Need to find a dozen tickets to Naples with economy and ease in mind - I've only seen tickets for around $1000 a piece and wonder if there is any hope in waiting until later -already booked villa in Sorrento for our family but hope someone knows a way to get there which wouldn't cost this much and wouldn't require the change of airports in London.

Departing from...

Hi J,

Have you tried,

www.kayak.com
www.flycheapabroad.com/default.aspx
www.1800flyeurope.com

Call some of the airlines directly and ask about rates for tour groups. You might qualify. Look at flights that stop/ change in Frankfurt. Look at flights that land in Rome. Compare the cost of that plus cost of bus/train to Naples, with the cost of flights into Naples.

If it's high season, you might not find better rates. Most airlines have a group contact link on their webpage. Usually you must have a minimum of 8-10 people to use the group planning.

Good idea to check for group rates - it couldn't hurt to call a travel agent to see if they can do any better.

If you find better fares into Rome you could then hire a bus or mini-bus for the group to take you directly to your villa in Sorrento.

Oh, of course, we would most conveniently leave from DC and I have checked out so many websites but not 1800flyeurope
I did contact a travel agent but never heard back. I can try that again. Does anyone know aprox what a train from Rome to Sorrento would cost?
Thanks for all the replies. I really don't want to wait if the price won't go down.

Also our trip is planned for October 2010

The train is from Rome to Naples, and then the Circumvesuviana (commuter train) to Sorrento, or the ferry.

not many direct flights to Naples...only one I know of from NY is with EuroFLy...and they do not tend to be the cheapest. I understand you're pain - I'm currently trying to organize a group of about 20 and flying into Naples would be best

Have you thought of flying into Rome? It's what I usually do actually (we usually drive, but there is always the train or bus or private group transport) Here's why I like flying into Rome:
#1 cost. I fly from NY and flights to Rome are usually cheaper.
#2 non-stop. I like to sleep on the plane ;-) so waking earlier in London or Amsterdam (or wherever) doesn't help me! makes the trip seem longer than getting on one plane and arriving in Italy.
#3 time. time it out. flying into Naples with one connection can actually take LONGER than flying nonstop into Rome and then heading down to Naples...or Sorrento via bus or car or train. You have to factor the layover time and, sometimes, it actually gets you to your destination faster.

just a thought!

United flies direct from Dulles to Rome. You'd avoid making any connections, although you'd still need to get to Sorrento from there. You could always take the train to Naples and connect to the Circumvesuviana for Sorrento, or you might be able to arrange a very large van/minibus with a driver for the trip. Other posters might have more information on the latter option.

Train to Naples from Rome is about 46€ per person 2nd cl and then the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Sorrento is about 3-4€). You would also have to get from the airport to the train station (Rome Termini) either by train (11€) or Sitbusshuttle (8€).

Another option (depending on your flight arrival time in Rome) is to take the local train from the airport to Rome's Tiburtina station (5.50€) and then the Marozzi bus to Sorrento (17.50€). The bus departs Tiburtina at 3pm and arrives Sorrento 7 pm. I don't think there is Sunday service except in summer. There is also the Curreri bus which departs Tiburtina at 2pm and arrives Sorrento at 5:30pm for 16€ (no Sunday service).

janinva,

You might investigate the possibility of hiring a driver and bus to meet you ih Rome and drive you to Sorrento.

We (five couples) did this several years ago and it worked out beautifully. The driver met us and drove us straight to our hotel in Sorrento. The bus must have been a 15-20 passenger size, because we had plenty of room, and most of us napped a bit after the all-night flight.

It was certainly nice not to have to worry with trains, tickets, etc.

I don't remember the cost, but it must have been reasonable or we wouldn't have done it!

Byrd

46€ + 4€ + 11€ per person x 12 people = $1000 total to get from Rome airport to Sorrento by train (plus cost of getting to villa in Sorrento).

There are a couple of airport shuttle services commonly recommended here on Fodors, and some similar sounding but not-recommended alternatives. www.romeshuttlelimousine.com is one that rings a bell, but I'm not 100% sure if that's one of the good ones.

Anyway, they show a 14pax Mercedes van available and a link to contact them for a quote from Rome directly to your villa.

Thanks for all the very detailed info - lots of good tips to follow up on and so much help! I really appreciate that you all took the time to help me! jan