Car rental pickup - airport or downtown location?
 

We're wanting to rent a car to travel from Florence to Rome for two weeks next September. I've heard that rates from/to the airports have an extra surcharge. However, if you pick up and drop off in the city, you have to deal with the traffic. We'll be staying on the outskirts of both cities at the Sheratons. Any opinions, ideas, or suggestions will be welcome.

The traffic from the rental pick-ups in the city of Florence isn't really bad. But...if you're staying outside the city, sometimes it isn't worth going into the city to get a car.

I would check with the car rental companies for those locations to see if they actually do have an airport surcharge. Then consider the cost of taxis or some form of public transit to/from your hotel to either the airport or a downtown location to get the car (unless Sheraton has on-site acr rental or the company is willing to deliver the car to your hotel).

If you have 2 people - 1 to navigate and 1 to drive - I say pick up at the closest, most convenient location. If you're alone, go with the easiest driving option.

I wanted to avoid the trouble of going to the airport in Rome to pick up my car, so I asked Hertz to drop it off at my hotel, and they will, for a charge of E20. I save the 14% tax (for airport pick-up) as well.
Ask your rental Co.

Good ideas. Thank you everyone. I'll check to see if they will deliver and/or drop at my hotel.

We picked up a car in Florence and although it was very convenient, there was a hefty (14%) surcharge, and then again if you leave it at another airport (as we did in Venice).

Ah, car rental. Always ask about the total charges when comparing prices: expecially insurances, location service charges and drop-off fees. It used to be just airports that car-rental companies levied surcharges. Now, it's called location service charge.