In mid- April we plan to spend a week on AC,based in Positano,and then two weeks in Sicily.Or we could do the reverse,but I think we would prefer a laid-back week in Positano first.We are just beginning to plan an itinerary,and would so appreciate suggestions in regard to getting from one place to the other.My husband thinks it would be nice to take a ferry,but from what I have read,it sounds not lovely...and long.Most people seem to prefer to fly.If any of you gone from AC to Sicily,or the reverse,I would so appreciate your feed-back.Is it best to hire a driver to get to Naples airport from Positano,or is there another option??

Another option is to go Positano to Salerno (bus, taxi, ferry, or private driver) and take a train (about 5 hours) to Messina. There are car rental offices about a mile from the Messina Centrale train station.

Or you could rent a car in Salerno and drive. If you don't intend to drive back to the mainland, make sure you know if there's a one-way charge.

>>>My husband thinks it would be nice to take a ferry,but from what I have read,it sounds not lovely...and long<<<

You can take the overnight ferry. You would have a cabin just like on any other overnight ferry/ship. Not sure why you think it sounds "not lovely". Train would be the more likely to fit that description as it tends to be the older trains.

How do you intend to get around Sicily? If you rent a car, make sure you are allowed to take it to Sicily.

http://www.gnv.it/en/info-and-servic...nd-cabins.html

http://www.tttlines.it/en/index.php

http://www.snav.it/

Hi

I would do Sicily first. The weather should be cooler in April and warmer in May for Positano. You would think it doesn't matter too much but I'm just working on probability. I took the overnight ferry from Messina to Naples. It's no cruise ship. The cabin was small but the ferry nonetheless was quite satisfactory. Being at night your husband isn't going to see much. Save the ferry trips for the beautiful Amalfi Coast. So, yep I would definitely fly Naples to Sicily.

If you do Positano first one option to get to Naples other than using a driver is to take a taxi to Sorrento (21klms) and then a train to Naples.

15 years ago, we flew to Palermo, rented a car and spent 9 days traveling around Sicily. From Messina we took the car ferry to Reggio di Calabria and drove to the AC. 6 days later we dropped the car in Sorrento and took the ferry to Naples. I don't remember paying a one-way charge. But this info may be too old to be useful.

I took the overnight ferry from Lipari to Naples and was very glad I did! My cabin was small, but serviceable - no complaints. I did this in late May, so I had several very pleasant hours in the Aeolian Islands before the sun set, then a magnificent sunset, and then the chance to see Stromboli spewing lava against the night sky -- except that Stromboli wasn't performing that night. I woke up in time to see Capri's Faraglioni, then Vesuvius, and then the harbor of Naples. This same ferry started in Messina, if I recall correctly -- but I had wanted to spend the afternoon in Lipari and so had gone there earlier in the day by a small local ferry.

I agree with others -- visit Positano last.

Thank you, worldinabag for suggesting we visit Sicily first,seconded by kja...AND thank you kja for suggesting the Lipari/Naples ferry for our return...brilliant.We were hoping to include the Aolian Islands in our plans,so this is perfect.kja,I had been reading your posts on your travels in Istria,which WAS going to be our destination next April.Instead we decided to do AC with a return to Sicily and the places we did not get to last time. I was delighted to find your reply here.
Kybourbon,thank you for the links to the ferries.The rooms are far nicer than I expected.Now that I know we will fly directly into to Catania,with a return to to Positano from Naples,I will begin work on our itinerary,and look forward to responses.GRAZIE !!

Glad you decided on Positano last. Easter is April 20 this year and there is a good chance the ferries on the AC will not start running until Easter weekend.

For me, it is worth it to hire a driver to take you from Naples to Positano. It is spendy (100 euro when I did it in June) but worth it for me not to have to hassle with public transport.

Thanks for the kind words, 4carolina! I'm glad you found my posts useful.

If you are taking a ferry near the islands, it might go to Salerno instead of Naples. Caronte operates from Messina to Salerno. From Salerno, you could bus on to Positano if the ferries along the Amalfi coast aren't running.

http://www.carontetourist.it/v2.6_en/

I think you will be too early for some of ferry services (hydrofoil runs in summer).

Thank you...ALL of you.Now that we know Sicily will be our first destination,I need to check flights into Catania from Rome or Madrid or whichever international airport we arrive at.I need find out which airlines fly to Sicily in April,as well.Anyone have any thoughts ?? We visited Palermo,the western coast and Agrigento a few years ago,and have been yearning to return.This time,we plan to do the Eastern perimeter of the island,with 3 or 4 nights based in Siracusa/Ortygia,then driving up the coast for a night or two in Taormina and then possibly ferrying over to Reggio Calabria for a day before heading to Aeolian Islands,and ultimately Positano.I know all this sounds vague,because it is.I must find out about ferries operating in April in order to learn is this is a feasible itinerary.We can certainly stay 8 or more nights in Sicily,and I would so welcome suggestions from Fodorites !!I appreciate ekc reminding me of Easter Sunday!!That too,must be factored in.At this point we have total flexibility,with 3 weeks to fill "con tutti cosi fantastici".Your thoughts,please !!!

You should be able to get info about airlines from any good guidebook. I found the Rough Guide to Sicily particularly helpful.