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Renting a car is the best way to see certain parts of Italy. It gets you out of the hustle and bustle of the main cities, and allows you to choose what you see and when. You travel on your time instead of a bus or train schedule. But it can also be an intimidating process, so here are some tips to make the whole thing a breeze:
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Book Through a Reputable Dealer
Internet ads that look too good to be true probably are, so when you are looking for a rental car, it's best to stick with a familiar company. Most standard US car rental companies such as Avis, Enterprise and Budget sub-contract with rental companies in Europe, so if you have a company that you deal with on a regular basis, look up their terms and rates for their European rentals.
If you find an ad for a company through an internet search, be sure to check them out on a consumer review website before you book. For example, Auto Europe comes up as a google sidebar ad when you search for car rentals in Italy, but their average rating on www.reviewcentre.com is 1.3 stars out of five, and they have had similarly bad reviews posted on www.my3cents.com.
If you're booking your flight through a travel website like Hotwire, Expedia or Orbitz, check on their car rental rates at the same time. You may find that a discounted rate is offered with a package booking.
Be Handy with a Stick
Manual transmissions are still the norm in Europe, so if you are looking to rent an automatic, you'll probably have to pay extra. Instead, brush up on your shifting before you go, and you'll find yourself in a better position for a discount.
Avoid Airport Rental Counters
If you have a choice between two pickup or drop off locations, you will notice that the airport counter is nearly always more expensive than an office closer to town. Do your calculations, and if you are flying in to a city and picking up your car immediately, the convenience of the airport counter may be worth your while. If, however, you are already in the town where you are picking up your car, or are taking the train into town rather than a flight, look for an alternative pickup location.
Avoid Big City Driving
The point of renting a car is to allow your schedule to be your own. In the larger cities of Italy, public transportation is established and convenient, while a car presents extra hassles and expenses like finding and paying for parking, and ensuring that the car is not vandalized during your absence. There are also districts in cities where cars are not permitted, and straying into these areas can result in fines. Instead, stick to the country areas--the tiny hill towns in Tuscany, or down the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy.
Renting a car will go a long way toward making your Italian vacation a memorable adventure!
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