hlocke1

Hello everyone -

My DH and I are planning a trip to Italy in May. We are taking our mothers who have never been. =)

I've been looking at reserving a rental car through AutoEurope, but have questions about picking it up and dropping it off.

We will be arriving in Florence on a train on a Sunday afternoon. Our options for pick-up are all along Via Borgo Ognissanti (53r, 100r, or 128r) at the downtown office. Are any (or one, in particular) of these located within a reasonable distance from the train station? Or will we need to get a cab?

My next question involves the actual act of driving out of Florence. And when we return the car, we will take it into Pisa. Since these offices are located within each city, are we going to find ourselves faced with a big challenge in trying to get in/out of the city? When we rented a car in Tuscany previously, we drove in and out of Siena with little trouble, but I am a bit worried that this will be hairy.

I hope my questions make sense... As usual, I look forward to everyone's input. Thanks in advance!

bobthenavigator

That location is about 3 blocks from the station and almost on the river near the Vespucci bridge. It is not hard to get OUT of town from there if you study a detailed map prior. I always print one from viamichelin.com using specific addresses and my destination south of Florence---heading north is a different story. Good luck !

hlocke1

Fabulous, Bob. Thank you! I'm relieved to hear that.

Have you (or anyone else) ever driven into Pisa's centro? It looks like the car rental location is Lungarno Sonnino, 1.

Thanks again!

AmanteDelLimoncello

We returned our rental car to Hertz Florence.We studied the map and I directed my husband into Florence easily except one street was blocked that we werent expecting. Round the block no problems to Via Borgo Ognissanti to find no Hertz (they gave the wrong address) found it in a street off that one. We walked past the station to our accommodation in Florence.

bmccadas

I highly recommend adding a GPS system to your car rental. It made driving so easy and one person wasn't forced to read a map the entire time.

Good luck!

gard

Hi

If you go to http://maps.google.com and put in Ognissanti 53 r, florence you will get an idea where the office is located. It is not that far from the train station but if you have a lot of suitcases it might feel like a long walk

My wife and I rented a car in Florence last year (see my trip report http://gardkarlsen.com/florence_italy_travelogue.htm ) and it was great to have a GPS to be able to get out of the city.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

hlocke1

Thank you for the continuing tips. A GPS system is a good idea. We have relied on maps from viamichelin in the past, but it can take a bit of the fun out of it to constantly be navigating.

If anyone has been to the Pisa car return, please let me know... =)

bobthenavigator

Why not drop at the airport in Pisa--cost is the same.

hlocke1

Hi Bob --

We'll be taking a train out of Pisa. Would it be pretty easy to get in to the station from the airport?

Thanks again!

zoecat

There is frequent train service from the Pisa airport to the central Pisa train station. It is a 5 minute train ride. If dropping off at the airport looks easier to navigate, then take advantage of this easy train travel to the central station. The airport train station is just outside the airport doors.

bobthenavigator

There is actually a station at the airport but not all trains stop there---input aeroporto Pisa to trenitalia.com to see if times are good for you. However, the centrale station is only a :10 taxi ride.

hlocke1

Thanks to everyone, and especially Bob, for the help with this. I great appreciate it!

bobthenavigator

Prego !

This may help too.

GOOD EATS IN TOSCANA---2008
I have never been called “ BOB THE FOODIE” , but here are some of the best places to eat in Tuscany based on feedback from many of my clients. Reservations are suggested for most!

$=inexpensive $$=moderate prices $$$= expensive

FLORENCE:
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco $$ Across the river & very good.
La Giostra $$$ Excellent, but you must book in advance

SIENA:
Osteria Le Logge $$ Great place for lunch and near Il Campo
Cane e Gato $$$ A fixed price & menu for a true feast—allow 4 hours

LUCCA:
Buca di San Antonio $$ Best in town and near San Michele
Il Giglio $$ In the piazza of the same name---favorite with locals

SAN GIMIGNANO:
Il Pino $$ Very good typical Tuscan fare
Le Vecchie Mura $ Good value for a tourist town

MONTALCINO:
Taverna Grappolo Blu $ Popular with locals as well.
Ristorante Poggio Antico $$ Excellent cuisine 5km south of town at winery location

MONTEPULCIANO:
La Grotta $$ Near San Biagio church & very good
Café Poliziano $ Great place for lunch on shopping street

PIENZA: Latte du Luna $$ Best choice in this charming village

BAGNO VIGNONI: Osteria del Leone $ Good lunch choice in this spa hamlet

MONTICCHIELLO: La Porta $ Charming place with outside terrace

SAN QUIRICO: Trattoria al Vecchio Forno $ Good food & fair value

CASTELLINA: Al Gallopapa $$ Creative & varied menu in Chianti

hlocke1

You're a gem, Bob! I will definitely be sure to file these suggestions away.

You might be interested to hear that we actually went to Grappolo Blu in Montalcino based on a suggestion you gave for our 2004 honeymoon. We've been to Cafe Poliziano, as well, and it was just as divine. Pecorino has never tasted so good!

Best wishes and thanks again!
Heather.

kadurk49

For your information, my daughter lives in Florence and she is home visiting now but tells me that the road from Florence to Pisa has a lot of construction going on and some of it is only one lane so allow for this in your travels. Enjoy!

annhig

Hi, hlocke1

is it your intention to advance your inheritances by giving your mothers heart attacks?

in which case, having a car in Florence should accomplsh this nicely! if you arrive on Sunday pm, [asssuming you're staying the night there] don't pick up the car until you leave the following morning, or whenever.

by comparison, Pisa is a dream to drive in but it would be easier to return the car to the airport and get the train into Pisa, or just get a cab -with 4 of you, it'll be quite cheap.

regards, ann

hlocke1

Hi kadurk49 and annhig --

Thank you both for your concerns. I am fortunately experienced enough with Italy to know not to have a car in the city. We are just coming in to Florence on train, getting the car, and heading out to the countryside immediately. So, I will also be able to avoid the road between Florence and Pisa since our path will lead us south of both cities.

Best wishes,
Heather

annhig

Hi Heather,

sorry for trying to teach my [grand]mother to suck eggs.

if you are just going from the station to the rental office, i would definitely get a cab. they are plentiful at the station [cab rank out the front on the left, with an organiser who puts you into the right sized cab for your party] and quite cheap. sunday evening shoudln't be too busy.

at the risk again of telling you things you already know, do make sure that the office you are picking up from is open on Sunday.

regards, ann

cursino

We rented a car in Florence during our last trip to Europe with the same intention of driving straight out of the city - we were heading to Lucca. This was before GPS devices which I really wish we'd had because my husband was white knuckled all the way out of the city. We had a rental car for a week and the two most stressful drives we had were driving in and out of Florence to pick-up and drop-off.

Because of that last experience we are picking up and dropping off our rental car this June at the Pisa airport. Great to see the tips on taking the train from the airport to the main train station!

Good luck and I definitely recommend the GPS if you can.

hlocke1

Thanks, Ann - I appreciate the tip about the cab. It might be a good idea since I'm not sure if our mothers are actually going to succeed at packing light. We're really trying to persuade them into doing so, however!

Cursino - We are definitely glad to hear that the Pisa airport is do-able, as well. If only we could cut out picking up in Florence. We're coming in from Venice to drive out to San Gimignano and other hill towns, so it seems to be the most logical choice. I think I'm sold on the GPS now, though. Thanks for chiming in.