Getting to Positano...Need lots of help on deciding best route
 

Hi,

My husband and I are planning a trip to Positano in June 2007. We are trying to use our FF miles on American and so far can't decide which is best way to get there.

Our options: Fly from JFK to London Heathrow and then transfer to London Gatwick for a flight to Naples, Italy. This itinerary allows for 4 hours between flights. Then meet a driver in Naples for trip down to Positano.

2nd option: Take direct flight from JFK to Rome...get into central Rome for train ride down to Naples...Then meet driver to Positano.

My question to experienced Amalfi coast travelers...which option seems most doable, easier, cost effective etc. I would prefer the flight into Naples but am concerned about timing.

Please advise.

Thanks

K

My vote is fly to Rome, get on the Alta Velocita train to Naples and then meet your driver. The train can get you there in an hour and 10 minutes. Lucky you, going to Positano! Where are you staying?

kleinjk,

You might try reposting and putting the words like "Naples via Heathrow/Gatwick tranfer: Is 4 hours enough for a layover or should I fly direct to Rome instead?" in your subject title so as to attract posters who have experience with the inter-airport transfer in London.

Whichever you decide to do, my advice is to pack only carry-on luggage.

Hi K,

I also would fly into Rome.

4 hr is not a lot of time for the LHR/LGW transfer.

However, there is the 18:15 out of JFK that allows 4:30 for the LHR/LGW transfer. This is doable.

((I))

rbnwdln:

I heard about that "high-speed" train to Naples. Do you need to have reservations or can you book on day of travel? Thanks.

I would catch a ferry to Positano from Naples. Tickets are about 9 Euros. The ferry ride is much more peaceful than the winding roads of the coast which can cause anxiety if you are not used to hurtling through two-lane narrow roadways with sheer cliffs on one side.

We booked our tickets a couple of days ahead but I'm sure you can get tickets on the day of departure. There are kiosks for these as well as regular ES trains. What's nice is that you can sit in the air conditioned lounge while you wait and have a complimentary cappucino.

I have to say that getting a driver to pick you up at the Napoli train station is optimal. Most drivers do not go fast (try Benevenuto Limousines if don't already have a driver) and they will deposit you and your luggage at the doorstep of your accommodations. And you can never absolutely count on the ferries running.

Can you really get a ferry to Positano from Naples? I thought you had to go to Sorrento first to catch the ferry to Positano. I would really like to know as we are going in September.

Thanks for the input....We currently have FF tickets held for the JFK-London-Naples route....I will try and change them for fly direct to Rome.

Not sure where we are staying yet...
Any thoughts on the Eden Roc?

K

We met a couple at the restaurant Il Retrovo above Positano who were staying at Eden Roc. They loved it. They had just had 125 of their closest friends and relatives to their wedding in Greece! Then after a week in Santorini they had come for a week at Eden Roc in Positano before moving on to other parts of Europe. I think he was a Kennedy but my husband thinks I am nuts. Well, not just because of that! :o)

Micheline,

Try putting up an individual post about ferries in the Amalfi, or do a Fodor's search. People have previously posted links to the ferry operators and schedules.

Micheline - 'Can you really get a ferry to Positano from Naples?'

There is NO direct FERRY service to Positano from Naples.

There is, however, a HYDROFOIL service.
Only one departure is DIRECT, leaving Napoli Beverello dock at 09.55 (- arr. Positano 10.55).

Other services are INDIRECT (- via Vico & Sorrento) and take longer (1 hr 30')

Here's the link:
http://www.metrodelmare.com/l-mm3_b.html

Fare: approx. € 10


Alernatively if you prefer to go by ferry rather than hydrofoil there is a ferry service from SALERNO to Positano.

This is a very scenic option if you're not in a hurry.
Journey time: 70 mins. Fare: € 6.50

There are currently departures at:
8:40 - 9:40 - 11:40 - 14:10 - 15:30 - 17:15

Here's the link:
http://www.salernocity.com/comune/tr...i/costiera.asp

[If you are travelling from Rome there are direct ES trains to Salerno.
www.trenitalia.com

The dock at Salerno is a 5 mins walk from the railway station ...]


Hope this helps ...

Steve

A driver from Naples is certainly not the most cost effective option (€80-100), but it is the easiest.

The Metro del Mare service which Steve mentions is great (though it actually took 2 hours when we did it this year, Steve). *But* it isn't always running. When we went last year, the service to Positano actually started the day after we left (c.2nd July). This year it wasn't running when we arrived, their people at the dock in Naples couldn't tell us when it would start, and whenever we checked at the Positano dock it hadn't started. But we were lucky in the end - having resigned ourselves to walk to piazetta, bus or taxi to SITA bus stop, bus to Sorrento, bus to airport, we arrived at the Positano dock on our departure day (17th June) to find the first one ready to go ! It was a very pleasant, cool & uncrowded journey. And in Naples it's just a 5 minute walk betweeen the dock and the Piazza Municipio airbus stop. Unfortunately there just doesn't seem to be any way of finding out in advance whether the hydrofoil will be running when you're there. The reason given both years for the Positano service not starting when the others did was that the dock in Positano needed repairing.

P.S. The Metro del Mare ticket was €9 which includes up to 45 minutes public transport before & after - including the airport bus. So we got all the way from Positano to the airport for €9 each.

The dock in Positano is repaired and up and running. So there may be a better chance for water transportation now.

Getting there is half the fun!

Just be flexible, and relax.

Fly into Rome in the morning and head for the train station. When you get there, book the next train to Salerno. Whatever it is, it will be enjoyable.

When you get to Salerno, if the seas are calm, take the ferry. If not (or the ferry is canceled -- it happens), take the SITA bus, which we found to be a great ride that pauses in Amalfi by the breakwater. Both of these options are just a couple of blocks from the train station in Salerno, which is less hectic than Sorrento up north.

Other ferry options from Naples involve a stop at Capri.

Thank you Steven James. It helps a lot!