Florence/Venice Car Rental vs. Train
 

My husband and I and 8 months old son are planning to Tour Tuscany June 6-9, and end up in Venice. It will be a short trip, probably only 2 full days... sadly

Looking at the train schedule from Florence to Venice, costs are equating to about 60 Euro/ 2 Adults. This is not including a car rental.

Alternatively, we rent a car June 6 from the Florence Airport, dropping it off at the Venice Mestre Station- costing about 88 Euro.

We will be arriving in Florence at the Santa Maria Noveta Station (from Cinqre terre), so we will have to find our way to the Airport (as I found no car rentals from the Noveta Station). We do not plan on staying in Florence.

My question to you:
- what makes more sense? Train to Venice or, from a cost perspective, rent a car the whole time and drive 2.5 hours to Venice?

-How are the roads? Is that even an option? I heard there are a lot of 'local only roads', would this be a problem renting a car? And, are these roads easily identifiable?

- If the above is true, what is the best way to get from the Santa Maria Noveta station to the Florence Airport (to rent the car)?

I really appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance,

Is it 60€ per adult or for both?

At any rate, the rental does not include the cost of fuel and potential tolls, or the cost of transportation to the Florence airport. If you do not intend to make tourist stops between Florence and Venice, the train makes more sense.

for travel costs, try www.viamichelin.com

I agree---forget the car in this scenario.

There are at least two car rental agencies within a few blocks of the Santa Maria Novella train station Florence. However since you say you aren't planning to stay in Florence but rather are going to "tour Tuscany" and end up in Venice.

Your post sounds like the only reason you may want the car is to get from Florence to Venice and if that IS the case I would agree the train is going to be much easier, faster, and in the end probably cheaper.

But you did say "tour Tuscany" but I am unclear about that aspect of things. I've driven a car around Tuscany and for visiting some places I am glad I had it but am not sure it would benefit you.

Try Florence Rifredi station - a main station a few miles north of the Santa Maria Novella in town main station- I think Rifredi may have car rentals and being outside of Florence a bit easier to drive out of.

You can take the tram from central Florence to the Rifredi station.

I'm also not sure I understand exactly the intent. If it is getting from Florence to Venice, then most definitely just get on the train. That's by far the easiest.

But if you want to "tour" around the countryside, I guess you would need the rental car (sorry have never done that so can't help further).

Thank you so much for your replies...

The intent to rent the car was to go through Tuscany. We were going to return the car from the pick up location (ie. Florence) but when I looked at the cost to rent a car for 4 days PLUS train to Venice, it seemed ridiculous - hence why I was thinking of just keeping the car for 4 days, tour Tuscany then drop it off in Venice.

I had completely forgotten about the costs associated with the highways. Thank you.

Coming from Cinqure Terre, I found a train through Pisa going to Siena. After more research, this sounds like a better tuscan town to make home base? Maybe stay there a night, rent a car on the Monday since its closed Sunday (maybe- might do a day trip) and stay at a farm house?

So many options...

>>>Alternatively, we rent a car June 6 from the Florence Airport, dropping it off at the Venice Mestre Station- costing about 88 Euro<<<

I would be very surprised if that is the price unless you mean 88€ per day. Even at 88€ per day, that might not include the insurance (mandatory in Italy). What rental car company?

>>>I found a train through Pisa going to Siena<<<

AFAIK, a train from CT to Siena would require changes (multiple changes most likely). Even a train from Pisa to Siena would require changes. There is a once daily bus from Pisa airport to Siena (travel time is about 3 hours I think).

>>>? Maybe stay there a night, rent a car on the Monday since its closed Sunday (maybe- might do a day trip) and stay at a farm house? <<<

One day car rental prices in Italy tend to be as much as a 3 day rental.

The centers of almost all towns of any size are pedestrian only. So wherever you decide to stay you will either need to stay outside the center or park outside the center and take local transit - or walk - to your lodging.

If you stay in the deep countryside you can typically park your car on site - but then you either have to find a place that provides dinner or drive to a nearby town for dinner - problematic with an 8 month old not used to 8 pm dinners.

If you want to tour the countryside a car is really necessary - if not and you just want one day to a town by train or bus then train Firenze to Venezia makes much more sense. But you go to Venezia Santa Lucia - not Mestre - which is the mainland, not Venezia.

For me, I would take the train. Tickets are about 40 euro, less maybe if you book ahead. No hassles in Venice returning a car, and the trip takes two hours - the train travels at 170 km/hour, making only two or three stops.

If booking, you need tickets to Venezia Santa Lucia, or Venezia SL, which is the train station in actual Venice, right on the Grand Canal.

There are several rentals in Borgo Ognissanti, three or four blocks from S. Maria Novella.

