[GiovanniRio]

(05-19-2011 02:15 AM)K-man Wrote:  

I say go for it.
Sounds like fun, and having a car will definitely take you places the train doesn't. Like a winding road by the beach. Yeah, a bus might go there but if you want to stop and take a picture at some nice view, the bus ain't gonna stop and wait for you!

I have driven in Europe several times, once on a road trip from France all the way to Bulgaria, stopping to visit many places along the way. It's not so hard, just keep a good GPS unit with a map of Europe with you. Almost any smartphone has that nowadays.
But, what do you mean by a "standard" - do you mean stick shift? Yes, most rental cars in Europe are stick. You have to have a certain level of skill, especially in narrow streets, tight corners, and uphill climbs with a stop sign in the middle!

Finally, renting a car may be the cheaper mode to travel. A Fiat 500 will go for around 20-25 EUR per day which is only 10-12.50 per person - depending on how far you go and how often you travel, you may spend well over 20-30 per day for train and bus tickets.

Indeed, go for it! The train brings you from big city to big city. But you are missing out the real beauty behind the Italian landscapes!! Italy is, like France, a country where you have to discover the local areas, small villages, people, restaurants & scenery. Going by train is shit. In that case pick 2-3 major cities and do the touristical stuff, but you miss out the most beautiful parts of the country.

Driving is not so hard, you just have to fight some more for your space. If you don't, you'll be waiting at every crossing for a while, which the people behind you will not appreciate Small villages on hills mean a little practicing, but if you stay calm & relaxed you get it in no time. Finding an automatic isn't a problem these days. So if you are American, make sure to rent one. It will save you some hassle. Be carefull with speeding, as you don't speak the language and not many people English compaired to other European countries. But again, it's not so special nor crazy, you just have to do it.

Ps Xmas in Italy, especially in the Nord, can be pretty cold. Keep that in mind. Skip the typical summer destinations as they'll be empty.

Enjoy it ! You'll get some of the best food and most beautiful scenery in the world.