Aha, a correction! Thank you and I read that post over twice! I would hate for someone to be looking for the hydro-planes! Happy travels.

That would be a short flight Sea Urchin! lol

Steve - I don't think all posts need to come from personal experience. For example, I haven't ridden every bus I listed above (have used Marrozi, contemplated using the Curreri last September while there and have seen the Buono Tourist fly by me on the autostrada), but I do have knowledge to share about them that may help others. Some of us have been around this board for years and if someone asks a question it we might actually know the answer just from seeing it here over the years. Nothing wrong with sharing that knowledge.

Thank you for your comments, Steve!

Regarding Ira's suggestion to take the train to Salerno to access Amalfi/Positano (which he has never done) here is the opinion of a person who lives in Positano, from another thread, regarding accessing Positano/ Amalfi via train to Salerno



"Hi, Joy,

Am coming into all this quite late, but as I live in Positano, perhaps my input will be worth something!

POSITANO

First of all, going all the way to Salerno, which is further south, doesn't make any sense. Either you have to take a SITA bus to Amalfi and change buses there for another to Salerno (takes almost 2 hours), or you can catch the ferry from the Positano jetty at 08h10. It makes a stop in Amalfi and then continues on to Salerno - it's about an hour. From where you disembark in Salerno you've got quite a trek to get to the train station. It would be best to take a taxi, but there aren't taxi's waiting by the dozen in that area."

I think that the sharing of personal experience is the very reason for this forum. If people continue to post what they have heard, of what they think they read someplace years ago, not only will there be misinformation of the kind you see here being bandied about, but the forum will lose any real value.


If someone wants to post about something he or she has not experienced, why not mention that, too, as I described above:

"I've not been to x-restaurant, but other posters here have raved about the place."


When it comes to posting concrete details such as bus or train schedules, it does not matter so much if the person has ridden every bus on the timetable.

But when opinions are sought about hotels and restaurants, and even the "best way" to reach a destination, let's keep it real by sharing first hand experience and not depend on hearsay!

One final matter from yesterday that has me wondering:

Ira, how would you help me plan a trip to Tombuktou (assuming I wanted to make a return visit) without having been there yourself?


Inquiring minds want to know!!!

ek says,

>Regarding Ira's suggestion to take the train to Salerno to access Amalfi/Positano (which he has never done)......<

In fact I have.

The rest of your post is as irrelevant as most of what you have been writing here.

Your post doesn't say from whence the person is coming to get to Positano.

It might seem strange to you, but for some people that is relevant.

In addition, the OP wants to go to Amalfi, not Positano.

The OP might prefer to spend 100E or so for a driver from Naples.

I gave her a less costly option.

It is her decision, not yours.

>I think that the sharing of personal experience is the very reason for this forum. <

You are entitled to your opinion.

I note that you have at various times (eg http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35156818) done nothing more than provide a link to tourist information.

Apparently, it is all right for you to violate your rules, but not the rest of us.

>how would you help me plan a trip to Tombuktou <

I would start by suggesting that you learn how to spell it.

I would then suggest that you get some guide books.

After you have a draft plan, come back and we will help you improve it.

Similar advice to what i gave the poster about Spain.

((I))
Having gotten over beeing irked, I find you to be less amusing than visiting the dentist but better than watching paint dry.

Ira: I have been to Tombuktou. (1996) That is the way they often write it in Mali, although you will see it written various ways.



Now if only it was as easy to avoid your posts--every time I open a topic--there is Ira giving spouting away.
Even today on a post about Croatia! What's next? Advice on Timor?

To be exact, and before Ira starts posting Wikipedia to show me how to spell, I just dragged out one of my expired passports. The permit of passage reads:



Tombouctou

But as I said above, there are quite a few accepted spellings.

Good gracious Bella. I cannot ever remember being so annoyed.

To top it off, take a look at the new post about
a day on the Amalfi coast! According to Ira, someone on a day-long visit from a cruise ship might consider walking down the "hill" from Ravello to Amalfi!

ok.my 2cents...for what it's worth anyway ;-)

the REASON everyone gets conflicting advice is...
#1 personal preference for buses/ferries...and

#2...getting to AMALFI and POSITANO are TWO different things, IMHO.

I think Amalfi is much easier, faster, etc. to reach from Salerno. When I go to Amalfi (which is a few times per year), I park in Salerno and take a bus (could take the ferry - I just prefer to hop on the bus and the schedule just seems to work well for us)...

when I have been to Positano (directly, not via Amalfi) - only a few times in the past couple of years, I have gone via bus (or car) from Sorrento. I think it is faster and closer.

I don't have bus scheduales on me, but I do know that, when we have driven it, it takes at least 40minutes to get to Positano from Amalfi...I have been told by locals it is 35 :-) but, obviously, that depends on who's driving!! with traffic, it has taken us over an hour...probably much, more like two even.

so...I think that is some of the confusion (again, only my opinion ;-) ) of the different answers when people say "what's the best way to the Amalfi Coast from Rome...or wherever?" It's going to be a different answer to get to Maiori versus Positano (for example!).

"From where you disembark in Salerno you've got quite a trek to get to the train station. " - this is just not really correct, BTW.

There are two ports in Salerno. Piazza Concordia Port is about three blocks MAX from the train station. I have walked it many times and with a little child...MAYBE 5 minutes. (probably less) It would take longer getting in and out of a taxi for goodness sake :-) The SITA buses stop RIGHT outside the door of the train station (ok - you have to cross the street/driveway so you are going in the right direction) Anyway...my point, is that I think Salerno is a very, very easy spot to navigate in and out of ;-)