Hello,

I am going to be renting a car and driving from Rome to Venice (lots of stops in between and we've decided not to take the train so we have more freedom).

Sixt has the best rates for the dates we will be traveling, however, I'm unsure as to the best pick up/drop off locations. We'd prefer not to use an airport due to all of the extra fees.

Can anyone recommend which are the most convenient locations?

There are several choices for Rome, but only (2) for Venice (airport and train station).


Thanks!

Hi El,

The Sixt train station drop off is in Mestre.

You will have to take the train across the causeway into the Santa Lucia Station.

I think that will be easier than coming in from the airport.

You want to drive in Rome?

Is that a pain (to take the train across the causeway into Santa Lucia Station)?

We won't actually be driving in Rome, we are planning on picking up the car the day we are leaving Rome and heading straight out - I definitely don't want to drive in city.

"Is that a pain (to take the train across the causeway into Santa Lucia Station)?"

If you plan to visit Venice, you'll have to get there somehow, and from Mestre the options are bus, train, or land taxi. Many consider arriving in Venice by train and the first view as you leave the station a very memorable experience.

When you're driving out of Rome, you're still driving in Rome -- for a little while. If you pick up at Fiumicino, you're outside the city close to the Ring Road around Rome.

There are car rental offices in Venice proper, in Piazzale Roma at the end of the causeway from the mainland. This is a more convenient drop-off point. When you calculate costs, add the cost of transportation from Mestre to Venice, not to speak of the inconvenience.

Yes, Piazzale Roma would be a more convenient drop off location than Mestre were there a Sixt office there. Since there apparently is not then Mestre is just fine. It's a simple 10min train ride from Mestre to Venice SL, with shuttle trains running every 10 or 15min or so.

You just buy your tickets from the ticket window or a kiosk, validate them in a yellow box BEFORE boarding, hop on and off you go. You will need to schlep your own luggage.

QED.