Private transfer from Florence to Rome with a stop along the way?

[Anonymous]

We’re going to Italy next Spring with my parents. Everyone’s first time. My dad refuses to take trains and insists on getting a private car from Florence to Rome. Anyone done this before and can recommend a good service?

Since the drive is longer than the train I was thinking it could be nice to add a stop along the way somewhere in Tuscany for a mini day trip, maybe Siena or Montepulciano. Does this kind of service even exist?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I really hate people who just send you to google so I will just say that 10 seconds with google turned this up.

https://www.tours-italy.com/tour/rome-to-florence-private-transfer-via-montepulciano-and-with-wine-tasting-and-lunch_83

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re going to Italy next Spring with my parents. Everyone’s first time. My dad refuses to take trains and insists on getting a private car from Florence to Rome. Anyone done this before and can recommend a good service?

Since the drive is longer than the train I was thinking it could be nice to add a stop along the way somewhere in Tuscany for a mini day trip, maybe Siena or Montepulciano. Does this kind of service even exist?

Thanks!

Is he paying for it? It’ll be a lot more expensive getting a private car service.

[Anonymous]

Thats a LONG drive, but I understand him not wanting trains. Sienna is only an hour from Florence so that's not really breaking up the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thats a LONG drive, but I understand him not wanting trains. Sienna is only an hour from Florence so that's not really breaking up the trip.

Why? Mainline trains in western Europe are fast (in this case more than twice as fast as driving), have comfortable seats even in 2nd class, air conditioning, plenty of luggage storage space, etc.

If you want to make a day of it, stopping along the way, that's cool, I get it. But it's hard for me to see why you would prefer a long drive vs a train ride half as long.

[Anonymous]

First class train. Will come with food, the ability to use the bathroom, and it will be over relatively quickly. If there are several of you as you are describing, you will be in a crappy minivan that will be uncomfortable after a while and you’ll have to worry about bathrooms, snacks, stops, etc. Even their coaches (buses) are not as large as the ones here and usually don’t have a toilet. Seats were narrow and not well padded. I know he thinks he wants to drive, but he does not want to drive it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First class train. Will come with food, the ability to use the bathroom, and it will be over relatively quickly. If there are several of you as you are describing, you will be in a crappy minivan that will be uncomfortable after a while and you’ll have to worry about bathrooms, snacks, stops, etc. Even their coaches (buses) are not as large as the ones here and usually don’t have a toilet. Seats were narrow and not well padded. I know he thinks he wants to drive, but he does not want to drive it.

Seems silly to reject first class train seats for a less comfortable drive.

[Anonymous]

OP again - yes, I agree with everyone saying train is way better. I agree. I have gone over the price difference, time difference, mentioned business/first class on train. He still insists on a private car. He thinks lugging his luggage around on the trains will “be a hassle”. I’ve given up and not going to try and argue anymore. He said he’d pay for the car!

[Anonymous]

OP-I had the same conversation traveling with a parent in France last year. Adamant about the car. Our hotel recommended a driver their guests frequently booked.

[Anonymous]

I’d stop in Greve in Chianti. Charming town square, and a cute hotel up the hill in Montefioralle. While I agree the train is earlier a car ride is much easier for older people. My father tore his rotator cuff putting away his baggage on a train, so it’s car transfers for him now!

[Anonymous]

Why doesn't he want to take the train? Trains are one of the reasons I love going to Europe so much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - yes, I agree with everyone saying train is way better. I agree. I have gone over the price difference, time difference, mentioned business/first class on train. He still insists on a private car. He thinks lugging his luggage around on the trains will “be a hassle”. I’ve given up and not going to try and argue anymore. He said he’d pay for the car!

You won’t all fit in one car, especially with luggage. Call the hotel in Florence and see if they will arrange a driver for the two of them, or if it just him, him and the bags. You all take the train and have a nice excursion in Rome and meet in the hotel later. It sounds like he may not be an experienced foreign traveler so he will be surprised with what he (doesn’t) get.

[Anonymous]

We emailed the concierge at our hotels in Italy to book private drivers—and it was dramatically less expensive than prices quoted by travel agents.

[Anonymous]

We are in Italy right now and jave used Connecto Transfers twice. Not cheap but they've been great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't he want to take the train? Trains are one of the reasons I love going to Europe so much!

It quite literally does not matter why he doesn't want to. They are not going on a train. Move on.