Hire Car

Exploring Mestre by Hire Car

Without the inhabitants of the city of Mestre, many restaurants and shops in Venice would not exist. Around 200,000 people live outside the gates of the lagoon city, while Venice itself only has around 60,000 inhabitants.

Many Mestre residents commute to Venice day after day, ensuring that the tourist infrastructure runs smoothly.

But Mestre is also a worthwhile destination for many tourists. Here the hotels are affordable and Venice is easy to reach by public transport. So it doesn’t bother much that Mestre itself can only boast a few sights.

Favourable hotels and good restaurants are enough to make your quarters here. The surrounding area is also worthwhile and can be explored perfectly by hire car. We have put together a few tips for renting and travelling.

Taking over the hire car

At Venice airport, you will find numerous hire car agencies in the arrivals area on the ground floor. You should just make sure that your hire car company is also there. After all, if it is only located close to the airport, it can sometimes take a long time for a shuttle service to get you there.

Booking the right hire car

The road network around Mestre is well developed. So feel free to book a larger and more comfortable hire car to cover even long distances in a relaxed manner.

Hire car prices

Hire car prices in Mestre and Venice Airport are usually in the mid-range. However, when the tourist crowds arrive in high season, there can be shortages of hire cars.

And that’s when prices go up, too. You can often get the cheapest deals if you book well in advance of your trip and use our cheap price comparison.

hire car price comparison Mestre

Insuring the car properly

In the often heavy traffic around Mestre, an accident can easily happen with an unfamiliar hire car. Protect yourself and book a hire car with comprehensive insurance without deductible. With the liability, you should make sure that the sum insured is at least one million euros.

Because if people are injured in an accident, it quickly becomes really expensive. If the coverage of your rental company seems too low, you can provide additional protection with a Mallorca policy. Talk to your insurance company,

age limit

At many hire car companies in Mestre, you must be at least 23 years old to hire car. At Venice airport, drivers as young as 19 often get a car. Drivers younger than 25 usually pay an additional fee. Check the terms and conditions of your hire car before you drive.

Accessories

Additional equipment such as a navigation system or child seat must always be ordered separately from your hire car company. Make your reservation in good time so that the desired items are also available on the day you pick up the vehicle.

Language barrier

Don’t automatically assume that all the staff at the hire car stations at Venice Airport and Mestre speak good English. Better make sure you write down the phone number of the Italian head office of your hire car company before you travel. There you can ask for translation help in case of need.

Free kilometers

If you are primarily looking to see Venice and only want to explore the immediate area around Mestre, you may be able to save money by booking a car where mileage is limited. However, if distant destinations are to be visited, it is worth booking a hire car where all kilometres are free.

Remember the tank regulation

Only book with rental companies where you pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank. This will save you arguments about the correct level of the tank. Just make sure to keep the last fuel receipt to prove that you did indeed fill up just before returning the car.

Bail

If your hire car company actually charges the deposit to your credit card, it can sometimes take a long time for the amount to be returned to your account after you return the vehicle. It’s better to book with a rental company that just blocks the amount. Be sure to make sure that your credit line is sufficient to cover the deposit.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Although most customers are quite happy with the hire car service in Mestre and Venice, some complaints are that they were sold additional insurance on the spot. Make sure your car is already adequately insured at the time of booking and then consistently refuse to take out any additional insurance at the hire car station.

Some customers also complain about long waiting times. Especially when returning the car, allow a generous window of time to make sure you can catch a plane or train for the trip home.

Safety hire car

As a rule, hire cars in Mestre are perfectly roadworthy. Nevertheless, you should check all the lights of the car before the first trip.

Don’t forget the indicators and brake lights either. And some you still in the parking lot of the hire car a short brake test. Then, once you’ve made sure you’ve got your high-visibility vests, warning triangle and first-aid kit on board, the journey can begin.

Sights in Mestre

Start your sightseeing at Piazza Ferretto. Here you can sit down in a cozy café and soak up the atmosphere of the city. For a good view, climb the Torre dell’Orologio. It dates back to the 12th century and is the oldest building in the city.

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to take an extensive stroll in the Galleria Matteotti. The Galleria was built at the end of the 19th century and impresses with a variety of shops and boutiques. Even if it rains, you will stay dry because the passage is protected by a glass roof.

Unlike Venice, a beauty of stone, you can also enjoy nature in Mestre. Visit the Parco San Giuliano and relax with a walk through the extensive green spaces. From here you also have a beautiful view over to Venice. Back in the city, you’ll then have the chance to watch the locals haggle over the freshly caught goods at the fish market.

Find a good restaurant in Mestre

There in Mestre it is not difficult to find a good restaurant with typical cuisine. We recommend the Taverneta a la Scuea. Here you can get delicious fish dishes made according to traditional recipes.

Find a good hotel

Book a room at the Hotel Ai Pini. The stylish house is located in a small park. The lovingly furnished rooms do not miss any comfort and the cordial service cares lovingly for the well-being of the guests.

Discover a worthwhile destination in the area

Lido di Jesolo: pure bathing pleasure
After the rich cultural offer that Venice offers you, it may now be a contrast program. Steer the hire car to Lido di Jesolo. You can reach the town, 44 kilometres away, in less than an hour. Authentic Italian bathing pleasure awaits you in Lido di Jesolo. The fine sandy beach stretches for several kilometres, with sun loungers standing close together.

And there’s plenty on offer outside the beach too. At Aqualandia water park, for example, the kids can let off steam on numerous water slides while you stroll down Hemingway Main Street and feel like you’re in Key West. Then, in the evening, you can enjoy the full range of Italian cuisine – from simple pizza to sophisticated seafood dishes – at a variety of restaurants.

Suggestion for a round trip by hire car

Padua: Enchanting Frescoes
A trip by hire car could take you first to Padua. You can be there in just over half an hour. A lively university town awaits you, whose streets lined with long arcades invite you to go on extensive shopping tours. Tourists are first drawn to the Capella degli Scrovegni. The entire interior is decorated with frescoes by Giotto, which the artist created between 1303 and 1305. The hustle and bustle of life awaits after the church visit when you visit the Piazza della Frutta, where a large market is held daily.

Ferrara: Mighty Cathedral
Continue your journey to Ferrara. It will take you about an hour by hire car. Ferrara is also a university town whose university was founded in 1391. In Ferrara especially the mighty cathedral is worth a visit. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries and features an interesting mix of Gothic and Romanesque architectural elements. After you have visited the cathedral, you can still look at the defiant castle, which stands in the middle of the city. To finish your visit, it’s worth strolling down the dead-straight streets of the city centre, which are often framed by magnificent Renaissance buildings.

Chioggia: Lively trading town
Before you head back to Mestre in your hire car, you can stop off in Chioggia. You should allow about an hour and a half for the drive. In Chioggia you will not find a polished pearl but a rough trading town with a large fishing port. On Tuesdays and Saturdays you can watch the fishermen bring their freshly caught goods to the market. And at the end of your trip you can treat yourself to an extensive sunbath on the city’s long sandy beach. The return journey to Mestre will take you just under an hour. There you can park the car, spread out the map and plan the next destinations of your hire car trip.

Conclusion

There are so many worthwhile destinations around Mestre that it makes a great location for a hire car trip. And with our handy price comparison, you won’t have a hard time finding a suitable car at a great price.

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