Itinerary help around Naples
Jan 30th, 2012, 05:51 AM
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Itinerary help around Naples
I'm currently planning a trip to Italy for this May with a friend, and we're having some trouble banging out a clear schedule. So far, we have decided to spend 4 nights in Rome before taking the train to Naples. We then have 3 days before we are hopping on a ferry to Sicily. The issue is figuring out what to do about where to stay while we're there.
The general plan we have is that the morning of the first day, we train in from Rome, then spend a fairly leisurely day in Naples eating some pizza and seeing the archeological museum. If we are feeling ambitious maybe seeing the castle as well. The next day, we want to go to Pompeii. Then the third day, I would really like to catch at least a glimpse of the Amalfi coast, and maybe take the bus up to Positano. The night of the 3rd day, at 2am, we catch our ferry out of Salerno.
The question is where we should base ourselves from to see all of this. Because of the ferry we only need 2 nights in a hotel. If we spend both nights in Naples, we will have to come all the way back to Naples to get our luggage on the last day, before heading back to Salerno for our ferry, which would eat up a lot of the day. If we spend the two nights in Salerno, then the first day we won't get much time to experience Naples because of all the extra time on the train. But staying in Naples the first night and Salerno the second seems like a lot of moving around, and it means that on the second day we would have to go all the way to Salerno first to check into our hotel and drop off our bags before going BACK to Pompeii, which seems inefficient. I really don't want to be dragging our luggage around when visiting Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast.
Help! Does anyone see a solution to streamline these packed 3 days?
The general plan we have is that the morning of the first day, we train in from Rome, then spend a fairly leisurely day in Naples eating some pizza and seeing the archeological museum. If we are feeling ambitious maybe seeing the castle as well. The next day, we want to go to Pompeii. Then the third day, I would really like to catch at least a glimpse of the Amalfi coast, and maybe take the bus up to Positano. The night of the 3rd day, at 2am, we catch our ferry out of Salerno.
The question is where we should base ourselves from to see all of this. Because of the ferry we only need 2 nights in a hotel. If we spend both nights in Naples, we will have to come all the way back to Naples to get our luggage on the last day, before heading back to Salerno for our ferry, which would eat up a lot of the day. If we spend the two nights in Salerno, then the first day we won't get much time to experience Naples because of all the extra time on the train. But staying in Naples the first night and Salerno the second seems like a lot of moving around, and it means that on the second day we would have to go all the way to Salerno first to check into our hotel and drop off our bags before going BACK to Pompeii, which seems inefficient. I really don't want to be dragging our luggage around when visiting Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast.
Help! Does anyone see a solution to streamline these packed 3 days?
Jan 30th, 2012, 06:55 AM
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No chance of taking a ferry from Naples instead - you might perhaps get a more civilised sailing time?
Don't know the exact details and it looks like (now away) the choice comes down to Palermo and not Messina...
http://sfoglia.ilmattino.it/mattino/pagpdf/parte.pdf
... but with a 3 hr €12 train journey between those two, you might well still arrive sooner than the 14:30 shown there?
Peter
Don't know the exact details and it looks like (now away) the choice comes down to Palermo and not Messina...
http://sfoglia.ilmattino.it/mattino/pagpdf/parte.pdf
... but with a 3 hr €12 train journey between those two, you might well still arrive sooner than the 14:30 shown there?
Peter
Jan 30th, 2012, 07:16 AM
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If it is a sunny day, go to the Amalfi coast the day you arrive in Naples. Drop your luggage at your hotel and then maybe you can catch a ferry to Positano and take the bus back. Otherwise, to go to Sorrento and use the buses to go down the coast all the way to Salerno, and then take the train back to Naples. Be careful not to eat or drink too much when faced with bus rides because they can be nauseating, especially if you end up coming back on a bus in the dark..
Second plan would be go to Pompei from Rome, stow your luggage at the entrance to Pompei, and return to Napoli to sleep. Second day, go to the Amalfi coast and return to Naples. Third day, explore Naples (park your luggage at the train station or your hotel), and then catch a late train for Salerno, in time to get your boat.
Third plan would be to go to Naples from Rome and have the day you planned. Second day go to Amalfi. Third day, go to Pompei with your luggage, store it at the entrance, at the end of your visit, take yourselves and your luggage to Salerno. But then you are stuck with your luggage until your boat leaves. If the ferry company will accept it early, great. But I doubt the train station has a place that would open up for you to retrieve it at night.
