EliseDale

Hello, we are trying to figure out transportation/car rental pick-up/drop-off that makes sense for our trip to Tuscany/Umbria/Rome. Our itinerary is a little messy, but dictated by family obligations:
Three of us are flying into Rome-FCO heading straight to East Tuscany (staying in Castiglione Fiorentino) for 4 nights, then to Florence for 2 nights.
Then we head into Rome for 2 nights to pick-up a family member (and say a quick hello to yet another).
Then four of us head to West Tuscany for 3 nights (staying in Volterra, we think).
Then back to Rome for our last 3 nights (meeting other friends).

We plan to have a car during each of the Tuscany excursions. Our question(s):
--Should we pick up the car initially at FCO, then return it at Florence-taking the train to Rome, then getting a second car for the 2nd part of the trip? And if so, where should we get the 2nd car?
--OR should we get the car at FCO and keep it until we get to Rome the second time? In which case where should we park the car in Florence and where should we park it outside of Rome to avoid driving in Rome the first time we go there (middle of trip)?
--OR--should we pick up our cars in Tuscany after taking trains to our destinations?
--OR--?? Other suggestions welcome; we've been combing through sites and can't figure out the best option for this convoluted trip.
One of us has been to Italy, but only to major cities on a guided trip with pre-arranged transportation.
Thanks for your help!

Jean

If you haven't already locked in the lodging in Castiglion Fiorentino, I would alter the itinerary slightly by putting Florence before CF. I'd take the train from FCO to Florence to avoid having to drive nearly 3 hours after a flight. If that means your 3 days (4 nights) in Florence would include Sunday and Monday, I might change my mind. Lots of things are closed on those days.

I'd pick up a car on leaving Florence, return it in Rome. Then pick up another car for the drive round-trip to Volterra.

There are a couple of direct trains each day from FCO to Florence.

RonZ

Good advice from Jean. FCO to Florence [Fiumicino Aeroporto-Firenze] takes about 2.5 hours. Advance ticket purchases on the Trenitalia web site risky, better to use one of the machines, which accept debit cards with a 4 digit PIN, or cash; tickets time-stamped on the way to the platform.

Leaving Florence, the natural place to rent a car is the airport. However, Arezzo is very close to Castiglion Fiorentino, and Avis has an office right across the street from the train station [Piazza de la Republica]. There is a train leaving Florence around 9 AM and taking a little over an hour. Returning the car there, a train to Rome takes about 2.5 hours. All these are local trains, no pre purchase.

It would have been better to just fly to Florence, but you may be past that.

EliseDale

Thank you both so much for the advice! Castiglion Fiorentino is hosting a medieval festival while we're there, and we are meeting yet another friend there, so we'll keep the order, but we'll definitely ditch the car in Arezzo if we can, then get a second rental later. That will be a relief! And thanks for the train tips as well, it's nice to know we don't have to pre-purchase everything--it gives more flexibility. Best, Elise

RonZ

Train Fiumicino Aeroporto-Arezzo can be booked here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD

The Avis office is supposed to be open from 3PM to 7PM.