KentV

My wife and I are planning our first trip to Italy in April. We will be flying into Venice and out of Rome. Based on some recommendations here on the forum in other posts, we are planning on the following during the trip:
-- 3 days in Venice; we have booked an apartment a bit west of the Rialto Bridge.
-- 7 days in Tuscany; we have an apartment just outside of Siena. we plan on taking he train from Venice.
-- 4 days in Rome; we booked an apartment in the Jewish Ghetto (that just doesn't sound very politically correct). We plan on taking the bus from Siena.
We have also booked a car for the week in Tuscany to see the area sights and towns.

I do have a couple questions to help plan parts of the trip:
-- What's the best option for luggage in Venice between the time the plane lands (morning) and check-in for the apartment (16:00)? I was thinking about a locker at the train station, but we really wanted to take the Alilaguna for the experience. Any suggestions? We also thought of packing what we need in Venice into a single carry-on.
-- How difficult is it going to be to get from the train station in Siena to the car rental? Are there busses available? Am I worrying too much about this?
-- Also, for the Rome rental, I have to pay in cash for the balance upon arrival. I feel like it would be wise to get that together (exchange/withdraw some Euros) while in the smaller towns versus trying to do that in Rome while dragging around luggage. Thoughts?

We don't really have a detailed itinerary for Tuscany, nor do I plan on much more than a checklist of the things we might want to do in a day trip. If anyone has ideas for a "neat day trip from Siena," I would welcome some suggestions.

We're really looking forward to the trip!

bilboburgler

Luggage http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...ft-luggage.htm

Car rental Siena, which one http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...iena-italy.cfm

Bus Siena to Rome, or catch the train

Cash, ATMs on a lot of street corners in Rome. I'd tend to do it in Rome as I don't like loads of cash in my pocket

Day Trips, Volterra, Snt Gim, Montepulicano, chiusi, san quirico, it just goes on and on, if there is a hill top it will have a town on it

kybourbon

>>>4 days in Rome; we booked an apartment in the Jewish Ghetto (that just doesn't sound very politically correct).>>How difficult is it going to be to get from the train station in Siena to the car rental?

KentV

We rented from Hertz at Viale Sardegna, 37 in Siena. If I'm reading the map correctly, it looks to be just up the road from the train station (assuming that's the right station).

Dayle

Kent,

We trained into Siena and rented our car from Hertz. If they are still in the same location (probably are), you will want a taxi to the rental office. It's up a steep hill and not all that close. You will need to have the bar at the train station call one for you, as they don't wait at the station as you might expect.

We were involuntarily "upgraded" to a larger car than what we reserved. Cost us more in gas. Remember - in Tuscany, smaller is best.

Buon viaggio!

Jean

Kent, we returned a car at that Hertz office in Siena last October. It's an easy, level walk to/from the train station, even with luggage.

I had failed to take note that the office is closed mid-day for a couple of hours, and we had to wait about 40 minutes. So, check the hours for the days you'll be picking up and returning the car.

Jean

Kent, Dayle's comment about the hill got me worried that I was mis-remembering, so I searched the address at maps.google.com. FYI, Google puts the red pin for the address at the wrong place and closer to the train station than it should be. The walk is actually about twice the distance, but it is level.

If you want to do this same visual review of the route, search Viale Sardegna 35 (instead of 37), click on the yellow man in the photo. When the Street View opens, use the compass in the corner to turn the view to the right. Hertz is in the last office of this building at the right end. Click on the arrows in the road to 'walk' to the train station.

kybourbon

I've picked up a car from that same Hertz station. There is a hill (not all that steep) as you leave the train station and then a slight downhill after you cross the street. It's perhaps 1/2 mile. If you will be walking from Hertz to the train station, you will be fine as it will mostly be downhill.

FYI - If you booked directly with Hertz, they do DCC. It's on their contract and you can't avoid it unless you pay in advance. If you haven't paid already, I would look at changing the reservation online to prepay or look at booking with AutoEurope. I don't think insurance (mandatory) was included with the Hertz quote either.

Henry

Kent,
I suggest a taxi from the train station to Hertz. The walk is uphill, across two busy streets, about a half kilometer. There is a taxi stand to your right as you come out of the station. You can call for a taxi 0577-49222, it should be less than 8 euro.
Do what feels most comfortable to you getting cash. Remember that in Rome you will have your wife to watch your luggage and your back.
This may help with places to see http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/hs_planning.htm

Dayle

I was mainly thinking of having to walk up that hill with luggage. Without luggage it would be OK, but I wouldn't want to do it even with a small roller. We didn't want to bother trying to find the office with luggage in tow, so a taxi was an stress-free solution for us.

Buon viaggio!

Mimar

Back in Venice, you can take the Alilaguna (red line) to the train station and leave your bags there. Or maybe they'll let you leave the bags at the apartment if it's not too early.

Also, consider renting the car in Venice and driving to Siena. There are rental car offices in Venice (barely) at the Piazzale Roma, at the end of the causeway into Venice from the mainland.

KentV

Bilbo, thanks for the links. I had already seen the one about left luggage in Venice but was looking for suggestions on the best option.

Jean, using Google street view was a great idea. It does look a bit far to drag luggage. We will just have to make the final decision when we arrive.

KentV

Fo closure to the original question, I reached out to the owner of the apartment we are renting and asked what she would suggest for the luggage in Venice. She said that it wouldn't be a problem to drop of the luggage at he apartment in the morning (they can clean around it).

Thanks for all of the suggestions!