Tuscany drive via 1-way rental from Florence returning Siena by train/bus?
Aug 12th, 2011, 09:07 PM
#1
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Tuscany drive via 1-way rental from Florence returning Siena by train/bus?
For a day-trip from Florence, my boyfriend and I want to drive south through Chianti and visit a hill town or two. Could we drop off a one-way rental at Siena and take the train or bus back to Florence in the evening? I can see we could pick up the car at Hertz via Finiguerra and drive away from the restricted areas. There appears to be a Hertz in Siena.
We have 5 nights in Florence. I don't want to relocate south for a night as we are driving north to near Cinque Terre after we leave Florence. I have read through this forum and spoken with friends about driving into Florence and everyone warns about driving into Florence by car. I'm warming to the idea of limiting all day-trips to only those reached by bus/train. But, I'm not quite ready to give up the idea of meandering for a day at our own pace to explore Tuscany south of Florence, stopping wherever we wish. We drove every inch of three Greek Islands and loved exploring by car!
We have 5 nights in Florence. I don't want to relocate south for a night as we are driving north to near Cinque Terre after we leave Florence. I have read through this forum and spoken with friends about driving into Florence and everyone warns about driving into Florence by car. I'm warming to the idea of limiting all day-trips to only those reached by bus/train. But, I'm not quite ready to give up the idea of meandering for a day at our own pace to explore Tuscany south of Florence, stopping wherever we wish. We drove every inch of three Greek Islands and loved exploring by car!
Aug 13th, 2011, 02:52 AM
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It depends on what time of year you are traveling and the rental car company. Why don't you call a few?
Your post says: "We have 5 nights in Florence. I don't want to relocate south for a night as we are driving north to near Cinque Terre after we leave Florence."
Does that mean you want 2 separate rental cars -- one to pick up in Florence and drop off in Siena, and one to pick up in Florence and drive to le Cinque Terre?
Your post says: "We have 5 nights in Florence. I don't want to relocate south for a night as we are driving north to near Cinque Terre after we leave Florence."
Does that mean you want 2 separate rental cars -- one to pick up in Florence and drop off in Siena, and one to pick up in Florence and drive to le Cinque Terre?
Aug 13th, 2011, 03:07 AM
#3
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Go a lot have done it both way find training
seat61.com ALWAYS preferrable to one way short
term rental with HUGE drop off costs
will do tigercarrentals.com in Italy for rural trips
from 200 euro per week RT never one way for me but cost
it out if you like.
Also Florence is one big speed/parking trap clueless
newbies get dinged for 100s of euros the tickets follow
you everywhere no way to dodge them sort of an industry
Also a new guest hotel tax of 1 euro per person per star
per day can mount up quickly so beware!
Happy Hunting!
seat61.com ALWAYS preferrable to one way short
term rental with HUGE drop off costs
will do tigercarrentals.com in Italy for rural trips
from 200 euro per week RT never one way for me but cost
it out if you like.
Also Florence is one big speed/parking trap clueless
newbies get dinged for 100s of euros the tickets follow
you everywhere no way to dodge them sort of an industry
Also a new guest hotel tax of 1 euro per person per star
per day can mount up quickly so beware!
Happy Hunting!
Aug 13th, 2011, 05:14 AM
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If you want to spend 5 days in Florence and then go to near Cinque Terre, why don't you rent the car upon leaving Florence, explore Chianti, drive to near CT and leave the car. That way, you won't have to rent a car twice and you won't have to drive or park in Florence. You may want to stay one night somewhere between Tuscany and CT. As advised above, please work with the rental car companiew to find your best arrangement.
Aug 13th, 2011, 05:36 AM
#6
I've found pricing one day rentals to be much more expensive. There is a Hertz within walking distance of the train station in Siena (Viale Sardegna), but I would be surprised if they are open very late. The last train back is about 9:00.
Aug 13th, 2011, 08:15 AM
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Hi PP,
Renting before you go is usually cheaper than renting over there.
Check http://www.novacarhire.com/. They have one-day rentals.
Renting before you go is usually cheaper than renting over there.
Check http://www.novacarhire.com/. They have one-day rentals.
Aug 13th, 2011, 09:21 AM
#8
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We are traveling in Sept. Yes, we might rent two different cars. I priced a 09:00 to 17:00 one-way (Via Maso Finiguerra) to Siena Hertz at $104. Hertz in Siena closes at 19:00 per Hertz site. Helpful to know the last train to Florence leaves Siena at 9:00 P.M.
