AJPeabody

Actually, we aren't renting a car, but I liked the title. Mrs. Peabody and I are planning our trip to Italy in May. We leave from JFK, we have to use Alitalia (ticket vouchers), and we have decided to go to Sorrento and Rome. Sorrento for decompression and as a nice base for Pompeii, Capri, Naples daytrip. Rome for the rest of the vacation. We have done plenty of travelling but do not speak Italian.

To get to Sorrento, it seems our options are to fly into Naples with a change in Rome and then either get transport to Sorrento from the airport or get to Naples and take the Circumvesuvio train. The airfare from NY is about the same as just going to Rome. The considerations I see are, first, the time needed for a transfer from international to local air, and second, the most efficient way from Naples airport to Sorrento. For instance, is there public transport or cost-efficient taxi or shuttle directly from the airport to Sorrento? Carry-on only packing seems beneficial, but there are the risks of forced gate checking of the carry-ons and of slow passport control on entry to the country, not to mention transatlantic flight delay. If this is the choice, what is the necessary stopover time at FCO?

The other alternative is to fly to Rome, then train to Sorrento via Naples. Can this be done in a way that would simplify the trip or would there be too many links in the chain if we have to get from FCO to Rome proper to trains to Naples, etc.

Considering fatigue from travel time and jet lag, we would like the simplest plan that has the minimum risk of starting a vacation on the wrong foot and without being required to foot a huge cost.

I realize these are rather specific pieces of information. I hope there is someone here with the knowledge to help.

Thanks!

AJ

nytraveler

There is a local train that goes from Naples to Sorrento. Yu would have to change to it from any train you arrive on in Naples. From Naples airport I would take a cab to Sorrento - versus multiple types of public transit.

Fro Rome airport it is one train airport to Rome, another Rome to Naples and then the local from Naples to Sorrento.

then a cab o ? depending on where you hotel is.

I beleive there is a bus option from Rome directly to Sorrento (avoiding 2 trains) but don;t think it runs often and have no experience. (We almost always do road trips and like the Amalfi coast by car in May.)

ladylawyer42

We did a similar trip last October. You can easily catch the train from the airport in Rome to Termini. (Note: when you arrive in the Termini station, it is a longish walk through a seemingly endless corridor to get to the main station.) We bought tickets to Naples in the Termini station, then had lunch in the station, and got on our train. The train from Termini to Naples is 1 to 2 hours, depending on whether you get a fast train or not. In the Naples train station, you just go downstairs to get on the Circumvesuviana line, which goes to Sorrento. It is a slow train and can be crowded. Or, you could get a taxi (about 10 Euro) from the Naples station to the dock (Beverello) and take a boat to Sorrento (about 11 Euro). It's a beautiful ride over the bay, it's less crowded than the train, and there's plenty of room for luggage.

isabel

What was suggested by the previous poster is what we did. The benefit to this versus flying is that you don't need to buy your train ticket till you get to Italy so if the transatlantic flight is delayed it's not a problem (as it would be if you booked another flight). We actually bought our ticket to Naples in the airport train station at the same time we bought our Leonardo Express ticket (from the airport to Rome).

Here my trip report from summer 2010, I describe exactly how we did it - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rful-weeks.cfm

denisea

tagging along here as we are doing a similar trip and the info will be valuable to us!

AJPeabody

LL42: The boat sounds wonderful, if the weather is nice. I'll add that to my list of possibilities, and also for one of the legs on the Naples daytrip.

Does anyone know what a cab from Naples airport to Sorrento might cost?

TDudette

Only question, because I haven't done it, is how do you get from the Sorrento Harbor to your hotel? Cab?

After a long trip, I'm almost thinking go to Naples and take a cab or limo directly to your Sorrento hotel. No, don't know about the cost in dollars but the stress savings seems great!

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Perhaps I can fill in a few gaps?

First, although we've lived in the area since 2003, I've only recently discovered a handy PDF that's available from one of the Naples newspapers each day - showing details from a whole host of transport schedules:

http://sfoglia.ilmattino.it/mattino/pagpdf/parte.pdf

At this time of year I'd be slightly circumspect with the seasonal routes - they're not always prompt in removing details of those that aren't operating - but otherwise it seems pretty reliable, and (more importantly perhaps) should be fine during those periods when most people will be here!

Note though that Firefox users may have to delete old versions before a newer one will download?

.............................................

It's only hydrofoils that go from Naples to Sorrento, no boats - and those leave from the 'Molo Beverello' quay in the main harbour...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132449571

I stress the difference because such other passenger vessels as there are now set off from a separate part of the port:

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/125198195

.... and you may well want to be specific with your taxi driver or choice of bus?

