nice square blocks in ancient Rome. We got more and more lost, my husband started swearing up a storm. Finally we found our way back to the 2 pumps, filled up and dropped off the car.

The second time we did this, they'd moved the rental car dropoff to the side of the station. There was no attendant and no empty place to leave the car. My husband stayed in it while I went inside and stood in a long line to do the drop off.

All of which is to say you can do this, but it may not be straightforward. Look up the rental company's drop off locations on a map. There might be more convenient places to drop the car, say near a Metro station.

P.S. I wouldn't take a car to the Amalfi coast; the driver won't (better not) get much chance to admire the view.

LowCountryIslander

LowCountryCarol...

Yes I'm on HHI, well, actually work there but live in Bluffton.

We have not yet booked the rental car. We are shopping around for rates right now. I've thought about the FCO drop off option, not sure if that's the way we want to go.

Bobthenavigator...

Yes we do prefer to have a car in the AC. There is a group of 10 of us renting a villa, 3 of us will be arriving at the Naples airport and were going to get the car there, and drive to the villa and then have the car for our convenience all week. Others in the group will be renting a second car.

I do like your idea of picking up and dropping off in Sorrento. It seems we could get to/from Sorrento easily on public transport from the Naples airport.

Mimar...I had the feeling a drop off at Termini would be a nightmare, that's why I wanted to hear from some of the wise people here!

I've been to Rome before, however, never driven there and don't really care too after seeing what it's like!

Believe me trying to coordinate 10 people arriving from all corners of the world (Hong Kong, UK and USA!) and then departing in different directions at the end of our week in the AC is quite a feat! I'm just helping with some of the logistics and it's making me nutty!

LowCountryIslander

bellastarr...

Thanks for the information...I am really liking the Sorrento pick-up option. And I definitely see the convenience of dropping off at FCO.

RufusTFirefly

Back in 1960, my father was stationed in Bamberg, Germany. That fall my aunt, uncle, and cousin from Colorado visited us. The 6 of us took a trip from Bamberg through Bavaria and Austria to Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Rome. Money being tight, dad rented a small mobile home to tow behind the '57 Chevy. The women in the group would sleep in the trailer, we guys would have a large GI tent.

Well, lots of interesting events occurred over the next 18 days, but one that stood out was the adventure of dad driving the Chevy towing that trailer through central Rome. I especially remember him getting into the inside lane of a large, multi-lane traffic circle and having to go around and around 5 or 6 times before he could work the "train" to an outside lane and get out of the circle. I learned a few new word combinations that day.

Lots of stories from that trip--my first glass of wine, first view of topless women on the beach, first experience observing a lovers' quarrel involving a knife. Not to mention the smuggled wine bottles falling out of the trunk at the German border.
Good times.

lowcountrycarol

Hi LowcountryIslander...again,

I also live in Bluffton. Just thought I'd share if you do not know that when you book with Auto Europe they guarantee if you find a better rate at any time they will match it and you can cancel your resevation at any time. It does go on your credit card at time of booking. I have also read about their very good service if you chould have any car "issues" while traveling.

I did get a prompt refund from them when I found a slightly better rate with Budget just before departure a few years back. I recently just paid $734 for 28 day rental Lisbon airport pickup for this April. When I use them I feel that I just do not have to go crazy searching everywhere for lower rates. I just do occasional "checks" before we go.

I do not envy you for having to be part of the travel planning for such a large group. I am just imagining the "discussions" about where and when to eat. I love to do all the planning and my husband is happy to just "tag along" ha,ha.

LowCountryIslander

Carol...

Very small world...you're the first Fodorite I've met from my area and very close too! There was just a Fodor's get together in Savannah a couple weeks ago...it's a shame we didn't get to connect there. Maybe at the next one.

I don't typically rent cars when I travel, but for this particular trip with the number of people and for convenience it seems to be the way to go. I went with this group of friends to Tuscany 5 years ago and we did a similar plan (however there were 20 of us on that trip!). I wasn't involved in the logistics last time around, but the "ring leader" of this effort just had a baby 3 months ago and I offered to help with some of the planning.

