As we start our research into the Tuscany portion of our trip (we've never
been to Tuscany), we've discovered that there are a number of attractive
small town in the area around Siena that we would like to visit.

We had originally planned to take either a train or bus from Rome to Siena
on the day of our arrival, and then train from Siena to Venice.

Would it be practical to rent a car in Siena and, after touring around the
area, drive to Venic and drop it off there? I've only arrived in Venice
previously by train. Is there a rental car drop off near the station? That
would be easiest for us, as we could then pick up a water taxi to wherever
we wind up staying.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Two summers ago we rented from Hertz. We picked up in Florence (at the
airport) and dropped in Venice, near the rail station at the last big
parking lot before there are no more roads. Then we took a water taxi to
our hotel. No problem.

"Paul Tauger" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > As we start our research into the Tuscany portion of our trip (we've never
    > been to Tuscany), we've discovered that there are a number of attractive
    > small town in the area around Siena that we would like to visit.
    > We had originally planned to take either a train or bus from Rome to Siena
    > on the day of our arrival, and then train from Siena to Venice.
    > Would it be practical to rent a car in Siena and, after touring around the
    > area, drive to Venic and drop it off there? I've only arrived in Venice
    > previously by train. Is there a rental car drop off near the station?
That
    > would be easiest for us, as we could then pick up a water taxi to wherever
    > we wind up staying.
    > Thanks in advance for suggestions.

"Paul Tauger" wrote:
    > As we start our research into the Tuscany portion of our trip

We drove the other way. Took the bus from the railroad station (near
our hotel) to the next stop where all the rental agencies are and
drove off from there.

We visited several small towns near Siena as well as many more 'tween
destinations. I do that in the USA, too.

    > Thanks in advance for suggestions.

My primary suggestion is to visit my personal site, at the right
below. There's some stuff there that will be directly useful to you.
Well, I hope so.
__________________________________________________ ___________
A San Franciscan in 47.335 mile² San Francisco
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 IClast at SFbay Net

A car is about the only reasonable way to get around Tuscany small
towns, and particularly to the vineyards.

I don't think there is any car parking in central Siena, including
hotels.

Check with Autoeurope web site for pickup and drop off sites.


On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:46:05 -0800, "Paul Tauger"
wrote:

    >As we start our research into the Tuscany portion of our trip (we've never
    >been to Tuscany), we've discovered that there are a number of attractive
    >small town in the area around Siena that we would like to visit.
    >We had originally planned to take either a train or bus from Rome to Siena
    >on the day of our arrival, and then train from Siena to Venice.
    >Would it be practical to rent a car in Siena and, after touring around the
    >area, drive to Venic and drop it off there? I've only arrived in Venice
    >previously by train. Is there a rental car drop off near the station? That
    >would be easiest for us, as we could then pick up a water taxi to wherever
    >we wind up staying.
    >Thanks in advance for suggestions.

"gerald" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:46:05 -0800, "Paul Tauger"
    > wrote:
    > >
    > >.........
    > >Would it be practical to rent a car in Siena and, after touring around
the
    > >area, drive to Venic and drop it off there? I've only arrived in Venice
    > >previously by train. Is there a rental car drop off near the station?
That
    > >would be easiest for us, as we could then pick up a water taxi to
wherever
    > >we wind up staying.

Yes, you drive over the causeway into Venice. At its end are a number of car
rental offices (in the Piazzale Roma) and close nearby is the train station.
I assume water taxis are available. We did the reverse, took the vaporetto
to the Piazzale Roma, and there picked up a rental car.

I don't know about the Siena end.

Marianne

If your major interest is in the small towns of Tuscany, you might
consider renting a car for this portion of the trip only, then
dropping it in Tuscany before taking the train to Venice. A few years
back, we decided to rent a car in Florence for daytrips and other
short trips around Tuscany. Since we were returning to a Florence
hotel before departing, we could leave bags checked there, too. We
found this was cheaper and much less hassle.
But of course this won't work if you want to make stops along the way
to Venice...

