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Why we are renting a car & driving - Are we stupid?

Why we are renting a car & driving - Are we stupid?

Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 05:01 AM
  #41  
 
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I think it sounds like a lovely trip.

We had the same kind of issues in getting wine into Florida until they changed that law a few years ago, so I understand your problem. We did, however, ship it ourselves from Italy and, while more expensive, it eased our mind (and backs) a lot. You might want to consider doing that. There are FedEx and other shipping options in the Italian cities. http://www.fedex.com/it_english/ There are stories about people finding that the wine they packed in their suitcases did not make it all the way to their destination. Just sayin'....

The only other comment I might make is that I would be very jealous if you could make that flight (actually 2 counting from Nashville to NY) and still feel "refreshed". It's not a long drive to your destination, but please be cautious. You will be much more tired and jet-lagged than you realize.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip. Italy is just about our favorite country to visit!
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 05:18 AM
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Your plan is very sensible. If it works for you than don't hesitate to do it.
Just a caution about speed traps in and around Tuscany. They have cameras set up within the towns and in the countryside that will take your car's picture if your speed triggers it. The hefty ($200 Euro) fine will be sent to the car rental company and then to you. So take heed. Speed limit signs are not often clearly posted (They are in KM).
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 05:43 AM
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Have you looked into whether the various places you plan to buy wine can ship it to you (assuming they don't import to the US commercially)? I'm no wine expert but I know most shops of many kinds in Italy (e.g. ceramics) will ship to your home, and I know some wineries in this country will ship to your home. It seems the trouble you are going to go through, either by car or train travel, for lugging numerous bottles of wine would be more trouble than it's worth. Obviously that's a personal decision but you've already noted the problems.

You mentioned one of your reasons for wanting a car is because you'd otherwise arrive before check-in time. Most hotels will store luggage if you arrive too early, or want to stay in the city after the check-out time so travel by train doesn't mean you are going to be sitting around for hours. And for that matter, if you stop en route from one hotel to another you will have your luggage in the car which is not really a great idea (recent trip report here had a story of all their luggage being stolen from the car - and it was out of site. The amount of luggage you are talking about will be difficult to conceal in the trunk unless you rent a rather large vehicle.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 05:47 AM
  #44  
ira
 
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Hey CP,

You don't need the car in Venice, Florence and Rome, why pay for parking?

Fly into Mlan and visit Venice, Get Car, visit smaller towns, drop car in Florence. Take train to Rome.

Enjoy your visit.

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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 07:00 AM
  #45  
 
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You are not stupid. But since it does appear that your plans are fixed, and you have reservations made around the convenience of the car, no point here in suggesting alternative itineraries. My biggest concern for you is that Venice is at the end of your trip, and by that time you will have 2 full suitcases with 16 bottles of wine. That is heavy luggage ( we have been there); you will have to drag it on and off the vaparetto, up and down bridges over canals, and repeat a few days later. Do not leave the wine in the car. As long as you are aware of this, just go and have a great vacation. Or think about shipping the wine home; not cheap but it does lighten the load.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 07:06 AM
  #46  
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Looking at your final itinerary, I still don't see the need for a car, other than the first day to get to ACP (which is amazing and totally worth the trip). Drive to Florence, return the car, and stay IN the city, as opposed to the outskirts just to accommodate the car. Go by train or bus the rest of the time.

BUT, even after all the advice you received by the various experienced posters regarding the train, you seem insistent on renting a car. Then so be it - it is your vacation, after all, not ours!

If you leave anything in your car, even in the truck, be sure you parking is attended. If you are leaving wine in the truck (which you will have to at some point) then you must be parked in the shade and the temps cannot be warm. Also, you will have to get a larger car to accommodate 2 large rolling suitcases and duffels in the trunk, which will be an added cost.

Have you checked into the Wine Check Bag? It would eliminate the need for your 2 duffels. http://www.thewinecheck.com/
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 07:27 AM
  #47  
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Ekc- thanks for info. I am not insistent on a car, I am in the middle. My husband would prefer the car because he thinks its going to be a horrible hassel to lug around luggage, doesnt want to miss a pre-bought train passes and be flexible with time (he likes to sleep in and doesn't want to have to live by train times, etc). He also thinks he is the most amazing driver in the world (he is from NY) and thinks he can handle anything given to him. I, on the other hand, would prefer to save the money and take trains after Florence. I think we will have to haul around the luggage either way and that driving could be troublesome and cause a lot of potential risk.

