Here is our trip thus far 1-31-2008-2-5-07 Venice.
2-5-08 thru2-12-08 no place yet
2-12-08 thru 2-17-08 Rome.

Here are my questions:
How is the driving in the winter? We would like to leave Venice and drive to the Dolomites for skiing then to Florence and the Tuscany area. We have drove in Ireland and Scotland in the winter before with no problems. What is the snow level? Usually
2. What is the easiest area of Venice to get a car and what the easiest place in Rome to drop it off.

By easiest I mean least hassle, ability to get on the road etc... As always I really appreciate your expert advice
chb

Since Venice as no streets theh only place to pick up a car is the Piazzele Roma (the end of the causeway out from the mainland). It has several large parking garages and some car rentals. Otherwise you would need to take the train to Mestre to pick up a car.

Have not driven north from Venice in the winter. How much snow there is depends very much on the season - but the main highways are always kept clear (unless you try to drive on a day with a blizzard). The major roads stick to tunnels, rather than high mountain passes (some of which are impassable for most of the winter).

Best place to drop off in Rome depends on where your hotel is - and where the car rental company has offices. We have dropped 3 times, twice with offices nearby so no problem. The third time we used a no-name company - and the drop off office was at hell and gone (all one -way streets and you can;t get there from here). The beau hired one of the hotel's bellmen to direct him to the office - and even he had trouble finding it. So - now we use only name brand rentals - which have lots of offices in whatever city we end up in.

In Venice and on your way from Venice to Rome you will have probably no snow. In the Dolomites, there will be plenty of snow, but the roads are quickly cleared when snow has fallen.

Problems can occur during a heavy snowstorm in the mountains, so always check the weather report ("problems" mean traffic jams).

However, in the ski regions, a need a car with winter tires. Ask your car rental agency about it and be adamant! In the mountains, many roads are open only for cars with winter tires. A 4-wheel-drive may be an option, but I don't know if they are available for rent.

Chains can also be compulsory on certain mountain roads in winter. They have already been needed in some areas this last week. Not sure if you can hire them from your car rental place - you should check on that.

Hi CHB - I would actually advise against driving to your ski resort.

You will not need a car when you are there. All main resorts are well served by a free (- or dirt cheap) skibus service to the lifts - specifically to discourage driving in peak season.

Most resorts can be reached by public transport.

Cortina is connected by bus from Venice in the ski season - or by train to nearby Calalzo. Val Gardena can be reached via Bolzano ...

Where are you planning to base? February is peak season, of course - so I suggest you book soon.

Let me know if I can be of more help ...

Steve