Summer Vacation

[Morris]

My cashed in our air miles for a trip to Italy this summer. I immediately went online and found this:

https://www.sprintage.it/en/cars.phtml

 

[Sarastro]

Good move! The airlines are trying to find excuses to cancel your miles, so it's best just to use them. I had over 300,000 miles on United, and they tried to cancel them on me. I just barely got them back. So, last year my wife and I decided to go out in one great blaze of glory, and blew the whole wad on two business-class tickets to New Zealand. It was a fun trip.

I've looked into classic car rental in the UK, but it was kinda expensive, so I didn't do it. I don't know how much the place in Italy costs, but it might be surprising. Remember, people in Italy are much more (uhh...how do I say this kindly?) <span style="font-style: italic">spirited</span> drivers than in the US, and the chances of an accident are very real. So, be sure that the insurance is all in order.

 

[bug_sixty]

Touring the Ruins in a Spridget.. now thats a novel idea!

 

[vagt6]

Morris, driving around to the Roman ruins in an LBC may sound good, but . . .

Please keep in mind that the traffic in and around Rome is chaotic, extrememly congested and downright dangerous. Roman drivers are NUTS and more agressive than U.S. drivers (no kidding). Traffic lights are mostly ignored, and pedestrians might as well have targets on their backs (we actually saw a tourist hit by a Taxi!). Plus, Italian cops are known for corruption, which may render unpredictable results if you're invovled in a traffic accident (e.g., bring lotsa cash).

When the wife and I last vacationed in Rome we avoided driving like the plague, and were very glad we didn't drive. Remember, in most of western Europe it's surprisingly easy and cheap to take public transportation. Trains are generally clean and efficient, and buses go practically everywhere.

The traffic in the smaller Italian cities is relatively good compared to Rome. Roman traffic is <span style="text-decoration: underline">awful</span>. By far it's the worst traffic among all the European cities I've visited.

FWIW, you might wanna rethink renting an LBC to drive in Rome traffic . . . In fact, maybe a Patton tank would be better! :lol:

Please keep us posted, and congrats on the cool vacation.

 

[Boink]

Just returned from Italy a few weeks ago... Rome, then south (to the Gargano on the Adriatic side then to Matera in the in-step of the boot, then up to the Amalfi coast ending in Naples). The last time I drove in Italy was 2005, and I'm not sure I'd do it again unless in Tuscany. It's CRAZY in the cities and it's gotten worse elsewhere. Toscana has wonderful rolling hills and great roads. THAT'S where you want to drive.

Also, I believe insurance has become a much bigger issue in the last 3 year (but I'm not positive about that).

 

[Morris]

The plan is to get off the plane in Rome then hop on a train for Tuscany. If we get a car, we will not pick it up until we get to Tuscany (probably Sienna). Tuscany is the only part of Italy I am really interested in seeing. I am not big on touristy stuff.

If we get a convertible, it is probably more likely going to be a Peugot 207.

 

[Boink]

You'll love Toscana... who wouldn't?! Rolling hills and vineyards. There are a few touristy places (like San Gimignano) but check out Volterra, Greve, Radda and others. Many towns will require that you park in a lot at the periphery, but it's easy. There is a wonderful drive north of LaMole (heading south into it). Some places prefer reservations for tours (like Vignamaggio) but this time of the year might be easy.

We last drove in (again in 2005) in a rented Peugot (hard-top).