1. How long does it take to make your way out of Florence on a Mon/Tues from Via Maso Finiguerra?
2. If we changed the itinerary to 4 nights in Florence and drive through Chianti and Tucany on day 5, any suggestions where to stay near Volterra or maybe beyond to a low-key coastal destination? How far can we reasonably drive from Florence (hotel check-out/pick up rental) while perhaps stopping at Greve in Chianti (lunch?), San Gimignano (mid-afternoon) and Volterra (dinner?)? Day 6 is our drive to Cinque Terre area.
1. How long does it take to make your way out of Florence on a Mon/Tues from Via Maso Finiguerra?
2. If we changed the itinerary to 4 nights in Florence and drive through Chianti and Tucany on day 5, any suggestions where to stay near Volterra or maybe beyond to a low-key coastal destination? How far can we reasonably drive from Florence (hotel check-out/pick up rental) while perhaps stopping at Greve in Chianti (lunch?), San Gimignano (mid-afternoon) and Volterra (dinner?)? Day 6 is our drive to Cinque Terre area.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:14 PM
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So why do you want to drive to the Cinque Terre? In the CT the best way to get between the towns is on foot or by boat or train. The road is inland. So you'll probably just park the car for the duration of your visit in the CT. You can take the train to the Cinque Terre via La Spezia.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:24 PM
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There are not necessarily huge drop-off costs. We rented in Bologna, returned at Rome airport, and had no additional charge. This was Avis, which we got through AutoEurope.
The huge drop-off charge is if you return the car in another country.
Absolutely, if you want to wander through the countryside, make that part of your wandering to CT. But turn your car in then, and don't waste money leaving it parked while you are in CT.
Getting out of Florence from the rental place isn't too hard IF you follow the directions very carefully and don't stray into the dreaded ZTL (Zone of Traffic Limitatin) and get a whopper of a ticket 6 months later.
The huge drop-off charge is if you return the car in another country.
Absolutely, if you want to wander through the countryside, make that part of your wandering to CT. But turn your car in then, and don't waste money leaving it parked while you are in CT.
Getting out of Florence from the rental place isn't too hard IF you follow the directions very carefully and don't stray into the dreaded ZTL (Zone of Traffic Limitatin) and get a whopper of a ticket 6 months later.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:40 PM
#12
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It will take about 45 minutes to an hour to drive from your rental car place to Greve. The rental car places can have long lines so you have to plan for that.
If you are going to be in the Greve area around lunch, then you have to go to here: Ristoro di Lamole: in the hills above Greve. The food is phenomenal, the views from the patio are breathtaking, and the service is great. Closed Monday and Wednesday Lunch 055.854.7050
Other charming towns in this area are Panzano and Radda and of course Siena. (it would be simple to day trip to Siena on another day via a bus... about an hour trip and really simple. Here is the schedule http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/F...-Siena2010.pdf) San G is nice but there are a LOT of tourists. Volterra is great and it might be nice to stay in Volterra as the next days drive to CT is about 2 1/2 hours and that coast area is not that pretty.
Are you staying in CT for a few days and if so you would not need a car? It is a long drive into any one of the villages and parking is a problem. If you don't really need the car for the future you are better off to take the train. You could rent out of Florence stay in the hills somewhere and then turn the car into Pisa or Le Spezia.
If you are going to be in the Greve area around lunch, then you have to go to here: Ristoro di Lamole: in the hills above Greve. The food is phenomenal, the views from the patio are breathtaking, and the service is great. Closed Monday and Wednesday Lunch 055.854.7050
Other charming towns in this area are Panzano and Radda and of course Siena. (it would be simple to day trip to Siena on another day via a bus... about an hour trip and really simple. Here is the schedule http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/F...-Siena2010.pdf) San G is nice but there are a LOT of tourists. Volterra is great and it might be nice to stay in Volterra as the next days drive to CT is about 2 1/2 hours and that coast area is not that pretty.
Are you staying in CT for a few days and if so you would not need a car? It is a long drive into any one of the villages and parking is a problem. If you don't really need the car for the future you are better off to take the train. You could rent out of Florence stay in the hills somewhere and then turn the car into Pisa or Le Spezia.
Aug 13th, 2011, 12:44 PM
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Okay the link did not work so go to this http://www.sitabus.it THEN Linee Regionali THEN Toscana Then Linea Firenze-SIena
Aug 13th, 2011, 08:45 PM
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Thanks everyone for all this great information!! I checked out various rental car options. Played around with mappy. Unfortunately, Wed is our likely Chianti travel day. Any other wonderful restaurant suggestions are welcome for Chianti and Volterra. Thanks for the tip about Panzano and Radda too.
After discussing all this with my BF, we agree we would probably be up for leaving Florence a day earlier to simplify logistics of making our way by car through Chianti, staying in/near Volterra. The distance is close enough to stay relaxed. If it's raining, we'll be able to alter our day to see indoor sites in the region. Volterra then gives us the option of getting to CT early the next day or stopping in Lucca or in Pisa if it's raining.
