My husband and I are going to Italy next spring. I'm the "cruise director," since I love to plan and he likes to go along for the ride.
Since we're in Seattle, we can't fly direct so, we'd fly via London. I'd like to spend a night or two there to get over jetlag in a familiar place. Then our plan is for 5-6 days in Venice, with one or two daytrips, perhaps to Asolo or Treviso. Then a week in Tuscany, (perhaps Siena or a small town in the Chianti region) with a few daytrips again. I don't think we'd take more than three daytrips while in Tuscany: Florence, Siena (if we're not already there) and Arezzo, for the Antique market.
My question is, how do you recommend getting from Venice to Tuscany? We could
a) take a train to Florence and rent a car there to get us to our base, wherever it ends up being.
b) we could rent a car in Venice and drive all the way.
c) train and no car at all, relying on buses/trains within Tuscany.
Renting a motorcycle is another option, as my husband is an avid cyclist. But I think we might be better off doing that on a later trip, when we're a bit more familiar with Italian motoring, as it were.
Thoughts?
Posts: 53 | Location: Seattle | Registered: 06 April 2005
Depends how you travel. Well, heck as I'm typing I'm changing my mind. I was going to say, if you travel lightly - 1 bag each, I'd probably train to Florence and pick up the rental car but as I typed, I decided I didn't like that idea. I'd pick up the car in Venice and drive straight through to Tuscany. This way, you're in control of your schedule and don't have to worry about connections or moving luggage.
Well, I don't know if this is "right" but I'll tell you what my plan is:
After 4 nights in Venice we are getting a car there and driving, maybe on the 222 through Chianti, to our 2 week rental in Siena. Park overnight Sat night in Siena to have the car for Sunday for Arezzo flea market and a quick trip to Cortona to Il Girasole. Return car Monday morning and wing it the rest of the time, with busses and trains. This was a bit of a hard decesion for us so I understand your posting of the question.
You have to have a car in Tuscany!!!! It's just simply too beautiful and magical to sit on a train and watch it pass by. The best time you can have traveling in Tuscany, well anywhere in Italy really, is just getting lost and stumbling upon the unexpected sight you'd miss if it was all PLANNED. Just kick back and enjoy it all! I'd take the train to Florence and get the car there if you're going to be on a strict timeline. But, I second Kim's suggestion as well, and if you want to really see the Country, and have the option of doing whatever the heck you want to along the way, I'd get the car in Venice and just see where the day takes you... Just Soak it all in and make like an Italian...SAVOR.
I'm with Kim. Since you will rent a car anyway (notice how I am completely ignoring option C?), I would rent it in Venice and just drive to Tuscany. Less transferring of luggage and more freedom in your schedule.
Posts: 348 | Location: San Francisco, CA | Registered: 22 April 2003
Thanks all for your replies. I take it the road to Florence is pretty enough to justify? And that the Italian train experience is not "not to be missed"?
Posts: 53 | Location: Seattle | Registered: 06 April 2005
Venice to Bologna is not what I consider pretty. But Bologna to Florence is scenic.
I think the Italian trains are great, but why transfer your luggage more than you have to? Of course, if you have a special interest in trains, then by all means, take the train. It is rather enjoyable as well.
Posts: 348 | Location: San Francisco, CA | Registered: 22 April 2003
We've done it both ways, but, since you're thinking of a day trip to Florence anyway, you might take the morning train from Venice and spend the rest of that day, the night and the following morning in Florence, picking up your car in the early afternoon to drive to your Tuscany rental.
Posts: 256 | Location: Virginia | Registered: 24 April 2003
I did this very trip yesterday, Cortona to Venice and back. I had to drive 4 great friends and 8 suitcases (!!!) there...I planned to do it by miself, but my right arm is casted and I cannot drive my hubby's 9 seater -regular shift- so Marino went along.
It was actually a beautiful drive. The landscape is fabulous. And it took 3,1/2 hours.
Jan, make it a longer visit and stay for lunch! Cortona worths it!
We drove from Venice to Montalcino about 3 weeks ago with stops at San Gimignano and Monteriggioni before arriving at Montalcino which is longer than you are planning. I think it took about 3 hrs and 15 min to get to Florence(freeway exit)from Venice but we made a stop to get more gas. All depends on how you drive and where you are driving in Florence. You might want to stay in nearby town or in Florence suburb and take bus into Florence if you have a car. That is what we did after staying in Montalcino. I also live near Seattle. You can get on via michelin and it will provide route and times under driving directions for Venice to Florence.
Posts: 42 | Location: washington | Registered: 10 November 2004
Drive, drive, drive! The landscape is so beautiful south of Florence and you'll want that car FOR SURE while you are 2 weeks in Tuscany. We stayed one week at La Foce near Montepulciano a few years ago and used the car every day!
Posts: 698 | Location: Berkeley, CA USA | Registered: 07 August 2003
It was one way for 3 hours 30 min. We didn't fly, but drove at regular speed... It was the day after the funeral of the Pope, and the Autostrada was fuller than normal, with Protezione civile's cars and Jeeps, and buses going back to Poland...we dutifully followed the rules...
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