Praiano to Pienza, Italy
Jun 23rd, 2013 | 01:54 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Praiano to Pienza, Italy
Hello Fellow Travelers
My wife and I are traveling from Praiano to Pienza on 14 September. Our intermediate goal is to arrive in Salerno by noon so that we can pick up our rental car from Europcar before they close the office at 1300. We will then drive to Monticchiello (Pienza) for 7 nights. My research shows that there is a bus that leaves Praiano at 0655 and 0830. They arrive in Positano at 0710 and 0845. This gives us time to catch the ferry which leaves Positano at 1000 and arrives in Salerno at 1110. Plenty of time to make it to the office. My concerns are: 1. Is this a correct schedule? 2. How crowded will the buses on a Saturday at those times? I have heard it can be a challenge at times during the day as nobody queues for the bus. 3. Does this seem like the easiest way to get to Salerno and then to Pienza? As a note, my wife and I, will take time during the drive to take a break here and there. We will be on 'slow time' and we will not be rushing anywhere during this 3 week vacation.
Any comments or advice are welcomed.
Thank you,
Abby
My wife and I are traveling from Praiano to Pienza on 14 September. Our intermediate goal is to arrive in Salerno by noon so that we can pick up our rental car from Europcar before they close the office at 1300. We will then drive to Monticchiello (Pienza) for 7 nights. My research shows that there is a bus that leaves Praiano at 0655 and 0830. They arrive in Positano at 0710 and 0845. This gives us time to catch the ferry which leaves Positano at 1000 and arrives in Salerno at 1110. Plenty of time to make it to the office. My concerns are: 1. Is this a correct schedule? 2. How crowded will the buses on a Saturday at those times? I have heard it can be a challenge at times during the day as nobody queues for the bus. 3. Does this seem like the easiest way to get to Salerno and then to Pienza? As a note, my wife and I, will take time during the drive to take a break here and there. We will be on 'slow time' and we will not be rushing anywhere during this 3 week vacation.
Any comments or advice are welcomed.
Thank you,
Abby
Jun 23rd, 2013 | 07:05 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,498
Likes: 4
IMO, Sorrento v. Salerno is a push. Getting to Sorrento would take less time, but the drive from Salerno would take less time. Getting to Sorrento is one step, but getting to Salerno (as you describe) involves 2 steps (bus, then ferry) which means 2 opportunities for delay/glitch.
Where were you planning to stop between Salerno and Monticchiello? I can think of a few options, but any one of them could easily turn a longish drive (4 hours) into a nearly all-day journey.
If it were my trip, since I don't like long drives, I'd go to Salerno and train to Chiusi to pick up the car. A train from Salerno at 12:43p would arrive Chiusi at 5:03p (one change, Rome). There is an earlier departure from Salerno, but it arrives Chiusi (2:06p) during the hours the rental office at the train station is closed for lunch (12:50-3:30p). (Chiusi has sights and restaurants, but you'd have your luggage.) Otherwise, the rental office is open until 7:20p. The drive from Chiusi to Monticchiello is about 45 minutes.
Where were you planning to stop between Salerno and Monticchiello? I can think of a few options, but any one of them could easily turn a longish drive (4 hours) into a nearly all-day journey.
If it were my trip, since I don't like long drives, I'd go to Salerno and train to Chiusi to pick up the car. A train from Salerno at 12:43p would arrive Chiusi at 5:03p (one change, Rome). There is an earlier departure from Salerno, but it arrives Chiusi (2:06p) during the hours the rental office at the train station is closed for lunch (12:50-3:30p). (Chiusi has sights and restaurants, but you'd have your luggage.) Otherwise, the rental office is open until 7:20p. The drive from Chiusi to Monticchiello is about 45 minutes.
Jun 23rd, 2013 | 08:50 PM
#4
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
Why wouldn't you take the bus from Praiano to Amalfi and change to the bus to Salerno? The buses departing Amalfi to Salerno are usually timed to meet the buses coming from Sorrento/Praiano, etc. I wouldn't base my plans on a ferry out of Positano. If the weather isn't good or the sea is a bit rough, ferries don't put into Positano.
http://www.amalficoastweb.com/orari_...imetables.html
http://www.amalficoastweb.com/orari_...imetables.html
Jun 24th, 2013 | 04:10 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Thank you all for your input
bobthenavigator. I picked Salerno only because I heard it was a nightmare to drive around the Amalfi coast and I thought the ferry ride would be a change. Did not consider weather.
Jean. I had considered the train but it seems to take as much time and may even be more expensive. But I may reconsider based on your input.
kybourbon. The challenge seems to me to make either the 0730 or 1000 bus from Praiano to Amalfi. That allows time to make the 0805 or 1100 from Amalfi to Salerno with plenty of time to make it to the rental. My concern is the things I have read on this site concerning the crowd that could be waiting the bus. The question is how large of a crowd should one anticipate on a Saturday morning? Any ideas?
bobthenavigator. I picked Salerno only because I heard it was a nightmare to drive around the Amalfi coast and I thought the ferry ride would be a change. Did not consider weather.
Jean. I had considered the train but it seems to take as much time and may even be more expensive. But I may reconsider based on your input.
kybourbon. The challenge seems to me to make either the 0730 or 1000 bus from Praiano to Amalfi. That allows time to make the 0805 or 1100 from Amalfi to Salerno with plenty of time to make it to the rental. My concern is the things I have read on this site concerning the crowd that could be waiting the bus. The question is how large of a crowd should one anticipate on a Saturday morning? Any ideas?
