After 10 days in Italy, we would like to take a quick visit to Nice, Cannes, and/or San Tropez region. Our last destination in Italy is Positano/Sorrento. Which do you recommend, car or train? We are also looking into visiting Barcelona where we would probably fly to from Rome. Any suggestions? We have approximately 3 days and would like to stay in the same climate as to not have to pack additional clothing.<BR>Thanks.

I'm having a hard time putting your entire itinerary together. Are you arriving and departing from Rome or is that open to change? Are you going to Barcelona after Nice, etc? If so, are you planning to return to Rome after Nice and then fly to Barcelona? Or are you planning to end up in Barcelona and fly home from there? You're already about half way between Rome and Barcelona when in Nice. Is Barcelona a possible alternate to Nice or another destination in addition to Nice? Please post your "givens" and then we can offer several options.

Our arrival and departure points are flexible. We must be in Florence at the train station on our first day by 3pm, which makes Milan or Rome possible arrival points, unless we can get a decent fare into Florence. Do you know how long the train ride is from Milan to Florence and Rome to Florence?<BR><BR>Because we only have 3 days, we will either do Barcelona or Nice. Fly to Barcelona, spend 3 days and fly home or Drive/Train to Nice and fly home from there. Whichever it is, we will fly home from our final destination.<BR><BR>Thanks for your help.

Sounds like you might be counting on cheap flights to connect two distant points - - there USED to be a convenient cheap flight offered between Rome and Barcelona on www.virgin-express.com - - but I think they discontinued the route some time ago.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

We have changed plans and will definately drive or train from Sorrento to Nice. Rental car for 3 days is approx. US$300.00, which is more than the train, I presume.<BR><BR>Any suggestions for cities to stop at? Hotels? We have already visited the Cinque Terre, so I am thinking more of places across the French border. Can you make it from Sorrento to Cote de Azur in one day?

NB.<BR><BR>The fastest train of the day leaves Naples at 1010, change at Rome Termini (17 minutes), change at Genoa (9 minutes), arriving Nice 1958. Total journey time 9Hrs 48 Mins. Quite a haul.My suggestions for a short stay on the Riviera would be Villefranche, about 10 minutes by cab from Nice, or Menton, the first train stop just over the Italian border The train ride is quite scenic, overlooking the Med. for about half the journey.

Has anyone driven from Sorrento to Nice? What are the roads like? How long does it take? <BR><BR>