"Paul Tauger" wrote in message news:...
    > As we start our research into the Tuscany portion of our trip (we've never
    > been to Tuscany), we've discovered that there are a number of attractive
    > small town in the area around Siena that we would like to visit.
    >
    > We had originally planned to take either a train or bus from Rome to Siena
    > on the day of our arrival, and then train from Siena to Venice.
    >
    > Would it be practical to rent a car in Siena and, after touring around the
    > area, drive to Venic and drop it off there? I've only arrived in Venice
    > previously by train. Is there a rental car drop off near the station? That
    > would be easiest for us, as we could then pick up a water taxi to wherever
    > we wind up staying.
    >
    > Thanks in advance for suggestions.

It is very easy to pick up and drop off a rental car at the Venice
Train Station/City Entrance, and of course, a car is the best way to
explore the small towns in Tuscany.

It will be cheaper to rent a small car for 5-7 consecutive days than
to rent a car for day trips for 5-7 individual days.

You will also save money by booking your car in advance from the
United States.

We have rates available at www.europebycar.com

Best Regards,

Alexander Roy
President
Europe By Car, Inc.
www.europebycar.com
[email protected]
800-223-1516 x218

[email protected] (Chessie) wrote in message news:...
    > If your major interest is in the small towns of Tuscany, you might
    > consider renting a car for this portion of the trip only, then
    > dropping it in Tuscany before taking the train to Venice. A few years
    > back, we decided to rent a car in Florence for daytrips and other
    > short trips around Tuscany. Since we were returning to a Florence
    > hotel before departing, we could leave bags checked there, too. We
    > found this was cheaper and much less hassle.
    > But of course this won't work if you want to make stops along the way
    > to Venice...
    >
    > "Paul Tauger" wrote in message news:...
    > > As we start our research into the Tuscany portion of our trip (we've never
    > > been to Tuscany), we've discovered that there are a number of attractive
    > > small town in the area around Siena that we would like to visit.
    > >
    > > We had originally planned to take either a train or bus from Rome to Siena
    > > on the day of our arrival, and then train from Siena to Venice.
    > >
    > > Would it be practical to rent a car in Siena and, after touring around the
    > > area, drive to Venic and drop it off there? I've only arrived in Venice
    > > previously by train. Is there a rental car drop off near the station? That
    > > would be easiest for us, as we could then pick up a water taxi to wherever
    > > we wind up staying.
    > >
    > > Thanks in advance for suggestions.

"Alexander Roy" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > It is very easy to pick up and drop off a rental car at the Venice
    > Train Station/City Entrance, and of course, a car is the best way to
    > explore the small towns in Tuscany.
    > It will be cheaper to rent a small car for 5-7 consecutive days than
    > to rent a car for day trips for 5-7 individual days.
    > You will also save money by booking your car in advance from the
    > United States.
    > We have rates available at www.europebycar.com
    > Best Regards,
    > Alexander Roy
    > President
    > Europe By Car, Inc.
    > www.europebycar.com
    > [email protected]
    > 800-223-1516 x218

I would recommend that you also check with AutoEurope. ( www.autoeurope.com
or 800-223-5555 toll free USA. I prefere to deal with them on the phone).
As far as I know, they have no drop-off charges as long as you pick-up and
drop-off within the same country. They are a consolidator for car rentals
and generally have very competitive rates. They used to meet or beat any
rate offered. If you search the ng archives, you'll find many
recommendations for them. One of their best selling points is that they
give you a toll-free number to use from Europe to call them 24/7 about any
issues that come up regarding your rental.
GG (a very satisfied customer)

On Sat, 01 Mar 2003 08:50:20 -0500, gerald wrote:

    >A car is about the only reasonable way to get around Tuscany small
    >towns, and particularly to the vineyards.
    >I don't think there is any car parking in central Siena, including
    >hotels.

There is ample parking at the stadium/fortress 6 nights a week, about a 15-20
minute walk to the Piazza. It closes on market night though (Wed?). It was
reasonably priced a few years ago. We found it very satisfactory -- the walk is
reasonably nice -- and actually the best parking I've found in Italy,
considering the size of the town. We were very happy with Siena as a base of
operations for touring Tuscany by car.
--
"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
- Abraham Lincoln

