Hello everyone, I am new here. I am traveling to Italy in March and will be in Florence for a few days. I am interested in taking a day trip through the highlights of Tuscany. Should I rent a car or take a bus through the region? If you have any specific recommendations on bus tours or car rental agencies, feel free to post them.

Hi Dave, Welcome!

For a one day tour of the highlights, I'd let someone else do the driving and navigating. We've had good reviews here of the Grape Adventures tour company (link HERE).

HERE's a link to the tour guide page on the Slow Traveler website.

I am always in favour of a car. You can decide what you want to see without being forced to visit only the most touristic attractions and even getting lost can be a great experience in Tuscany.

www.casinadirosa.it
- Holiday home in Tuscany

Dave, I've successfully made plenty of day trips via public transport while staying in Florence. The buses are fantastic - economical, comfortable, convenient. I think a car is better for those staying outside of cities. An organized day tour of the wine region, as mentioned above, is a good idea as a car is really needed for that particular activity.

Also, are you an "I" or a We?" If solo, I'd definitely recommend public transport as a stress-free, and sociable, way to travel.


girasole
www.pbase.com/girasole

Thanks for the input everyone, I am traveling with my fiance for spring break.

I checked out the tours, those looked pretty cool.

How much is it to rent a car in Florence and can someone who has never been to Italy navigate the roads in Tuscany? I am very interested in visiting San Gimignano.

Hi Dave,

For inspiration about things to do and see in Tuscany, you might want to read the suggestions on the Slow Traveler website. The page entitled "Central Italy: Travel Notes and Things to Do" is at

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/central/index.htm

A guidebook can help you to get much more out of your trip. Some recommended guidebooks on Italy are listed and described at:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/book/guide_books.htm

I've never been to Italy. I'm here for the same reason you are, to pick the brains of the experienced travellers. From the reports I've read here, driving in the big Italian cities can be a harrowing experience, but driving in the Tuscan countryside sounds fine. It is especially helpful, however, if one person can drive and another person can navigate. You'll be at an advantage in that respect, since there will be two of you. You'll also be at an advantage, compared with Brits and Aussies, because you'll already be used to driving on the right hand side of the road. (I saw from your profile that you live in the U.S.) Another thing to be aware of is the narrowness of the roads in the villages. When I first arrived at the Slow Trav website, it was a revelation to me that, unlike here in Canada, having an Italian rental car company offer to upgrade one to a larger car was NOT a bargain.

Another transportation option that hasn't specifically been mentioned in this discussion is the train service. A train doesn't allow one to wonder around, stop whenever one likes, or take an intriguing turn on the spur of the moment. Nevertheless, if one knows where one wants to go, and if the destination is served by a train line, that can be an efficient alternative. Florence has good train connections to Siena, Arezzo, Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa and many other smaller towns.

Again, just to help you know the full range of options, there is a bus service from Florence to San Gimignano. (I have the impression that one may need to change buses at Poggibonsi.) It's possible to catch a train from Florence to Poggibonsi (on the rail route to Siena), and at Poggibonsi catch a bus to San Gimignano.

But do read the information at the Slow Traveler website, and do read a guidebook. As you read, your idea of what you most want to see may change.

Hope you have a great trip.

Hi Dave,
I'm included in the " drive whenever possible " group on this site. Some of our best times have been driving along the little back roads of Italy and making discoveries. Doing the Chianti area is easy by car. The difficulty with driving IMO is in the cities, because you don't know where your'e going. In the country ,it no different than here.
Last month in Florence we rented a small car from Maxi-rent for day trips for about 50 Euro. The owner, Marc, is American and was really helpful.

quote:

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Originally posted by Tommaso:
I'm included in the "drive whenever possible" group on this site.

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I am exactly on the other side: take the public transportation whenever you need to go anywhere (actually I don't even have a driving licence). yet there are areas that are an exception. One of these is the Tuscan countryside. Rent a car. The reason for the coice are the same as those stated by Tommaso.

Alice Twain
--
I don’t want to take what you can’t give / I would rather starve than eat your bread
I would rather run but I can’t walk / Guess I’ll lie alone just like before
                Pearl Jam, Corduroy

Hi-
Driving in the countryside is really no different..IF:
you are comfortable with hairpins turns

You'll have a good trip no matter what. That said, I'm with Alice: for faster trips, like yours looks like it has to be, public transportation whenever possible. Of course that may be because I don't drive -- but it does become a question of convenience. In your particular case, I too would actually take some kind of guided bus tour, although that isn't anywhere near my normal style: but it makes very good sense.

For slower trips, public transportation is at the bottom of the heap, though, since really slow travel puts you in tiny places, and you want to follow your whims: public transportation has schedules, and many places you just can't get to.

In order, by my lights:

• horseback
• on foot (which is what I do)
• moped, scooter, motorbike, etc.
• bicycle
• car
• public transportation

The guided bus tour is actually a compromise between public transportation and going at your own pace: at any rate, it'll give you a sampler without spending your time in complicated scheduling.

Bill

Gazetteer of Italy