Fidenza Village with a driver, from Bologna

What the day looks like

The arrangement that almost always works is this: leave Bologna in the morning, the driver sets you down at the village entrance, and the return is agreed for the afternoon or the evening, at the same point.

In between, the time is yours. There is no train to catch, no last bus, and you do not carry the bags around: you leave them in the car whenever you like and go back empty-handed. Regular clients mention that before they mention the journey itself.

If you would rather keep the car at your disposal all day, with the driver waiting on site, you can: that is the at-disposal arrangement, and we quote it on the programme. If a fixed out-and-back suits you, it costs less and works perfectly well.

Why with a driver rather than by train

The rail connection exists, with a shuttle from Fidenza station. It works, and it is the right choice for anyone travelling light with a flexible day. But it has three weak points, and you feel all of them on the way back:

• Timetables. The shuttle runs a limited number of services, and the end of a shopping day almost never coincides with one of them.
• The bags. Boarding a crowded regional train with bulky purchases is the moment you regret the whole day.
• The sum for two or four. A car is priced per vehicle: for a family, the comparison with four tickets plus two shuttles changes considerably.

If you are coming from outside Italy

A good share of the requests for this day come from international visitors, often travelling as a family. Two things that make the day easier:

Language. Our drivers speak English and Arabic, as well as French and Spanish. Agreeing a return time, or being pointed to the VAT refund desk, does not need a translator.

A female driver, on request. For anyone who prefers it — and it is a request we often get for this kind of day — there is Pink Chauffeur, at no surcharge, to be asked for when booking.

Parma, and the rest of the day

Fidenza is twenty minutes from Parma, and a little more from the heart of the food valley. Anyone with a full day often combines the two: shopping in the morning, the historic centre or a cheese dairy visit in the afternoon.

That is an at-disposal arrangement too: give us the outline programme and we quote a single price for the day rather than adding up legs. If you would rather stay closer to Bologna, the same logic applies to the Motor Valley.

What it costs

A fixed fare per car, not per person, agreed before departure. It covers fuel, tolls, parking and VAT.

The fares above are for the transfer alone, in both directions. A day with the car at your disposal is quoted on the programme: send us the timings and the stops. The full list of routes is on the rates page.