jan

We are in the initial stages of planning a 2-week trip to Italy in October. The first week we'd base somewhere in Tuscany, train directly to Positano (w/o car) for the second week, and then leave from Rome to return home. Which airport (Milan, Florence, or Rome)would be better for Tuscan arrival? After we arrive at airport, we would like to travel by train to our destination in Tuscany (undecided at this point) and rent the car there in order to avoid major highways. We would then drop off car and travel by train/bus to Positano. Any suggestions would be appeciated. (New to this forum and LOVE it!)

David

<BR>I would suggest Florence( Firenze) as your best airport for Tuscany. An alternative on the coast would be Pisa which many charter companies use.I imagine you will have to transit through Milan or Rome from outside of Europe for either of these smaller airports.

Maggie

I would agree with the Firenze recommendation. but I think you should reconsider where you pick up your car. I would pick it up at the airport and forget trying to train to Tuscany. I don't think you'd find the drive from the airport that bad and I don't know how good the train service would be if you want to go to smaller towns in Tuscany. Also, to get the train you'd probably have to get yourself from the airport to the train station which might be a pain (haven't done it so don't really know.) <BR> <BR>We have usually flown through London to destinations in Italy although it probably depends on your origination point (ours is Boston.) Sounds like you're planning a great trip----have fun.

cheryl

I flew into Florence last week, and unless you plan on spending time in the city itself, I think I would probably recommend flying into Rome or Milan. You will probably have to fly into a larger city anyway and then connect to Florence, I don't think it has direct international flights. We had to catch a connecting flight from Milan to Florence, and by the time you got done with the 2 hour layover, the 1/2 hour delay, and then the 1 hour flight, it probably would have been faster and cheaper just to catch the train. Besides that, the Florence airport doesn't have train service, so you will need to take a cab or bus to the train station in Florence in order to train to wherever you decide is to be your first destination. Actually, I don't think there is direct train service from either airport in Milan either (I could be mistaken), so perhaps Rome would be easiest. Fewer connections to make.

cheryl

Since I appear to be quite distinctly in the minority, perhaps I should rethink that answer...

Helen

I know a few people whose package trips to Tuscany had them flying into Florence via Paris (on Air France.) Go figure. Maybe a navigator/travel agent-type Fodorite will jump in here.

martha

Cheryl-- <BR>Actually, my gut instinct was the same as yours. Milan may be cheaper, but if you're spending your time in central Italy (Tuscany), fly to the major airport in central Italy (Rome). I keep thinking there's a train from the airport but I don't remember. <BR>I do think renting the car later is a good idea. You'll be tired.

Beth

It sounds from your message as if you were going to have a car for the week in Tuscany, is that right? Seems to me like it would be quite reasonable (and maybe less trouble) to fly into Rome or Milan, get your car there and drive to Tuscany. It would certainly be less complicated than make plane/train/bus connections. Which airport may depend on where your destination is in Tuscany. Why do you want to avoid major highways, anyways? From everything I've read, driving in Italy is not that big a deal. (Admittedly, I haven't tried it yet, I'm just speaking second hand from what I've read in this forum and what friends have told me).

Barbara

Jan, <BR> <BR>I think someone has frightened you about driving in Italy. I cannot imagine being in the areas you are planning and not having a car. How's this for an alternate plan: fly into Venice and spend 2-3 days. Upon leaving, pick up your rental car and drive to Tuscany. Base either in the Chianti region, Lucca or Siena area (Karen Brown guides best for accomodations). Drive to Positano and stay at La Fenice (we'll be there in October too). Drive about 1hr 15 minutes to Naples and fly home from Naples. If you want more ideas you can e-mail me directly. Driving in Italy is common sense just as it is everywhere else. We always depend on someone at each place to give us good directions to the next. A good investment is Euroatlas - Italy, available at major bookstores. One word of advice -- arrange for your rental car from here -- if you wait and rent in Italy you'll pay twice the price. Don't be afraid of driving there -- the only really horrible places are the major cities -- just like NY. But the road system is beautiful and don't miss the autostops -- they're incredible. <BR>

Sheila

If you are flying into Tuscany and have an option which does not require a transit airport, make it Pisa or Firenze becasue they are where you want to be, not somewhere you have to drive from. However if it means an extra connection Roma or Milano are both good. <BR> <BR>I personally would pick Pisa because it's smaller, and getting into and out of Florence airport requires a minimum IQ of 287. (or 5 friends all shouting conflicting instructions at the same time)

evan

Driving in Tuscany is no big deal. Did it on my honeymoon last year. Would recommend flying into Rome and renting a car from their. It is closer than Milian and the highways are easy to navigate. The Rome airport is outside the city so you do not have to deal with driving in trafic similar to NYC. The decision that is the toughest is where to drop car off to go to Positano. If taking train to Positano it might be easier depending on schedule and finances to take the FS to Naples and arrange for transportation thru Hotel.

Karen

Amen to Sheila's post about driving out of Florence, but you forgot to mention conflicting road signs, confusing turn-abouts and how to enter the autostrada sign that comes about 500 meters after you have made the decision not to go that way. Believe me, tears don't help; I have tried that route.

dennis

We visited Tuscany last year. Took Alitalia flight from Newark to Milan and connected to flight to Florence. Picked up rental car there and drove 1 hour to Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. You need a car in Tuscany . After 6 nights based in Siena, we drove to the Italian Riviera for 4 days then finished with 4 days in Florence (the car stayed mostly in the garage in Florence until we drove it back to the airport). I would definitely fly into Florence, it is in Tuscany, which Milan and Rome are not. Good luck.! <BR>

Hyalker

Hey Jan: I just got back last week from Roma/Firenze. A few considerations. The only international flights going into Firenze come intra-Europe or else Pisa would be the location. If you are flying out of Roma, I would quickly suggest flying in as well depending on your budget. The train to Firenze was @$27 one-way from the main station so from the airport may be a bit more. Renting a car would be probably be cheaper as well out of Firenze/Pisa than either Roma or Milan although the drive between Roma and Firenze is also supposed be filled with little troves if you're willing to explore. Other ideas may be flying into Pisa, picking up a car and doing a drop off in Roma but it appeared you planned to be car-less the 2nd week. Hope that helps some (or it just makes it tougher). Happy Travels H

Joann

Just remember that there is a large surcharge on car rentals picked up at airports. You save by picking up at a city location. I have had great success picking up cars rented through AutoEurope at the Avis office in Lucca, 12 miles from Pisa. You can fly through London to Pisa (Pisa is the location for Brits arriving at their holiday cottages) and then go by bus or train to Lucca (or probably just into a Pisa city office). Have a great time!

Jo

A couple of years ago we leased a car for six weeks. After renting a house in Tuscany for a week, we drove to Positano and rented a house for a week. Easy driving as the autostrada is a piece of cake. We did not drive in Positano. We parked the car and took public transportation. Then we drove to the Umbria and rented another house. Driving thru the wine country in Tuscany and Umbria was wonderful. You have a chance to talk and mingle with the local people who are very warm and friendly. Would not try to drive in the big cities. I would not bother with the train unless I were staying in the big cities. Driving was so easy that I rented a car on my own in southern France last year. The hardest part of my transportation was a train ride from Barcelona, Spain to Carcassonne, France.