Hi,

I am going to Italy for my Honeymoon and am slowly getting it all together and figured out. This site is so helpful I thought I would ask about getting around Italy. I want to take trains, buses, and rent a car during out 16 days there. The plan is:

Arrive Naples - Bus to Amalfi Coast
Bus back to Naples
Train to Tuscany
Rent Car for around Tuscany
Train to Cinque Terre
Train to Venice
Train to Milan Depart

I am very confuse on how to do this. Seems the Euro Rail is very expensive and you can get combo packages of train and car rental but it is for just a certain amount of days that don't fit our itinerary. Any tips on the best way and also the least expensive way to do this?

Also, I was advised to fly out of Milan instead of Venice. Does this make sense? We won't be spending any time in Milan.

Thank you so much for your help,
Ann

I think that rail travel is one of Italy's few outstanding bargains! I recently traveled by train for 3 weeks in Italy and just bought each ticket individually the day of (or day before) travel.. the self service kiosks are very easy to use.

I also think the Venice airport is very easly for departures to the US. Delta and US Air both have late morning departures which gives you plenty of time to get to the airport, tho a 6AM departure from Venice would be much more difficult.....

Go to trenitalia.com, the official site of the Italian railroad. You can check schedules and fares for your destinations there. Just plug in fake dates. Trenitalia has the cheapest fares.

For your itinerary, I doubt you would need a special pass--buying regular point-to-point tickets will most likely be cheaper. If you are on a budget, you can save money by booking tickets in 2nd class instead of 1st or by taking a slower train.

If you don't plan to visit Milan, then fly out of Venice. Chances are you may have to connect through Milan or Rome or another European city to do so. (Perhaps this is why your advisor suggested a Milan departure.) You'd have to spend money to get to Milan so use that money towards a Venice departure.

>I was advised to fly out of Milan instead of Venice. Does this make sense?<
Not in my opinion.

I'd arrive by train in Orvieto, rent a car there and drop it in La Spezia after your tour of Tuscany. Train to Venice and fly home...

You can figure out the price of your point to point rail tickets on the trenitalia site.

Then find out how much a rail pass would be. There are some flex and one country passes that might work for you. Just compare and see what's cheaper.

On our tour of Europe several years ago flex passes were cheaper for us because we took a few long overnight sleeper trains. I doubt with your itinerary a pass will be the best option, but a "one country" pass might be. Check the Rick Steves site, too, for good info about train travel and rail passes.

Hi ap,

>Arrive Naples - Bus to Amalfi Coast

The www.curreriviaggi.it bus goes from NAP to Sorrento.

To get to other towns, you take the SITA bus from Sorrento.

>Bus back to Naples

To get to Naples Centrale you take the Circumvesuviana commuter train from Sorrento or Meta, depending on your starting point.

>Rent Car for around Tuscany
Train to Cinque Terre<

I suggest that you drive to La Spezia and drop the car there.

>Train to Milan Depart

No need. You can fly back from Venice.

Alternatively, you could fly into Venice and out of Naples.

For what you are doing, I suggest buying your train tickets at www.trenitalia.com or at the first train station in Italy.

For car rental, see www.autoeurope.com and www.gemut.com.

Enjoy your visit.

Thank you to everyone, especially ira. I really appreciate all of the bus information. I haven't gotten close to trying to figure all that out.

Thanks again,
Ann

If you are going to end up in Venice there is no need to the backtrack to Milan to fly home. There is regular air service to the US from Venice.

You will really enjoy Italy - it's a wonderful country. I wholeheartedly agree with everyone who told you to buy the tickets from the machines at stations - far cheaper. I have written some useful information on my website:
http://www.hidden-italy.com/trains/train01.html

You're most welcome to visit and ask questions if you like!

Just one comment on your itinerary - the train journey from Naples to Tuscany is long but achievable. Consider going 1st class - it's not that much more expensive - it is your honeymood after all - and 1st is much more comfortable in busy and hot periods.

Have a great time,
Peter.

I'm no expert but would not go to Milan just to fly home. Price flying out of Venice instead.

I think you just need normal train tickets, not a pass or package or anything.

Perhaps I have missed something,but going North from Naples are you really going to by-pass Rome and Florence ?

By passing Rome but we will be visiting Florence during our 5 days in Tuscany.