Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Returning rental car to Florence train station?

Search

Returning rental car to Florence train station?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 05:35 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Returning rental car to Florence train station?

Hi all,

We need to return our rental car in Florence before hopping on a train to Rome. Are we better to return the car to the airport and take a shuttle to the train station downtown?

I have read that it is difficult to drive downtown to the central station.

Or is there another routing that will allow us to be in Rome for lunchtime?

We are staying in Lastra a Signa. Our car rental is with Avis whose rates we found to be the best for dates. Thank you!
jacolis is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 05:41 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Drop it at the airport--do not try to drive in the centro area.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 06:22 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bob is right.
Traffic is a nightmare, and in the area where most of the downtown rental car companies are, there are many one-way streets. The likelihood of getting an expensive ticket up to one yr later is high.
Airport then shuttle
CaliNurse is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 06:39 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Drop it at the airport ... or at Orvieto. We drive in Boston, LA and San Francisco, all the time ... but, it's a whole new game to drive into Rome, or Florence. In December, we dropped the car at Florence airport, and took a taxi back to the train station.
just27 is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 07:51 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We had no problem dropping off our car in Florence (on the car rental street, which isn't far from the train station). Maybe it's because we had a great GPS or because we're from LA and used to traffic, but for us driving in the centro was not challenging at all.
crosscheck is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 08:11 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
P.S. Hi, CaliNurse, nice to see you over here.
crosscheck is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 09:13 PM
  #7  
DAX
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Like crosscheck, we also had no problem driving in Florence traffic, it is definitely not any worse than traffic jams in Boston by any means. That said it may be worth the 20 euro taxi ride to avoid getting the ZTL ticket if you don't feel comfortable navigating your car against the ZTL map below.
http://www.florence-on-line.com/imag...iving-map.html

I took it as a challenge and studied the map prior to going to Italy but then I missed the rental car agency entry and had to go around and almost went into the ZTL area in the process.
DAX is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 10:17 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,817
Received 26 Likes on 5 Posts
We just returned from a week in Italy that included driving in Florence (twice), Pisa, and Bologna, all of which have ZTLs. We studied the maps beforehand, and having lived in DC for many years and now Vienna, we are comfortable with traffic and diverse driving styles and had no problems.

The Avis car rental location is on one of the streets between ZTL zones. I would check with Avis about returning your car there; one incorrect navigation through traffic and ZTLs could result in a hefty ticket.
fourfortravel is offline  
Old Feb 23rd, 2013, 12:26 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Look up "ZTL Florence" on Google Images. If you are sure you would recognize all those locations and signs, go ahead and return it at the railway station. Obviously, many people here do.

If it would stress you, don't. If you are wrong, it will cost you about $200, plus another $60 or so to your rental car company for supplying your contact information.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Feb 23rd, 2013, 12:55 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks all.
jacolis is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
karleyb
Europe
4
Apr 5th, 2017 02:16 PM
PDersch
Europe
8
Oct 24th, 2011 07:08 AM
QM
Europe
10
Aug 19th, 2008 04:50 PM
Lily
Europe
8
Jan 19th, 2005 05:32 PM
kkumar
Europe
4
May 19th, 2003 07:34 AM

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



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