My husband and I will be returning our rental car in Siena and heading to Rome. Could anyone offer any guidance? Are there trains that go to Rome from Siena? Are we better off taking a bus? Thanks so much for your help.

There appear to be trains from Siena to Rome, with a change of train, most in Chiusi. The site for the Italian Railroad (in English) is: http://www.fs-on-line.com/eng/index.html <BR> <BR>Looking at the bus schedule, there don't appear to be any from Siena-Rome: http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/trasport/bus.htm. Perhaps you'd have to change somewhere, but I don't know where to find out that info.

There are a couple of bus companies that serve Rome. Lazzi is one of them and schedulles may be found at <BR>http://www.lazzi.it/sena/tt1.htm <BR>As you may see, the trip takes about 3 hours, a bit more than the two most convenient trains (which leave Siena at 8:42am and 12:20pm and take 2:30 hours), but less than all other trains, and with the advantage of the bus terminal in Siena being within the city walls (the train station is not) and not having to switch trains. <BR>Of course, dropping the car in Siena is a question of personal preference ... In my opinion though, it doesn't pay. I don't think that driving into Rome to return the car is such a nightmare and you'd be in position to visit Orvieto or other Umbrian/Lazio towns on your way to Rome. If you really want to avoid driving into Rome at all cost, you may consider dropping the car at the airport and then find the way to your hotel using a taxi ... <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>PS If I'm not wrong, Lisa, you use to travel with "stile" ... it doesn't make much sense returning the car in Siena, getting a cab to the train station, taking care of your luggage during the train change, and in and out of train stations, getting another cab in Rome ... just make it simple ... drive all the way to the airport and take a cab at the car drop off point. It'll cost a little more but you don't have to mess around with luggage and you'd be in position to visit sites on your way to Rome. If you depart early from Siena, you may stop in Orvieto, spend a couple of hours, stopo, if you wish, in Tivoli, visit both Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este, and head to the aiport (or center town if you're adventurous <BR>

thanks paul. i visited those websites. But, I'm having a hard time diciphering them. The times are hard to figure out and the data wasn't all that clear. So I'd love any more help anyone can give me!!!! It seems like the bus is the most direct way.

Paulo, I can't thank you enough for your indepth info. You may have changed my whole perpective. It is a lot more shlepping of bags and lost time if I take the train/bus. If i drive, I can leave when i want and get to Rome directly. I'll have to look into where i can return my rental car and how to get to the Hotel de la ville Inter-continental. They may even have service from the airport. Is the ride easy?? How long should it take? <BR> <BR>I was very concerned about figuring out the train schedule and how much time would be lost changing trains.. <BR> <BR>We're on a tight schedule so that day has to count as our first day in Rome and not a big travel day. We'll have to leave siena really early.

The nonstop fast drive on Autostrada from Siena to Ciampino airport (much closer to city center than Leonardo da Vinci airport) would take 2:50 hours. From there, a taxi should be able to get to your hotel in 20 minutes. Add the time to return the car and it should take you no more than 4 hours alltogether. <BR>It would take you about 3 hours to drive from Siena directly to your hotel ... if you know your way in Rome But chances are you may get lost here and there and you should allow some 30-40 minutes to get back on the right track ... Most car rental companies have offices near Via Veneto, a stone throw to your hotel. Check the weekday you're travelling to Rome. If it's a Sunday, you may not have any choice outside one of the airports. <BR>Paulo <BR>PS. If you decide to drive into Rome, you should leave A1 on A1-dir (very close to Passo Corese). A1dir will take you to the Gran Accordo Annulare (the road ring around Rome). You should take the ring to the west (to your right) and not to the east/south (this is a a critical point and mistakes are frequent). You stay on the ring just 1km or so and exit on Via Salaria (it should be signed by name, but I can't assure you ... but there should be at least city centre signs). From there on, just follow the signs to the city centre (Via Salaria all the way, straight ahead on Via Piave, and a natural right on Via XX Setembre). At the end of Via XX Settembre (in Piazza di S. Bernardo) you're very close to your hotel and/or to Via Veneto. You decide where you want to go and play it more or less by ear, using your map (I don't remember the way of the streets and my map doesn't show them - e.g., if luck is on your side, you may drive just ahead on Quirinale - straight continuation of Via XX Settembre - and make a right turn on Via delle Quattro Fontane; your hotel is straight ahead, on Via Sistina, past Piazza Barberini). One other option would be to hire a taxi (once you're in Piazza di S. Bernardo) to lead the way. <BR>

Paulo, thanks for the info. Once we find out from the travel agent which rental car company we're am using, we'lll try to find out it's exact location. Maybe the Inter-continental or the rental company can fax us directions??? We're not going until May, so if you have any thoughts, be in touch. Thanks again..

Yes, Lisa, once you've got the name of the company and the locations you may choose to leave the car, drop me a line ... Personally, I would ask for car rental office close to the hotel and would drive directly to the hotel. Once there, I would ask the directions to the car rental office. <BR>You may ask specific driving directions to your hotel (or check with them if one indeed may get there by using Via Salaria - Via Piave - Via XX Settembre - Via Quirinale - Via delle Quattro Fontane and Via Sistina, or if any of these streets is one way in the wrong direction). <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>