A car may be useful to tour the Tuscan countryside. For a single trip, Florence to Venice, train is much more practical and faster.

If you really want to tour Tuscany for several days, you will need a car.

If you only want to drive through Tuscany on you way to Venice, you neither need nor want a car. Besides, most of the good stuff is in the opposite direction to Venice.

If you look at a Google or other map, you will see that the direct route (A13) from Florence takes you through Bologna and Ferrara, both attractive cities. However the land between them is the dead flat swampy valley of the Po River. The farther north you get, the more industrial it is. Not attractive until you are north of the A4.

If you book well in advance, you can get tickets from Florence to Venice for as little as €19. These Super Economy tickets are not refundable and can't be modified, so you should be sure of your plans before buying them. The somewhat more expensive Economy tickets can be exchanged for a full-price ticket, paying the difference, through the day prior to the scheduled departure. If you want flexibility, buy full price tickets at the last minute.

I hate the drive on the autostrada between Florence and Venice, especially the part between Florence and Bologna. There are only two lanes, the truck lane and the speed maniac lane. If you try to overtake one of the former, you'll attract one of the latter to your rear bumper. There are tunnels and heavy truck traffic on a road that is a bit too curvy and hilly for the speeds maintained. The train is usually cheaper and faster, and a lot less stressful.

kbourbon... the site I used was Auto Europe. This morning, its quoting me $147 CAD (98 Euro) for two days, including insurance. I have heard of a number of people pay the price, only to find out its much higher later.... How has your experience been? (This was renting a car from Florence... I cannot find a pick up location for Siena) Also, thank you so much for the bus idea- I will certainly look into that more.

All your comments are so helpful. I am beginning to think renting a car is pointless- especially for the intended purpose. I also didn't know that the drive from Florence to Venice was a 'boring' one... thanks again.

So, from Levanto (5Terre) to Florence, we will train =; same with Florence to Venice. If needed, will rent a car for a day, or two, to drive through Tuscany.

So, would the most 'ideal' place to stay, would be in Florence and skip Siena (and only visit this town by car?)

>>> I cannot find a pick up location for Siena<<<

There are several rental locations in Siena as well as La Spezia (close to Levanto). When selecting pick-up/drop-off locations on Autoeurope, you must select addresses that are for one brand of company (Hertz location in Siena and Hertz location in Venice or Avis to Avis, etc.). If you don't, Autoeurope will say not available. You can't select a Hertz pick-up address and an Avis drop-off.

>>>kbourbon... the site I used was Auto Europe<<<

I can't think you are using AutoEurope anyway as they don't do two day rentals. They have a three day minimum.

Sorry. Autoeurope does seem to now allow 2 day bookings. Past years, they only had 3+. I'm not finding the site very user friendly though or able to complete a booking walk-thru.

Would it then make sense to take a train to Florence (SMN) from Cinqre Terre, get to the outskirts, rent car there and drive/stay in the country side for 3 nights?
- what would be the best way to go from SMN to the outskirts to rent a car? I am guessing a shuttle may do that, or another train/bus? (If this is an option, where's the drop off location ,is it close to a car rental, or would the rental agency bring the car to us?)

Upon returning a car rental, where would we drop it off to get to the SMN station before catching the train to Venice? From what I read, we can't drive to SMN because of all the 'local only' roads?

Or, better yet....should I not worry about, book a agriturismo, get off at SMN and hope to find a bus?

Thanks again

- what would be the best way to go from SMN to the outskirts to rent a car?>

Tram or regional stopping trains - again Florence Rifredi station is well out of town with good access to the main roads via Pisa - trams and shuttle trains go there.

Many trains from Pisa stop at Rifredi before SMN I believe. Rifredi is a large mainline station with car rentals, etc.

I think I found my answer.... Bus into SMX, take shuttle to the Florence airport and rent from there for a few days to tour the country side-greves, chianti region, Siena . And, when visiting Florence, park at either Fiesole or Scandicci.

Return car to the airport and take the shuttle to SMN train station before going on to Venice...

Is that correct, or am I out to lunch? I believe reading it's a shuttle we can take to and from SMN to the airport...is that accurate?

Thanks PalenQ. From th Florence Rifredi station, I assume we can easily take another train to the SMN station. .... I will look into trains out of th Rifredi station to Venice instead,

Thank you so much

I suggest picking up the car in La Spezia (just outside of the Cinque Terra) and drive to your base from there. Take a taxi from the La Spezia train station to the car rental office in La Spezia (usually just a 10 minute ride). This will save you a 2-3 hour train ride and train costs that day. The drive from La Spezia to the Chianti region is easy and direct.

