Renting a car in Tuscany
 

Mrs. Mdtravel and I are working on plans for our trip to Tuscany. We'll be using Florence as our base and will be taking daytrips from there.

I've been reading a Frommer's book on the region. The book, and others I have read, say that renting a car is the best way to get around due to infrequent bus and train schedules to some of the towns.

It then goes on to put the fear of god in the reader. 'dry creek beds may appear on the maps as roads', 'Italian drivers get right on your tail and flash their lights telling you to get over', 'Italian drivers think nothing of passing with oncoming traffic and you're supposed to get over on the shoulder.'

Ok, not exact quotes but all were mentioned in the book.

I've also heard horror stories about people renting cars out of the US...strange and huge charges, damage found where none exists and so on.

My questions are two:
1. Is Frommer's legit? Is it really that nasty driving in Tuscany and its hilltowns?

2. What does one need to take into consideration when renting a car in this region from a contractual and fraud standpoint?

I've found Frommer's to be a bit over the top in the past so I view the comments with a good dose of 'yeah, right'-ness.

'Italian drivers get right on your tail and flash their lights telling you to get over',
Yes this is true on the autostrada (highway). It's best to stay in the right lane, and get only in the left lane for a quick pass.

'Italian drivers think nothing of passing with oncoming traffic and you're supposed to get over on the shoulder.'
I have not personally experienced this here. I did however experience this on small roads in Poland.

"Is it really that nasty driving in Tuscany and its hilltowns?"
Heavens no! It's quite pleasant really. Of course my husband is usually the one driving.

I can't help with the contractual aspect of renting a car because I've never rented a car here.

Driving in Tuscany is very easy. You will be fine. I never experienced any of those things.

I will say though that driving in and around Florence is another situation all together. Busy city + narrow medieval one way streets = driving/parking nightmare.

If you are mainly planning to visit the Tuscan countryside, I would strongly recommend basing elsewhere (Siena would be my choice) and visiting Florence as day trips using public transit if you want to base in one place for the entire visit.

You could also spend a few days in the countryside and few in Florence. Drop off/pick up the car in Florence before/after your stay in Florence.

Not a problem--here are the facts:


DRIVING IN ITALY & SOUTHERN EUROPE

Q. SHOULD WE DRIVE IN ITALY?
A. Of course you should if your driving skill & confidence would allow you to drive a rental car in Vermont, Colorado or California. But, be advised of these tips:
* Avoid driving in the major cities except for picking up or dropping cars
* Have good maps—study them in advance—and have a GOOD NAVIGATOR.
* Stay in the right lane except when passing and use your rear view mirrors

Q. WHAT CAR SHOULD I GET AND WHERE DO I GET IT?
A. It is best to rent your car before you leave for Europe. The best source we have found is AUTOEUROPE [800-223-5555] who is a broker for several car vendors. They will quote you prices to include the variables that are often omitted by others, such as unlimited mileage, full mandatory insurance coverage, and VAT taxes. The best model will depend on your needs, but for best value we suggest you select a compact car with manual transmission. Automatics are available but will cost you about 30% more and may limit your model options & pick up locations.

Q. ARE ITALIAN DRIVERS AS CRAZY AS I HAVE HEARD?
A. Yes & no! They are certainly aggressive, but they are also more skilled than many USA drivers—both are a function of necessity. Italy is one of the most crowded countries in the world and the drivers have evolved these characteristics
* They are notorious tailgaters. If that bothers you, pull over and let them past.
* On the AUTOSTRADE they will drive fast, but will stay in the right lane except when passing and will use their blinkers when passing—YOU SHOULD TOO !
* They will often pass on 2-lane roads with traffic coming. Frankly, they expect you, and the oncoming car, to adjust to the shoulder and make 3 lanes of traffic.

OTHER ROAD TIPS FOR YOUR DRIVING SANITY:
1. Learn the meaning of the sign “ SENSO UNICO” and take heed [ONE WAY ].
2. Be sure to get your ticket when you enter the AUTOSTADA system & be prepared to pay the toll when you exit it [ rule of thumb—300 km=15 Euro]. You can use your credit card in the VIA lane at the toll both, or buy a debit VIACARD in advance.
3. Do NOT attempt to follow road numbers—that will frustrate you. But, do pay attention to the directional signs that point to your destination [ TO MONTALCINO]. And, be aware if that road leads eventually to a larger city [ ROMA—SIENA ETC.]
4. Unless you have a diesel car, you will want to fill the tank with benzina from the green pump. Most stations will pump gas for you and will take credit cards.

NOTE: As of 2005, an International Drivers Permit[IDP] is required in Italy.
You can obtain them from your local AAA office. You will need a valid US driver’s license, two passport photos, and $10. The photos can be taken at the AAA office.

We did not travel much on the Auto Strada...only from Rome to Orvieto and Orvieto to Siena. The drivers do tail you, wave their hands and flash their lights for you to get over into the right hand lane. We learned to stay to the right.

The secondary road were fine but we did find that locals will try and pass on blind corners. A little scary at times but no near collisions.

The rentals in Italy include the insurance as it is mandatory. Our rental through Autoeurope.ca had a zero deductible which turned out to be good since we did have a small bump on the car when we returned it.

The hilltowns are not meant to drive into...park on a lot outside of town and walk in. We stayed in Montalcino and parked in front of our hotel....we had a few close calls since my husband does not drive a stick every day. The hills are quite brutal and roads very narrow.

Overall....driving was not a problem.

Hi MD,

If you are thinking of touring Tuscany by car, I suggest staying in the country and taking a daytrip to Florence.

From Florence you can visit
Siena by SITA bus,
San Gimignano by www.sangimignano.net/bus,
Montepulciano, Perugia and Assisi by www.trenitalia.com

((I))

I would love to stay outside Florence but...

I'm getting my room nights at the Westin free on points. I couldn't find any other properties in the area which is why I'm going to need to base out of Firenze.

the advice prov ided is sound, particularly about staying int he slow lane as drivers will come up to your rear and then hop around you with no notice.

car rental-also look at kemwell which is affiliated with autoreurope and frequesntly has lower rates-our kemwell rental from the florence airport was lexx expensive than auto europe

insurance-in italy you need to take out the extra cdw or you will be responsible for the full cost of the vehicle if something happens-

international drivers license-we bought one at aaa for $15 to avoid the potentail hassle in the event of an accident--police probably will ask for that proof.

in general-to see the tuscan countryside and particularly chianti region and the hill towns and get the flavor of the country you need to drive and you should be based out of florence for a few days- sienna or monterrigione is a good focal point-we stayed at a small b&b about at san columba, about 10 miles east of sienna, fattoria gvania da sopra, an agriturismo where brakfeast and dinner was provided by the owner's wife who was the equivalent of a 5 star chef-all for about $110 a night in April 2004. take a look at my tripadvisor report for that b&b in 2003 or 2004, which covered the hill towns, chianti, lucca, pisa, and the cinque terre, ending in florence for 3 days-we landed in florence, got the car at the airport and drove off to visit san gmigniano, volterra, and monterrigione before arriving at the small delightful b&b

or email me for the details if you are interested
artnuvo

bump

We drove from Orvieto to Pienza which was our base for 6 days. It was September 2005 and we had no difficulty at all in navigating the roads or encountering any bad drivers.

From Pienza we visited Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Antimo Abbey, the Val D'Orcia etc. etc. We hardly even encountered another person on the road.

It was easy parking and getting in and out of town and those stories are probably the worst case scenarios.

We then went to Siena and the Chianti regions and found the same. It was very easy and not the least bit intimidating.

