Should we drive from Sorrento to Venice?
Jul 14th, 2008, 06:44 PM
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Should we drive from Sorrento to Venice?
We'll be 2 adults and 2 kids in August going from Sorrento to Venice in 1 day. Whether by train or air, the options all take us through Rome and cost about $425-$525 for all 4. I was wondering if renting a car for the drive is cheaper and require less transfers between modes of transportation and cities.
What is a reliable rental company? Anyone know the price of fuel in Italy this summer? Any suggestions?
What is a reliable rental company? Anyone know the price of fuel in Italy this summer? Any suggestions?
Jul 14th, 2008, 07:30 PM
#2
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If you go to the Viamichelin web site, it will not only show you the routing from Sorrento to Venice, but also the tolls and the approzimate fuel costs. The cost of the rental car is something else again. And your choices of cars will be somewhat limited in Sorrento, which is what we found out and chose to have a car take us to the Naples Airport, where we picked up our rental car last month.
Jul 15th, 2008, 01:06 AM
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Renting a car for 1 day from Sorrento to Venice (772Km - about 7h and 40 mins) will cost you something like 101€/$161 in total per day.
The fuel costs 1.58/1.59€ per litre, so the renting a car would be much cheaper than a flight and you will get directly to Venice.
Reliable rental companies:
http://www.europcar.it/
http://www.antares91.com/
hope it helps!
The fuel costs 1.58/1.59€ per litre, so the renting a car would be much cheaper than a flight and you will get directly to Venice.
Reliable rental companies:
http://www.europcar.it/
http://www.antares91.com/
hope it helps!
Jul 15th, 2008, 03:06 AM
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We are just home from a trip to Italy and France and should you decide to hire a car here are a few tips re car hire -
So that there couldn't be any arguments at a later time before we drove our hire car out of the car park we took digital photographs of every panel.
Before we dropped it off we took identical photographs. I have heard stories of travellers being billed on their credit cards for supposed damage to hire cars.
A GPS with Europe maps in English was only 10 euros a day (in France) and was worth every cent. It not only gave directions but told us where speed cameras, tolls etc were.
So that there couldn't be any arguments at a later time before we drove our hire car out of the car park we took digital photographs of every panel.
Before we dropped it off we took identical photographs. I have heard stories of travellers being billed on their credit cards for supposed damage to hire cars.
A GPS with Europe maps in English was only 10 euros a day (in France) and was worth every cent. It not only gave directions but told us where speed cameras, tolls etc were.
Jul 15th, 2008, 03:51 AM
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Thanks for the great advice. This is all really helpful.
Socaltraveler - how much was the car from Sorrento to Naples airport? And how limited were the choices in Sorrento? Which agent did you rent from? I was looking at Avis and they had compact wagons & Alfa Romeos for 5 passengers - I guess it depends on how much luggage we have.
Socaltraveler - how much was the car from Sorrento to Naples airport? And how limited were the choices in Sorrento? Which agent did you rent from? I was looking at Avis and they had compact wagons & Alfa Romeos for 5 passengers - I guess it depends on how much luggage we have.
Jul 15th, 2008, 04:54 AM
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We actually were in Positano, and found a driver to take us to the Naples airport for 80 Euros,other quotes were in the 90-100 Euro range. There were two of us.
My DH did the car rental so I don't know exactly what he was looking for and why he felt the options were too limited in Sorrento. We were going to keep the car for several days after the Amalfi Coast, and one point I can also add for getting the car in Naples was that we did skip driving on the winding roads from Sorrento to Naples, from Naples airport to Orvieto it was autostrada all the way.
If you drive, do not miss stopping at the Autogrille for a meal, it's the best roadside cafeteria experience we have ever had.
My DH did the car rental so I don't know exactly what he was looking for and why he felt the options were too limited in Sorrento. We were going to keep the car for several days after the Amalfi Coast, and one point I can also add for getting the car in Naples was that we did skip driving on the winding roads from Sorrento to Naples, from Naples airport to Orvieto it was autostrada all the way.
If you drive, do not miss stopping at the Autogrille for a meal, it's the best roadside cafeteria experience we have ever had.
Jul 15th, 2008, 05:01 AM
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The Michelin site says it takes about 8 hours to make the drive. That seems rather optimistic to me. In any event that is a lot of driving in one day. You should if possible, break the journey, maybe in Tuscany, and take it a little easier. Make the trip part of the good times of travel, not a chore.
Jul 15th, 2008, 05:57 AM
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Hi G,
I agree with RJ, if you go by car take an overnight break and enjoy the ride.
www.kemwel.com will charge you $276 for a compact car from <b>Sorrento</b> to Venice. Their minimum is 3 days.
www.autoeurope.com is asking $291. Same requirements.
