We will be going from Rome to Montalcino then ont Florence. Should we rent the car at the train staion in Rome and use it for the 2 days in Montalcino, then drop it off at Florence airport? Should/could we take the train to Siena nad hire transportation to pick us up? How difficult is it to do this drive? Thanks

sorry about the typos...Montalcino onto Rome

staion=station
nad=and

Everyone's comfort level is different, of course, but my husband & I were uncomfortable driving in Rome. We enjoy train travel but enjoy the flexibility a car provides in small towns. So...we tooke the train from Rome to Chiusi (a very small town in Tuscany), rented our car there, drove around Tuscany, including Montalcino, for several days, returned the car to Chiusi, then took the train to Florence. Hope this helps...happy travels!

Dorkforcemom...thank you so much! This sounds like a much better idea. Do you remember how long a train ride it was from Rome and then to Florence from Chiusi?

The train ride from Rome to Chiusi is about 1 1/2 hour trip. It's about the same from Chiusi to Florence. The Chiusi station is very small. We rented our car from Autoeurope. The pickup/dropoff situation is such that you have to plan around their long lunch - plan accordingly. We're doing the same thing this next May as it was the most relaxing way for us to travel.