Second plan would be go to Pompei from Rome, stow your luggage at the entrance to Pompei, and return to Napoli to sleep. Second day, go to the Amalfi coast and return to Naples. Third day, explore Naples (park your luggage at the train station or your hotel), and then catch a late train for Salerno, in time to get your boat.
Third plan would be to go to Naples from Rome and have the day you planned. Second day go to Amalfi. Third day, go to Pompei with your luggage, store it at the entrance, at the end of your visit, take yourselves and your luggage to Salerno. But then you are stuck with your luggage until your boat leaves. If the ferry company will accept it early, great. But I doubt the train station has a place that would open up for you to retrieve it at night.
Jan 30th, 2012, 07:20 AM
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Going into Palermo doesn't work too well with our plans since my parents will be in Sicily on their boat at that time and are planning to drive to Messina to pick us up, and we'll then do a road trip down the east coast. We did consider the Napoli-Catania run however. The primary downside seems to be then we have a lot less time on our last day, since we would still have to get to the Amalfi coast on that morning, and back to Naples in time to get our bags etc and get on the ferry. Is that really doable? I don't know what transportation is like between Naples and the AC.
It's strange that that schedule shows the ferry arriving in Messina at 2:30pm since the Caronte & Tourist website says the ferry is only 8 hours long, which puts it at a much more humane 10am for arrival. I also liked that the Salerno-Messina ferry seems to go within a few miles of Stromboli, raising the possibility of catching a look at the volcano if we make it out of our cabin early enough.
It's strange that that schedule shows the ferry arriving in Messina at 2:30pm since the Caronte & Tourist website says the ferry is only 8 hours long, which puts it at a much more humane 10am for arrival. I also liked that the Salerno-Messina ferry seems to go within a few miles of Stromboli, raising the possibility of catching a look at the volcano if we make it out of our cabin early enough.
Jan 30th, 2012, 10:07 AM
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Looks like it! Thanks for those suggestions, one and two seem like they could be good ideas... do you know that there is somewhere (safe) to stow luggage at Pompeii? A ferry from Naples to Positano would make things a lot more straight forward in terms of spending a day there.
Jan 30th, 2012, 11:10 AM
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I've never done it, but it is my understanding you can store luggage at the entrance to Pompeii. A guidebook should have all the details, or you can find the info online. Somebody else here may know, or on Tripadvisor. Likewise, ferry schedules, but it helps to tell people what day you are going, if it is Sunday, etc.
Jan 30th, 2012, 01:17 PM
#8
There is luggage storage at the Naples train station if you wanted to stop and see the museum and other sites.
http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/i...003f16f90aRCRD
There is also storage at the main entrance to Pompeii (free).
I would probably store luggage at Naples, tour, retrieve luggage and spend the night in Sorrento. Next day, tour Pompeii (easily reached by train from Sorrento - about 30 minutes).
http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/i...003f16f90aRCRD
There is also storage at the main entrance to Pompeii (free).
I would probably store luggage at Naples, tour, retrieve luggage and spend the night in Sorrento. Next day, tour Pompeii (easily reached by train from Sorrento - about 30 minutes).
Jan 30th, 2012, 02:15 PM
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kybourbon's idea is what I was thinking. She wrote
-I would probably store luggage at Naples, tour, retrieve luggage and spend the night in Sorrento. Next day, tour Pompeii (easily reached by train from Sorrento - about 30 minutes).
-I would probably store luggage at Naples, tour, retrieve luggage and spend the night in Sorrento. Next day, tour Pompeii (easily reached by train from Sorrento - about 30 minutes).
Jan 30th, 2012, 03:01 PM
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Food and nightlife is much better in Naples, but some people are really put off by the town.
Only downside of staying in Sorrento (other than boredom!) is that you end up needing to go back Naples to catch a train to Salerno. So I guess on your third day, you would leave your luggage at the hotel, see the Amalfi coast, return to Sorrento (la-la) get your luggage/eat, take commuter train to Naples for a connection to Salerno.
Up to you. I think Naples is more interesting place to experience. Sorrento is a tourist resort.
Only downside of staying in Sorrento (other than boredom!) is that you end up needing to go back Naples to catch a train to Salerno. So I guess on your third day, you would leave your luggage at the hotel, see the Amalfi coast, return to Sorrento (la-la) get your luggage/eat, take commuter train to Naples for a connection to Salerno.
Up to you. I think Naples is more interesting place to experience. Sorrento is a tourist resort.
