Marseille -Livorno
 

We are having trouble finding a quick route between the above subject matter. Trains and Air require transfers, a car requires a big drop-off fee. Will also consider Pisa or Florence from Marseille if that helps to get us to Livorno.

What about boats or ferries?

I looked at Trenitalia and there's nothing quick about that train trip (10 hours unless I did something wrong).

This is just my guess but I'd say quickest is to fly to Pisa and take train or bus to Livorno from there.

Anyone else have some first-hand experience for pebbles99?

TDudette your search on the trains is correct. I could not find any direct flights from Marseille to either Pisa, Livorno or Florence. It appears car is the only answer at this time, will start searching for a rate that has a smaller drop off fee.

bahn.de shows a weekday train leaving Livorno at 8am and getting into Marseilles at 16.55 - about 9 hours and 3 changes later.

nor are there any obvious flights or boats, though you could go via porto vecchio in corsica - boats go to and from there both from livorno and Marseilles, apparently.

viamichelin suggests that by car it would be 5 3/4 hours but you will have to pay a drop off fee - hopefully not too much.

What about a bus from Marseilles to Genoa then rent a car from there (or continue by train if you prefer to not drive)?

Geeze, we took a local bus from Menton to Nice and back for a couple of euros and Menton is just a hop skip and a jump from Italy. Bus might be cheapest but certainly not fastest.

Thanks to the both of you for your help. Will look at the bus option, and car. I feel as if I have entered the Bermuda Triangle on this one. We are looking for the least non stress and fastest way to Livorno. It looks car at this time, however.

My late husband lived in one of those "you can't get there from here" places! Or, "you can get there but it's going to take some doing"!

Hope you'll report back about how it went.

Yes, it's one of those areas that you can't get there fast or cheap. There are overnight ferries (year round) from Barcelona to Livorno or Genoa, but from France, you must ferry to Corsica and change ferries (usually seasonal).

If you decide to drive, you might consider dropping your "French" car in Menton (France) at the station, taking a 12-13 minute train to Ventimiglia (Italy), and picking up a car there to drive on to Livorno. Would eliminate the cross border drop-off fee, while adding only a small amount of time to the journey overall.

Menton to Ventimiglia timetables here:

http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/paca...s/Default.aspx

or, catch the train to Ventimiglia, and hire the car there!

depends whether you want a car in Italy or not.

Thanks again for the help, must say this is a good one. Will check credit cards to look at coverage for a car. I have rented in Italy for 5 years in a row, and understand the coverage options. France to Italy will look at the options,I have always accepted complete coverage thru Kemwel.

I'd love to know what the final outcome was on this as I am making the same trip this summer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.