Renting abroad: Rome or Florence?

M

MSRP

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Hi folks,

Are there any good reasons why you would rent from once city vs the other? (Trip in May)
My itinerary is quite flexible, and the only thing set is my flight back to Toronto from Rome.

I've found promising outfits from both cities, and intend to spend most of my time between Florence and the areas between Florence/Rome, with final flight out from Rome.

Any words of wisdom?
I'll spend the next few months looking up nice roads and attractions (already have a tonne).
My only must see is Mugello, and Cinque Terre.
 
Wear protection and don't kiss on the lips.
 
Nice....you will be going to one of the countries that offers the best of everything like women, fashion, food, motorcycles and cars. What else can you ask for? Florence is a beautiful city and Tuscany offers great countryside and vineyards, and the people there are very warm and friendly. Mugello is not too far from Florence, in Rome you should proceed with caution there are many pick pockets roaming the city streets. The pick pockets are usually Romanian,Ugoslavian, Albanians not usually home town people. They usually work in groups, a child may approach or pretend to fall in front of you to distract you and another will come close to you to steal your wallet. So keep your eyes open. Also, if you ask for directions they may try to ask you for money so don't give in. One more thing do you speak italian? If not, they will try to rip you off even more. So if you have any problems just text me...we can have a quick lesson in italian LOL. Anyway, have an awesome trip.
 
The place we had pickpocket trouble was in the Vatican, but they roam everywhere.
Driving there is insane. Everybody splits and filters, cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians, motorcycles and scooters.
 
been to both but only rented a bike in Florence, so naturally that's what i'm going to recommend.
Florence is much smaller, and has a lot less traffic, so its easier to get out of the city (no fun riding around town), point the bike in almost any direction and you are guaranteed twisty roads as long as you are not on the Autostrada, the Chianti region is very nice to explore, lots of little villages and towns, if you happen to pass by a winery called Antinori stop by and have a look around, its built into the side of the hill and is very impressive.
you'll have a good time either way
 
I'd pick Florence over Rome, I find rome very busy , even in the off season, and its a big city. Prices for dinner/ tour sites/restaraunts seem similar in touristy areas. Like anywhere in the world get three blocks from a major tourist site and prices drop. But there are things to see in both places that should be on any Italian tour. They take food very seriously in Florence, in local spots you'll be hard pressed to find anything better (don't tell the Tuscans or Calabrese, there will be a knife fight).
Your going to one of the most beautiful places, have fun.

The pick pockets are everywhere, and screw the tourist is a national sport, pick up some useful Italian phrases and you'll have a great time.
 
Beautiful country but ****** attitude towards tourists. I've been a few times but I'm in no hurry to ever go back when there's way more welcoming places to take my money. I preferred Florence over Rome for what it's worth.
 
Depends on what you are looking for on your trip.

The area around Florence and Tuscany is more suited to riding. South into Rome and the roads get less interesting and the urban density turns everything into a commute. If it was me, I'd rent in Florence, tour Northern Italy, hit all the Italian moto/auto factories (Ducati, Ferrari, Lambo, MV), return the bike, UPS your stuff back to TO, take a train into Rome and then do all the super-touristy stuff and then fly out.
 
Gonna look into the Ferrari factory tour. Didn't think of that. Thanks @lightcycle.
@msrp please post when you return with your thoughts. Looks like I'm headed there this summer. Told my wife I'm gonna rent a motorino while we're there. First she said I was crazy, then she started looking into upping my life insurance. ?

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Joe Bass said:
Gonna look into the Ferrari factory tour. Didn't think of that. Thanks @lightcycle.
Click to expand...

If you're going during peak season, book the shuttle tour in advance. There are only two tours a day and 10 seats on each bus. The spots get filled up fast and it's difficult to get a seat on the day of.

Also, there are two F1 simulators in the museum, 25€ for 7 minutes. Better to book these in advance as well if you know you want to do this.
 
Thanks @lightcycle. Will Google tonight.

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Joe Bass said:
Gonna look into the Ferrari factory tour. Didn't think of that. Thanks @lightcycle.
@msrp please post when you return with your thoughts. Looks like I'm headed there this summer. Told my wife I'm gonna rent a motorino while we're there. First she said I was crazy, then she started looking into upping my life insurance. 

Sent from a Samsung Galaxy far, far away using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Will do.
I've initiated a few conversations with the local tour-outfitters, and will likely commission one of them for a self-guilded tour.
Plan is to train into Florence, rent from there, stay just on the outskirts of the urban area, return bike there, and transit to Rome for the flight home.

I'm pretty sneaky, know a bit of italian, and the main goal is just to blend in a bit.
Gonna have to get my full M before leaving, and sort out international license, as I read it's needed if not a local-EU resident.
 
no one asked to see my license when I was renting...
 
Lightcycle said:
The only thing the rental company wants to see is your Euros.

It's the polizia that wants to see your license/international drivers permit.
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gotcha

in that case "Mi scusi signore , ma io non parlo italiano"

on a side note I found it pretty cool that there are warning signs for photo radars on the Autostrada
 
mbroyda said:
gotcha

in that case "Mi scusi signore , ma io non parlo italiano"

on a side note I found it pretty cool that there are warning signs for photo radars on the Autostrada
Click to expand...
Damn, that's better Italian than I can speak!

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mbroyda said:
in that case "Mi scusi signore , ma io non parlo italiano"
Click to expand...

That's pretty good. The best I can muster up is "Ferrari Testarossa Pasta Fagioli Multistrada Multistrada Multistrada".

The latter probably not Italian, but repeated for emphasis anyway.

mbroyda said:
on a side note I found it pretty cool that there are warning signs for photo radars on the Autostrada
Click to expand...

And they're also front-facing cameras so motorcycles don't get caught. We'd zoom by those waving or standing up on the pegs giving a military salute so the operators could have something to look at when the OCR failed to capture a license plate.

Other European riders got mad and told us not to do that. They didn't want to give the authorities more reason to install rear-facing cameras...

Not that we cared. We have Ontario license plates. :)
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