We returned our car to Florence and if there was any difficulty it was just the traffic and the waiting because the narrow streets are sometimes not passable until the driver ahead unloads his cargo.

Do not be alarmed.

I will admit to being a bit of a wuss of a driver, even though I have driven all over Europe for the past 30 years. I do hate being on huge European highways where there are lots of big trucks, particularly when the weather is bad.

That said, I've driven all over Umbria and Tuscany twice in the past year and never once had a moment of fear except on the highway between Orvieto and Chiusi when there was construction and I suddenly had to brake along with a zillion other drivers and hope we wouldn't have a 40-car collision. No problem. Stay to the right if yoú're not driving really fast. Other than that, it's a breeze. And driving on the small roads - one of the greatest of life's pleasures.

We had no trouble driving in Tuscany both on the autostrade and the hilltown roads. On the highway, yes, the drivers are fast but if you prefer, you can stay out of the passing lane. They do flash their lights as they come up behind you but I think it's just to let you know they're coming (not a rude gesture like a blare on a horn).

On the hill roads, we were more cautious and yes, drivers did come up behind us but seemed quite patient to stay there until we could pull over into a lay-by.

I was nervous too when I read about driving in Italy but I actually found it quite easy and pleasant. I'd just recommend that you don't have wine with dinner if you have to drive home!

Last summer we rented from autoeurope, but accessed it through the website InItaly.com, which saved me about $100. you just click on rental car at the InItaly website and it goes through autoeurope. Also included was free cell phone. Check it out.

We rented in Florence, as we were leaving town. I would hate to drive in and out of there repeatedly, but time it so that you aren't in rush hour when you are coming/going.

We were timid and fearful of driving, and my DH stalled the car repeatedly, in the middle of Florence, since it had been 40 years since he'd driven a stick shift. After a few days, he was a regular Mario Andretti (his words, not mine!), with tennis elbow from all the downshifting on country roads. I prayed a lot!

Don't be afraid of the Autosrada. We enjoyed the fast progress of travel, there were no scary moments, and it was nice in that you don't get lost and make the wrong turns, like in the countryside! Just get on and go! No scarier than freeway traffic here, actually.

Oh, we rented a GPS system through AutoEurope.

Forgot to mention the great road sign, and driving,gas station information on SlowTrav.com, in the "Italy" section under "instructions". Great info to prepare you!

As long as you put the correct gas in the car, you'll be fine. In my opinion, driving in Tuscany is the only way to go in order to find those harder to reach hill towns.

((H))

Bookmarking!

I'm astounded at the info from Frommer's. we've been going to Italy since 1984 and never had any more bad experiences than here in California. As for drivers tailgating and flashing their lights in the left lane of the autostrade, you're SUPPOSED to keep to the right and get out of the way of faster cars. That's why they do that. Keep to the right except to pass, and then get right back in the right lane.

That said, I agree you should not drive in the cities, and should try to park outside the hill towns. The centers of most of these cities and towns were built in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance when people either walked or used horses, mules, etc. to pull a cart. So they don't accommodate two-way auto traffic very well and it's very congested. The locals know where they are going, and which streets are one-way, etc. but you don't, GPS or no GPS.

If you are going to base yourself in Florence, one thing you can do (as we did once) is park near the Porta Romana (Roman Gate) on the south side of the Arno so you don't have to get too far into town. It's not a long walk into the center -- 10 mins?

Charnee

In most countries 95% of drivers are sane and polite. 5% are 75% insane.

In Italy the 5% are 130% insane - if you avoid them you will be fine. Driving carefree for a week will not be unusual but be warned there are very exceptionally insane drivers out there lurking somewhere.

bookmarked

Relax, driving in Tuscany and Umbria is like driving in rural US. Let the Italians pass if they desire.
I've rented multiple times from AutoEurope and found their cars, service, and ability to answer questions to be excellent.
Be sure to get an International Driving Permit from AAA also.

