5-6 nts in central eastern Italy
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,738
5-6 nts in central eastern Italy
My wife and I are planning a trip through Italy in early November. We've been to Rome several times so we're avoiding it.
This is the proposed itinerary and we'd appreciate any input (better/hidden destinations).
Arriving from Bastia, Corsica arriving into Livorno in the early evening.
I presume the port city isn't very nice so it there some place nearby to stay? We'll be driving and will have a computer-based GPS for navigation (served us well over 27,000 Km of driving).
Planning to stay 1 nt each in Saturnia (free hot springs and a great restaurant) and Sovana (old Etruscan town) - both very close to each other.
Wife then wants to stay 2 nts near Castel Gandolfo and then we'll drive to FCO, return the car and fly to MLA (1055, alas no status on AZ/ST).
Tivoli and Hadrian's Palace: Went in February 2003 but it was cloudy. I imagine early/mid-November won't be much better on average?
Any issues with allowing 1 hr from Castel Gandolfo to FCO, and 1 1/2 hrs to refuel/return car?
Seen Ostia Antica and don't feel compelled to return.
Thanks
This is the proposed itinerary and we'd appreciate any input (better/hidden destinations).
Arriving from Bastia, Corsica arriving into Livorno in the early evening.
I presume the port city isn't very nice so it there some place nearby to stay? We'll be driving and will have a computer-based GPS for navigation (served us well over 27,000 Km of driving).
Planning to stay 1 nt each in Saturnia (free hot springs and a great restaurant) and Sovana (old Etruscan town) - both very close to each other.
Wife then wants to stay 2 nts near Castel Gandolfo and then we'll drive to FCO, return the car and fly to MLA (1055, alas no status on AZ/ST).
Tivoli and Hadrian's Palace: Went in February 2003 but it was cloudy. I imagine early/mid-November won't be much better on average?
Any issues with allowing 1 hr from Castel Gandolfo to FCO, and 1 1/2 hrs to refuel/return car?
Seen Ostia Antica and don't feel compelled to return.
Thanks
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Piedmont, Italy; Cheshire, UK
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 389
My wife and I are planning a trip through Italy in early November. We've been to Rome several times so we're avoiding it.
This is the proposed itinerary and we'd appreciate any input (better/hidden destinations).
Arriving from Bastia, Corsica arriving into Livorno in the early evening.
I presume the port city isn't very nice so it there some place nearby to stay? We'll be driving and will have a computer-based GPS for navigation (served us well over 27,000 Km of driving).
Planning to stay 1 nt each in Saturnia (free hot springs and a great restaurant) and Sovana (old Etruscan town) - both very close to each other.
Wife then wants to stay 2 nts near Castel Gandolfo and then we'll drive to FCO, return the car and fly to MLA (1055, alas no status on AZ/ST).
Tivoli and Hadrian's Palace: Went in February 2003 but it was cloudy. I imagine early/mid-November won't be much better on average?
Any issues with allowing 1 hr from Castel Gandolfo to FCO, and 1 1/2 hrs to refuel/return car?
Seen Ostia Antica and don't feel compelled to return.
Thanks
This is the proposed itinerary and we'd appreciate any input (better/hidden destinations).
Arriving from Bastia, Corsica arriving into Livorno in the early evening.
I presume the port city isn't very nice so it there some place nearby to stay? We'll be driving and will have a computer-based GPS for navigation (served us well over 27,000 Km of driving).
Planning to stay 1 nt each in Saturnia (free hot springs and a great restaurant) and Sovana (old Etruscan town) - both very close to each other.
Wife then wants to stay 2 nts near Castel Gandolfo and then we'll drive to FCO, return the car and fly to MLA (1055, alas no status on AZ/ST).
Tivoli and Hadrian's Palace: Went in February 2003 but it was cloudy. I imagine early/mid-November won't be much better on average?
Any issues with allowing 1 hr from Castel Gandolfo to FCO, and 1 1/2 hrs to refuel/return car?
Seen Ostia Antica and don't feel compelled to return.
Thanks
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,738
I'd leave an absolute minimum of 90 minutes if not more; (2 hours?). If there's a snarl up on the Grande Raccordo Annulare you could be seriously delayed. And you never know how efficient the car rental companies are going to process your return if they're particularly busy.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,555
I've never waited more than 5-10 minutes to return a car at Hertz (based on more than 15 rentals over the last 2 -3 years). Also, the GRA on a Saturday morning should be free. Only potential problem would be an accident and unless you know the local roads, this would be hard to avoid. Of course, your computer-based GPS would be extremely helpful if this were the case. Thus, 90 min. from Castel Gandolfo to FCO should be plenty but, as we all know, sh.. happens!
Last edited by KLouis; Jun 18, 2015 at 6:57 pm