Please help: car rental in Italy
Sep 7th, 2010, 05:25 PM
#1
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Please help: car rental in Italy
Hi! My husband & I (in our 30s) are leaving for Italy this Saturday for about 3 weeks. We will mainly take trains between cities, but would like to drive at least part of the trip. This is what we may do, see if this makes sense time and cost-wise.
From Venice take train to Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, spend 2 nights.
Rent a car from CT, maybe from La Spezia (any rental agencies open for pick up on Sunday?)
Drive to Florence, stopping in Pisa & possibly Lucca
Once to Florence, where would we park outside the city? Access to city from parking facility? Safety??
Next day take car to Siena for day trip and return car in the evening.
Any help/input on rental agencies, pick-up/drop-off locations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
From Venice take train to Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, spend 2 nights.
Rent a car from CT, maybe from La Spezia (any rental agencies open for pick up on Sunday?)
Drive to Florence, stopping in Pisa & possibly Lucca
Once to Florence, where would we park outside the city? Access to city from parking facility? Safety??
Next day take car to Siena for day trip and return car in the evening.
Any help/input on rental agencies, pick-up/drop-off locations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
Sep 7th, 2010, 05:56 PM
#2
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May_may,
You don't need or want a car for this trip. It would be more trouble and expense than benefit. You can very easily take trains to all your destinations, and a bus to Siena. You especially don't want to try and drive/park in Florence!
Do a search here for the bus info to Siena from Florence. It's supposed to be very easy and easier than the train. The train station in Siena is far downhill from the town, but the bus lets you off at the town.
Save your car rental for when you want to visit the countryside/hilltowns where trains and buses really are not convenient at all, even if it's another trip.
Buon viaggio!
You don't need or want a car for this trip. It would be more trouble and expense than benefit. You can very easily take trains to all your destinations, and a bus to Siena. You especially don't want to try and drive/park in Florence!
Do a search here for the bus info to Siena from Florence. It's supposed to be very easy and easier than the train. The train station in Siena is far downhill from the town, but the bus lets you off at the town.
Save your car rental for when you want to visit the countryside/hilltowns where trains and buses really are not convenient at all, even if it's another trip.
Buon viaggio!
Sep 7th, 2010, 11:57 PM
#4
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We used http://www.economycarrentals.com/ as it was cheaper than Autoeurope or Kemwel and had no deductible on the CDW coverage.
Sep 8th, 2010, 04:08 AM
#5
To rent a car in Italy, an IDP is required by Italian law (international driver's permit). You must get it in the US before you leave (at AAA). Not all car rental companies will ask for it (mine did last week - Hertz). If you have an accident or get stopped by the police you are required to have it.
Sep 8th, 2010, 05:55 AM
#6
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I would skip the car for this trip. Use trains for everything but the trip to Siena (bus). There are nice places for wine tasting in Florence and Siena.
If you do decide to rent, check for offices in La Spezia and nearby Sarzana. If offices are closed on Sunday, you may need to train to the Pisa airport for pick up.
I like to book through kemwel.com or autoeurope.com. You can easily check pick up and drop off locations and hours on these website. Some offices will be closed during the lunch break (1:00-15:00 or 16:00). Be sure to look at the deductables when checking prices. Reserve now and not when in Italy.
Here is a link to some great information about renting, driving, parking in Florence, etc-
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/index.htm
Road signs-
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/road_signs/index.htm
If you do decide to rent, check for offices in La Spezia and nearby Sarzana. If offices are closed on Sunday, you may need to train to the Pisa airport for pick up.
I like to book through kemwel.com or autoeurope.com. You can easily check pick up and drop off locations and hours on these website. Some offices will be closed during the lunch break (1:00-15:00 or 16:00). Be sure to look at the deductables when checking prices. Reserve now and not when in Italy.
Here is a link to some great information about renting, driving, parking in Florence, etc-
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/index.htm
Road signs-
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/road_signs/index.htm
Sep 8th, 2010, 06:47 AM
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May_may,
Yes, Chianti is between Florence and Siena so lots of wine tasting possibilities! However, most wineries in Italy are not open to the public every day like they are in the US. You would need to decide where you want to taste and make appointments in advance.
You could rent a car just for one day, picking up in Florence and dropping maybe in Siena, if that's where you would spend the night. But, if it were me, I would go for the better countryside experience by actually staying in the countryside in a tiny town or agritourismo for a couple nights. Siena is really a very large town - city - and not the same experience.
If you want to stay in Siena, maybe look into hiring a private guide to take you on a wine tasting day. Then you don't have to make the appointments or worry about driving and drinking.....Many Fodorites here highly recommend Lucca Garapa. I think his company is called Hills and Roads. Try the search function.
Buon viaggio!
Yes, Chianti is between Florence and Siena so lots of wine tasting possibilities! However, most wineries in Italy are not open to the public every day like they are in the US. You would need to decide where you want to taste and make appointments in advance.
You could rent a car just for one day, picking up in Florence and dropping maybe in Siena, if that's where you would spend the night. But, if it were me, I would go for the better countryside experience by actually staying in the countryside in a tiny town or agritourismo for a couple nights. Siena is really a very large town - city - and not the same experience.
If you want to stay in Siena, maybe look into hiring a private guide to take you on a wine tasting day. Then you don't have to make the appointments or worry about driving and drinking.....Many Fodorites here highly recommend Lucca Garapa. I think his company is called Hills and Roads. Try the search function.
Buon viaggio!
Jul 10th, 2012, 07:11 PM
#8
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Your trip looks even more like ours was, seeing you are doing Italy too....
We flew Rome to Rhodes on Ryanair. This means you only have to transit Istanbul once on return ,and you are now already in the Greek Islands!
We too always use www.economycarrentals.com in Italy and Turkey.
We flew Rome to Rhodes on Ryanair. This means you only have to transit Istanbul once on return ,and you are now already in the Greek Islands!
We too always use www.economycarrentals.com in Italy and Turkey.
Jul 10th, 2012, 07:29 PM
#9
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i love kemwel and have used them many, many times. if you call them, rather than use their web site, they will talk you through this. they have always been very generous with their time on these matters. also, they will beat any price you can find online-- and most of their rentals are quoted with zero-deductible insurance-- which we love when we're in europe. (even though our visa covers us also.)