Jan 30th, 2012, 04:26 PM
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Nice plans, other than the early departure to Salerno. In Naples, wonderful magnificent city (looking past some unpleasant areas) you don't want to miss http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/06/14...pagewanted=all since you like archeology. It is worth a few hours. Walking along the bay is also pleasant.
Your plan to travel down the Amalfi is good. If you are fearless the drive is exhilarating, but parking in Positano is tight. Ravello is also worth a visit. The only town I found disappointing was Amalfi, but even that was charming.
I also liked Sorrento, contrary to zeppole's comments. BUT given a choice between Naples and Sorrento zeppole is right on. Naples has it all. Food, museums, wonderful people, shopping and atmosphere.
Your plan to travel down the Amalfi is good. If you are fearless the drive is exhilarating, but parking in Positano is tight. Ravello is also worth a visit. The only town I found disappointing was Amalfi, but even that was charming.
I also liked Sorrento, contrary to zeppole's comments. BUT given a choice between Naples and Sorrento zeppole is right on. Naples has it all. Food, museums, wonderful people, shopping and atmosphere.
Jan 30th, 2012, 06:39 PM
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Thank you all for your very helpful comments! I think based on what you've told me we are going to stay in Naples for both nights, but go straight to Pompeii on the first day and stow our luggage there. We will then do the Amalfi Coast the second day - the idea to take a ferry to Sorrento or Positano and then make our way down the coast to Salerno, and heading back to Naples from there, is a great one! We'll then do as much of the main stuff in Naples as we can fit in on the last day before catching our ferry. Thanks for that link Renaud, that looks amazing so if we can make it happen in Naples I'm definitely going to try.
Jan 30th, 2012, 06:57 PM
#13
>>>Only downside of staying in Sorrento (other than boredom!) is that you end up needing to go back Naples to catch a train to Salerno.<<<
No you don't. You can catch a bus from Sorrento along the coast to Salerno.
Another option would be to train from Rome to Salerno and book your nights there. You can easily hop buses/ferries to the Amalfi coast and train to either Pompeii or Naples.
No you don't. You can catch a bus from Sorrento along the coast to Salerno.
Another option would be to train from Rome to Salerno and book your nights there. You can easily hop buses/ferries to the Amalfi coast and train to either Pompeii or Naples.
Jan 30th, 2012, 08:13 PM
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kybourbon,
The whole point of the OP posting here was to ask for advice about how to avoid carrying his luggage all the way down the Amalfi coast on a bus. In the first post it also says that staying two nights in Salerno was considered, and rejected, because it would mean not seeing much of Naples.
The whole point of the OP posting here was to ask for advice about how to avoid carrying his luggage all the way down the Amalfi coast on a bus. In the first post it also says that staying two nights in Salerno was considered, and rejected, because it would mean not seeing much of Naples.
Jan 31st, 2012, 08:00 AM
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TB - see what you mean about the 8 hour journey rather than those monster times shown in the paper! Perhaps those date back to before the new ships came into use?
Which reminds me, allow time in Salerno to get to the dock - as it's quite a way out (seen here from Vietri)...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/128839258
For a rough summary of travel times ashore, try this...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370
Not very many of them each day but it might be worth noting that some Regionale Veloce trains use the new line (round the back of Vesuvius) to get from Naples to Salerno in 35/40 minutes... much quicker than the hour it takes on the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento!
Tickets for those cost just €4 (as does that CV journey) or it's €7.50 on the IC trains, which take about the same time.
Sadly the full details of the two luggage areas at Pompei disappeared (with a lot of excellent information) on the closure of the Pompei Viva website recently, however there's one at each of the main entrances - Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro - and both are free, as is the one at Herculaneum!
Peter
Which reminds me, allow time in Salerno to get to the dock - as it's quite a way out (seen here from Vietri)...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/128839258
For a rough summary of travel times ashore, try this...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370
Not very many of them each day but it might be worth noting that some Regionale Veloce trains use the new line (round the back of Vesuvius) to get from Naples to Salerno in 35/40 minutes... much quicker than the hour it takes on the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento!
Tickets for those cost just €4 (as does that CV journey) or it's €7.50 on the IC trains, which take about the same time.
Sadly the full details of the two luggage areas at Pompei disappeared (with a lot of excellent information) on the closure of the Pompei Viva website recently, however there's one at each of the main entrances - Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro - and both are free, as is the one at Herculaneum!
Peter
