Budson

I need ideas on how to transfer from Florence to Rome on a Sunday in September and not by taking the train. I am traveling with my elderly mother and we will have lots of luggage (likely 3 large suitcases between us, plus hand baggage).

Private car service quoted 600 Euros. are there any other options available for less cost? Any services that will pick us up at our Florence Hotel and drop us off at our Rome Hotel? A mini shuttle bus or motorcoach would be just fine.

kayd

Door to door, the only choice I can think of is a car servie. Call several more to see if you can get a better price. Search this site with "driver" and Florence or Tuscany.

Also, Slow Travel has listings you might want to look at
http://www.slowtrav.com/cl/short.asp?c=3&r=416

LJ

When you say motorcoach, do you mean bus? I found bus travel in Italy to be quite civilized.

You leave from the bus station behind the Santa Maria Novello Stazione in central Florence (and taxis will take you directly to the entrance and there are porters). You arrive in Rome at Tiburtina which is equally well served by taxi. Buses from Roma to Firenza and back are frequent (3-4 times a day).

Other than renting a car yourself or paying 600Euro (which is ridiculous), you might fine fellow travelers who would split the difference, but co-ordination of timing would be a challenge.

kfusto

I arranged a private transfer for 6 people with lots of bags last November for 525 E with Italian Limousine Service.

It took them almost 5 hours with traffic and we took the train and were at the hotel (door to door) in 2.5.

Have you contacted your hotel for other recommendations?

GAC

Trenitalia now offer porterage service in both Florence and Rome on a reservations basis, for designated departures and arrivals of AV (Alta Velocita') trains. The porters will put your luggage on the train and take it off the train upon arrival. I assume you'll reach the train station by taxi, and you can ask the porter in Florence to meet you at the arriving taxi area. The porter in Rome can take your luggage to the departing taxi area. The porter service costs 5 Euros, but must be booked 24 hours in advance by telephone. You pay the porter directly.

Here is information about this service:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

Click on the "More information (Italian version)" to see the complete list of departing/arriving trains for which the porterage service is offered. These includes AV trains departing from Florence and arriving in Rome.

Your only other option is a very expensive door-to-door service, as noted above.

cruiseluv

GAC, that is terrific information! My parents now shy away from travel by train because of the lugagge issue.

Another option would be to fly between Florence and Rome, but that would probably be as expensive as the private car sevice.