mcpounds

We will be in Italy in mid-September. Unfortunately, we have only six days: two days in Venice, 2 days Tuscany, 2 days Rome. From Venice, we will head down to Tuscany with Poggibonsi as our base, before proceeding to Rome. We will, of course, want a rental car to drive around Tuscany.

What would be the best way to do this in terms of time and $$$?

1. Train from Venice to Tuscany & pick up rental car? If so, which Tuscan town would be the best for picking up a rental car? (I picked up a rental in Florence in '07 and it took precious hours from my day! I had to go from the train station to airport...!)

2. Or rent the car in Venice (Piazzale Roma?) and drive to Tuscany -- if so, where would be the best place to RETURN the car? We'd then have to hop a train from there for Rome.

3. Or, drive all the way to Rome? If so, where in Rome is the best place to return a rental car?

I just priced rentals and they seem to be more expensive this year than in 2007! But then, so is the train, it seems. Thank you in advance for your help.

Jean

I don't know that I would bother renting a car, but that would mean not staying in Poggibonsi.

By the time you've done either (1) rent car in Venice and drive to Poggibonsi or (2) train somewhere, rent the car and drive to Poggibonsi, you've lost at least a half-day of your only 2 days in Tuscany.

Why not just train to Siena for 2 nights and hire a driver to take you to see another town (Castellina, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Montalcino...?).

If you decide to rent the car, I'd pick it up in Venice and drop it in either Chiusi or Orvieto where you can take the train into Rome. Make sure you know the days and hours the offices are open in each town and the frequency of trains to Rome around the time you want to go. More trains stop at Orvieto.

pctraveler

I might think about visiting Venice, then taking the train to Florence and get a driver for the two days. This allows you to maximize your enjoyment and let him/her fight the traffic. We have done this several times in Italy and have always been pleased. On one occasion, for example, we hired a driver in Florence to take us to Sienna, Volterra, San Gimignano, and Monteriggioni (try il Pozzo) and it was a delightful day. No hassle, no poring over maps in an unfamiliar land. Just too easy! And many Fodorites have drivers they can recommend.

Then, take the train to Rome and enjoy your stay.

Jean

I'm a huge fan of Florence, so I love pctraveler's suggestion, except that you might find it hard to drag yourselves away from the treasures of Florence to make any drives out to smaller towns. You only have one full day plus the afternoon of your arrival day and the morning of your departure day.

mcpounds

Thanks, everyone. I've already booked lodgings in Poggibonsi, so will definitely need a car. I'll look into Orvieto!

pctraveler

Jean, your point is well taken. We have been to Florence so many times (9. I think) that I overlooked the fact that this ay be the OP's first trip there. If this was my first trip, I wouldn't stray too far from the Duomo!

tuscanlifeedit

The OP was in Italy in '07.

viamichelin.com says 3 hours 10 minutes driving to Poggibonsi. Add at least the rest of an hour for renting the car.

I'm not at all sure what I would do. Poggibonsi isn't a really convenient choice, but you already know that.

I'm thinking since you already have to get out of Venice, just get up really early and rent the car there. Then you have the car and you're off.

As much as I hate driving in Rome, I might even take the car all the way there to save time instead of dropping the car and getting a train.

Otherwise Orvieto isn't a bad choice for dropping the car and catching a train.

You could return the car in Poggibonsi but then you have at least a 3 hour train ride with a change in Florence. I think I'd rather drive a bit than change trains.

asps

As fast trains stop in Florence, that is the place most convenient to pick up the car. No need to go all the way to the airport, as most rentals have agencies in the Borgo Ognissanti area, ten minutes walking from the station. ZTL rules are an issue when you return the car; when you pick up it, you just drive out of the city as fast as possible.