Call them both to see if you can get a 2-day rate.
www.novacarhire.com, sometimes allows 2-day rentals, but I'm having trouble with the site.
Hertz want $411 for a Ford Focus for 2 days.
www.viamichelin.com estimates about $140 for fuel if the take the route without tolls - 9 hr.
Their recommended route is about 8 hr and costs about $200.
I'm estimating petrol at $1.52/L - which is a bit high.
Remember: You will need an International Driver's Permit www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp#idp
as well as your driver's license.
Italian law requires that you buy the CDW, which is why the rates are fairly high.
www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html has the following fares from Naples to Venice.
2 Adults, 2 chldren under 12 is $225 on the Familia ticket.
3 adults and 1 child under 12 is $311 with one kid on the familia ticket and one Amica fare.
You have to add about $50 for the train from Sorrento to Naples.
Enjoy your visit.
I agree with RJ, if you go by car take an overnight break and enjoy the ride.
www.kemwel.com will charge you $276 for a compact car from <b>Sorrento</b> to Venice. Their minimum is 3 days.
www.autoeurope.com is asking $291. Same requirements.
Call them both to see if you can get a 2-day rate.
www.novacarhire.com, sometimes allows 2-day rentals, but I'm having trouble with the site.
Hertz want $411 for a Ford Focus for 2 days.
www.viamichelin.com estimates about $140 for fuel if the take the route without tolls - 9 hr.
Their recommended route is about 8 hr and costs about $200.
I'm estimating petrol at $1.52/L - which is a bit high.
Remember: You will need an International Driver's Permit www.aaasouth.com/travel_drivers.asp#idp
as well as your driver's license.
Italian law requires that you buy the CDW, which is why the rates are fairly high.
www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html has the following fares from Naples to Venice.
2 Adults, 2 chldren under 12 is $225 on the Familia ticket.
3 adults and 1 child under 12 is $311 with one kid on the familia ticket and one Amica fare.
You have to add about $50 for the train from Sorrento to Naples.
Enjoy your visit.
Jul 15th, 2008, 04:34 PM
#11
Goldtwins, there is a morning train option through Bologna, if that sounds more appealing than Rome.
I think if you want to do this in one day, take the train. If you can do it over two days, then the car would allow for a little exploring along the way. How are your kids with long car rides?
I think if you want to do this in one day, take the train. If you can do it over two days, then the car would allow for a little exploring along the way. How are your kids with long car rides?
Jul 15th, 2008, 04:42 PM
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I'm looking at viamichelin.com and while I can read the directions, I really wish their map highlighted the route because I can't tell what cities/sites you pass through. I may consider stopping over one night along the way - it would mean cutting Sorrento/Amalfi area down to 2 nights from 3.
Socaltraveler - where is the autogrille?
Ira - thanks for all the legwork. My sons are 14, so they're adults according to the train fare which is why driving may be more economical. If we rent for 2 days and stay over, we'll get another part of the country in and won't have to deal with all the connections between trains, planes and automobiles
If we did the drive in 2 days, is Florence a stopping point for a night and a quick visit to the David or is there somewhere else we should visit? I'd prefer to stay somewhere outside of a city to avoid high hotel rooms and drive into the city for a very quick tour. Or a less touristy stop.
Socaltraveler - where is the autogrille?
Ira - thanks for all the legwork. My sons are 14, so they're adults according to the train fare which is why driving may be more economical. If we rent for 2 days and stay over, we'll get another part of the country in and won't have to deal with all the connections between trains, planes and automobiles
If we did the drive in 2 days, is Florence a stopping point for a night and a quick visit to the David or is there somewhere else we should visit? I'd prefer to stay somewhere outside of a city to avoid high hotel rooms and drive into the city for a very quick tour. Or a less touristy stop.
Jul 15th, 2008, 06:02 PM
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goldtwins
It is nearly impossible to drive into Florence for a quick visit. Cars are not allowed in the center, and there is a complicated system of where and when automobiles may enter certain areas. It wouldn't be my choice for a quick visit.
Get out your Italy map and take a look at which areas you will pass through. I hope you will see the name of a place you always wanted to visit.
Autogrills are everywhere; they are highway rest stops, with stores and either counters or buffets for eating and coffee. Agip is another highway rest stop.
It is nearly impossible to drive into Florence for a quick visit. Cars are not allowed in the center, and there is a complicated system of where and when automobiles may enter certain areas. It wouldn't be my choice for a quick visit.
Get out your Italy map and take a look at which areas you will pass through. I hope you will see the name of a place you always wanted to visit.
Autogrills are everywhere; they are highway rest stops, with stores and either counters or buffets for eating and coffee. Agip is another highway rest stop.
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