Travelling with family of 8
Jul 28th, 2011, 12:55 AM
#1
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Travelling with family of 8
We are planning a trip to Europe in December/January 2011. There will be 8 of us - parents, favourite aunty and 5 teenage children.
We are thinking of flying to Rome and then taking a side trip to Croatia for 5 days and then to return to Rome.
We may then rent a house or apartment for 2 weeks in the Umbria region of Italy and hiring a car and taking day trips to various towns and cities in that region. We would then travel across to Genoa and visit Nevers in France and on to Paris and perhaps to Frankfurt.
We would possibly hire a 9 seater van.
Is it economical to drive around Europe with 8 people or should we just visit places on a rail line?
Any suggestions on the cheapest place to hire a vehicle or places to stay in Umbria?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated
We are thinking of flying to Rome and then taking a side trip to Croatia for 5 days and then to return to Rome.
We may then rent a house or apartment for 2 weeks in the Umbria region of Italy and hiring a car and taking day trips to various towns and cities in that region. We would then travel across to Genoa and visit Nevers in France and on to Paris and perhaps to Frankfurt.
We would possibly hire a 9 seater van.
Is it economical to drive around Europe with 8 people or should we just visit places on a rail line?
Any suggestions on the cheapest place to hire a vehicle or places to stay in Umbria?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated
Jul 28th, 2011, 02:31 AM
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9 seater van will be too small as 9 seater vans won't have space for 9 people and their luggage. I'd also point out that it's winter in Europe and hence longer distance travel might get curtailed. You'd also need to take in account what appears to be a linear trip where you drop off the vehicle in a different country from where you hired which generally means BIG BUCKS. It also limits you to companies with an international presence but you may find that smaller companies won't allow you to take the vehicle out of the country even if returning to that country
Jul 28th, 2011, 02:35 AM
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tigercarrentals.com best rates out of Rome
www.assisi.com prettiest area to base
It will be very cold/snowy in the north
always try to stay south in winter...
one way rentals are VERY expensive not economical
Renault Eurodrive lease make sense if renting
more than a couple of weeks...
Family rates on train seat61.com might save some
over car but will be far less convenient in rural areas.
CAREFUL research including weather2travel.com
might make for lots better experience...
vrbo.com homeaway.com italyby.com nice sites
www.assisi.com prettiest area to base
It will be very cold/snowy in the north
always try to stay south in winter...
one way rentals are VERY expensive not economical
Renault Eurodrive lease make sense if renting
more than a couple of weeks...
Family rates on train seat61.com might save some
over car but will be far less convenient in rural areas.
CAREFUL research including weather2travel.com
might make for lots better experience...
vrbo.com homeaway.com italyby.com nice sites
Jul 28th, 2011, 04:34 AM
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How long is your trip? You seem to be moving all over the place which is difficult with large groups. The best thing to do with a large group is to rent an accommodation and stay in one place doing day trips as you are thinking of doing in Umbria. Think about choosing three or four places and renting apartments. Consider bases that will not require you to have a car/van. Or rent a van at each location for day trips.
Jul 28th, 2011, 04:50 AM
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We will probably have 4.5 weeks away so I dont mind being on the hop for the most of the trip but would want a good week just staying put in one place.
In short, the places I want to see in Italy are all not far from the Umbria region. We would probably make our base in Collevalenza, but would also be visiting Florence, Rome, Giovanni Rotondo, Cascia, Nettuno and Assisi.
If our base is Collevalenza we could train it to Florence and Rome but might be better to have a car for the other places.
I would like to visit Nevers in France and while there we could just keep heading north and go to Paris. We have friends in the Champagne region so we could pop in on them.
I have no idea how expensive petrol is so I dont know if to hire a car and go to paris is going to be much cheaper than going by train, or not.
In short, the places I want to see in Italy are all not far from the Umbria region. We would probably make our base in Collevalenza, but would also be visiting Florence, Rome, Giovanni Rotondo, Cascia, Nettuno and Assisi.
If our base is Collevalenza we could train it to Florence and Rome but might be better to have a car for the other places.
I would like to visit Nevers in France and while there we could just keep heading north and go to Paris. We have friends in the Champagne region so we could pop in on them.
I have no idea how expensive petrol is so I dont know if to hire a car and go to paris is going to be much cheaper than going by train, or not.
Jul 28th, 2011, 04:58 AM
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Logistically, it sounds like 2 (or 3?) cars are needed. There may be days when some want to go exploring when others want to stay put, One vehicle would condemn those staying behind to "house arrest " 
You might consider using train to go inter-country, then renting when arrive at new destination. You will not need/want a car in Paris/Rome.
Accomodations might be tricky. What have you found?
You might consider using train to go inter-country, then renting when arrive at new destination. You will not need/want a car in Paris/Rome.
Accomodations might be tricky. What have you found?
