To rent or not to rent a car?
 

Hi,

Me again :-). I have 5 nights planned in Florence because I'm using it as a base to visit Tuscany. I can't change the dates and stay a couple nights elsewhere because I've already made a deposit - I don't want to either.

That said, my original plan was to take buses to Siena, train to Lucca and Pisa and take a tour with the Accidental Tourist. The AT takes us to a vineyard, around the hills and ends with dinner in a countryside Villa.

My other idea is to still do the AC tour but instead of busing and training everywhere just rent a car for about 3 days and hit the hilltowns on our own. Problem is that parking in Florence I hear is dreadful so I'm wondering if it will be even worth it?

Anyone have this issue? Would renting a car for a day be the better option here. I don't know what to do.

Please help.

Linda

Hi livette,

Just returned from Florence. We took the bus to Siena and the train to Lucca.

If you go that way, you can concentrate on the scenery and not worry about navigating in a strange land with different conventions for traffic signage and directions.

You go right to the center of things, without having to find a parking place.

It's also cheaper.

Ira,

That sounds less stressful and a car route would have been favorable if I had booked a couple nights in a hilltown. However, since I chose Florence, looks like taking the bus and train is the best option.

Plus, I'll have future trips to Italy to do more :-).

Linda

Livette. Your thought process mirror our own. There isn't much reason to rent a car. By public transport, there are lots of places that you can get in a hour or so - Lucca, Pisa, Fiesole, Siena. You want hilltowns? There are lots of busses to San Gimignano. Assisi is 2 hours by train. This should keep you more than busy for 5 days. Virtually any other hilltown can be reached by bus but you wouldn't have the time anyway. The $100/day that I save by not renting a car can be much better spent.

BTW: I looked at the Accident Tourist site and really didn't understand what is going on on. I get a bit suspicious when someone asks me to pay money but claims that they are not really a business. Look at CAF tours. They seem a lot better and have gotten good reviews. They have a half day wine tour for only 37E.

Hi livette,

Don't forget to take the no. 7 bus from the train station up to Fiesole to see the ruins, wander the town and watch the sun set over Florence from the terrace of the Bar Blu.

Hi,

I've heard about Caf tours so I'll have to check them out as well.

Ira, we are definately going to take bus #7 and have drinks at the Blu Bar. I wrote that down to do as a suggestion from you along with the Accidental Tourist. I remember you mentioned on your trip report that you did this more than once.

These seven and a half months just have to fly by!!!

Thanks you guys.

Linda :-)

I just returned from Florence and took the accidental tourist tour. It was the highlight of my trip. Wine/Olive estate tour, wine tasting/olive oil tasting, cooking class, and delicious meal in the hills of tuscany. It was fantastic. Don't rent a car. No place to park, inconvenient. Trains are great. They are quick, comfortable and nice. Don't fo first class. Second class is the same.

Hi,

Great so you really enjoyed the Accidental Tourist hey? I knew it would be excellent because Ira recommended it. Thanks for the review. I look forward to this highlight in our trip.

Linda :-)