Please respond if you have actually driven this part of Rome...

My family of three will be traveling from Sorrento to Rome. Cost of all three to use the Circumvensuvia (sp) to Naples and then to Rome termini and then taxi to De Le Ville is greater than simply renting a car for the day from Hertz in Sorrento and dropping it off in Rome. Plus, I think the hassles to changes train and taxi and deal with Naples is offset by driving in to Rome.

The dropoff in Rome is in Villa Borhese which is just afew blocks form the De La Ville. Question is how difficult is it to get to Villa Borghese from the A24?

I've done this - or something similar. Locals will chime in, but I think I'd head up the A90 and then take the (relatively) straight shot down Via Salaria. I did this on a weekend with no problems, except missing the turn through the city walls. What is the exact return address?

I would first go to IC De la Ville, which is a little tricky. The hotel is on a one-way-street on top of the Spanish Steps, next to Hassler. The Borghese Park starts only a few yards away. However, I have not dropped the car at Borghese, I dropped it at termini; Borghese is not open 24/7! Ask at IC De la Ville how to get to Hertz. Going to Rome City Center is easy, just follow the signs. Watch out, very few streets are reserved for driving only with a permit...only a few!
Try not to check-in at the main check-in. Next, right to this (in the next room) is a "VIP" desk for check-in.

I would order the car with hertz's Neverlost Nav system. (If possible, I think sometimes you can't when dropping off at a different location)

Villa Borghese SI - Via del Galoppatoio 33

USAFAN, you are referring to the De La Ville when you speak of checking in using the VIP room right and not the main desk right?

I am talking about the De La Ville Intercontinental.
The main desk gave me a real lousy room, the worst one I ever got in a good hotel. I got a nice room through the lady on the "VIP, Executive" desk (I am no more Ambassador, but Platinum).
When you enter the hotel, don't go to the main desk (which is right in front of you), go right into a small hall and you find this desk on the right.
As mentioned before, it's a little tricky to get to the hotel. It's a one-way-street: first comes the IC then (next to it) Hassler (everybody will know Hassler in Rome) and then you are on top of the Spanish Steps. Check Hertz at Google Maps! Still, it's a good idea to take a car from Sorrento to Rome, you can make it^ You can always stop and check the map, Never Lost would even be even better, but it's OK without it. BTW, In Rome itself, a car is useless.

As much research I have been doing on Rome and the De La Ville, you are the first person to mention the Main Desk/VIP Room issue. If you did in another post, I missed it.

Your right about the one way streets. On Mapquest, it looks like I will have to drive numerous streets in multiple directions just to go a few blocks. Still, I am confident I can negotiate them. And believe me, I know a car in Rome would be useless, just using it get there.

Thanks again for your info!

Yamonjon

We spent 3 weeks in Italy. Hired a car in Milan - drove it around and then dropped it off in Rome at the Hassler (near where you're staying). I can tell you that getting into Rome was simply awful. Took us forever (about 45 minutes to go the last 3 blocks!). With no wrong turns (I'm a very good navigator).

By the way - we had very good luck negotiating "day rates" with a local taxi driver we found at a cab stand to take us around the city and outside for sightseeing. Any possibility of doing something like that for your trip from Sorrento? Robyn

Be careful that you will be transiting just next to an area that is traffic-restricted; the fine is automatically forwarded if you pass that zone (and charged to your credit card by Hertz). Be sure to check that you follow a non restricted zone!

where these areas start and stop?

There is a sign at each entrance with a structure that has a camera over it that scan each car.

If you go on this site: http://www.atac.roma.it/menu.asp?Cod...adre=1&p=1&i=9

the maps for all the restricted zones are there. Be careful mainly to "Settore C"; the yellow-line is the limit of the zone and the red circle is where you cannot pass if you don't want to get scanned. The road right next to the river is excluded from the zone and you can use it.

Interesting... so, when I pass through a street without RED CIRCLE I can enter the zone and I am fine, correct?

Thanks.

BTW, yesterday I got a letter from Avis: Euro 10 (incl. fees & tax) for entering "Centro Storico in Perugia" in August 2006. I guess, the fine in Rome is higher?!
In Rome I avoided a fine, I just stopped before the "check-point", reversed back and went another street. Actually, I saw only one of those "check-points" in Rome ... and hope, that I didn't miss any...

Thanks for posting this link ... I bookmarked it.

No, you cannot enter the zone outside the red circle, the other possible entrances are because you would enter a one-way on the wrong side...

10 Euro is only for the administrative fee because Avis use the affidavit-way permitted by the new traffic law to forward your information to the police and consequently "transfer" the fine. I don't know about Perugia but Rome would let it go and not collect it. In my experience, Hertz pay and simply charge your credit card.

BTW: If you really need to enter, the best way is on Via Vittorio Veneto where you can drive on the other side of the street and "miss" the camera