However, even at the height of the season, the 'ordinary' schedule offers only 6 or 7 crossings per day, so don't go that route if the timing's wrong - unless you're prepared to wait a while!

And while they do indeed offer a lovely way to get around....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/125491341

.... don't overlook that - just like the CV trains - some will be pretty busy...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/128356363

.................................................. .......

With a proper Naples taxi, the Flat Fare to Sorrento is €100 one-way. For more, see here - and do get that PDF, the 2nd page of which is in English!

http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/...?4ed39ad27d7c5

(Private-hire firms will usually undercut those prices slightly, however one of their vehicles must be booked in advance and can't just be hailed down - any time, any place, anywhere - within the city, unlike a cab!)

For coming back, I don't think there's a similar scheme for those licenced in Sorrento - so agree a fare, or make sure the meter's working... but do appreciate that, with a highly seasonal clientèle, those are somewhat more costly!

.................................................

At the harbour in Sorrento you'll find taxis waiting - although they're rather pricey, for the distance - or else there's a cheap shuttle bus service up to the main part of town...

http://www.unicocampania.it/index.ph..._primopiano=25

... from where others cover the wider area...

http://www.unicocampania.it/files/mappe/sorrento.pdf

Really depends on quite where you'd be staying?

Peter

kybourbon

>>>>For instance, is there public transport or cost-efficient taxi or shuttle directly from the airport to Sorrento? >>TDudette on Jan 20, 12 at 3:36pm
Only question, because I haven't done it, is how do you get from the Sorrento Harbor to your hotel? Cab?

A_Brit_In_Ischia

For those Curreri buses, the news may be somewhat better still...

First, as a quick look at the website reveals, they operate 7 days a week - including Sundays.

Second, although that site suggests each bus operates all year, they do actually alter their frequency - and add and remove services as the seasons change.

So, although the winter schedule has but six, there were eight running each day when I posted this, over on TA, last October..

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Campania.html

So be sure to have another look MUCH nearer the time!

Peter

Newbie00

yeah - I would seriously think about flying to Naples and then using the Carreri Bus (linked by kybourbon). The bus is a tourist coach, so plenty of room for luggage, no bustling about on public transport etc.

Note that curreri also have a bus from Rome to Sorrento (though I am not sure where it departs from) that goes daily at 14.00 for 18 euro each (much cheaper than trains) Marozzi also have a bus that does Rome-Sorrento too, but the website is only in Italian so is hard to navigate.

kybourbon

>>>First, as a quick look at the website reveals, they operate 7 days a week - including Sundays.

AJPeabody

Wow! Great answers and very valuable links. I have been looking at them and the links within them, as well as doing a bit of extra research on Alitalia to Naples.

This is where I have gotten so far:

In addition to JFK-Rome-Naples, JFK-Milan-Naples is also quite feasible. I suspect a smaller airport could reduce the risk of delay and error in the transfer from international to national flights. Multiple land transfers probably add too much time and risk to the trip so I am eliminating them. Cab or shuttle from Naples airport to Sorrento is far more expensive than the bus and will not save time, so the bus is it. Thanks for the reassurance on the kind of bus, Newbie.

The Sorrento info I gleaned through the links was so encouraging that I have added a day there. The potential hotels I am looking at are within a reasonable walk from the bus or train -- in case of exhaustion, a cab won't kill us either.

Remaining tasks: Get air tickets. Book Sorrento hotel. Get travel insurance (not my usual tactic, but nothing can be changed or replaced once the voucher is activated and I have noticed a certain aging in my mirror, so extra grey hairs are not desired). Research and book a Rome hotel, looking for a tolerable balance among location, price, and quality. Research Rome restaurants (same considerations). Research Sorrento restaurants. Research weather patterns. Get OCD treatment.

Any and all ideas are and will be appreciated! Thanks again!

AJ

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Do just make sure that your second flight leaves from the same airport in Milan as the first will arrive at!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linate_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malpensa_Airport

There's a third that's also counted as belonging to Milan...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orio_al_Serio_Airport

Peter

AJPeabody

Brit(Peter): The flights will be on one ticket without airport changes.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

If you're sure of that, then fine - the only reason I mentioned it was that our local airport's website only shows Alitalia flights from Linate, which isn't where long-haul flights usually arrive...

http://www.portal.gesac.it/portal/pa...zioniCompagnie

... though presumably you'd be shunted over to their codeshare partner, Air One?

But, one airport there or with a transfer between two, that isn't a route that New York-based returnees we meet here ever speak of - and many have taken to using the MeridianaFly JFK/Naples service, for which you'd be just a little early...

http://www.meridiana.it/offers/offer...&DEP_YEAR=2012

Better offers than those do usually appear eventually!

Peter