LizaMarie

I've been reading the boards for a while now planning my trip and you have all been so helpful! This is my first post however and hope it leads me to the info I need.
My soon to be husband and I are visiting Italy on our Honeymoon from June 4 - 19, 2006. We want to rent a car for the time we are in Tuscany, about 5- 6 days and need some advice regarding it.
here is a quick breakdown of our itineary to give you an idea:
June 4 - June 9 Venice - Pensione La Calcina
June 9 - June 11 Montalcino - Il Giglio
June 11 - June 14 Siena - Hotel Chuisarelli
June 14 - June 17 Cinque Terre - La Torretta
June 17 - June 19 - Florence - Hotel Globus
So we would be renting a car from June 9th through June 14th.
In your opinion should we rent in Florence?
i.e. take train from Venice to Florence, rent car, stay in Tuscany and return car to Florence and continue on train to Cinque Terre
OR
should we rent in Venice, drive to Tuscany and stay, then when ready to leave continue trip towards Cinque Terre and return car in La Spezia?
On auto europe the prices seem to be exactly the same. There is a mention of a possible fee for one way but since
I haven't put the order in it won't tell me if there is one. It seems easier to just drive instead of take the train between
those destinations if it is the same price or close to it. I would need advice on how to find the location to pick up and drop off most conveinent to the train station or hotel I will be at. Is there a mapquest type of website for Italy? So I can find out the distance between hotel or train to rental office?
Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it!!!!

ira

Hi L,

>...should we rent in Venice, drive to Tuscany and stay, then when ready to leave continue trip towards Cinque Terre and return car in La Spezia?<

Yes.

ira

PS,

For your drive to Montalcino, I suggest taking the route via Ravenna and Arezzo.
It's only about an hour longer than going on the highway and is more scenic.
See www.viamichelin.com.

Enjoy your visit.

Ira

LizaMarie

thank you Ira for your advice. It was very helpful. I have put in a request through aut europe to book from venice to la spezia. love the michelin website, very helpful and what I was looking for!!! thanks again

barbfaye

Liza
I'm (mom)leaving for my first trip to Italy in a couple of weeks with my two 20 yrs. old sons. Looking for hotels with air and under 150 euro. We are going to Cinque,Rome, Venice, Florence-how did your hotels work out??