My only downside is the way back from Venice to MXP. I really want to stop at Lake Como or Lake Garda. Also, Siena could be a hassel- as we want to do maybe some wineries around the area. I thought, if covered or well hidden, our bags during lunch or a short winery or store stop will be fine. Its not like we plan to park in the middle of town with leaving everything out for people to steal. Our bags would be easily taken into our hotel at Siena as they have free parking and its small, so that wouldnt be a problem while in Siena. It also wouldnt be a problem in Bologna, as they have parking there too onsite and we can bring up our wine to the hotel very easily. The hard parts are in and out of Venice and in/out of Rome. Rome, I assume, wouldn't be too bad if we parked around the vatiican (myparking.it) and only costs for 3 days 35 Euros. Then we take a taxi with all of our stuff (nothing left in car) to where we are staying in Piazza Novana. So even if we took a train, we would have the same problem. So really, only main inconvience with a car and wine would be Venice.

We bought the wine sleeves already and chose those over the wine check bag, but only held 12 bottles and costed overall more than the sleeves, which we read better reviews on. We don't know how much wine we will purchase but bought enough sleeves for 16 bottles.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 07:58 AM
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Cpessagno,
As mentioned above we have done big trips with both a car and the train. What I really liked about the car was the ability to leave things in your trunk and bring just what you need to each lodging. With what to leave in the trunk I'm talking extra clothes etc, nothing expensive. So..on this theme, after you park in Venice, leave the duffles in the car trunk and pack just what you will need for your time in Venice into your two suitcases. Leave the rest in the trunk. This will lighten your load.

You have to realize there is no 'perfect' solution. You have been given a lot of info and ultimately you will have a wonderful trip regardless of your transportation method. We never dealt with ZTL zones so cannot comment on that.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 08:11 AM
  #49  
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No more comments on train vs car, but I will reiterate the comment above that you are taking too much luggage for only 2 weeks. Both my hubby and I are able to go to Italy for more than 2 weeks with a carry-on sized roller bag and a small bag (the "personal item") for each of us. I bring one small duffel to put our dirty clothes in at the end of the trip so my wine and other purchases can go in one of the rollers. I hand-wash undergarmets and t-shirts in the hotel sink or bidet every couple of days and we are fine. I bring lots of scarves to accessorize and wear the bulkiest items on the plane.

Even with 16 bottles of wine to bring back, there is no need for 2 large rollers and 2 large duffels. Re-think what you are packing, because no matter what you decide you will be much happier with fewer/lighter/smaller luggage.

And double-check your car rental, as most economy or even mid-sized are hatch-backs, which will not work for you.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 08:37 AM
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Except for one trip to Italy on which we explored northern Italy by train, we have always driven and will do so again if we go to Italy again.

Having a car means you can see the smaller places and not just where the trains go. You can travel on your own schedule. You can "unwind" a bit more and leave stuff like umbrellas, jackets, etc. in the car rather than having to pack them.

I appreciate ekc's comments on traveling light, but for some reason, we just can't.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 09:09 AM
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I lived for years in New Jersey, and often drove in Manhattan. It's entirely different from driving in Bologna or Florence. However, it does seem as though your hotels are well outside the ZTL zones.

You can buy train tickets at the last minute, so that you're not dependent on the schedules. On most of your trips there are several trains an hour, so you could just show up as you would for the metro, buy your ticket, and get on the train. Trains are hardly ever full, especially in 1st class, which most Italians don't take unless they're on an expense account. Of course, it's cheaper to buy the discounted tickets in advance, but flexibility always costs.

I myself would want the car only as far as Florence; if you could have visited Siena before Rome, I would have advised keeping it until after Siena, and taking the train thereafter. However, I'm not you. I travel for two weeks with a small suitcase that will fit under the airline seat, and I wouldn't buy wine to take to the US. If there were a particular Italian wine that I liked and couldn't get in the US, I'd look forward to enjoying it on my next trip to Italy. In the meantime, there is such a variety of fine wine available in the US that you couldn't try it all in several lifetimes.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 11:30 AM
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Hubby may be a wonderful driver, but that means YOU are going to be the map-reader, navigator. Do your research and familiarize yourself with all the maps and routes before you leave.

