Chism

My husband & I are going to Italy in September. We will drive through Tuscany and end up in Assisi. We are driving from Assisi to Rome and will drop the car off at Villa Borghese.
Will I regret driving to Villa Borghese near Rome? We are supposed to take a taxi to our hotel. Travel agent said it would be easy.

adrienne

The Villa Borghese is IN rome, not NEAR Rome. I would not drive in Rome. Has the travel agent driven in Rome? That would be my question. Can you drop off the car in Assisi (or some place else outside Rome) and take the train and then a taxi to your hotel?

kybourbon

What company are you renting from? If you don't want to drive in Rome, you might be able to drop your car in Foligno and train into Rome. Foligno is only about 10 miles from Assisi.

Chism

We are renting from Hertz and travel agent said they don't have a rental car return near Assisi anymore. Should we maybe drop car off at airport instead?

Ackislander

Orvieto? Another intermediate city? Then train to Rome?

kybourbon

You will often find travel agents haven't been to the place they are talking about it. Perhaps never driven in Italy or even been there.

There is a Hertz location in Spoleto which is about 25 miles from Assisi (towards Rome). It appears to be close to the train station (a block or two).
Via Cerquiglia 144,Spoleto

A train from Spoleto to Rome will cost about 8€-20€ depending on train type and class booked. Travel time is 1:15-1:50 depending on train.

Your other options towards Rome are Terni and Orvieto. Terni doesn't appear to be far from the train station either. Orvieto Hertz station is close to Orvieto train station, but not exactly on your route unless you want to visit the town.

Keep in mind that rental offices in small towns close in the afternoons (usually between 12:30 or 1:00 until about 4). They also close for the day on Saturday around 1:00 and are closed on Sundays. You can check Hertz for locations.
http://www.hertz.it/rentacar/locatio...ionTabView.jsp

I suggest you prepay if you book with Hertz as they use DCC if you don't (it's in their contract). I haven't had the best experiences with Hertz in Italy so be sure to check your car over when you pick it up (take pics and note any damages).

FWIW - There is an Avis on Foligno.

Chism

Thanks everyone!

ira

Hi C,

Good advice from kyb,

>Orvieto Hertz station is close to Orvieto train station, but not exactly on your route unless you want to visit the town.<

Orvieto is well worth a visit.

If you have a few hours, drop your luggage at the Hertz office along with the car and take the funicular up to the town. Your funicular ticket is also good for the shuttle bus into town.

nytraveler

I would drop the car IN Rome - we have done that and picked up cars there several times. And while driving around IN rome is a nonsense - just getting to the place to drop it off shouldn't be a big deal.

Caveat: I'm a New Yorker and used to driving in heavy and sometimes eccentric city (not highway) traffic.

bobthenavigator

Drop the car in Foligno or Orvieto---TA may not know jack.

Chism

Well, I think the problem is that we will be dropping car on a Sunday when rental places are closed. I think we'll opt for an airport drop off and then take shuttle to our Rome hotel. Looks easier don't you think?

Huggy

If the office is closed, use the drop box located at the rental office location. The office does not need to be open to drop a car. Just be sure that the drop location offers this option. Worked for me on a Sat. In Lausanne, Switz. (Hertz)

Chism

Thanks, I'll find out about the drop box.

lmont

We just used the drop box at the Orvieto Hertz location a few weeks ago on a Sunday. It was a very convenient location near the train station and the funicular up to town. If you chose this location, you may want to ask about parking it ahead of time. There were a few parking spots directly in front of the Hertz office. We were lucky to get the last one. I'm not sure where you would park if these spots were taken.

Chism

Thanks!