StevenM

Hello all - I am traveling to Italy on the 16th of July with my wife and two young children (6&9) and have already secured 2 free nights in central Rome. We will be renting a car on the morning of the 16th and driving to Venice where we will spend the night. I would like to then drive back towards Florence but do not want to stay in town and was hoping to find something between Florence and Rome. This way we can see as much as possible and still use the car. Can anyone please recommend a very good hotel in a nice area between the 2 locations. I heard Lake Bolsena was very nice but am having a hard time finding a good hotel. Ideas? Thanks!

Dayle

Hi Steve,

First I suggest you get a good map of Italy. Then check out drive times on one of the internet driving trip planners.

You are actually thinking of spending 2 nights in Rome, driving to Venice (which I guess would be a least 4 hours) just to spend 1 night and then turn around and leave for Florence? You don't need a car for this trip.

How much time to you have? Why are you going? What are your interests?

So far, it looks like you need to re-think. You'll get lots of good advice here.

Buon viaggo!

ira

Hi Steve,

Would it not be less expensive and just as convenient to train to Venice and take the car from there?

How long will you be taking to get from Venice to Rome?

ira

PS,

Orvieto is a very nice hill town about 2 km from Bolsena.

StevenM

I thought a car would be more convenient - I know 7 days sounds tight but this is on the tail end of a trip, we'll be going to Italy after spending 3 weeks in Greece. My wife absolutely wants to see Venice, she must see Rome and needs to go to Florence. I guess you can say the rest of us are going along for the ride. I live in Quebec so I can't really see Italian driving being any more difficult than here but a train would be fun too.

ira

Hi S,

Auto rental in Italy is expensive. Trains are cheap.

Compare train prices at www.trenitalia.com with the price of auto rental.

Dayle

OK,
How about flying into Venice 2 nights
train to Florence 2 nights
train to Rome 3 nights

You could drive, but since the countryside doesn't seem to be in the plans, you really don't need or want a car. Parking and driving in the cities is NOT fun.

StevenM

All - thanks for the replies. Now back to my original question - Any suggestions for clean family hotel in-between Rome and Florence.

P.S. This is the best travel board I have ever perused, great info and sharing - Thanks