As for CT, we are staying at Sostio a Levante in Framura and the B&B is in a remote location. We'll take the train to CT and other places where train is better with the option to drive.
This message board has been a huge help. I have spoken with 4 friends who have visited the area. It's fun (and funny) to hear the various differences in travel preferences between them all. This forum helps to balance it all with our ideas. Everyone says don't rent a car til we're leaving Florence, so we'll take this advice.
After discussing all this with my BF, we agree we would probably be up for leaving Florence a day earlier to simplify logistics of making our way by car through Chianti, staying in/near Volterra. The distance is close enough to stay relaxed. If it's raining, we'll be able to alter our day to see indoor sites in the region. Volterra then gives us the option of getting to CT early the next day or stopping in Lucca or in Pisa if it's raining.
As for CT, we are staying at Sostio a Levante in Framura and the B&B is in a remote location. We'll take the train to CT and other places where train is better with the option to drive.
This message board has been a huge help. I have spoken with 4 friends who have visited the area. It's fun (and funny) to hear the various differences in travel preferences between them all. This forum helps to balance it all with our ideas. Everyone says don't rent a car til we're leaving Florence, so we'll take this advice.
Aug 14th, 2011, 08:16 AM
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I have a great restaurant list, just email me at [email protected]
Aug 14th, 2011, 04:09 PM
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Thanks for suggesting Oltre il Giardino in Panzano. I'm going to need to look into restaurants a bit. I'm looking for farm to table, all sauces/soups absolutely from scratch, traditional raw milk cheeses (processed foods a no-no for me - U.S. restaurants are mostly off the list). Ease of dining out is one of the many reasons I picked Italy when my BF said he'd take me anywhere in the world I wanted to go! Still, I think it's prudent to prepare a restaurant list and especially for a city as large as Florence.
I'll email you jnjfraz.
: )
I'll email you jnjfraz.
: )
Aug 28th, 2011, 07:51 AM
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I have the same concerns although in my case, I'm returning the car to the Hertz on Via Maso Finiguerra 33. The question is HOW TO AVOID GETTING A TICKET while driving in the ZTL between the Ponte Amerigo Vespucci & the Hertz rental agency.
I just preprinted my directions. I can't resist printing yours off the Via Michelin website, so for what it's worth, here it is:
Departure: FIRENZE, Via Maso Finiguerra 33.
Arrival : SIENA
1. Leave Firenze 4 km
Continue along: Via Maso Finiguerra (0.1 km)
Continue along: Borgo Ognissanti (0.2 km)
Turn left: Via Curtatone (0.1 km)
Turn left: Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci (0.2 km)
Turn right: Ponte Amerigo Vespucci (0.2 km)
Continue along: Lungarno Soderini (0.1 km)
Turn left: Via Lungo le Mura di Santa Rosa (<0.1 km)
Take Piazza di Verzaia (<0.1 km)
Continue along: Borgo San Frediano (<0.1 km)
Turn right: Piazza De'Nerli (0.2 km)
Turn right: Via dell'Orto (0.2 km)
Turn left: Viale Ludovico Ariosto (0.2 km)
Turn left: Viale Vasco Pratolini (0.2 km)
Turn right: Viale Francesco Petrarca (0.7 km)
Continue along: Piazzale di Porta Romana (<0.1 km)
At the roundabout, Piazzale di Porta Romana,
take the 1st exit To follow SR2 / Via Senese(1.3 km)
30 mph speed limit 4 km 00h10
Exit Firenze 4 km 00h10
2. Continue along: SR2 1.5 km
50 mph speed limit for 1.5 km 4 km 00h10
5.5 km 00h12
3. Pass Galluzzo 0.8 km
Take SR2 / Via Senese (0.2 km)
Turn right: Via Volterrana (0.4 km)
30 mph speed limit 5.5 km 00h13
Turn left: Via della Certosa (0.2 km)
30 mph speed limit for 0.4 km 6 km 00h13
Exit Galluzzo 6 km 00h14
4. Continue along: Via della Certosa 0.2 km 6.5 km 00h14
5. Turn right: SR2 1.4 km
50 mph speed limit for 0.2 km 6.5 km 00h14
Pass by Bottai 7 km 00h15
40 mph speed limit for 0.4 km 7.5 km 00h15
8 km 00h16
6. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit Continue along: RA3 towards:
SIENA/COLLE VAL D'ELSA/POGGIBONSI/GROSSETO 55 km
Galleria Vallombrosina 9.5 km 00h17
San Casciano 16 km 00h21
Steep hill downwards 1.8 km 29 km 00h31
Passing close to Poggibonsi 39 km 00h38
Passing close to Monteriggioni 54 km 00h48
Take the exit to AREZZO/GROSSETO/SIENA/ACQUA CALDA
63 km 00h55
7. Take Superstrada Firenze-Siena 1.6 km
Exit at Galleria Fontebecci 64 km 00h56
8. Continue along: Tangenziale Siena Ovest 5 km
Take the exit towards:EXIT SIENA OVEST PREFETTURA
Head towards
IENA OVEST 69 km 01h00
9. Continue along: SP73BIS 0.3 km
50 mph speed limit for 0.2 km 69 km 01h00
10. Take Strada Statale 73 di Ponente 0.1 km 70 km 01h00
11. Continue along: Strada di Pescaia 0.7 km
Series of bends for 0.5 km. 70 km 01h00
50 mph speed limit 70 km 01h01
12. Arrive in Siena
I just preprinted my directions. I can't resist printing yours off the Via Michelin website, so for what it's worth, here it is:
Departure: FIRENZE, Via Maso Finiguerra 33.
