Brazilnut

I will be attending a Conference in Bellagio in the beginning of November, and some of my friends, fellow participants in the Conference and I are planning to travel around the area during the previous week (last week of October). We are planning to pick up the car in Milano, drive through Parma towards Bologna, then up to Padova and Venice, and back to Milano stopping in Verona.

I have been looking at car rentals, but I am sort of lost as to which company would offer the best - reliable - deal. What has been your experience, if any, in renting a car in Northern Italy?

Thanks!

bobthenavigator

Well, you want to look at both Kemwel and Autoeurope--they are sister companies and are brokers. But, do not try to drive in Milan, certainly not Venice, and Bellagio is not easy to access except by car ferry, and it is a real hassle for a car in Bellagio. You will neeed to plan well.

suz123nj

I have always found that reserving in US cheaper than in italy. I have also found that Kemwell has the best price. There is no deductable,insurance is included and often we have been up graded once I arrive. Check then out against some of the other direct rentnal agencies.

Brazilnut

Hi Bobthenavigator:
Thanks for the info. We will definitely not drive in Milano, we are planning to pick up and drop off the car at Linnate (though we will arrive and leave from Malpensa).
We are also not planning to drive in Venice, of course; we plan to be based in Padova (Padua) to visit Venice and use public transportation to go sightseeing.
As to Bellagio, we are also taking the bus to get there. We will be there for a week in the Bellagio Center (Villa Serbelloni, Sfondrata Center

Hi suz123nj:
Thank you as well. I do not live in the US - live in Brazil - but will check into renting the car through the net.

Venezia123

go with autoeurope book it on line it's usually cheaper.
Bellagio is beautiful .The small towns on the water are really beautiful on the way to Como you would need a car for that ,i wouldn't dive all the way into Como not much there but traffic,but the drive is beautiful.

packed

I have not tried it yet, but I see that initaly.com offers car rentals through Autoeurope, and their rate is better on rental that I compared to both Autoeurope and Kemwel. Has anyone booked through them?

packed

ttt

ira

Hi packed,

I haven't used them.

I went to your link. For cars in Italy they have a better deal than going to AE direct. It is about the same as through www.kemwel.com.

Outside Italy, their rates seem to be higher.

Since you would be renting via AE, it would seem reasonable to use initaly.

ekscrunchy

Brazil: Just remember that both Kemwell and Autoeurope have different sites for different countries.

Make sure to check prices, for example, both on the www.Autoeurope.com site and also on the www.Autoeurope.it site. You may find a substantial price difference. You can book on either site. There are quite a few other examples. I found a good price recently through Autoeurope's Italian site and had a very good experience on a recent trip to Italy.

kybourbon

It doesn't appear (after reading the FAQ's) that Initaly includes the mandatory insurance for Italy.

bxl4373

ttt

bobthenavigator

It makes no sense to have a 3rd party in the middle.

ira

The rates that I saw for Italy say "No Insurance Excess" - ie, Zero Deductible.

It is possible to rent a car in Italy without the CDW?

kybourbon

Ira - Read the FAQ's under insurance. The way it reads to me is in Italy you need to purchase this on your own.
http://www.initaly.com/info/rentcar/faq.htm

bon551

I booked through In Italy and my rental agreement indicates that both CWD/LDW are included in the rental cost, both with zero deductible.