Rental car in Italy

Old May 25th, 2015, 07:41 PM
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Rental car in Italy

Hi there,

We are planning a trip to France and Italy for next year and I believe we have settled on the following itinerary:

Fly into Venice
3 nights Venice
7 nights Tuscany (agriturismo outside of Sienna)
2 nights Lucca
2 nights Nice
7 nights Antibes
Fly out of Nice

Travelers are me, my husband and our 9-year old twins. My husband and I have been to Italy and France before (mostly Italy). This will be the kids' first trip.

We want a car in Tuscany, but I've read a fair amount about this and don't want a car in Lucca, Nice or on the Cote d'Azur (because it sounds like we can get around fine without one and so we'd like to save the money). The thing is, we want to visit Pisa when we stay over in Lucca. So my questions are where should we pick up a car? And where should we drop it off? I think the kids would enjoy taking a train south from Venice for a while and I don't see the need to drive all the way from there to Tuscany. I don't want to go into Florence to pick up a car.

Lastly, I've neve rented a car in Italy before. Any general advice or warnings?

Thank you!
daria is offline  
Old May 25th, 2015, 10:16 PM
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Driving into cities can be problematic. Read up on driving tips here, especially the part about ZTL's:

http://driventoit.blogspot.com.au/

We arrange our cars through Autoeurope, using their toll free number, which we have access to, vs the web site. Your best rental place is probably the Florence airport. Maybe drop off in Pisa.

Train schedules here using italian city names:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD
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Old May 26th, 2015, 02:40 AM
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Be sure to get International Driver's Permits (IDP) before you leave as it is the law for Italian rentals. AAA issues them.

If you drop off at Pisa then that likely means you're visiting it that day? We avoid having a car full of luggage (even in the trunk) at popular tourist sites.

You could drive from Siena and drop off in Lucca (assuming your rental car agency has an office there - I've rented from Hertz there and the office is pretty easy to find). Then take the train or bus to Pisa (many departures a day). Siena to Lucca is a quick drive (if you go direct) so you could be in Lucca by early afternoon and have that day to explore the town and go to Pisa the next day? (or just stay in Lucca the whole time -- it's very kid friendly with the big park along the walls. You could rent bikes and have a fun day just exploring).
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Old May 26th, 2015, 02:54 AM
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The train trip from Lucca to Nice is so long and dreary, that I would suggest keeping the car and driving it to the French border, and leaving it there (San Remo). With 9 year olds, I am guessing you are traveling during the summer. If it is hot, I think having the car to deal with kids and luggage will be easier than multiple train trips. Plus, you shave hours off the trip, and can stop for lunch and a swim enroute. You can very easily avoid any ZTL in Lucca by parking right next to the train station, outisde the walls. The cost, as I recall, is 10e per day.

Otherwise, I would suggest substituting bicycle-friendly Ferrara for Lucca, going to the Siena area after that, and then driving the car to Rome airport and flying to Nice.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 03:16 AM
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Be aware of a couple of things:

You need to schedule pick up and drop off since except at larger airport locations the rental offices are open only limited hours - perhaps not during lunch and not in the evening. Unlike the US most offices are not open from 6 am to 11 pm or midnight.

Be every aware of the ZTL pedestrian zones - you will have to park outside many towns and walk or trolley in from the outside lots.

Be sure you have an IDP - many agencies will not rent without them and if stopped by pole they will often ask to see it.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 08:18 AM
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There is a train from Pisa to Nice with a change in Genoa taking about 6 hours. Any train taking 6 hours or less is a better option than a flight, no matter how short the flight is is. Plus on a train, which takes you from city center to city center, you can relax the whole way.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 02:55 PM
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Thank you all! This gives me a lot to think about. Not sure if we should drop off in Pisa or San Remo. I'll have to think about it. Somehow the train seems more relaxing, but if we have to change too much or it takes a lot longer, then I'm not sure.

Any other ideas as to where to pick up other than the Florence airport?

Thanks again!
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Old May 27th, 2015, 08:29 AM
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Maybe reconsider the Venice train portion? It sounds a lot easier to pick up the rental car in Venice (Piazzale Roma is a convenient location and the drive out is straightforward) and drive directly to your accommodation near Siena. Otherwise you have to train to Florence/transfer to the rental car agency and get out of Florence. Plus it seems you would prefer to pick it up elsewhere anyway. So I thought you could train from Venice to Siena but now you're switching trains in Florence and have to get the rental car at the train station and get to the rental. (and nytraveler raises a good point about opening hours)

You'll have time on a train later in the trip if you do Lucca-Nice.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 08:46 AM
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>>Any train taking 6 hours or less is a better option than a flight, no matter how short the flight is is.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 12:20 PM
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>

Yeah: in the cities, the natives drive like Italians. Think NYC or Boston on uppers.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 08:07 PM
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Thank you. Maybe I will reconsider and pick up a car in Venice. That does sound easier.

As for flying, I would probably prefer a 40 min flight to a 6 hour train ride, especially considering we will have to change trains with our 2 kids and their luggage too. However, I seriously doubt the price of flying will fit into our budget. This is a long trip for us and paying for 4 travelers (instead of 2 like my husband and I used to do), is tough,
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Old May 27th, 2015, 08:16 PM
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What about taking a train from Venice to Bologna and picking up a car there?

Should we just drive from Lucca to Nice and drop off the car there? I looked it up and google is claiming it is supposedly only 219 miles (about 4 hours) from Lucca to Nice.
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Old May 28th, 2015, 03:02 AM
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Re picking up in Bologna - I'm not sure what that gains versus picking up in Venice. You still have to get off the train and get into the rental car and out of Bologna (although it might be easier than Florence). I think it will just cost more (the train tickets) as you don't save a day's car rental.

Re dropping off in Nice - I did a few car rental quotes and the drop off fee looks steep ($500+) versus a drop off fee in Italy of about $100. But....versus the cost of two train legs for 4 people it *might* be worth it to you for convenience. (obviously you should do more research on the drop off fees with your exact dates).

Sandralist (above) suggested keeping the car until the Italian Border (San Remo) which is about an hour by train to Nice and would incur the lower (intra-Italy) drop off fee. You might want to check private transportation in addition to the train - yes it will be more but it might be a good alternative for this short run.
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Old May 28th, 2015, 05:39 AM
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(I meant private transportation from San Remo to Nice - not from Lucca!)
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Old May 28th, 2015, 07:46 AM
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Thanks so much. This all makes sense. I 've been to Venice several times and have always left via train, so against all reason, I think I wanted my kids to have the same experience. Anyway, this has been super helpful. I am definitely leaning towards picking up in Venice and dropping off in San Remo. I didn't know there was a "drop off fee." Does this apply when you are dropping off at a different location than picking up?

Also, since we are traveling with kiddos, it would be helpful to know: are there rest stops where they can go to the bathroom like we have in the U.S., and what is the Italian word for "rest stop" I should look for on the road signs?

Thank you!
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Old May 28th, 2015, 07:56 AM
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daria - yes if you pick up and drop off in different locations it can generate a drop off fee (some high volume, highly competitive runs don't have them or they can be waived for promotions, etc but you should assume there will be something).

Italian rest stops are great! Called "Autogrills" (for the most part I think) --- here's an article from Saveur that is only slightly tongue in cheek.

http://www.saveur.com/article/blog/a...lys-rest-stops

On the secondary roads you'll find more traditional gas stations with washrooms facilities. Best to plan as far in advance as possible - but that's true everywhere!
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