im not getting any feedback on this forum and my time is running out!! I leave for Greece on the 17th , from there i want to get to Italy. How? Im taking the ferry from Patras to Bari. Now how in hell does one get from Bari to Sorrento?

From Sorrento i plan to go to Rome Florence, Venice and then to France. I want to take a biking trip in France. Anyone know of any budget tours.

One way would be for you to check train schedules at www.trenitalia.com.

You could take a train from Bari to Caserta and change there for a train to Naples and (changing again there) take a Circumvesuviana Ferrovia train to Sorrento.

You could also take a bus to Naples but the train, overall, might be easier.

thanks. do you think i should get a eurail pass. Or just buy tickets at the terminal.

I don't understand about you not getting any feedback?? This is the first thread you've started. Your only other post was to take this question at the bottom of a looooooong thread about who is going to Europe in Sept.

You ahve started to get some info on this thread. But your title really doesn't say waht you are asking. Apparently you want to know 1) how to get to Sorrento, and 2) about bicycle tours in France.

"First Time Packpacker . . .help!! " doesn't cut it.

Try again w/ a title that actually mentions what you want to know . . . . (especially for the bike tour bit since Dukey has helped w/ the Sorrento problem)

sorry about the typos - but I think you can work it out.

I would probably not get a railpass even though some of them will cover the ferry from Patras to Bari...but you can check as to whether or not point-to-point tickets would be more (or less)economical than a pass by going to www.raisaver.com and inputting your proposed itinerary.

Sorry..that should be www.railsaver.com

Oh my. my... where to start? It may well be that other would-be backpackers (or other budget Europe travelers) will see this posting long after you've departed, and ideally... learn some (better) ideas of how to prepare for a trip to Europe. That is, learn from what seems to be - - at least on the surface - - a deficiency in planning/preparation.

Only seven days to go, huh? You weren't getting "any feedback from this forum" because you just posted for the first time ever at 11 pm last night, and that was by adding a message to a thread already 94 messages long - - with no indication that your information needs would be part of its posting title. This current posting is a better start, albeit a late one.

Perhaps you have already discovered other resources, both on the internet, and in plain old ordinary books (or direct advice from others who have backpacked through Europe themselves), If you haven't already found it, get straight away to the ThornTree website on www.lonelyplanet.com - - where you will find much more expertise and friendly attitudes towards would-be backpackers. It's not that Fodors is <u>un</u>-friendly, but backpacking is not a predominant mode of travel among visitors here.

You've received some advice on getting from Bari to Sorrento. Another suggestion would be to forego the ferry altogether and fly from Greece to Italy. See www.whichbudget.com

It seems highly unlikely that you would benefit (from a cost standpoint) from buying a &quot;rail pass&quot; of any type. Rail travel in Italy is particularly cheap, just buying ordinary point-to-point tickets, as you need them.

Do you have specific goals in France, besides biking? Are you flying home from Paris? There are bike tours that move your stuff from point A to point B while you pedal. I don't know specific names or pricing - - but others here might. I'd suggest a separate posting, and ask about biking tours in France (or more specific region in France if that is important to you) - - mentioning this <u>in the message header</u>.

And you may get better answers if the tone of your postings doesn't sound exasperated - - with the insinuation that it's <u>our</u> fault that you are seeking so much information, with so little time.

Best wishes,

Rex

stop panicing and enjoy your trip. you will find a way - that's what travel is all about. Make too many plans and the thing falls apart.

It appears that we've lost another newbie.

Note to [email protected] - - write to this new registrant and let her know that we are eager to help her.

hello! hello! thanks guy i thought if i took an exasperated tone it might help. I've posted in many forums and havent been getting any responses, i guess this was the last of them. Sorry. You guys are responsive and know your stuff! And i really dont mind the criticisms

Lack of planning? absolutely! now where do i start? applied for the turkish visa.. rejected. had that vacation thoroughly planned down to the last detail. Italian embassy not responding, so finally its the greek schengen. thats my story and its all just sort of happened between travelling at work. Ive had no time to plan. So i thought i should mostly just go with it and see where and how i end up. I'll start a thread asking for more specific info on the bike tour.

Hi Anne,

I sent you this link on your other post

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34689439