[email protected]

We were thinking of renting a car from Florence for just one day to see Tuscany. Will the car rental be too much trouble for just one day?

I don't think the car rental for a day will be a problem but to be honest, driving anywhere in Florence (even to get the car in and out of it) is difficult.

We had our car in Tuscany for a week (picked it up as we were leaving Rome) and then planned to drop it off in Florence at the beginning of our stay there. Finding either the car drop-off place or our hotel was very difficult and frustrating. If I had it to do over again, I'd drop off the car someplace outside of Florence and take the train in.

Other than that, I found driving in Italy (both on the highways and in the hills) just fine.

where would we pick up the rental if not in Florence?

I'm not sure where you're coming from but I know other towns have rental places. Check your renting agency's list. Sienna maybe? Orvieto?

Others here who know the area better than I do would probably have suggestions. Anyone? Bueller?

Just re-read your post and I'm not sure I understand it. Tuscany is a region and you can't possibly see it in one day. Are you thinking of one specific town?

Chuisi is a small town on the main train line - driving is very easy and many people depart the train there and pick up a car in that town.

I understand its a region. Guess have not thought of where to go yet... I guess, a couple of towns or villages, with some stops in a couple of wineries, that can fit in the span from 8am-8pm?

Any help and suggestions with this will be absolutely appreciated!

Bookmarking!

I tire of hearing how the Italian drivers are more skilled. Hogwash. Americans grow up learning to drive defensively and it is tremendously more safe for everyone. That said, i did not have trouble driving there at all (in spite of the aggresive italian driving) and find the internet discussions of driving there to be horribly exagerated. Even in Rome is wasn't so bad. Kind of like NYC.

Oh...and I used hertz and it went as smoothly as it does here. Great service, no lines, no hassles.

We picked up our car at Avis in Orvieto, nice and quiet and unrushed. We drove to Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, Siena, to Florence and all in between. Have to admit, we didn't have all the great maps I was suppposed to bring but found that there were so many signs that it was hard to get really lost. Yes, the Italians tailgate but other than that, I never felt the urge to flip the bird. Maybe those small cars are less threatening. We were amazed however how many accidents didn't happen with the narrow streets and what is coming around the corners without slowing down. They seemed to know what they were doing. And nobody was yelling at anyone to get out of the way, just some intense looks. We dropped our car off at the Florence airport and that looked like a not so nice place to pick up a car. Everyone looked miserable and the line was long.

We will be in Florence this November, must we reserve a car in advance, or will we find available rental vehicles once we arrive?-I imagine we will, but I don't know what the price would be reserving ahead of time versus when we get there. Does anyone have cost estimates? I really don't want to reserve ahead as I want to have the freedom to choose lovely days for driving, not rainy days. Thanks so much.

We reserved a car thru AutoEurope auto brokers....an Alfa Romeo, they promised me, to be picked up in Florence...for a 10 day tour of Tuscany. After spending 4 days in Florence, we went to pick up our car (without problem, I might add)....except the car rental laughed hysterically when I said "Alfa Romeo"...and handed me the keys to a bilious green stick shift diesel Fiat with bulbous, toad-like eyes and a Neanderthal brow. Probably the ugliest car ever manufactured. We still laugh about that car...which turned out to be just fine. Embarrassingly hideous (even the Italians laughed)...but fine. Driving thru Tuscany (Florence:Gubbio (OK, ok Umbria (rools eyes): Cortona ("Under the Tuscan Sun"...and yes, I did find Bramisole ): Siena:Chianti:Montalcino:Montepulciano and dropped the car off in Chiusi...to take the train to Naples/Sorrento.

Driving is NOT a problem. Getting maps that are accurate and agree with each other ARE a problem. Which probably explains why Hanibel and the Romans kept missing each other. And that was back when maps were pretty simple.

Plan on getting mildly lost. 1) It's part of the fun, and 2) sometimes you'll find things that are amazing. We certainly did.