Rome Airport to Amalfi Coast
May 20th, 2013, 06:10 AM
#1
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Rome Airport to Amalfi Coast
We are in the early stages of planning. We will be a group of four 60ish adults. Three pack relatively heavy bags. I am not much better with all the electronics these days. We are working at reducing the load but that is for another day.
I am trying to find the easiest way to get us to the Amalfi coast. We are open to our base town for the week.
1) Rent a car - Easy for the bag situation but I hear that the driving is difficult along the coast.
2) Train- It looks like we have to take the train or a cab from the airport to the main station in Rome and then the train to Naples. Once in Naples we can change to the local train to the town we choose to use as our base. Seems like it could be a lot of effort with heavy bags - up and down stairs.
3) Do we spring for a driver.
4) Should we look into flying into Naples?
Any suggestions?
I am trying to find the easiest way to get us to the Amalfi coast. We are open to our base town for the week.
1) Rent a car - Easy for the bag situation but I hear that the driving is difficult along the coast.
2) Train- It looks like we have to take the train or a cab from the airport to the main station in Rome and then the train to Naples. Once in Naples we can change to the local train to the town we choose to use as our base. Seems like it could be a lot of effort with heavy bags - up and down stairs.
3) Do we spring for a driver.
4) Should we look into flying into Naples?
Any suggestions?
May 20th, 2013, 06:55 AM
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Book a shuttle service from FCO to Termini---about 50E
Train to Naples---about 60E PP[ half that if saver fare]
Hire a driver, in advance, from Naples station to your destination---door to door about 110E
Or, just hire the driver from FCO to your destination for 400E. That is what I would do with 4 people. But, first decide what is your destination---that is another topic.
Train to Naples---about 60E PP[ half that if saver fare]
Hire a driver, in advance, from Naples station to your destination---door to door about 110E
Or, just hire the driver from FCO to your destination for 400E. That is what I would do with 4 people. But, first decide what is your destination---that is another topic.
May 20th, 2013, 07:01 AM
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Traveller,
I am not an expert, but from my research, there is no train to Amalfi Coast – just to Sorrento (the local train you mentioned from Naples), and bus from there. With lots/heavy bags, this option does not sound too good.
Where are you staying on the AC? When are you going? We will be staying in Positano, and we will take a train Rome - Salerno, and ferry from there. That might be another option for you to consider.
I heard the same things about driving on the AC, and we will not rent a car. With 4 in your group, a driver from Naples might make sense financially.
I am not an expert, but from my research, there is no train to Amalfi Coast – just to Sorrento (the local train you mentioned from Naples), and bus from there. With lots/heavy bags, this option does not sound too good.
Where are you staying on the AC? When are you going? We will be staying in Positano, and we will take a train Rome - Salerno, and ferry from there. That might be another option for you to consider.
I heard the same things about driving on the AC, and we will not rent a car. With 4 in your group, a driver from Naples might make sense financially.
May 20th, 2013, 07:09 AM
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We did have a car on the Amalfi and were glad as it gave us the freedom to go where we wanted without depending on public transit.
If you are a very calm driver and have good spatial judgement you will be fine, if not, stick to the bus and ferry system!
With four people and all that luggage you would need two small cars or one big one and I wouldn't recommend the big one. We had a very small car and even parking that was sometimes tricky.
If you are a very calm driver and have good spatial judgement you will be fine, if not, stick to the bus and ferry system!
With four people and all that luggage you would need two small cars or one big one and I wouldn't recommend the big one. We had a very small car and even parking that was sometimes tricky.
May 20th, 2013, 08:09 AM
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Whether to have a car on the Amalfi coast also depends on the time of year you're traveling. If it's high season, forget the car. The road (narrow, curvy, niched into the hillside high above the sea) gets very busy. Also parking is very difficult. If you're going in spring or fall, driving may be OK. Personally I wouldn't do it. And in the winter the AC is more or less dead.
In the summer the SITA buses along the coast get crowded, but more ferries run, between towns and to Capri and Naples.
I do think you're going to have to reduce the luggage. Put it on a diet!
In the summer the SITA buses along the coast get crowded, but more ferries run, between towns and to Capri and Naples.
I do think you're going to have to reduce the luggage. Put it on a diet!
May 20th, 2013, 09:51 AM
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What is best depends on:
Exactly where you will be staying
When you will be going
What you want to do
What your budget is
We have been twice and stayed in Sorrento We prefer a larger town with more shops and restaurants and a great hotel - and we had a car and drove up and down the coast. But that was late May - not something I would reco in July or August (then I would travel by boat as much as possible - since the road is mobbed, buses are slow, often SRO or not even room to get on at all.)
