nunz

First off, my apologies for the double post but.....I'm desperate and I know someone out there can help me regain my sanity. Here's my dilema.

Here's my preliminary agenda:

*Rome 5 days (what's the best way to get from Rome to SML. My options are to fly or use train. Would I go into Genoa? How long of a flight would it be? How long of a train ride?) Once I'm in Genoa then I probably need to train it to SML, correct?

*SML 3 days
*CT 3 days (Based on what I've read, I just take a train or boat to CT from SML?)
*Paris 6 days (what's the best way to get from CT to Paris. My options are to fly or use train. How long of a flight would it be? How long of a train ride?)

Safe me ...

Dukey

You could fly from Pisa to Paris in 1h 40 minutes on EasyJet

jules4je7

I'll venture to guess a train ride from Pisa to Paris would be in the neighborhood of 12 hours.

I've taken the train from Paris to Venice, and it was about that.

I'd probably fly if I were you. Unless you like train travel and want to either take a sleeper or waste a day on a train.

Jules

Dayle

Nunz,

You need to check out the trenitalia web site for train travel times. I rather doubt it would be faster to fly between Rome and Pisa or Rome or Genoa. Just take the train to SML.

Local trains between SML and the Cinque Terre villages run freqently. We took the train from SML to Riomaggiore (furthest south village) and it was about 1 hour.

I hope you plan on doing lots of relaxing with 6 days between SML and CT.

suze

Why not just do it all on the train? If there's a long stretch do it on an overnight train with a private sleeper car.

rex

I know that others think that I am obsessed with offering advice on message headers, but if you are
"desperate" for advice (and I'm not sure that you are, or should be, as your other posts have provided good answers on these questions)...

...then this message header is NOT the most effective way (and in fact, it's a rather inconsiderate way) to get answers.

Far better would be &quot;Desperately seeking info on <i><b><u>transportation logistics within Italy and between Italy and Paris</u></b></i>&quot;.

Not putting any destination info in your message header is like a string across the road - - expecting <i>every</i> visitor here to be &quot;tripped up&quot;, to stop and read your post, to see what info you are seeking.

I know that you are (relatively) new here and meant no harm... but this is not the way to get replies quickly.

Best wishes,

Rex Bickers
Floyds Knobs, Indiana

Pilates

According to trenitalia.it, it'll take you between 5 hours and 15 minutes to 5 hours and 45 minutes to get from Rome to SML. You'll change trains in Rapallo or Sestri. You don't go further north (Genoa).

10 years ago, I went from Paris to Cinque Terre. I took the sleeper train. I think we left Paris around 10 or 11 at night and rolled into 5-Terre around 7 am. It worked for me. Pisa is a popular airport. If you want to fly, look into flying out of Pisa to Paris as an option which is close to the 5-T.

How long of a flight? an hour and a half from Pisa. You don't mention your travel dates but I entered sept 2nd and got a price of 135 euro into Orly on Easyjet. Of course that doesn't include the cost of travel from Orly into town.

nunz

OK...First thank you all for your replies. It sounds like the train is the best way to go. A 6 hr train ride would be easy. I thought it was twice that so I was way off. There were a few comments about flying/trainin from Pisa. I'm assuming Pisa was recommended because some of the lower cost airlines go from there rather than Rome? I wasn't sure why Pisa?? Also, point well taken Rex regarding the subject/header. I am new to this site so your suggestion is fair!

So, it sounds like taking the train from Rome to SML is less than 6 hours. We we leave CT again it sounds like taking the train to Paris is the way to go.

Your input has been quite helpful.

Happy travels everyone!

rex

Pisa is the closest airport (and with the most affordable, and available service) to the Cinque Terre.

Pilates

nunz said, &quot;I wasn't sure why Pisa??&quot;

I'll tell you why. It's because in your ORIGINAL post you said, &quot;*Paris 6 days (what's the best way to get from CT to Paris).&quot;

So I answered that question by stating that the best way to get from Cinque Terre to Paris would be either by train or by air. And if by air, I suggested to look into flying out of Pisa.

nunz

I'm back. I'm trying to deciper the train schedule. From the link below is it possible for someone to translate this schedule for me. I'm sure it's basic but for someone who's never traveled on a train before I'm not sure about the departure and arrival times and locations, if that makes sense.

http://orario.trenitalia.com/b2c/Tim...p;channel=tcom

Thanks again!

rex

In the columnn labeled click on any of the numbers 1 through 5. It's spelled out more clearly there. Departure time and station; where you arrive to change trains, when you depart on the connection, and when you arrive SML/Portofino.

ira

Dear nunz,

Two tips on how to use this site:

1. If you click on your name (top left corner) you will get a list of all your posts.

2. Long URL links, like the one above, mess up the formatting.

After you have copied your long link, go to www.tinyurl.com and paste it there. You will get a short URL to post here.

Your long URL became http://tinyurl.com/ratgr

On the Trenitalia schedule:

Option no 1.

IC+ leaves Rome TE at 11:46. Stops at Rome Ostia and arrives at Sestri at 16:20.

You cahnge to an R train leaving Sestri at 16:32 and arrive SML at 16:58

nunz

Thanks Rex and Ira. I think I get it now with the train schedule. A few more questions if you don't mind. What is the difference between the train codes. For instance, D, ICplus, etc. How would I find an express or fastest train?

Also, I may have an extra between Rome and SML. I'm thinking of maybe going from Rome to Sienna, spend one night and leave the next day for SML. If I get off the train in Sienna is it easy to get to town without a CAR. Does that sound like enough time in Sienna? Just curious as to your thoughts.
Grazie! Grazie!

Dayle

Hi Nunz,

If you train to Siena (note spelling), you will need to call a taxi to take you &amp; your luggage up to the town.

Buon viaggio!

Dayle

PS - helpful hint:

Once you have found the train schedules for your various legs of train travel, print them out and take them with you. It's extremely helpful to know all your options and the trenitalia printouts are easier to read the than schedules posted in the stations.

There is a key on the site that explains the differences between trains, i.e., IC, D, ES. You can get ES (Eurostar) trains between all the major cities (fastest and do require a seat reservation for extra charge).

Between the smaller towns you will probably be using D or IC or R trains. They are the &quot;milk run&quot; trains and make lots of stops, take longer, sometimes not A/C.

kybourbon

ES tickets purchased from Trenitalia include your seat in the ticket price, they are not extra. IC and ICplus tickets will have the 3E seat reservation, if you want to reserve one, but are not required like on the ES trains. You can't get seat reservations on D or R trains. Many small cities will only have D or R trains. The faster(usually) ES and IC trains run between major cities.

rex

&lt;&lt; If you train to Siena (note spelling), you will need to call a taxi to take you &amp; your luggage up to the town. &gt;&gt;

But if you get off the train in Florence (where you would have to transfer to get to Siena anyway), and take the (SITA) bus... you arrive there in the same amount of time, and the bus takes you up (the hill) <i>Into</i> the town of Siena. The train leaves you at the bottom of the hill.

nunz

Thanks everyone for the Siena info.. One more question. I think the best way to get from Cinque Terre to Paris is the train. I know I've asked this before but for clarity sake. Would I use Trenitalia or should I look at a different train. I will be leaving from either Monterosso or Portovener. What stations would I start from to get to Paris? I hope that makes sense. Thanks

nunz

I may have been to quick on my last posting. Even from Genoa (which i guess would be most logical) it looks like an 8 hour train ride. Maybe I should look into taking the train from Monterossa to Genoa and then flying into Paris. Does that sound logical?