car or train?
 

I need somebody to give me some advice. We will be going to Italy in June and we are 5 I'm triyng to decide if it will be better to rent a car or travel with the train. I'm staying 28 days and want to visit Rome, Napoli,Florence, Turin, Venice and I need to stop for a couple of days in Modena to visit family. My concern with the car is the parking I know is not easy in Rome and also I'm looking for the most practical and chepeast way.

Thanks for any tips.

Since you mention only major cities and towns, as ooposed to mentioning touring Tuscany for example, I would look into some type of train discount. A family of five would need a fairly large car, and that would be quite expensive.

Lease a car. Look into the Peugeot program.

Best wishes,

Rex

I would take a train. I was in Italy this last August and September for 2 months and managed perfectly fine getting all around Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio region (Rome) and Naples with a train. Parking is difficult and costly, and IMO, not worth the additional expense and effort. Since the transportation systems are so fabulous there, why not take a train to and from your destinations? It is both convenient and economical!

Hi soraya,

I agree with Michael. You won't want a car in any of the cities you are visiting.

Are you two adults with 3 children? If so you get a discount "famiglia" (2 adults and one child) as well as reduced fares for children (ragazzi).

I agree that if you've given an accurate account of your plans and you aren't looking to drive around the countryside stopping at little towns or villas, then I can't imagine why you'd even think of driving. Take the trains for stress free arrivals in cities, and relaxed travel. I'm assuming there are only two of you, right? If you have four or five of you, then possibly the economics will change.

You may have overlooked this, Patrick

<<and we are 5>>

And to advise them to ONLY stay in thos ecities and npt see any of rural and small-town Italy in between is a great disservice, in my opinion. They can put Rome or Venice at either end of the trip and avoid having a car for those initial and terminal 3-4 days. And greatly enjoy the 20 in between stopping anywher they wish for lunch, unfettered by train schedules, double- and triple-shlepping the luggage (from hotel to taxi, from taxi into the station, onto the train, off the train, back into a taxi, and so on).

Hello soraya - I agree with Rex that you'd be missing a fun part of Italy by not driving at all. Just rent for one week of your stay perhaps, i.e. rent in Venice, drive to Modena and leave car off in Turin or Florence. You need good maps but the experience is worth it imo.

I vote for the car as well. For 5 people this is logistically simpler than the train. Plus you have the opportunity to explore the countryside/smaller towns as you drive between one city and another. And I'm sure you'll do day trips which the car will make easier and more enjoyable. If you lease rather than rent the cost should not be prohibitive. It's true that parking in cities is difficult - just like in the US. So simply find a handy garage (your hotel can help you) and dump the car the days you don't need it.

Ooops. Sorry, I did miss that little 5. And I didn't suggest they overlook the countryside. I was asking if that was there intent. It seemed their itinerary is set at seeing cities.

Thanks to all that responded. I think we will like to stop in the little towns as well so maybe the car will be better. Where do I buy good maps? Will they be better here or there?

Thanks.

Soraya

If we're staying in a large city, we usually pick up the car the day we leave the city. That way you don't have to pay parking.

Rex was right . . . lease from Peugeot. If you put a large city at the beginning and the end of the trip, you can pick up the car as you leave the first city and drop off the car as you enter the last city.

For the length of your trip, leasing makes much more sense. The Peugeot web site is http://www.peugeot.com/sodexa/en/ They will give you an estimate and a phone number if you want to ask questions. They are very reliable people and it is an excellent car. For five people you will probably want the 406.

For maps, I highly recommend purchasing the Michelin "Italy Tourist and Motoring Atlas" from Borders, Barnes & Noble or online before you go. They are very thorough and detailed maps, invaluable when you are out in the countryside.

Another solution to the parking problem would be to stay right outside the cities, leave the car at the hotel and take the train into the city for the day.

Enjoy your trip.

staying in the suburbs and training in could work for 2 or 3 but for 5 people I would think it just as cheap to pay for a garage - IMHO training in and out for 5 would be at least $25 per day.

Good point NYT. There are just two of us and I forget prices multiply when there are more people.

Soraya, Perhaps you could check a guidebook and see what an average parking fee would be. You might also be able to do a search in the search window above.

Just a note to consider when driving in Italy. It is FAST! It can be very tiring/stressful if you are not used to it. You might want to consider this in your train versus car dilemma.

definitely lease a vehicle. the logistics of moving five people is simpler and less expensive in cost and effort by auto. the thought of lugging around baggage for five thru crowded stations (it will be high season) alone would cinch it for me.

and, yes, europeans as a whole drive relatively fast with higher speed limits. simply maintain the posted limit, stay out of the passing lane and you'll be driving like 90% of them.

as to parking: it can be difficult in the city center but not impossible. as a last resort there are both private and municiple garages all over. of many trips in italy, i've only used them twice. if you haven't already booked hotels (which you should start now), look for some with their own parking.

whichever you decide, have a great trip!!!

Driving in Italy is great! Yes, it is fast on the AutoStrade, but people really pay attention when they drive. Get in the left lane only when passing. We drove from Florence to Pisa, Cinque Terre to Portofino and back. The following day from Florence through Tuscany to Montalcino (my favorite town). We returned the car the third day at the airport in Rome (avoiding city traffic). All in all it was a wonderful way to travel. Not schlepping the luggage up and down on the train was a big benefit. I found the roads to be excellent and signs (with a few exceptions) fairly easy to follow.