Example: In Tuscany, we were lost (literally!) until we found the Touring Club Italiano Toscana map at a bookstore in Sienna. It has all the little backroads and is worth every penny you might pay for it.

I still can't help but think: Wouldn't it be a lot easier to ship the wine somewhere in the States where you could retrieve it later?! Just the thought of schlepping around 12 bottles of wine wears me out. Not to mention having to worry about leaving it in the car or repacking so you can take it with you. Just ship it. We take a 21" carryon an a large tote or duffle. That's more than enough for me to haul over those cobblestones and up and down stairs.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 11:32 AM
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PS: You can buy the Toscana map here in the U.S.
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Old Apr 3rd, 2014, 11:48 AM
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Another vote for the car - trains are fun, but don't allow for spontaneity and adventure in the countryside and small towns. We don't find driving in Italy challenging, but we are used to every sort of traffic situation - I grew up in NYC, we live in LA, we've driven in many large European cities, and we both love driving a manual.

We always travel with carry on, but love getting wine (and boots...and purses) when we have a car. After renting many times, we finally had one ZTL incident (in Lucca, watch out there!) that caught up with us several years later, but it was more funny than stressful.

BTW, you often can get a fabulous upgrade just by asking. We were given a B class Mercedes in Florence after reserving the cheapest Renault.
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 06:24 AM
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CP:

you have received a great variety of advice here. Now, process it and enjoy your vacation. Ah, vacation? Seems more like a working vacation to me, especially lugging around the wine. Forget the vino and your trip becoms almost hassle-free. For the past 50 years, having driven, literally, most of Europe, (excepting only Russia and Ukraine)... I would still prefer driving, paying close heed to the ZTL's and speeds so frequently noted above.

What, no Trader Joe's in Nashville?
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 03:06 PM
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I think you may end up rethinking carrying all that wine around. We usually buy wine -- sometimes three bottles if we stop at a winery -- then drink it for picnic lunch, or in the evenings at our hotel. Our last Italy trip, we did a week in Rome, then 2 weeks with a flat in Umbria, where we made most of our evening meals at "home" and drank some of the best wine in the world. We have brought home a couple bottles, but not much more, and shipping -- well that is too expensive for us. We DO have some great wine shops at home and they will even order for us if we fell in love with something and they can get it.

I echo the "pack as light as possible" advise. Even with hatchbacks, they have come with covers for our 21in rollabouts and backpacks and misc. stuff we pick up. Never had an issue, just always make sure the interior of the car is as empty looking as possible. (The iPod goes into the glove box -- we always bring along our own music, and every car we've rented in the past 5 years has had somewhere to plug it in or Bluetooth it.)
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 09:54 PM
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For some reason, we always have more adventures with a car in Italy than any other country:

1. Almost went off a cliff near Spoleto
2. Almost went into the harbor at Castellammare del Golfo.
3. I learned never ask a man without teeth where the airport is.
4. I once got in the middle of 1,000 bike race.
5. Once had a car where I could not find the horn or the right headlight.
6. I learned in Sicily it is the driver's responsibility to know when a car is going to pull away from the curb and when a motor scooter is going to make a u-ey at 40 mph.
7. Once got a ticket near Perugia and had to pay on the spot.
8. Once drove through a plaza that prohibited cars.
9. Once made a cop so angry, his head almost exploded. (Had my camera ready for that.)

You are welcome to drive with me, especially you Tower.
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Old Apr 6th, 2014, 03:33 AM
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The best driver in NY is going to have a lot of fun in a medieval town centre, with drivers who have been born there.

The first time I was in Italy I stepped out of Milan station and watched an Italian drive onto the roundabout outside the station at top speed, turn the car over and skid to the car park space on its roof. The door opened and the driver got out and walked into the station with the wheels still turning. No one else batted an eye.

Enjoy
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Old Apr 6th, 2014, 05:40 AM
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You are welcome to drive with me, especially you Tower.

Thanks, pal. Seems to me you rode comfortably with me down a crowded Pac Coast Highway a few years back. I got you to the old Getty in one piece..so what's the complaint?
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Old Apr 6th, 2014, 05:43 AM
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You are right, as a NY'er California is more foreign to me than Italy.
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