First time to Italy. Any suggestions?
Discussion
Dads 50th this month so taking the whole family to Italy for a week. We're staying just outside Florence in a resort and will have a hire car for the week.
Our initial idea was to drive into Florence every day and perhaps do a day trip to Rome/Sicily and whatnot for the last few days.
However reading online a few things concern me.
1. I have zero experience driving abroad so am I better suited to let my dad drive? I've heard bad things about Italy.
2. What are things to do/see in the Florence region? I'm not sure if it's better to go into Florence everyday or perhaps do a different day trip everyday. Not sure where to go but we're staying about an hour from Pisa and 45 mins from Florence.
Any suggestions/tips/advice/guidance is well appreciated.
Our initial idea was to drive into Florence every day and perhaps do a day trip to Rome/Sicily and whatnot for the last few days.
However reading online a few things concern me.
1. I have zero experience driving abroad so am I better suited to let my dad drive? I've heard bad things about Italy.
2. What are things to do/see in the Florence region? I'm not sure if it's better to go into Florence everyday or perhaps do a different day trip everyday. Not sure where to go but we're staying about an hour from Pisa and 45 mins from Florence.
Any suggestions/tips/advice/guidance is well appreciated.
Can't help you much on the places that are a must as I always did Italy as a lorry driver, but as you have a hire car and going by where you're based there are certainly lots of places you could go. I'm sure others will put you right.
I did do the Ferrari museum, not huge but very enjoyable and surrounded by shops selling all things Ferrari
Also the chance to hire a choice of Ferraris if you have deep pockets 
Plus if you go, Lamborghini, Ducati and Pagani are nearby iirc.
As for the driving, don't stress on it to much, the Italiens always seemed quite passionate about the whole driving thing to me They like to make progress, they will try and bully you a bit and quite like a hand gesture or two, but if you're calm and on the ball behind the wheel you'll be fine.
Just remember if you're on the motorways and indicating to pull out, if a local is hurtling down behind you and flashes their lights, DON'tT pull out. They are telling you they are coming past, at warp speed no matter what
The motorways get pretty busy. If you need to stop the services are fine, and the food and coffee in the cafe/restaraunts on site Is normally pretty good. If you use the cafe, work out what you want first, then pay for this at the shop/tobacco till. They'll then give you a receipt to take over to the serving staff behind the sandwich/coffee counter, give them the receipt, job done!
Hth.
I did do the Ferrari museum, not huge but very enjoyable and surrounded by shops selling all things Ferrari
Also the chance to hire a choice of Ferraris if you have deep pockets Plus if you go, Lamborghini, Ducati and Pagani are nearby iirc.As for the driving, don't stress on it to much, the Italiens always seemed quite passionate about the whole driving thing to me
They like to make progress, they will try and bully you a bit and quite like a hand gesture or two, but if you're calm and on the ball behind the wheel you'll be fine.Just remember if you're on the motorways and indicating to pull out, if a local is hurtling down behind you and flashes their lights, DON'tT pull out. They are telling you they are coming past, at warp speed no matter what
The motorways get pretty busy. If you need to stop the services are fine, and the food and coffee in the cafe/restaraunts on site Is normally pretty good. If you use the cafe, work out what you want first, then pay for this at the shop/tobacco till. They'll then give you a receipt to take over to the serving staff behind the sandwich/coffee counter, give them the receipt, job done!
Hth.
:thumb up:theres no way id drive anywhere near rome , cant speak for the rest of the place but from my two visits theyre mental drivers , theres also alot of zones that non residents cant drive in
make sure you have FULL insurance on the rental car , touch parking is the norm and id expect to pick up some damage
make sure you have FULL insurance on the rental car , touch parking is the norm and id expect to pick up some damage
Siena is definitely well worth a visit and you could combine with a trip to San Gimignano and some wine tasting
Depending on where you're staying, maybe a drive over to Cinque Terre could be a possibility as that coastal area is amazing
RE: Florence, be careful if driving in as there is a ZTL zone that you need a permit to enter and if you want to park centrally its very expensive. The old town has a maze of one way streets so make sure you take a satnav with you if you decide to brave it !
If you're staying in the more Southern parts of Tuscany and want some beach time I recommend Elba although you'd probably need 1 night on the island to make it worthwhile
Have fun !
Depending on where you're staying, maybe a drive over to Cinque Terre could be a possibility as that coastal area is amazing
RE: Florence, be careful if driving in as there is a ZTL zone that you need a permit to enter and if you want to park centrally its very expensive. The old town has a maze of one way streets so make sure you take a satnav with you if you decide to brave it !
If you're staying in the more Southern parts of Tuscany and want some beach time I recommend Elba although you'd probably need 1 night on the island to make it worthwhile
Have fun !
Thanks all.
So as we're staying just outside of florence, we will probably be heading there for a day or two. I think the smart option is to park on the outskirts of the city somewhere?
As for Rome, would it be better to take a train from Florence there? We have never been before and are a little clueless as to what to do haha.
Judging by the responses, I'm probably better off seeing the lesser known towns/cities closer to pisa etc?
So as we're staying just outside of florence, we will probably be heading there for a day or two. I think the smart option is to park on the outskirts of the city somewhere?
As for Rome, would it be better to take a train from Florence there? We have never been before and are a little clueless as to what to do haha.
Judging by the responses, I'm probably better off seeing the lesser known towns/cities closer to pisa etc?
Train to Rome rather than driving sounds like a smart idea. Their intercity trains are fast and very nice. We went first class and it was nowhere near the premium that you pay in the UK.
As others have said through, there's so much to do in Rome that you couldn't even begin to do it justice in a day so maybe one to save for a dedicated trip.
Florence is a beautiful city and there is a huge amount of culture to take in. A couple of good places for food/drink:
http://www.illatini.com/en/
http://www.levolpieluva.com/Le_volpi/Prima_en.html
As others have said through, there's so much to do in Rome that you couldn't even begin to do it justice in a day so maybe one to save for a dedicated trip.
Florence is a beautiful city and there is a huge amount of culture to take in. A couple of good places for food/drink:
http://www.illatini.com/en/
http://www.levolpieluva.com/Le_volpi/Prima_en.html
Nothing much to add other than I'd just stay to the local(ish) area Rome is a 3 hour drive and as others have said there's just too much to do and see, but if you've got to do it take the train. Driving on the autostrada is absolutely fine but the cities less so IME.
There are loads of interesting towns and villages in Tuscany. The last time we were in Italy we started in Venice, train to Florence then picked up the hire car and stayed in a villa in a little medieval walled town called Monte San Savino, was a cracking little place.
There are loads of interesting towns and villages in Tuscany. The last time we were in Italy we started in Venice, train to Florence then picked up the hire car and stayed in a villa in a little medieval walled town called Monte San Savino, was a cracking little place.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Welshbeef said:
One place we've always wanted to visit is Portafino its on the coast North West Italy and from memory when we were looking /planning Florence was fairly close.
Too touristy & and many better places. Never try to drive there in season, it can take hours2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Too touristy & and many better places. Never try to drive there in season, it can take hours
Agree, naff all there really. They have 1 very tight public car park, a few shops, some restaurants and a couple of $$$$$ boats. We were there 2 weeks ago and it was still pretty busy in that area.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff