Any sugggestions on getting a car with an automatic transmission for a reasonable price in Florence. Hertz has one (economy size) but it's only available once in a while. The agency says it might not even be there if promised.

Maybe Hertz has changed their policy, Debbie, but I rented an automatic from Hertz in Florence last August and never had a problem. They didn't have the economy automatic they promised, but just substituted another automatic for the same price. I have never had a problem getting an automatic in Europe the last four times I have rented one.

Lucky you, Sherry. Debbie, I recommend you consider learning to drive stick before you go. Rick Steves gives the same advice and I ignored it. Had confirmation twice by e-mail of an automatic car and then when we arrived it was broken and couldn't be fixed for three days. I learned to drive stick on the spot, in Copenhagen traffic, after 24 hours without sleep, and with three cranky jet-lagged kids in the back seat. I wish I had learned at home on my own peaceful, EMPTY neighborhood streets. It really isn't that hard and I'm glad I did it. When my mom and I went back the next year, we saved a couple hundred bucks on car rental. Automatics are EXPENSIVE and eat gas ($4.00 a gallon in many European countries)

Yes, automatics are more expensive to rent. And maybe I have been lucky that the cars have been there when I rented them. But the last three cars have been diesel and the gas has been the least expensive in both France and Italy. I do think learning to drive a standard transmission is sound advice. This will give you more options. But I do not know how. And recently, when driving with my friend in France (who actually can drive a stick but we had an automatic) said she would have been horrified to drive one on some of the roads we took with a standard transmission. So now I really do not know if this has helped you. Sorry

Thanks for the help, I was hoping Hertz could be counted on! As far as the stick - I've tried & I just can't get the hang of it, especially from what I've heard about driving in Italy.

Hi Debbie <BR>I never passed the manual transmission side of drivers ed in high school. But I found myself having to learn how to do it 18 years later. It was not easy at first, but once you get the feel for the clutch it is easy. Generally, it seems you have more control with a manual transmission because you can down shift as well as break to control speed. Insurance we were told is also a factor. Automatics generally rent for more because of that, cost, etc. <BR> Ironically, when our 16 year old daughter wanted to drive, she had to learn on our stick shifts first. She is now 25 and still driving one, and impressing the fellows who cannot!!!

One thing I would say is that if you are doing any driving on the autostrada, try to get a bigger car. They gave me a tiny little opel, and it was scary with all the Mercedes and BMW's whizzing by. When I was in Germany I asked for a BMW 500 series because I was going to be on the Autobahn, which they didn't have, so they upgraded me to 700 series automatic stick shift. Vrooom! Seriously, a few extra lire might be worth it if you are going outside of Florence, and the bigger cars are more likely to be automatic.

Debbie, <BR> <BR>It's true that automatics are quite a bit more expensive and hard to find, but after two trips to Italy with a manual transmission and two with automatic, I will NEVER rent a manual transmission again. It's just one more thing to worry about when you're trying to navigate in a foreign country and deal with the narrow roads, lots of traffic, etc. Mountain driving is especially awful with a manual. Anyway, I have used The Destination Group, a British company. Even though they use Hertz, they have gotten me automatics at a lower price than going directly with Hertz. You'll have to pay before you go -- they send you a voucher which you turn in at the rental office. I've had very good luck with them. I think their URL is www.carhire4less.uk.

We rented a stick shift in Portugal and again in Tuscany (Florence). I'm somewhat used to sticks (I drove a stick about 18 years ago), so it wasn't that big of a deal. I will mention that if you get trapped on a smaller, hilly street and have to back up, it can be tough. Also, you have to be able to really use a stick to be able to paralel park (drivers behind you are apt to be impatient and the roads are narrow and parking it tough). We just got back from Provence and we rented an automatic. I found it a lot more enjoyable. I did find myself in a few tight spots were had I had a stick it would have caused some undue stress. I was so glad to have an auto.