Driving in Tuscany

[Lourdes]

You're welcome! I know a lot of people recommend using Chiusi as a good place to rent/return cars to when combining train/rental as a solution to NOT driving in or out of Rome. Other options would be Viterbo or Orvieto, although I don't know how many car rental agencies have offices there. But definitely places to look into!

I would still recommend Bagno Vignoni/San Filippo over Saturnia in this particular case as I just realized you're coming next week! There were floods all over Maremma just 2 weeks ago and all of Saturnia was flooded, everything covered in mud, particularly the "paid" thermal area and hotel. While I am thinking the outdoor waterfall is not affected overall by the flooding, I am pretty sure the area all around is still not at its best. And thus the drive down the Val d'Orcia will also be more pleasurable overall.

[Jay]

You're welcome! I know a lot of people recommend using Chiusi as a good place to rent/return cars to when combining train/rental as a solution to NOT driving in or out of Rome. Other options would be Viterbo or Orvieto, although I don't know how many car rental agencies have offices there. But definitely places to look into!

I would still recommend Bagno Vignoni/San Filippo over Saturnia in this particular case as I just realized you're coming next week! There were floods all over Maremma just 2 weeks ago and all of Saturnia was flooded, everything covered in mud, particularly the "paid" thermal area and hotel. While I am thinking the outdoor waterfall is not affected overall by the flooding, I am pretty sure the area all around is still not at its best. And thus the drive down the Val d'Orcia will also be more pleasurable overall.

Lourdes,

You are a saviour! Thank you so much yet again for the sound advice. We will avoid Saturnia this time and I will check out one of the three cities you listed near Rome.

I'm amazed at your ability to provide such detailed, well-researched and practical advice to the members of this forum, while also incorporating local current events that may not make it to the international media. I only wish I had started picking your brains earlier

Cheers.

[Lourdes]

Thank you for the compliments, I do my best to offer as much info as I can.

Sometimes I spend too much time here on the forum but it is nice to help out individually and offer suggestions on a particular trip. I really should dedicate more time to writing the same things on the main site so that this information is more easily found and shared. I'm trying to work on that ;-)!

[Dingeryote]

Thanks a ton for your response Dingeryote! We'll be driving Hopefully though, driving a manual car on steep and winding roads is lesser of a challenge than I am anticipating.

As a Suggestion.

Opt for the compact or larger car, and NOT the Fiat 500 or little Peugot, unless they are automatic.

If you are a typical American that is awkward with a manual, the winding roads, switchbacks, off camber and blind turns, and wonderful 12% grades found in Tuscany, might be really awkward.
The Italian car market and rentals are geared towards fuel economy, and smaller motors that are taxed less, so they take some fairly aggressive inputs as well as finesse.

The little Fiat 500 can BARELY get out of it's own way, and needs it's little motor wound up to an uncomfortable level, before making any power.
I own several Manual vehicles by choice, and a manual truck or two, but none so hopelessly underpowered, so it took some adjustment. I can see why so many pay extra for the automatic.

Stops on severe grades, and some parking garages in basements for that matter, are "Sporty" even if you are an enthusiast or drive a manual by choice. The hand brake is an essential tool, that we ignore here, so don't forget that it's there.
If you like to drive, and live for the corners and challenge of off camber and steep, you'll LOVE the Tuscan back roads. Go easy at first though.

One other thing.
Make sure your credit card that will be used for the rental, has RAISED embossed numbers, and is not just printed like many of the new cards are in the states.

We ran into a hassle over the issue.
Over there, credit cards have raised numbers and name.
The debit cards and bank cards, have printed numbers and name.
Some rental car office employees wont risk the difference, or have a company policy against using the new printed number Credit cards.
One agency we tried, used the old carbon copy slider, so it was just a no go.

[Dingeryote]

You're welcome! I know a lot of people recommend using Chiusi as a good place to rent/return cars to when combining train/rental as a solution to NOT driving in or out of Rome. Other options would be Viterbo or Orvieto, although I don't know how many car rental agencies have offices there. But definitely places to look into!

I would still recommend Bagno Vignoni/San Filippo over Saturnia in this particular case as I just realized you're coming next week! There were floods all over Maremma just 2 weeks ago and all of Saturnia was flooded, everything covered in mud, particularly the "paid" thermal area and hotel. While I am thinking the outdoor waterfall is not affected overall by the flooding, I am pretty sure the area all around is still not at its best. And thus the drive down the Val d'Orcia will also be more pleasurable overall.

I wholeheartedly agree!

I wish I had asked, before our adventure in returning a rental in Rome.
With the help of Siri and a navigation Ap, getting through the traffic and finding the airport was only slightly nerve wracking.

Actually driving around the airport, to the Rental car parking garages, was just stupid.
The place is a zoo. There is minimal direction, or any semblance of order to it.

Once found, the actual process of returning the car relies upon you having ESP, as there is no one there, and no direction other than a security guard that will give a general direction.
From there it's a long walk with all your bags to return the keys, where you stand in line forever.
I have never before seen such a thing, and hope never to again. It's just swamped with renters, and understaffed.

If I had known, I would have chosen to return the car ANYWHERE else, as long as it was near a train station.

Avis ended up billing us for returning the car to the wrong parking ramp, despite the sign and security guard indicating it was the correct one. At least it wasn't mangled...no sense of humor I guess.