Rental Cars & Luggage
 

Hi,
I wondering if I should be concerned about luggage in a rental car. It seems that all the cars in our price range are 3 or 5 door cars, which I'm afraid means that when parking somewhere with luggage and/or souvenirs, etc in the car while travelling everything will be in plain sight through the hatch-back. Granted, we will only have a rental car while touring Tuscany which may be less of a conern, but I wanted to hear peoples thoughts on the matter. Should we pay up for a car with a proper trunk, or just tbe cautious and try to check into our accomodations for the day to not carry things with us?

Thanks.

It's very risky to leave luggage in your car while traveling, whether the bags are in a hatchback or in the trunk. I have heard too many stories (some from people I know personally) who had their trips ruined by having luggage stolen from locked cars, including the trunk.

I must not be using my imagination - - and I freely admit traveling from point A to B with a stop in between (example: Pisa, en route from Florence to Nice) - - but it seems like "touring Tuscany" need not require leaving your luggage in your car at all.

Wouldn't you have a <i>base</i> somewhere <i>in Tuscany</i>, and &quot;tour&quot; during the day, while your luggage is back at the <i>base</i>, where you sleep?

Maybe there are circumstances other than the obvious.

Best wishes,

Rex

Most hatchbacks have a cover for the trunk space so that luggage is not visible.

Finding a rental car with a real trunk is getting very difficult. If you possibly can, don't park the car with your luggage in it; if you must, park in a lot with security cameras or one with lots of people coming and going.

Thanks,
While I plan to avoid leaving luggage in the car unattended when at all possible, there are several scenarios that I envision where it might hapen, for example, leaving Florence early in the AM for our first day in Tuscany, it will likely be too early to check into our first hotel before we come across a place or two we would like to stop for a look around. The same goes for moving from our first accomodations to our second later in the trip. Just want to make sure I considered it, and apreciate your feedback.

Does anyone have anything good, bad or otherwise about renting a Fiat Punto? Am I better off upgrading to something slightly bigger with a little more power? I've never seen or driven one, so not sure what to expect.

Thanks.

If you have a reservation at a hotel, they will usually let you leave your luggage at the desk early in the day, even if the room isn't ready for you to check in.

Similarly, while there is merit to getting up and getting out to see the countryside early in the day - - your hotel ought to be willing to watch/keep your bags until mid-afternoon - - when you could go back and get them, to deposit them at the hotel where you plan to stay after departing Florence.

Thanks, that sounds like good advice. I will check in advance to see about droping the bags. It beats worrying about it.

Hi kjb,

If you go to http://www.novarentacar.com/
and get a quote, you will see specs for the Punto. It is a 1.2 L.

This seems rather low power for driving the Tuscan hills, especially if you turn on the AC.