Will I make 1:00 pm car rental pick up in time?

There is a good chance you will make it. There is also a good chance they will already be at lunch or not wait for you, Italians don't run like clocks - more like streams.

The thing that will be helpful to you is to have a method to contact them when you are ready to get your car. Either a cell phone or pin card at a pay phone. Chances are someone will be within a block even if the office is closed when you get there.

Are you heading straight out of Rome? If not, why are you picking up a car right away?

Gina, I do think you will make it but why?
It is some hassle to manage 2 trains with luggage to get to Chiusi, which is likely not your real destination. Get the car at FCO and drive it--less hassle.

And what will happen if your flight is delayed or they're closed for lunch? You will go to lunch too and celebrate that you're not late for work, just an hour or so later into your vacation.

Why don't you switch your pick up location to FCO? If you get stuck, you're really gonna get stuck but it's likely the Chiusi office won't open again until 4pm, and in November, that will only leave you with an hour of daylight -- and that's if it's a sunny day!

Did you talk directly with the Italians in the Chiusi office? I love Italians believe me, but I would want to hear it from them directly that they were willing to skip or delay lunch until you arrive.

Gina M,
It is likely you will make the 10:55. Please double check the location of the Hertz office. I heard it had moved from Piazza Dante down the street a half block.

Henry

As you noted, you probably have a decent chance of making it, but what if your flight is late? Listen to bob!

Of course, I meant "as noted," not "as you noted"!

Hi Gina,
Just adding my vote to collect the car from FCO. Infinitely easier than trekking into town and you'll be on your way immediately.

Hi G,

Why are you rushing in Ialy - the land of "il dolce far niente"?

Our last visit, it took us 3:30 hr from the time of scheduled landing to the head of the tracks at Rome TE.

We spent an hour having lunch, people watching and decompressing, before our train arrived.

What would be so terrible if you picked up your car at 3:00 and weren't stressed from rushing to meet a deadline?

The worst that can happen is that you pick up your car at 2:30 instead of 1:00.

Enjoy your lunch.

Getting the car in Rome would definitely be a lot easier, but I was concerned about driving in Rome. I've read post about the horrors of traffic in Rome. I do realize we would probably be on the outskirts of the city. My husband and I always manage to get lost or take wrong exits anywhere we go. Do you think a couple of first timers in Italy could manage? If not, would picking up the car in Orvieto be more reasonable?

If Bob says Rome, that's enough to convince me!

By the way, our plan is Tuscany (Montepulciano) for 7 nights and Rome for the last 4 nights of our trip.

Thank you all,

Gina

The airport is not in Roma. It's like every other major urban airport, about an hour outside of Roma. Once you pick up your car at the airport you'll get onto a major highway.

You'll have the same problem in Orvieto about closing times if your flight is delayed. And you won't be on major roads.

It's not hard to get off on the right exit at the autostrade, but you want to be on the road as soon as possible in November. You don't want to drive in the dark, and you don't want to drive as the fatigue sets in.

Dump your car in Orvieto before you head back to Roma.

Piece of cake around the ring road to A-1 north. Just follow all signs for Firenze. But, print the route from viamichelin anyway. What is your destination?

Sorry, I see Montepulciano.
Easy exit near Chiusi onto S-146---have fun and eat one day at La Porta in Montichiello.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I had never considered picking the car up from the airport, but it would simplify things alot!!

One worry solved!! I'm sure there will be others...

Thanks again!

Hi G,

> I had never considered picking the car up from the airport,...

There is usually an extra fee for airport pickup.

But the extra fee for airport pickup probably won't matter if Gina and her husband don't need to buy train tickets to Chiusi . . .

The extra charge for picking a rental up at the airport is about $60 USD more according to Auto Europe.

My next question: I'm wondering how much of a headache/stress it will be to return car to Termini? Or should we return car to Orvieto and train into Rome in order to avoid driving into Rome?

Gina

I would not drive into Termini--out maybe, but not in. Orvieto is a better option.

ditto what bob said.

Gina,

I've done this exercise on a number of occasions when flying into Rome, heading off same day and coming back to Rome a few days before my departure.

COLLECTION: I've always collected the car at FCO (and would even if the extra was $100 to do so. I figure if I can afford a month in Italy, a small fee to avoid the hassle of driving in Rome isn't going to bankrupt me(LOL)).

DROP OFF: I've dropped off in Orvietto once and taken the train into Termini, and on the other occasions simply dropped off at FCO and either taken a train or a taxi into the city from there.

The ringroads around FCO are really very good and if you're coming from the US, you'll have the advantage of driving on a familiar side of the road straight away, which I don't.

What's that mastercard ad ....
Cost of pick-up at FCO ... 60
Cost of train ............ 20
Not having to schlepp bags or drive in any large strange city on arrival day ..... PRICELESS !

The rental car return at FCO is very easy, I would just drop the car back off there before the flight. That way you are already at the airport and you just cross the road to the terminals.

Why don't you just pick up your at the airport in rome? Also try Kemwell, even though it is owned by autoeurope, I found it much cheeper than autoeurope with better insurance coverage. The savings using Kemwell could offset the savings and hassel of leaving the airport to get your car.

Bokhara2 - Thanks for the suggestions. Do you prefer returning car to FCO or Orvieto and training to Rome from there? Which would get me to Rome quicker?

platemark - I did check with Kemwell last night on a suggestion from old post from Ira. It saved me $134 for same booking! In fact, I started another post to let others know about Kemwell. Thanks!