van rental for 12 in Florence?
 

We have a group of 11 people going to Italy and need to rent a vehicle? Does anyone know of a good resource for renting a van that accommodates 11 (adult) passengers? Any suggestions?

Thank you!

While 15 passenger vans undoubtedly do exist, it would likely mean much more difficulty parking, VERY constrained luggage room, and generally a poorer value for comfort and price. Go with two 9 passenger vans - - and buy a pair of walkie-talkies (buy them EN Europe, to get frequency-legal models).

You'll be glad you did. Nine passenger vans are STILL big, by the standards of Florence parking and streets.

Best wishes,

Rex

You want 2 vehicles, but I would not make them both vans. BTW, all vans will be manual if that is a problem. Go to Autoeurope.com and look at the Passat Wagon as your 2nd car--a good complement to a van.

We rented a nine passenger van in Florence through Auto Europe.
I second the suggestion of two vehicles. One limits everyone going to the same place at the same time if you are based outside of a town.

<<look at the Passat Wagon as your 2nd car--a good complement to a van>>

Certainly a reasonable suggestion, as an alternative to two nine-passenger vans. And likely more comfortable. Indeed, with a Passat wagon or similar, your "larger" vehicle could be a "regular" (6 or 7 passenger) minivcan. A lot depends on the physical size of the travelers. Five in a station wagon is reasonable if several are pre-teens or sub-120 pounders, for example. And there needs to be careful review of the luggage per person. You don't necessarily want to be in the position to be dictating rules. Just know what you are getting into with the luggage.

Agree with the other posters. I've never heard of a 15-passenger van for rent, but as noted you'd never be able to maneuver it through Italy, not to mention it probably wouldn't hold 12 of you plus luggage.
Two vehicles, with one of them being a van, is definitely a good alternative.

<<I've never heard of a 15-passenger van for rent>>

In Europe, I might agree. In many parts of the US, they're readily available from Thrifty. But they're spartan and devoid of creature comforts (so are many nine passenger vans in Europe); I would hate to be the tenth and eleventh passenger in a 15-passenger van that has the luggage from that many people in it (would have to spill over on to the seats).