Arrival : SIENA
1. Leave Firenze 4 km
Continue along: Via Maso Finiguerra (0.1 km)
Continue along: Borgo Ognissanti (0.2 km)
Turn left: Via Curtatone (0.1 km)
Turn left: Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci (0.2 km)
Turn right: Ponte Amerigo Vespucci (0.2 km)
Continue along: Lungarno Soderini (0.1 km)
Turn left: Via Lungo le Mura di Santa Rosa (<0.1 km)
Take Piazza di Verzaia (<0.1 km)
Continue along: Borgo San Frediano (<0.1 km)
Turn right: Piazza De'Nerli (0.2 km)
Turn right: Via dell'Orto (0.2 km)
Turn left: Viale Ludovico Ariosto (0.2 km)
Turn left: Viale Vasco Pratolini (0.2 km)
Turn right: Viale Francesco Petrarca (0.7 km)
Continue along: Piazzale di Porta Romana (<0.1 km)
At the roundabout, Piazzale di Porta Romana,
take the 1st exit To follow SR2 / Via Senese(1.3 km)
30 mph speed limit 4 km 00h10
Exit Firenze 4 km 00h10
2. Continue along: SR2 1.5 km
50 mph speed limit for 1.5 km 4 km 00h10
5.5 km 00h12
3. Pass Galluzzo 0.8 km
Take SR2 / Via Senese (0.2 km)
Turn right: Via Volterrana (0.4 km)
30 mph speed limit 5.5 km 00h13
Turn left: Via della Certosa (0.2 km)
30 mph speed limit for 0.4 km 6 km 00h13
Exit Galluzzo 6 km 00h14
4. Continue along: Via della Certosa 0.2 km 6.5 km 00h14
5. Turn right: SR2 1.4 km
50 mph speed limit for 0.2 km 6.5 km 00h14
Pass by Bottai 7 km 00h15
40 mph speed limit for 0.4 km 7.5 km 00h15
8 km 00h16
6. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit Continue along: RA3 towards:
SIENA/COLLE VAL D'ELSA/POGGIBONSI/GROSSETO 55 km
Galleria Vallombrosina 9.5 km 00h17
San Casciano 16 km 00h21
Steep hill downwards 1.8 km 29 km 00h31
Passing close to Poggibonsi 39 km 00h38
Passing close to Monteriggioni 54 km 00h48
Take the exit to AREZZO/GROSSETO/SIENA/ACQUA CALDA
63 km 00h55
7. Take Superstrada Firenze-Siena 1.6 km
Exit at Galleria Fontebecci 64 km 00h56
8. Continue along: Tangenziale Siena Ovest 5 km
Take the exit towards:EXIT SIENA OVEST PREFETTURA
Head towards
IENA OVEST 69 km 01h009. Continue along: SP73BIS 0.3 km
50 mph speed limit for 0.2 km 69 km 01h00
10. Take Strada Statale 73 di Ponente 0.1 km 70 km 01h00
11. Continue along: Strada di Pescaia 0.7 km
Series of bends for 0.5 km. 70 km 01h00
50 mph speed limit 70 km 01h01
12. Arrive in Siena
Aug 28th, 2011, 09:38 AM
#19
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We enjoyed the Vino al Vino Festival in Panzano. This year the dates are September 15-18.
For more info: http://www.panzano.com/important-dat...-dates-eng.htm
There's also a festival in Greve September 8-11.
http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/en/2...e_festival.htm
(I realize it says 2010 in this link, but the 2011 info is there.)
For more info: http://www.panzano.com/important-dat...-dates-eng.htm
There's also a festival in Greve September 8-11.
http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/en/2...e_festival.htm
(I realize it says 2010 in this link, but the 2011 info is there.)
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