Getting from Sicily to Amalfi Coast with the fewest headaches
Sep 10th, 2008, 10:24 AM
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Getting from Sicily to Amalfi Coast with the fewest headaches
Many thanks to those who have helped with my previous questions on planning my big family trip to Italy. We just booked our flights yesterday and we're all so excited! Our itinerary is ORD-ROM-PMO (6/17/09) and flying out ROM-ORD (6/30/09).
Our tentative plan was to rent a car in Palermo and base ourselves in Cefalu for a week before heading to Positano and Rome for the second week. My question is, what's the best way to get to the Amalfi Coast from Sicily? Train? Ferry? Flight? Cost is somewhat of a consideration, but as my parents are not big travelers, I think they would be willing to pay extra if it meant a simpler trip. I would love to hear any opinions or experiences you've had. Thanks!
Our tentative plan was to rent a car in Palermo and base ourselves in Cefalu for a week before heading to Positano and Rome for the second week. My question is, what's the best way to get to the Amalfi Coast from Sicily? Train? Ferry? Flight? Cost is somewhat of a consideration, but as my parents are not big travelers, I think they would be willing to pay extra if it meant a simpler trip. I would love to hear any opinions or experiences you've had. Thanks!
Sep 10th, 2008, 12:19 PM
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I would split that week in Sicily and end at Taormina for 3 nites and then drive from there as far as Salerno to drop the car and ferry to Positano from there. You do not want a car at Positano. That drive is about 5 hours depending on the ferry ships at Messina. I am assuming 4 people.
Sep 11th, 2008, 08:41 AM
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Thank you for the advice. My parents feel strongly about wanting to rent a place for the week they are there, so that is why we are basing ourselves in one place for the duration of the trip. Cefalu happens to be a short drive to the town where we still have family.
Sep 11th, 2008, 11:57 AM
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There are overnight ferries to Salerno from Messina (www.carontetourist.it), and to Napoli from Catania (www.tttlines.it) or from Palermo (www.tirrenia.it and www.snav.it).
Sep 11th, 2008, 12:15 PM
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We took the train from Sicily to Sorrento (via Naples) and it was very pleasant. The train runs along the coast for much of the ride and the scenery was nice. I think it was about a 6 hr trip from Giardini-Naxos (Taormina) to Naples, then an hour back to Sorrento on the Circumvesuviano train, but if you're going to Positano, I would do as bobthenavigator suggested and only take it as far as Salerno, then ferry to Positano.
