We have four days in Tuscany and I have three possible approaches because we will need to drop our car off on Saturday by 1:00 and take the train to Rome on Sunday morning (none of these locations have a drop box):

Approach 1:
October 24 - Pick up car in Florence; drive through Chianti region; stay in San Gimignano
October 25 - Val d'Orcia
October 26 - Val d'Orcia
October 27 - Drive to Siena and drop off car in Siena; see Siena; take train to Rome on 28th

-----------------------
Approach 2:
October 24 - pick up car; Siena
October 25 - Val d'Orcia (stay near Pienza)
October 26 - Val d'Orcia (stay near Pienza)
October 27 - Drop car off in Chiusi in morning/afternoon; see Chiusi; take train from Chiusi on October 28

-----------------
October 24 - pick up car; Siena
October 25 - Val d'Orcia
October 26 - Val d'Orcia
October 27 - Drop car off in Orvieto; see Orvieto; take train from Orvieto on October 28

Which would you choose?

I'd pick up the car in Siena and drop it of in Orvieto if you are using AutoEurope. Our car return in Siena was quite a bit out of the city and the hotel suggested that we hire a taxi and follow it out there. That was excellent advice since we could not have found it on our own. Dropping the car in Orvieto was very easy. Our return was right by the train station.

Where are you coming from to pick up the car?
Approach 2 and 3 seems the best,but why not pick up the car where it's easier to drive out of?

We will be spending the previous 3 days in Florence and picking up the car there and then driving down.

Orvieto is certainly more intesting than Chiusi. The car rental return location next to the train station is several Ks outside of the town of Chiusi.

Stu Dudley

We trained to Orvieto, spent the night there, picked up the car in Orvieto the next morning, drove to Pienza, stayed 2 nights there and toured Val d'Orcia, drove thru Chianti and dropped car in Florence. Worked great for us. Could have used an extra day.

Akila - what hotel have you selected for Pienza?

WE didn't find driving out of Florence as difficult as driving in. One advantage to getting your carin Florence is that you could drive through Chianti on Rt 222 then stay in Siena. You could do Orvieto at the end of your trip.

Thanks all! We will definitely do the Orvieto plan.

nevertoold, we haven't picked a hotel for Pienza yet. I was thinking about La Saracina but it is a little out of our budget and I was hoping for something more around 150 E/night. Any suggestions?

HI Akila,

Definitely plan #3! Orvieto is the easiest to pick up/drop, plus the town is beautiful with lots to see and do.

Buon viaggio!

We have stayed at the Piccolo de la Valle hotel in Pienza several times. Sweet, small, family hotel with fab views, about five years old.

Whoops, that's the Piccolo Hotel La Valle

Akila - I've been looking at the various web-sites and Il Rondo, just outside Montepulciano, looks very promising.

Look in venere.com and tripadvisor.com for the positive reviews and inexpensive prices!

Would someone please tell me what car rental company you're using to drop off in Orvieto? We also would like to drop off our car in Orvieto and then pickup a train. I'm not finding Orvieto as an option on the Auto Europe website. I figure if I find I can't book through Auto Europe, I'll just book dirctly thru whatever car rental company has a location there.

Thanks!

Squeak, you have to phone (use the toll-fee number on the website) AE to use their Orvieto option. Have no idea why.

Squeek

Betsy is correct. Avis had an office in Orvieto up until a few years ago. They closed it. Then Hertz opended up an office there. I think AutoEurope does not want to lisat Orvieto because of the history of opening & closing offices.

We had to call AE to arriange for the pick up a car in Orvieto last June.

Call AutoEurope. You usually get better rates if you call - ask them about any special discounts - AAA, AARP, etc.

Stu Dudley

Thought that was strange so good to know!

I know you're going to love Tuscany - I do! We've picked up & returned rental cars in both Orvieto & Chiusi. Indeed, unless Orvieto has been recently included, Autoeurope doesn't serve Orvieto. Of the 2, we prefered Chiusi for convenience. I'm sure you've already thought through this, but what will you do with your luggage after returning the rental car and "touring" Orvieto or Chiusi? The Chiusi location probably wouldn't work for "touring" as the train station doesn't appear to be where tourists tour....if that makes sense!

We loved staying in San Gimignano - stayed 3 nights. We also love La Saracina...happy planning!

The Hertz office is a block or so from the Orvieto train station. Drop the car, return to the station (Or rather across the street from the station) to take the funicular to Orvieto Alto. Walk a few blocks to I Sette Consoli for the best meal of your trip, guaranteed. I pick up and drop off my cars in Orvieto just to dine there.

We've actually been to Orvieto and liked it alot. Truthfully, I was just looking for a convenient place off the A1 where we could drop our car on the way to Rome. Orvieto isn't too far off the beaten track so I think it's a good option.