Why we are renting a car & driving - Are we stupid?
Apr 6th, 2014, 06:00 AM
#62
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To the OP, your trip would be easier if you picked up the wine at the end of the trip instead of the beginning. Did I miss what time of year you're traveling? Because in the summer, it will get awfully hot in that car, especially if, en route, you park the car in the sun for a short visit/meal. Not easy to find shaded parking. And all that heat will be bad for the wine.
And, of course, if you picked up the wine at the end of your trip, you wouldn't have to carry it around for the whole rest of your trip.
And, of course, if you picked up the wine at the end of your trip, you wouldn't have to carry it around for the whole rest of your trip.
Apr 6th, 2014, 08:43 AM
#63
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: the wine. IMO, only the naïve and uninitiated, or the truly committed oenophiles, contemplate bringing back large quantities of wine. And the truly committed oenophiles would never haul it around in a car, where it is very likely to get spoiled. The uninitiated will discover almost immediately what an enormous PITA and drain on the vacation the wine will be, especially if they have also overpacked. It's not as though there isn't wine back home. Even bringing home 3 bottles is a pain, never mind 16. I can't even imagine...
Apr 7th, 2014, 09:31 AM
#64
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The real hate will come in Venice. Those bridges are a PITA with just a carry-on. Can't imagine dragging a larger case plus duffles. As a rule, we, too, buy and drink for picnics, on the balcony, etc. And if we think it's so super-special we want to give some away, we ship.
Oh, well. If they don't listen to everyone here, at least we can be pretty confident they'll only do it once!
Oh, well. If they don't listen to everyone here, at least we can be pretty confident they'll only do it once!
Apr 7th, 2014, 11:52 AM
#65
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We did 3 weeks in Italy last year and loved it, but then we always drive on our vacations, since we first tryed it 10 years ago. I was worried about Venice, but it was great, we drive a lot in LA, therefore Europe is not a problem.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liquid...7643562152125/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/liquid...7643562152125/
Apr 8th, 2014, 10:39 AM
#66
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One problem in bringing wine back to the States is how are you going to ship it? I wouldn't trust the airline not to break it if I checked it and they won't let you carry it on. Had three bottles of very nice Nero D'Avola that I was forced to leave at Da Vinci. Sob. Fortunately they weren't that expensive.
Apr 8th, 2014, 12:08 PM
#67
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No you are not stupid (I wouldn't use that word) if you had a longer stay and a couple of bases to drive around from. The trip is too short for all you are doing.period. That said you have already planned many wonderful things to do: I only wish you had more time. It's such a whirlwind. Please please please consider shipping the wine home. The "schlep-age" from place to place is such a nightmare. I've done it all ways and less is more. You have way too much luggage and why. I like to look nice while traveling and you would be surprised how little you need to do that--especially if you do a little laundry along the way. I've learned a lot from reading on Fodors about how to pack. Each trip I bring less and less and never bring anything home in glass bottle......ever......ever since the Lisano (a wonderful condiment from Costa Rica) broke even with all the bubble wrap, etc, in my friend's baggage. There are so many great wines in America now; both foreign and domestic. The thing is, in my experience, drinking it in Italy, France, or Spain in a picturesque town and a restaurant/cafe with divine ambiance..so relaxed and happy...is just not the same as bringing it home and having it there. For me it's not worth carrying the stuff around. Anymore, I don't want to think about "stuff" while I'm soaking in the bliss.
p.s. Never place anything in or take anything out of the trunk of the car where anyone can see you doing it.
p.s. Never place anything in or take anything out of the trunk of the car where anyone can see you doing it.
Apr 8th, 2014, 12:12 PM
#68
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the OP has tired of this conversation. They are bringing a dozen wine skins so that yes, they can pack the dozen bottles in their suitcases and check them through. The duffel bags are for the laundry displaced by the wine in the suitcases. I will confess we did something similar once, not by plan, and we ended up buying a new suitcase to accomodate the unexpected wine purchases and gifts. But we had a car, the wine came at the end of the trip and we had a shuttle to MXP from our hotel. I would never consider dragging that much heavy luggage around Venice. Nor would I leave my wine in a warm to hot car parked at Piazzale Roma.
