> As far as what to do about parking...find a hotel that offers
> parking....and doesn't charge for it, or at least charges something
> reasonable....you may be surprised that they charge up to 40,000L per day
> for parking if you don't ask! They probably charge the same if you do
> ask...but at least you won't be surprised ;-)
> Generally, I wouldn't put 'convenient', 'safe' and 'Rome' in the same
> sentence..... Do get a good map book with DETAILED city maps...the main
> problem I have had is they city maps don't have all the streets on them,
> and certainly don't say what direction they go in (most are one way!).....
> If you want a recommendation on map books, I can give them to you....
> Austin Franklin
> > I've visited Italy many times, but have always used the trains and buses
> > for transportation. Now I'm planning a trip for next March (okay, so
> > I'm planning way ahead) with another *** and two ***agers, and
> > thinking that the best solution is to rent a car. My concerns with a
> > car besides the obvious have to deal mainly with convenient and safe
> > parking in Florence and Rome.
> > What is the best strategy for arriving in those cities by car, getting
> > to the hotel (accomodations have not yet been selected --> looking for
> > inexpensive but clean), and traversing "il centro". (I think I can
> > handle getting out of the city just fine).
> > Your wisdom will be MUCH appreciated.
> > Thanks.
> > - Kerry
I rented a car in Venice and drove through Tuscany and Rome to Naples.
The plus was being able to meander through Tuscany (late May) where the
country was in bloom everywhere and stop where we wanted in small
villages and towns. We definitely saw more that way.
The negatives - driving in cities (i.e. Rome and Florence in
particular). Parking is at a premium -- expensive and difficult to
find. We decided to park the car in Rome in a garage near the Spanish
Steps for 4 days and paid nearly $100 total -- to take public transit
instead. Florence has small one-way streets in which are difficult to
maneuver and easy to get lost. (I even ended up in the middle of a
pedestrian mall on the Piazza dela Republicca! - fortunately no
policemen were there at the time.) Rules of the road are similar to Sao
Paulo Brasil where I frequently drive. Nothing too shocking.
I did not see if you were planning to go any further south of Rome. Be
very careful in Naples. The rules of the road there are more
treacherous than Rome, by far. After driving for the afternoon in the
city -- seeing people pull onto sidewalks to bypass gridlock - and
seeing some horrible headon crashes in town -- I realized that
practically every car - new or old - had at least one panel bashed in
somewhere. Even though the rental car was prepaid - I dropped it off a
day and half early just to be rid of it there. ALSO VERY IMPORTANT -
you cannot take just any rental car from the North into Naples. There
is such a high car theft (and I assume damage rate) that only certain
models (not the more expensive ones) are allowed there. There is
probably a rate increase in CDW, too.
If you do go to Naples - stay south in the Sorrento peninsula area -
traffic is better (take the freeways right through Naples) - and the
scenery (especially on the Amalfi-Positano side is breathtaking.)
Enjoy!
by