Car rental - Orvieto or Rome
 

I'm sorry for asking so many questions this go round!!

We will be leaving Rome to go to southern Tuscany. We will want a car while in Tuscany. I see that many of you train to Orvieto to pick up your rental car. I'm assuming that this is to avoid driving in Rome?

If we decide to brave driving out of Rome - where is the best location to pick up our car. We will be in staying in the historic center.

If we decide to pick up the car in Orvieto - which car rental agencies are located there? Is there a place to leave our luggage in order to visit the city? Are the agencies close to the train station?

Thanks so much!

Autoeurope and Kemwel usually offer different rental agencies in major cities. Look for an agency on the via Francia, or close to it, which will take you out of Rome toward the north.

This may help !


DRIVING IN ITALY & SOUTHERN EUROPE

Q. SHOULD WE DRIVE IN ITALY?
A. Of course you should if your driving skill & confidence would allow you to drive a rental car in Vermont, Colorado or California. But, be advised of these tips:
* Avoid driving in the major cities except for picking up or dropping cars
* Have good maps—study them in advance—and have a GOOD NAVIGATOR.
* Stay in the right lane except when passing and use your rear view mirrors

Q. WHAT CAR SHOULD I GET AND WHERE DO I GET IT?
A. It is best to rent your car before you leave for Europe. The best source we have found is www.autoeurope.com [800-223-5555] who is a broker for several car vendors. They will quote you prices to include the variables that are often omitted by others, such as unlimited mileage, mandatory insurance coverage with some deductibles, and VAT taxes. It is wise to compare prices and coverage with their sister company at www.kemwel.com. Autoeurope will match any comparable quote, and are famous for their customer satisfaction if problems do arise with the vendor. The best model will depend on your needs, but for best value we suggest you select a compact car with manual transmission. Automatics are available but will cost you about 30% more and may limit your model options & pick up locations.

Q. ARE ITALIAN DRIVERS AS CRAZY AS I HAVE HEARD?
A. Yes & no! They are certainly aggressive, but they are also more skilled than many USA drivers—both are a function of necessity. Italy is one of the most crowded countries in the world and the drivers have evolved these characteristics
* They are notorious tailgaters. If that bothers you, pull over and let them past.
* On the AUTOSTRADE they will drive fast, but will stay in the right lane except when passing and will use their blinkers when passing—YOU SHOULD TOO !
* They will often pass on 2-lane roads with traffic coming. Frankly, they expect you, and the oncoming car, to adjust to the shoulder and make 3 lanes of traffic.

OTHER ROAD TIPS FOR YOUR DRIVING SANITY:
1. Learn the meaning of the sign “ SENSO UNICO” and take heed [ONE WAY ].
2. Be sure to get your ticket when you enter the AUTOSTADA system & be prepared to pay the toll when you exit it [ rule of thumb—300 km=15 Euro]. You can use your credit card in the VIA lane at the toll both, or buy a debit VIACARD in advance.
3. Do NOT attempt to follow road numbers—that will frustrate you. But, do pay attention to the directional signs that point to your destination [ TO MONTALCINO]. And, be aware if that road leads eventually to a larger city [ ROMA—SIENA ETC.]
4. Unless you have a diesel car, you will want to fill the tank with benzina from the green pump. Most stations will pump gas for you and will take credit cards.

NOTE: As of 2005, an International Drivers Permit[IDP] is required in Italy.
You can obtain them from your local AAA office. You will need a valid US driver’s license, two passport photos, and $15. The photos can be taken at the AAA office.

>>>If we decide to brave driving out of Rome - where is the best location to pick up our car.<<<

Villa Borghese locations.

>>>If we decide to pick up the car in Orvieto - which car rental agencies are located there? <<<

There is a Hertz within walking distance of the train station. Most agencies in small towns will close between 1-4, close at noon or 1 on Saturday and all day Sunday.

>>>Is there a place to leave our luggage in order to visit the city? <<

No luggage storage in the station. A nearby hotel used to store luggage, but you would have to check and see if it's still possible. You could pick up your car, store the luggage in the trunk and park in the free lot below the train station.

If you use AutoEurope/Kemwell, you used to have to match locations (match Rome Hertz address to Siena Hertz address or Avis to Avis) or it would show as cars not available. You can't select a Hertz address for pick up and an Avis drop off.

Some people have no trouble driving out of Rome. It is easier in a car with GPS. But picking up a car at Orvieto or Chiusi is pretty painless, and either/both towns are worth a short visit if you have time. Neither town has an official luggage storage service at the train station, but some people have reported that there is a small hotel near the Orvieto train station that will hold luggage for a fee. Alternatively, you could pick up the car immediately on arrival, park it and store the luggage in the car while you explore. Make sure you know the open/closed hours of the agency offices because I believe most (all?) close for a few hours in the middle of the day, are not open Saturday afternoons or all day on Sunday. The Orvieto train station is about 200 meters from the Hertz office. The Hertz office in Chiusi is very close to the train station there (you can practically see it) and is even easier to find.