"GG" wrote in message news:...
    > "Alexander Roy" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > It is very easy to pick up and drop off a rental car at the Venice
    > > Train Station/City Entrance, and of course, a car is the best way to
    > > explore the small towns in Tuscany.
    > >
    > > It will be cheaper to rent a small car for 5-7 consecutive days than
    > > to rent a car for day trips for 5-7 individual days.
    > >
    > > You will also save money by booking your car in advance from the
    > > United States.
    > >
    > > We have rates available at www.europebycar.com
    > >
    > > Best Regards,
    > >
    > > Alexander Roy
    > > President
    > > Europe By Car, Inc.
    > > www.europebycar.com
    > > [email protected]
    > > 800-223-1516 x218
    >
    > I would recommend that you also check with AutoEurope. ( www.autoeurope.com
    > or 800-223-5555 toll free USA. I prefere to deal with them on the phone).
    > As far as I know, they have no drop-off charges as long as you pick-up and
    > drop-off within the same country. They are a consolidator for car rentals
    > and generally have very competitive rates. They used to meet or beat any
    > rate offered. If you search the ng archives, you'll find many
    > recommendations for them. One of their best selling points is that they
    > give you a toll-free number to use from Europe to call them 24/7 about any
    > issues that come up regarding your rental.
    > GG (a very satisfied customer)

Every company has its satisfied customers, and some are even lucky
enough to have champions here on Usenet.

Please forgive my being so forward here in this forum, but Europe By
Car, also a consolidator, can meet or exceed everything our noble
competitor Autoeurope offers, with several additional advantages
inherent to a 50 year old family-owned business:

75% of our staff has been here 5+ years. 10% have been here 10+
years. Clients can call and get the same person on the phone every
time, whether for sales or customer service, and the agent will
probably remember them. Anyone dissatisfied with this can e-mail me
personally at my address below.

I read every initial incoming customer service e-mail that comes
through our web site (not that many, thankfully), and respond to about
2/3rds personally, because I want to know what and why problems occur,
and to let the client know that I will personally see to a correct
resolution.

I, the President of the company, actually read the travel newsgroups
every day, and am aware of the questions and issues that concern
Europe-bound travelers. I lived there for almost ten years, and have
personally experienced virtually every conceivable travel disaster/car
problem there is, mostly funny, some not.

Lastly, we are the only company where you can go directly to the
President, argue your case, wrangle an apology and see virtually any
problem solved within 24 hours.

Even in this day and age, there remain certain advantages to doing
business with someone other than the large corporations.

Best Regards,

Alexander Roy
President
Europe By Car, Inc.
[email protected]
800-223-1516 x.218

"Mason Barge" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Sat, 01 Mar 2003 08:50:20 -0500, gerald wrote:
    > >A car is about the only reasonable way to get around Tuscany small
    > >towns, and particularly to the vineyards.
    > >
    > >I don't think there is any car parking in central Siena, including
    > >hotels.
    > >
    > There is ample parking at the stadium/fortress 6 nights a week, about a
15-20
    > minute walk to the Piazza. It closes on market night though (Wed?). It
was
    > reasonably priced a few years ago. We found it very satisfactory -- the
walk is
    > reasonably nice -- and actually the best parking I've found in Italy,
    > considering the size of the town. We were very happy with Siena as a base
of
    > operations for touring Tuscany by car.
    > --

Yes the market is on Wednesday so no parking from Tuesday late evening until
around 5 pm on Wednesday.

Some hotels do have parking but there are plenty of lots as well.

Cristina

In article ,
Mason Barge wrote:

    > On Sat, 01 Mar 2003 08:50:20 -0500, gerald wrote:
    >
    > >A car is about the only reasonable way to get around Tuscany small
    > >towns, and particularly to the vineyards.
    > >
    > >I don't think there is any car parking in central Siena, including
    > >hotels.
    > >
    >
    > There is ample parking at the stadium/fortress 6 nights a week, about a 15-20
    > minute walk to the Piazza. It closes on market night though (Wed?). It was
    > reasonably priced a few years ago. We found it very satisfactory -- the walk
    > is
    > reasonably nice -- and actually the best parking I've found in Italy,
    > considering the size of the town. We were very happy with Siena as a base of
    > operations for touring Tuscany by car.


it has been a few years since we drove to Siena but we have never had
any problem finding parking at the periphery of the central area -- the
last time there we had a hotel at the center and did have to move our
car where it was street parked at 7 am -- but it has never been a
problem finding parking for day tripping