The first leg of our trip on April 30th will be Perugia. (I had inquired previously about a detailed map of Umbria.)

Well, now I'm pricing rental cars and with the conversion to U.S. dollars, it would cost us $105 to rent a Fiat Panda for one day. Also, we plan on renting a car in Lucca (following Perugia) for one full day - another $105 = $205 for two days.

Last year, we rented a Fiat Panda in Stresa. This is a little, itty bitty car, and for the cost, it's a poor value for us.

I checked Trenitalia for train schedules because we want to travel in a circle from the southern end of Perugia: Bevagna, Montefalco, Trevi and back up to Perugia.

Trenitalia did not show a train station for Bevagna nor Montefalco (didn't check Trevi). So now I'm considering using the bus system to these three Umbrian towns.

Is a bus my best option and does anyone know which bus web site I should check online?

If the buses aren't a good option, I may have to select towns that are accessible from Perugia by train.

I'm sorry if this is long-winded, and would appreciate any help I can get.

I agree with you that I don't think there are train stations in Bevagna and Montefalco - the train doesn't run through those towns. On our last trip to the area, we took the train from Foligno, which is east of Bevagna and Montefalco.

There are probably local buses, and if so, they probably don't run so frequently. Consider whether the added mobility and the chance to drive along beautiful Umbrian roads to charming Umbrian towns is worth $100. It would definitely be worth it to me! (We rented a car for our travels in Tuscany and Umbria.)

Would it be possible to lower your total costs if you did a multi-day rental? Renting a car for your day in Umbria, then driving the car to Lucca and driving it there? You would obviously save the train fare for your travel between Perugia and Lucca (I assumed that you planned to take the train between the two locations.)

Well, iak, you are discovering that the cost for a one-day rental roughly equals the cost for a three-day rental.

Still, I would seriously rethink trying to get around Umbria by bus. It might be an adventure, but it might also be a real pain. I would never consider anything but a car in Umbria - you can discover so much good stuff!

Can you redesign your trip and spend 3 days with a car in Umbria?

Lexma and St. Cirq thanks for responding.

When I called Auto Europe their quote for three days was "about" $195 - molto troppo. We will be staying in Perugia for four nights/five days. One of those days will be a bus trip solely to Assisi.

My husband is a road salesman, and he drives about 60,000 miles a year. The last thing he wants to do on vacation is drive, and I don't have a problem with that. Lexma, yes. you assumed correctly, we are taking a train from Perugia to Lucca.

Looks like my addition was wrong: $210 for Perugia and Lucca - one day each.

It's not as though we "have" to visit these three towns. If it makes life easier and we can take the train or bus to other Umbrian towns, that's an option for serious consideration.

It sounds like you have only one full day to explore from Perugia. Correct? If so, even with a car, one day is probably not enough time to see Bevagna and Montefalco and Trevi unless your plan was more of a drive-by and quick peek. In each town, you first have to find parking outside the town and then walk in.

There is comprehensive regional bus service out of Perugia, but it's a very slow, leisurely way of getting around Umbria and unfortunately does not serve Bevagna, Montefalco and Trevi. You'd likely only have time to head toward one town and enjoy whatever else is along the route. The good news (if there is any for you) is that you could substitute Gubbio or Deruta/Todi for the towns you listed.

(If you haven't checked the train schedules, you can visit Assisi and Trevi in one long day if you start out really early.) http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Here's a map that shows the entire "extraurbane" bus service out of Perugia:

http://www.apmperugia.it/resources/d...appa_extra.pdf

The APM bus company website is only available in Italian, but you can check timetables if you click on "Orari" and then the different routes:

http://www.apmperugia.it/canale.asp

For general info on Perugia, go to www.perugiaonline.com.

Someone posted the other day that is was much cheaper to rent a car through Ryan Air's website than any other sites. Their rentals are actually Hertz and do appear much cheaper unless there is some hidden cost I'm not aware of. One problem is all the choices are airports, but you could pick up at the Perugia airport and return to Pisa airport (20 minutes from Lucca). I entered those airports and a random 2 day weekend in May (daily rate was a little over 15 GBP).
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/hertz...amp;pos=NAVTAB

You could also visit Todi by train, as well as Cortona in the other direction.

All of you have been so great giving me information and options.
But it's giving me a headache.

I'm going to search online for a 20% off discount code that Visa is supposed to have for international rentals with National Car Rental (which is at the Perugia train station).

I did some searching this afternoon, but couldn't find the 20% discount online. Tomorrow I will call Visa.

Jean, that's exactly what we will do: a quick breeze through the towns. BTW that's some map you gave me the link to.

kybourbon, thanks for the link, but I will start with National Car Rental/Visa first.

Actually, I did find a National Car/Visa discount code online for 20% off international rentals: 8572987 - but it didn't work.

It's supposed to be valid on the days I am traveling in Italy. I'll dig deeper tomorrow.

Try this site for car rentals:

https://www.economycarrentals.com/sok/sok_default.asp

Kane, I definitely understand what you're going thru. I've been struggling with some of the same decisions!

Last year, I spent three weeks in Umbria without a car and it really wasn't a problem. For my return this year, however, I might bite the bullet and rent a car for a few days to see some more remote sites (such as Bevagna and Montefalco) that I missed last year. I can't find any rates much better than you're quoting, about $100 per day.

I think as others have said, that it would be hard to get from one smaller centre in Umbria to another by public transport. But if you are using Perugia as a base for out-and-back day trips, I think that can be done fairly easily. (And for less than renting a car!)

Really, Perugia is so much fun that last year, I spent a full week in Perugia and actually only got out of the historic centre once, for one day trip! I took the bus to Gubbio, a spectacular town and a very easy trip from Perugia's bus station (which is at the foot of the historic centre.) It worked out extremely well.

I had planned to visit Todi from Perugia, using the private FCU rail line, and never got around to it. So, I think I'll try that this year. As I understand it, you still have to catch a bus or a cab from the Todi rail station up a few kilometres to the old city. But still cheaper than a car rental.

Last year, I also took the train from Perugia to Assisi (about 25 minute ride, very easy) where I stayed for several nights. But your bus plan will work very well, too.
Spoleto is also fairly easy by train and well worth a visit.

I tried to open Michael's link to Economy Cars last night(and today)without any luck.

sacc, my husband and I had decided to devote one full day for this circuitous route we planned out. Today I was able to reserve online with National Car Rental a Ford Fiesta with A/C for one day at total cost of 49.26 euro ($77.39)in Perugia.

I hope my calculation of 85 km is correct because this rate only allows 100 free kilometers plus .15 each additional km.

Now I just have to work on renting a car in Lucca...

kane,

I used that coupon code for National. It did not work on their website, but I made the reservation and called them and they gave it to me. Maybe that might work

galaxygrl,

The contract number for National worked today (not last night). I have a confirmed reservation (see previous post). I'm happy with the rate.