My family will be spending a month in Italy in July (myself, my husband our two toddlers, my parents and our nanny). We are contemplating getting one large van so that we can all travel together. However, I am wondering if two smaller cars might not be easier with respect to finding parking spaces, navigating through village streets, etc. I hate driving in large cars and I panic just trying to park my husband's Yukon at the supermarket. So I am not thrilled with the thought of trying to park a full size van (a Boxer, I think) into spaces that were designed for smaller cars. However, I am in fear that my parents may end up getting hopelessly lost on daily excursions and we will spend a large part of our vacation just trying to find them again! I would appreciate any of your thoughts on this issue. Thanks!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
I vote for two cars and two Italian walkie-talkies or cell phones! As you say, cars are more easily maneuverable, and an "extra" car allows for additional touring flexibility for everyone. What if your parents want to have an afternoon out by themselves ... or you do??
Posts: 14201 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Are you planning to pick the van up at the airport? A couple of years ago, we decided to get a van (there were 6 of us). The initial problem was that we couldn't fit ourselves, plus the luggage in the van. We had to rent another car, on the spot, and it was extremely pricey. If you're NOT getting it at the airport, it would probably be okay.
Posts: 138 | Location: Coconut Grove, FL, USA | Registered: 13 October 2002
We (a couple, their two toddlers, the nanny, my buddy and myself) were very glad that we rented two cars for our fortnight in Southern Tuscany last September. The extra flexibility overrode any disadvantages. We did have Italian cell phones, but we also had the wonderful large-scale Italian Touring Club maps, so we never got lost. When Nissa the Nanny Goddess stayed home with the kiddies, we four adults took off in the one (larger) car for expeditions such as ballooning, the Piero Trail, etc. Have a great trip. Yrs, Robert
Posts: 821 | Location: Santa Monica, California | Registered: 23 March 2002
I'll have to add my vote for two cars. I took a group of 7 other women with me a few years back. We rented two VW Passat 4door cars. Roomy for 4 without being too big. Great trunk capacity! We carried a cell phone in each car to communicate. It is a great solution.
Deborah Horn
In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I'd like to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- Marketing Solutions for Health Care
Posts: 4996 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
Thanks so much for your help (again!). I think that it will be two cars (with cell phones!)for us. My husband and I rarely get lost. We are both instrument rated pilots and we have no trouble following the most byzantine of instructions, compasses and maps to find our way (as you need to follow for certain instrument approaches). However, my parents are extremely challenged in that regard and they seem to get lost (or positionally challenged!) wherever they may be. It drives my husband nuts. I grew up with my mother holding the map upside down and trying navigate with no sense of where she was, let alone where she was going. But for my husband, a pilot of 20+ years) this is a relatively new experience and he does not understand how people cannot get from point A to point B without going to X, Y and Z and needing to stop for directions at least a few times along the way. But of course, he also has the tendancy to leave others left behind at stop lights and not even notice that they are no longer behind him until we are miles apart. It makes for some interesting journeys. But the super-sized van would be even worse from my perspective. I am hopeless at parallel parking even the smallest of cars, so this was my idea of a nightmare. Two cars it will be!
Last year 9 of us went. We ended up with a 9 passenger van and a mid-size car b/c we feared all of us plus our luggage would not fit. For daily touring, since we all stayed together, we took the 9 passenger van. We used the car for our journey from Florence to our house, from our house to Roma, and for small trips to the market.
We're going again this November. I'm trying to convince my husband to get 2 mid-size cars instead of 1 van. The van worked out great in that we didn't have to worry about getting lost, but it was a pain to drive (huge and clunky). Also, this time there will be 3 people who can drive a stick and four of us who don't mind being adventerous (as opposed to 2 last trip), so I think 2 cars would work better.
Posts: 14978 | Location: Casa dei Cerrbiati, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 June 2001
quote:Originally posted by Kim: The van worked out great in that we didn't have to worry about getting lost, but it was a pain to drive (huge and clunky).
And, Kim, I still remember your hilarious story about trying to drive that van up the road to your rental!
Deborah Horn
In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I'd like to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- Marketing Solutions for Health Care
Posts: 4996 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
quote:Originally posted by Kim: The van worked out great in that we didn't have to worry about getting lost, but it was a pain to drive (huge and clunky).
And, Kim, I still remember your hilarious story about trying to drive that van up the road to your rental!
Deborah Horn
Ooh - forgot about that . Isn't it amazing how traveling in Italy with your family is like childbirth...within weeks you forget all about the painful parts
Posts: 14978 | Location: Casa dei Cerrbiati, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 June 2001
Our dog will still be with us, hence my initial inclination for the giant 9 passenger van to accomodate him and our luggage. But now I am leaning towards a 7 passenger minivan (one that allows the back seats to fold down) and a smaller car. I am a bit surprised at how little luggage these seem to hold, at least as depicted by the little suitcases that are placed by the little people in the diagrams. The seven passenger van only shows two large and one small suitcase. We will need quite a bit more space than that for our group since I anticipate that we will be bringing six suitcases and two strollers, as well as our doggie.
quote:I am a bit surprised at how little luggage these seem to hold, at least as depicted by the little suitcases that are placed by the little people in the diagrams.
Here is my luggage experience. The Passat trunks were each able to hold 4 rolling suitcases & 4 medium sized duffel bags as well as the odd shopping bag and shoulder tote.
Last October we had a car that was kind of a cross between a car and a mini-van. (sorry, I can't remember the make or model) It would not have been our first choice, but we were picking up in Sorrento where there was a limited supply, and it was the only diesel available. It was a 4 passenger, but instead of a trunk it had a liftgate in the back with a privacy shelf that folded down over the luggage you stored. I actually didn't think there was as much space it that car as there was in the Passat. Since I drive a van here at home, I did appreciate the car's higher profile.
Deborah Horn
In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I'd like to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- Marketing Solutions for Health Care
Posts: 4996 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
If you can get a passat they are winners! I have an Audi A4 which has the same basic engine. My A4 does not hold half the luggage of the Passat although it handles better. I would always ask for a Passat when I get there just in case I get lucky. Plus the blue dials on the dash are really cool!
If life is an opera by Puccini... I want to be Calaf!
Posts: 4612 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
2 cars or a van is a question I have been asked many times by my guests. We always recommend 2 cars. I know there are times when travelling as a group is more fun, but I think the practicalities of 2 smaller vehicles, particularly on Italian rural roads, far outweigh the advantages of being all together 'On the road". We have had many different types of vehicle ourselves over the years, but now we always rent a Renault Scenic. It is for us the perfect travel vehicle - slightly more elevated than a normal sedan - and hence great for sightseeing. The luggage is also hidden from view of passers by. This is not always the case with a lot of luggage in a van - and this exposure of baggage can be a definite disadvantage - particularly if the car is left unattended for longish periods of time while you are sightseeing or lunching.
"Casa delle Rose" - Beautiful medieval village house -3bed/2bath - lovely terrace and garden - Florence/Lucca email me for details: casadellerose@hotmail.com
Since there will be nine people, I would hire a van and a driver. The van should be large enough for nine people to sit comfortably and to "lounge" plus roomy enough to hold all the luggage. Having a driver is a true luxury. The driver will be able to drop you off at key locations which will preclude searching for a parking place and make it easy for sightseeing, shopping etc.. Also, even though you are excellent land navigators, there are places where you will want to go which are difficult to find, even when good Provincial/City maps are complemented with a GPS. The value for a properly sized van and a driver is really an economical choice when weighed against the benefits. The cost of renting two vehicles and the frustration that can be caused by having the two vehicles with which to deal are two additional arguments in favor of hiring a van and driver.
Peter
Peter
Posts: 1364 | Location: Essex Fells, NJ and Longboat Key, Florida | Registered: 21 July 2002
Thinking of your description of your family grouping, I would like to know how independent-minded your parents are, that is, will they bless you or curse you for suggesting a second car? If they have taken an active part in the planning and would occasionally enjoy some peace and quiet, by all means they should have that luxury through an extra car. If on the other hand, navigation and the Italian driving experience is not their cup of tea, then the van (with Peter's driver) is the ideal. You can always pile into the van, even if you have two cars. In our own family of cussed individuals it is a requirement that every adult family unit rent its own car. Obviously we combine when going out to dinner, etc., but after five years of this, different driving styles, propensity to linger or stop on a whim, ability to vent in privacy, who wants to see what when, all justify the additional expense (which isn't so much after all) on a two or three week trip. And we all manage to find each other and parking spaces and have a more relaxing time. And actually enjoy each others' company at the end of a long day.
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
Once again, thanks for the input. We will only have 7 passengers but we were planning on the additional space to accomodate our dog, strollers and luggage. The idea of a van with a driver for excursions is certainly worth exploring. I think going from accomodation to accomodation we would be fine on our own but for sightseeing a van and driver sounds like a good idea. My parents are not very adventurous and they are pretty much happy to just let us do the planning and go where we want to go. I am not sure how they would feel about driving on their own but after a few weeks of driving with my husband (who is something of a speed demon) I am sure they would be looking for the nearest Hertz office, anyway!
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