You can return the car at the Florence airport or the Siena or Arezzo train station. If you return at the Florence airport, there is a rental car shuttle bus that takes you to the airport terminal (2 minute ride) and then an airport express bus to the SMN station. I think the bus is 6-7 euro and takes about 15 minutes. If you return at the Siena or Arezzo train stations, you will probably change trains at SMN. I think this is what I would do. It just seems like much less hassle than returning at the airport.

I always use kemwel.com for car rentals in Italy.

I agree - La Spezia and head to Greve (not a fave of mine), Chianti area or Siena area. You might even consider traveling to Volterra/San Gimignano on your way to Siena from CT if you pick up your car there. Another option would be pick up at the Pisa airport and return to Florence airport. Pisa airport is just 5 minutes from Pisa Centrale train station (normally a train, but there is construction so might be a shuttle bus - 1€ or so).

No point in finding parking to visit Florence when you can do that after you return the rental. You can store your luggage for the day at the train station and take a late train onto Venice.

Florence Rifredi station doesn't serve the fast trains, only slow regional trains, so you would still have to get to SMN.

I think the only car return near the Siena train station is a Hertz. Other brands are more central Siena.

Thank you everyone,..I am back at the drawing board!

Kybourbon, what are your most favorites spots?

Also, you say the road from la spezia to chianti region is easy and direct...so, there should be no problems., I haven't looked yet but...are there tolls to be paid? I guess I am a lotto nervous renting a car... I haven't heard many good stories!

And, when booking trains (a little off topic), there isnt a section to include children under 1. If I book two adult tickets, will we have a problem bringing our child on board?

Again, a million thanks

>>>Also, you say the road from la spezia to chianti region is easy and direct.<<<

That was zoecat's comment so she can address that, but it's about a 2 hour drive if you take the shorter route (with tolls). I was mentioning a route south of Pisa if you picked up there which went through Volterra/San G areas (hill towns you might enjoy visiting). You can also take the FI-PI-LI road instead of the toll road if you head south from La Spezia to Pisa and then towards Greve (skipping Volterra/San G).

I like the areas south or southeast of Siena, but perhaps you don't really have time to go that far. I'm not a big fan of the Chianti area.

As for your children, it depends on their ages whether they need tickets. There is also a family discount, but the supereconomy or economy tickets may be the better deal.

Thanks again so much, I may post another topic "Driving through from CT to the Chianti Region"... I will see what I find first.

As for my child, we only have one - 8 months old-. When booking the trains, there is no section to put 'baby'. I know they travel free. I just had a panic attack that, without any documents, they won't let him board. I keep searching an come up empty handed. Even looking on the train webpages is a little vague. I don't believe there will be an issue-- just need to put myself at ease.

Zoecat- how have your experience been driving from Cinqre Terre to the Chianti/Siena/Florence region?

This is what I found about infants on trains:

"Seat, couchette and other reservations must be made even for a child traveling for free and still requires a reservation fee"

This applies to children... not infants. So, i assume there is nothing I need to do to purchase him a ticket (as long as I have my adult ticket?)


Thanks again,

The drive was very straight forward, all highway until the turnoff to the Chianti region. Signage is good. Be sure to have a good map and perhaps GPS, although I did not use GPS. I believe it took me about 2 hours. I don't remember the tolls, but if there are any, the process for tolls is simple- you get a toll ticket at one end and turn it in at a pay booth and pay the attendant. I think you'll be fine. I drive every year in Italy, usually solo, and have had no issues (knock on wood).

Here is a link to helpful info on driving in Itsly, including a guide to road signs-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/index.htm

Have fun!

>>>I know they travel free. I just had a panic attack that, without any documents, they won't let him board.<<<

I don't know where you are looking, but children under 4 travel free (they do not have a seat). The trains in the CT are old regional trains and no one has an assigned seat (simply not possible on regional trains). Find a seat and sit down. If you don't find a seat, you stand. Really that simple like getting on a subway.

Faster trains do have seat reservations (mandatory and comes with your ticket purchase from Trenitalia or if you buy in Italy). Children under 4 still ride free, but they do not have a seat. I suppose if you wanted a seat, you would need to buy a ticket for a child (select 2 adults and one child). Currently, Trenitalia is running a promo (Bimbi Gratis) that kids (ages 4-15) travel free. This is for the fast trains (not regionals). You can't combine it with other discounts so you may find another promo is cheaper and just hold your child in your lap. On the first screen on Trenitalia where you enter your cities, enter two adults and one child. When you select a train, you should see the offer in the list (it can sell out) with base/economy/supereconomy selection. If you add a child later (after the 1st screen) Trenitalia often defaults to 1 adult (happens if you hit a back screen too so doublecheck everything).

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD

Thanks again for all your much appreciated help. It has been very helpful