Hi Everyone,

I looks like I may need to drop off my car rental about 8am at Chiusi in Italy. Both drop off locations for Auto Europe will not be open. Do you think they would "allow" me to drop prior to closing? Or do I need to take a later train altogether?

My concern is that a later train departing 9:35 gets me in Rome Termini 11:00am and it MUST NOT be delayed or I'll find myself too close for comfort with my 1:30pm flight ot NY.

I REALLY dont want to sleep anywhere except Tuscany for my last night.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Natalie

The consensus of opinion here is that you're foolish to rely on a long-distance Italian train to get you to the airport for a specific flight. They're just not that reliable. Strikes happen.

Odds are, you'll be all right. However, what happens if you miss your flight? Will you have to pay full fare for the next available flight? Is an extra night in Tuscany worth it?

every company has its own procedures for out of hours drop off, special arrangements, etc. Some allow it, some don't - so you need to contact the location where you are dropping the car and ask them.

Thanks, i know what you're saying, I have to really think about it.
Natalie

If spending that last night in Tuscany is important to you, and you have the luxury of an afternoon flight home, I would just drive to the airport in the morning and drop the car there. That way, you can have a leisurely breakfast and get to the airport in plenty of time to make your flight. The airport drop off charge would be worth it.

I once dropped a car off early at National in Verona. I just dropped the form, with mileage written on, and keys over top of glass partition. But I also added a note that i had photograghed the car and can provide evidence of its condition when i dropped it off. I never heard back from them. That said, I have to agree with Mimar. I think you would be cutting it really close if you took the 9:35 train. There is no way to know how long security will take at Fiumicino. Standing in line to check in, and clearing passport control and security, could well take more than 2 hours if there is either a labor slow down or upgraded security alert. Could you turn in the car on day before, stay the night in Chiusi and then either walk or take Taxi to train early in the morning?

I agree with Grinisa. The 11am train from Termini to FCo is cutting it a bit close. I have taken the train many times from Chiusi, and sometimes it's like clockwork and sometimes it's not. I really advise driving yourself to the airport and dropping the car there. At that time after the morning rush, you can get from Chiusi to FCO in 2.5 hours. BUT, you can always call ahead in advance and they will let you drop the car off hours. I have done this at the Hertz in Chiusi, at least. Good luck
www.la-bandita.com

I have had the same flight arrangements out of FCO and coming in that morning from Tuscany area directly to fCO and returning the cars there were the best option we picked.
We were all taking flights to different countries and it was fine.

I too think that you can drive yourself from Chiusi to the Rome airport in less time than taking the train, then switching at Termini to the airport and getting there. Having stood at the Chiusi train station for about five hours one day while they tried to sort out a local strike, I wouldn't want to rely on the train and the transfer, plus the problems of the early car return when I have a flight to catch.