Jul 28th, 2011, 05:29 AM
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I was hoping we could find a minivan - something like a VW Caravelle - that would be quite comfortable and fuel efficient if it was a diesel.
You are probably right - inter country might be better to go by train - but for 8 fares - is it cheaper than driving?
For example, rome to nevers and then nevers to paris - would the train be cheaper than driving?
Havent turned my mind to accommodation - I was thinking of renting a villa for our time in italy and taking day trips here and there - accommodation will be expensive for us so I have to be very careful and do a lot of research. For a night here and a night there, where could we get a place to house us all without having to book 2 places?
You are probably right - inter country might be better to go by train - but for 8 fares - is it cheaper than driving?
For example, rome to nevers and then nevers to paris - would the train be cheaper than driving?
Havent turned my mind to accommodation - I was thinking of renting a villa for our time in italy and taking day trips here and there - accommodation will be expensive for us so I have to be very careful and do a lot of research. For a night here and a night there, where could we get a place to house us all without having to book 2 places?
Jul 28th, 2011, 05:43 AM
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There might be a large drop-off fee when you drive from one country to another. Confirm with rental company.
Part of the train vs drive question is whether the drive is part of the trip (e.g. Nevers to Paris) or just a mode of transport. You can scenario plan by looking at the SNCF / TGV website. Cheap tickets come up 3 months before departure dates. In winter and after a good amonut of road time, sitting in a train might be a nice break. For inter-country (Italy to France) there are experts here for that. Note that there are also some pretty cheap airlines that could get you Rome to Paris, but factro in luggage restrictions.
In the cities (Paris/Rome) you would probably not want to drive. What do you do with the car? Park and pick-up later...but then you are paying for it. So I might arrange schedule around car rental for "country" touring. If you were ot land in Rome, visit, go to Croatia..rent..coem back to Rome. Take train to Umbria...rent...train back to Rome..etc..
A villa sounds perfect for Umbria. But finding 4 (?) hotel rooms or two/three appartments is something I would book real soon. Availability in main cities over XMAS period...
Part of the train vs drive question is whether the drive is part of the trip (e.g. Nevers to Paris) or just a mode of transport. You can scenario plan by looking at the SNCF / TGV website. Cheap tickets come up 3 months before departure dates. In winter and after a good amonut of road time, sitting in a train might be a nice break. For inter-country (Italy to France) there are experts here for that. Note that there are also some pretty cheap airlines that could get you Rome to Paris, but factro in luggage restrictions.
In the cities (Paris/Rome) you would probably not want to drive. What do you do with the car? Park and pick-up later...but then you are paying for it. So I might arrange schedule around car rental for "country" touring. If you were ot land in Rome, visit, go to Croatia..rent..coem back to Rome. Take train to Umbria...rent...train back to Rome..etc..
A villa sounds perfect for Umbria. But finding 4 (?) hotel rooms or two/three appartments is something I would book real soon. Availability in main cities over XMAS period...
Jul 28th, 2011, 06:04 AM
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Hey, I can recommend you to look at this site...
http://www.liligo.co.uk/cheap-flights/flight-rome_it/
there's a bunch of travel tips that can help you with this matter.
About the train or car rental. I'd say rent the car, otherwise it will result so expensive, and it's easier to keep the control of the situation if you rent a van for going wherever you want to go!!!
http://www.liligo.co.uk/cheap-flights/flight-rome_it/
there's a bunch of travel tips that can help you with this matter.
About the train or car rental. I'd say rent the car, otherwise it will result so expensive, and it's easier to keep the control of the situation if you rent a van for going wherever you want to go!!!
Jul 29th, 2011, 08:47 PM
#11
4.5 weeks not long enough for 2+ to 3 weeks in Italy plus Croatia, Paris, Nevers, and Frankfurt for a group that large <u>in summer</u> let alone in the depths of winter.
You have picked the wrong sort of trip for that time of year.
One can have a GREAT holiday in winter - but not a road trip. Winter storms can destroy your entire itinerary. Your best bet is to rent houses/villas in 4 different cities for 1 week each and fly or take trains between.
You have picked the wrong sort of trip for that time of year.
One can have a GREAT holiday in winter - but not a road trip. Winter storms can destroy your entire itinerary. Your best bet is to rent houses/villas in 4 different cities for 1 week each and fly or take trains between.
Jul 29th, 2011, 08:49 PM
#12
oops - didn't mean to click submit . . .
>>Your best bet is to rent houses/villas in 4 different cities for 1 week each and fly or take trains between.<< or two weeks in one place and one week in two others.
>>Your best bet is to rent houses/villas in 4 different cities for 1 week each and fly or take trains between.<< or two weeks in one place and one week in two others.
Jul 30th, 2011, 07:00 PM
#13
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What Janis said. It's not sunny 12 months of the year in Italy. In the winter it often rains, the countryside is gray-brown, it gets dark early. You would be better off in cities where there are lots of things to do indoors.
