Subject: Re: Driving in France and Italy
I'd say the key question is whether you're just going to big cities, as people on their first trip often do, or want to visit some rural areas. A car is a hassle in the cities but can be useful if you want to stay in the country or go around hill towns. It might be advisable to rent a car just for the part of the trip where it's most useful; you might see different driving habits than you're used to but you should get the hang of it.

Andrew Missouri