As for dinner "discussions" what usually happens is we either eat at the villa or smaller groups of people get together and go in whichever direction they want to for dinner and we all meet back up for wine at the villa...it has worked in the past and I'm hoping it will be the same this time around...we shall see!

luvtotravel

We rented a car in Tuscany and dropped it off at FCO with no difficulty in May 2006. We rented from Hertz, paid in advance in the States with a 100 euro deductible. We had to argue that point at the rental office as they wanted to make that 900 euros. It was a good thing we had all the paperwork with us to prove the 100 deductible. Here is what I have in my journal:

The drive to Rome’s Leonardo di Vinci Airport took less than two hours and was uneventful. We had directions from mappy.com, but really didn’t need them. From the autostrada we just followed signs with an airplane icon once we got close to Rome. I’d read that it’s difficult to locate where to return the car once inside the airport, but we saw numerous signs saying “Hertz” or “car return,” so it seemed easy to us. Hertz was located in “C” on the fifth level of the parking structure. Returning the car was quick and easy. After all the checking for dents and scratches in Siena, no one bothered to look at the car when we returned it. They deducted the cost of the motor oil from what we owed for the second driver without question.

lowcountrycarol

LowcountryIslander,

Don't know how I missed the Savannah get-together, must have been fun. Possibly the postings were when were last over in Portugal. I don't have easy internet access over there so it's just getting the essential emails.

Hope you have a great trip. I am currently "restaurant" planning for our short 4 days in Rome (going from Portugal) early May. I cannot say there ever has been a city I have wanted to return to so often as Rome.

excited_confused

Has anyone used a site called economycarrentals.com? We are looking to rent a car from Rome to Venice, stopping one night on the way, possibly in Bologna or any other suggested town, so it will be a 1 night, 2 day rental but I get a message on the Auto Europe site saying that they need a 3 day minimum. Avis seems really expensive, any other suggestions? Thanks.

LowCountryIslander

Carol...

I understand your desire to return to Rome. I was just there for the week between Christmas and New Years (just finished a trip report on that). And I was there for Christmas 2007 for a week...can't seem to get enough!

For my last 2 Rome trips I compiled quite a restaurant list (14 pages!) I would be happy to share it with you.

tedgale

LCI: Hi Marcy. There are so many alternatives to a Termini drop off, so I see no need to confine yourself to that option.

Many companies have offices on the northern edge of the Pincio Gardens/ Villa Borghese neighbourhood. That cd be less stressful than a Termini drop-off.

Personally, I wd not drop off at FCO -- just too far and too awkward. I'd brave the city traffic, tho' others may dissent.

I suggest you 1. go to AutoEurope and go through the motions of booking a Rome rental; 2. make a list of the downtown addresses they offer; 3. go onto mappy.it and map those addresses.

BTW: Viale Europa or Via Sardegna would probably suit you well.

LowCountryIslander

Ted...

Thanks for the tip on locations near Villa Borghese.

I had done what you suggested on the AutoEurope website last night but when faced with a long list of "downtown" Rome location I didn't know which one was close to Villa Borghese. I was going to start checking the locations against a map but your info gives me a good starting point.

Thanks!

lowcountrycarol

Hi LowcountryIslander,

14 pages...wow! How many of them have you gotten to?

I would love to see your restaurant list if it is not too much trouble. My email is [email protected]. I looking forward to reading your trip report.

LowCountryIslander

LowCountryCarol...

I wish I got to all listed in those 14 pages! But there are several I have been too and I have that noted on the list. I will email you the list tonight. Many of them are recommendations I found here on Fodors and a few from the Chowhound website.

Nlingenfel

I would definately suggest that you drop the car off, outside of Rome center. It is very, very, busy at Termini and getting to the station is not as easy as it looks on Mapquest or Michelin. Returning at FCO in much, much, easier. I always book with Sixt, using the Holiday Car option, have had wonderful service with them, and if I have a problem, they give me excellent service.

GuyC

There is no extra charge to drop at the airport (costs something like an additional 17% to start a rental at an airport in Italy, however) and it's much easier, though way out of town. Other people on this forum told me about www.gemut.com for car rentals. I used them last year and they are great; small company but in business for many years and very knowledgeable. I thought I had a good price with Sixt but they beat it with Avis. Their phone number is at the website...or you can email.
Guy

dannat

Driving from Naples to Rome to drop off car rental. Which airport would you suggest? OR If I dropped it off in Sorrento how the heck would I return w/luggage to rome? I've had trouble figuring train/bus schedules from Sorrento Thnx