I assume you know about limited traffic zones... ZTLs... which towns of all sizes have instituted.

And that you need to have an International Drivers Permit in addition to your state-issued driver's license.

FWIW, the Hertz office is a half block from the Orvieto train station. The train ride from Rome is one hour.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the responses.

We have driven in Italy before - all over Tuscany and to the airport in Venice from Tuscany. So smaller roads and the autostrada. Pretty painless.

We have also driven out of Rome. We picked up a car at Termini. A tad painful. *I* was hoping to avoid that mess this time around. However, after speaking with my husband who will be the driver (because I have never driven a standard - it's on my list of things to learn) he insists that there is no reason to try to take two forms of trasportation and says we will drive out of Rome - again.

Bobthenavigator - your driving tips are exactly what we found to be true.

So, now I'm asking if anyone has a specific pick up location in Rome that is easy to get in and out of. On the Autoeurope site there are so many Rome locations!

kybourbon - I'm going to get out my map and see if I can find any of these pickup sites that are a Borghese location. None of them say Borghese.

If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

<i>On the Autoeurope site there are so many Rome locations!</i>

Look them up on Google map.

The new Autoeurope layout allows you to search the rental offices by map.

We use the toll free number for Autoeurope.

<i>We use the toll free number for Autoeurope.</i>

But I would not expect that agents at the end of the line to be familiar with the geography of Rome.

>>>he new Autoeurope layout allows you to search the rental offices by map.<<<

Yes, but it will still say nothing available if you select different drop-off/pick-up locations that aren't the same company.

<i>but it will still say nothing available if you select different drop-off/pick-up locations that aren't the same company.</i>

That assumes a one-way rental. Even so, by trial and error, one can find an appropriate drop-off site. If no site is available because the company does not have one, then the city chosen will not list any sites whatsoever, at least that is the case when renting in France. At that point, one chooses a different pick-up point to get a different rental agency. In France, Europcar is more common than Hertz or Avis in smaller provincial towns. Besides, since the original question suggests that it is the pick-up location that counts (no use picking up on the south side of Rome if going north), once that location is established, the OP can call Autoeurope and find out what are the one-way drop-off options.

Hi KayTKay - I have the answer for you for luggage storage in Orvieto…

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-orvieto.cfm

scroll down to I think it was July 10 and I talk about Hotel Picchio. Of course write to them first to be sure they still do this if you decide to pick up your car in Orvieto. By the way, that's what I recommend. Leave Rome on the train early for an easy ride, store your luggage, take the funicular up to visit the town and later pick up your car. We used a place right across the street from the train station and funicular station.

Be sure you check any rental place's times though. The one we used closed early on the weekend.

Kay,

http://www.europcar.com location Via Ludoviso is not far from Villa Borghese area. Leaving from that location is relatively easy. Look on Google to trace your drive out of Rome. Leaving the Ludoviso location, head east (Ludoviso turns into Via Bonocompagni after a couple of blocks) this leads to Via Calibria which leads to Via Salaria. Via Salria will lead you to the E35 which leads to the A1 to Orvieto and beyond. The drive is no more difficult than driving St. Louis or equivalent US city. For confidence, get on google maps and just "drive" the route by continuing to click ahead. You can identify any blds or landmarks to watch for as you drive. Just stay alert as you would in any city driving. I had very good service from this location on my last visit to Orvieto via Rome.

Kay,

I forgot that Via Salaria is one way coming into Via Calabria. After leaving the Eurocar location, the better route is turning left at the first light which is Via Vittoria Veneto heading North, when you see the city wall veer to the right at Via Veneto, just outside the wall you'll go right and then immediately to the left (then staying to the right to enter Via Pinciana) Via Pinciana will lead to Via Giovanni Pacini which lead directly into Via Salaria. I suggest both the driver and navigator "drive" the route on google and familiarize yourself with the buildings and landmarks, especially as the road makes the veer off to the right to Via Giovanni Pacini. Once you're on Salaria, you stay that street all the way to the E35. It will take about fifteen minutes to be out Rome onto the E35. You can do this and it will give you another perspective on parts of Rome out of the historic center.

Thank you all, this has been very helpful!

Clayman thanks for the detailed explanation of that specific location.

kwren - Thanks so much for that information! I've contacted the hotel in Orvieto to see if they still do luggage storage. I'll let you all know when I hear from them.

Feel free to add whatever you learn to my thread. It's good to keep it updated for people cause that info might be old.

There is a big underground parking at Villa Borghese with the various car rental companies there. Scroll down to Villa Borghese.

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/drivin...tions_rome.htm