Exactly where you will be staying
When you will be going
What you want to do
What your budget is
We have been twice and stayed in Sorrento We prefer a larger town with more shops and restaurants and a great hotel - and we had a car and drove up and down the coast. But that was late May - not something I would reco in July or August (then I would travel by boat as much as possible - since the road is mobbed, buses are slow, often SRO or not even room to get on at all.)
May 26th, 2013, 07:16 AM
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I am 60 and just spent a week on the Amalfi Coast. The train from Rome to Naples or Salerno is fast, nice, and easy. There are areas at the end of each car for large luggage. You can take the Trenitalia or the new Italo train. Schedules are on line, just buy your tickets at the train station. If you decide to stay in Positano or Praiano, train to Naples. If you're staying in Amalfi or Ravello, train to Salerno.
From there I suggest a driver pick you up. I didn't want to hire a private driver for just me, I couldn't justify the cost. So I found Positano Shuttle at http://www.positanoshuttle.com/ for 35 Euro pp. I could prepay with a credit card so I didn't need cash. I stayed in Praiano and the shuttle took me right to my door and picked me up on the return.
I LOVED Praiano and much preferred it over Positano. It's a matter of personal preference. Praiano was a fourth the price with the same views. I stayed in an exquisite little inn called Pelligrino Pensione. The owner is a gourmet chef and offers the best food I've ever had. Breakfasts are included; omelets, fresh fruit, yogurt, breads, homemade jam, and great coffee. But the real treat is they also offer a first class dinner to their guests. I was so glad that I didn't have to fight the crowds in Positano whenever I wanted to eat!
I could easily walk into town, and when I wanted to explore Amalfi and the other areas, the bus stopped right in front of the hotel. The Pelligrino also has a garage for those who want the flexibility of a rental car.
From there I suggest a driver pick you up. I didn't want to hire a private driver for just me, I couldn't justify the cost. So I found Positano Shuttle at http://www.positanoshuttle.com/ for 35 Euro pp. I could prepay with a credit card so I didn't need cash. I stayed in Praiano and the shuttle took me right to my door and picked me up on the return.
I LOVED Praiano and much preferred it over Positano. It's a matter of personal preference. Praiano was a fourth the price with the same views. I stayed in an exquisite little inn called Pelligrino Pensione. The owner is a gourmet chef and offers the best food I've ever had. Breakfasts are included; omelets, fresh fruit, yogurt, breads, homemade jam, and great coffee. But the real treat is they also offer a first class dinner to their guests. I was so glad that I didn't have to fight the crowds in Positano whenever I wanted to eat!
I could easily walk into town, and when I wanted to explore Amalfi and the other areas, the bus stopped right in front of the hotel. The Pelligrino also has a garage for those who want the flexibility of a rental car.
May 26th, 2013, 02:10 PM
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If you can possibly swing it, I'd splurge on a driver for the four of you from FCO to your destination on the Amalfi Coast. I've done this trip many times, and with four people plus luggage it's a very long day of travel after an already very long transatlantic flight.
Finally, an FYI: I've been researching transportation companies for our upcoming trip to the area in July b/c we weren't thrilled with the driver we used last year. It seems the going rate from FCO-Amalfi Coast towns is E450-500 for 4 passengers in a van. We are going with Tiber Limo because two of our friends who visited recently raved about the company.
Good luck!
Finally, an FYI: I've been researching transportation companies for our upcoming trip to the area in July b/c we weren't thrilled with the driver we used last year. It seems the going rate from FCO-Amalfi Coast towns is E450-500 for 4 passengers in a van. We are going with Tiber Limo because two of our friends who visited recently raved about the company.
Good luck!
May 26th, 2013, 06:43 PM
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In 2009 our family of four paid a driver to collect us from our Rome hotel and deliver us to our hotel in Vico Equense (a small lesser-known village 12km north of Sorrento, on the Circumvesuviano train line). It cost us 290 euros, but was worth every cent as it took three hours, they handled all our luggage for us, and we did not have to stress about train connections or pickpockets in Naples Station (which at the time had a bad reputation for muggings). I'd say the fee would be a bit more now if you wish to travel further south, but I think still worth the cost, especially when split amongst four of you.
May 26th, 2013, 08:05 PM
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We used a service called Sorento Silver Star - they picked us up at Naples airport, stopped off at Pompeii for a little zip around (don't get a guide at the door, plan ahead if doing this), then drove us to Positano. (The driver stayed with our car/luggage while we toured). Friends recommended and friends followed us several times using them since then. At one point, some friends were blocked from getting to Positano due to a strike or something beyond their control, and Sorento bought them dinner at a lovely restaurant as an apology (even though it was beyond their control).
We were very pleased.
We were very pleased.
