My family of four is headed to Italy in March ... and I'm stumped on whether I should rent a car or use trains. Here's our itinerary:

Fly into Pisa
to Manarola, CT
to Florence
to Assisi
to Rome
Fly home from Rome

I usually like to drive, and with four people it seems cheaper, but with rental, gas and PARKING, should I just use trains?

Any help would be appreciated .. if trains are the best way to go, any recommendations on the best way do buy tickets?

thanks

Rob

The issue, in my opinion, is that you do not want to have a car in a major city (or Cinque Terre). But to see and 'browse' the countryside, and have flexibility, nothing better.

So I might suggest using public transit, train and car for your trip.

How much time in each place?

Hey R,

You are visiting cities, where the car will be a nuisance that you have to store in a garage at extra cost.

You cannot use a car in Florene or Rome. Howmuch tme will you be spedning between cities? A car is great for a road trip - which we do all the time. But - for cities is really worse than useless.

How old are the kids? If you have very small kids cars are better since it's esaier to haul around their stuff and keep track of them. If the kids are old enough to be realiable (not wander away) and deal with their own luggge - trains make more sense.

I think in March you will want the flexibility of a car but Florence poses a big problem with a car. I don't know how much time you want to spend in Florence, but if it is a lot, to go Florence first and then pick up a car after. See Pisa on a day trip from Florence.

Only go to le Cinque Terre if the weather is nice. Book a place with parking.

If the weather isn't nice, go someplace else. You don't mention the ages of your kids or their interests, but Volterra can be popular for kids, likewise Siena.

Drop off the car in Chiusi or Orvieto, depending on your interests, and take the train to Rome.

If you want to use a car but avoid the traffic congestion and fines of the cities, you can stay on the edge of town or in nearby smaller towns and take the bus or train to the city center. That is also an option on rainy days, when driving can be a drag.

robbydee,

It occurs to me to add that since you are traveling as a family, you may be reluctant not to book all your accommodations in advance, which is understandable.

If that is the case, and if you are determined to go to the coast in March, I suggest that you book your accommodations on the coast in the pretty town of Lerici, not le Cinque Terre itself. In March, if it is raining, there is very little to do in le Cinque Terre, and the hiking trails can be closed both during and after rains. It is no fun to drive in and out of le Cinque Terre looking for things to do, but it is easy to drive in and out Lerici. On a rainy day, you could easily daytrip to other places with your car -- Lucca, Parma, Sarzana, Pisa (if you haven't already).

On the other hand, if you are staying in Lerici and the weather is glorious, not only is it a pretty town with many hiking trails of its own, it is a short drive to le Cinque Terre or the town of Levanto (right next to le Cinque Terre). If you park in the Levanto, which shouldn't be a problem in March, you can take a 5 minute train ride to any of the 5 towns of le Cinque Terre.

Here's more information about Lerici

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/20...pagewanted=all

http://www.apathtolunch.com/2011/06/...-of-poets.html

Hub and I always took trains and busses and, except for smaller towns (where schedules weren't always convenient), would never try to drive. When public trans wasn't going to work, we either hired a driver or took a tour. That worked for us. He didn't want to miss any scenery and felt that I would drive too much like the "natives" and he'd be scared to death. LOL

Driving affords so much more flexibility which may be crucial with getting a group moving each day, however, will the luggage of 4 people fit in a typical smallish car? Will you need a larger than average auto?

Do check on trenitalia for an idea of the prices of trains between the places you wish to visit and compare with cost of auto, rental, petrol and parking.

We also usually traveled in March. Repairs were being made on the CT trails when we were there so timing and weather might be a factor. We based in Pisa and took the train to CT as a day trip. Does your family wish to see Pisa? You could stay there for a couple of days, train to Florence and visit there, then rent your car for Assisi and then Orvieto (as Zep suggests to drop off car). Train to Rome.

At that time of year (unless Easter Sunday is involved, then buy reserved seats ahead as soon as you reach each city), you can buy tickets at the station.

Good luck and please report back!

And if you have a larger car, you don't want to drive in small towns. The streets are very narrow and there is almost no parking. Park in a lot on the outskirts of a small town and walk in.

The OP should rent a car large enough for family and luggage, but fears that the OP will not find parking are not based in reality.

In March, the OP faces the possibility of lots of rain in the destinations he's targeted. Moving children and luggage around in the rain, to and from train stations, is no easy task. Finding a taxi at some train stations big enough for the whole family and luggage may not be easy either.

In March, the OP has very little to worry about when it comes to parking as long as the OP does not drive into Florence or Rome. That is a problem easily avoided. It will not be difficult for the OP to find accommodation with parking in other areas that does not involve driving in narrow alleys -- and even then, you'd be surprised how big a car can get through those alleys if you pull in the side mirrors. European automakers know how to make mid-size cars that fit in tight spaces.

I urge the OP to do the cost comparisons. I see plenty of trooper children in Italy's train stations, even small ones, dutifully following their parents pulling rollers and wearing backpacks. If the OP wants to train it, fine. But if the OP doesn't mind driving, it isn't more of hassle than using the train.

Thank you all for the advice. I especially like the Lerici idea! I definitely don't want to be stranded in Cinque Terre if it's 50 degrees and rainy, which very well could happen as I look at historical weather data for late March.

We've already booked flights into Pisa and out of Rome. Everything in the middle is still up in the air, but I wanted to do something like this:

-- stay in Pisa the first night
-- drive/train to Cinque Terre (or maybe Lerici?) for 2 nights
-- drive/train to Firenze for 2 nights
-- drive/train to Assisi for 2 nights
-- drive/train to Rome for 3 nights

My kids will be 13 (boy) and 10 (girl) ... my son is a history fanatic and my daughter just wants to take pictures and be with us. My wife and I want to drink and eat, in that order.

I've driven in Italy before ... in Rome, Venice (well, near Venice), Florence, etc. ... as zeppole said, the main reasons for us to drive are because it beats 4 train tickets AND gives us flexibility.

But ... driving into those cities is a giant, expensive pain.

I'm still confused ... I'd rather not commit to cities/hotels until we get over there and see the weather, but I don't feel great about flying blind since I have my family with me.