Originally Posted by NavyUCF

Hello all.

My spouse and I are planning an extended trip, most of which will be in Italy.

We arrive in Nice, FR and then 12 full days later, we depart from Rome.

Obvoiusly, guidance on Nice and surrounding communities comes from a different forum.

I've been reading up on suggested itineraries for 9 - 10 days in Italy, and I'll probably have some questions in the future, especially with regard to finding hotels that balance affordability and quality.

For now, I have, what I believe to be, a threshold question.

Can I rent a car and return it to a different destination?

Initially, I had tentatively planned on us taking trains everywhere. But, after reading this board, I'm open to renting a car because of the flexibility, freedom, sights, and the ability to find cheaper hotels outside of metropolitan areas. A friend of mine, who used to be stationed in Italy, told me that you can't rent cars "one way." Thus, he believed, I could not rent a car in Nice and return it in Rome, or rent a car in, let's say, Milan and return it to Rome.

Your thoughts?

Also, if my friend is right and we have to take the train, what are your suggestions for our first Italian stop, once we leave the south of France?

Thanks!