cambee

have read past postings that it takes about 4 hours from Rome’s Termini Station to Pescara by train. We will be coming in on a flight from U.S. that arrives in Rome around 9AM. Since we are already at the airport I am looking to see if there is air service to Pescara from Rome? If we rent a car, would that be any faster-- Or, any other suggestions? Mother is 80 years old, so we need to consider her slower pace. Another plan is to rendezvous with relatives half way (wherever that may be) so we could drop off mother (who is travelling with us and who will be staying with family) while we go to Sorrento and other places.
If we rent a car, would that be easy to do from the Rome airport? Do you have car agency recommendations? If we rent a car, we will use it to drive from Rome to Pescara to Sorrento. How long would it take from Pescara to Sorrento by car?
Would we be able to leave the car in Sorrento or Naples? The next portion of the trip is to go by train from Sorrento to Bologna (drop luggage off in son’s apartment) then to Venice (with 1 small luggage). Then take a train back to Bologna ( travel with son to Pescara)then to Pescara then to Rome. We need to go back to Pescara to visit and pick-up mother.

We have 11 days to get in all this and return home on flight leaving Rome around 12 noon. Thanks for any advice.

cambee

Has anyone had experience with taking bus service from Rome to Pescara or any cities East of Rome?

GeoffHamer

This is the timetable for the bus service:
http://www.arpaonline.it/?page=or_peroma
They go from Tiburtina station in Roma to the old railway station in Pescara which is close to the present railway station.
I've only done the journey by train which takes a bit longer, but I find a long train journey more comfortable than a long bus journey.

cambee

GeoffHammer, Thanks for the information on Bus. Do you think renting a car would be a faster way to Pescara? I looking at total time factor for all ways of traveling to Pescara.
The train sounds like a more relaxing way to go. My only concern is that we will be traveling with my 80 year old Mom who may find the transition from airport to train station difficult if there is a lot of walking. I guess we could take a taxi to the train station, but how much hassle is it to get to departing track with luggage?
Thanks again for your help.

Gordon_R

It's a wonderful drive through stunning mountain scenery from FCO to Pescara. I used to do most of this route quite frequently on business trips. I could usually do FCO to a little beyond Avezzano in about 2 hours, and it's about another hour to Pescara. However, getting round the GRA (the ring road round Rome) can often be a nightmare if the traffic is bad (about 80% of the time!!!). Once you're out on the A24 and then the A25 the traffic thins out and it's an easy and fast drive.

Provided you can handle the GRA (and it's not that bad really), a rental car is definitely the fastest and most convenient way to go.

Maria_G

We've driven several times from Rome to Giulianova, which is just north of Pescara, and have never had a problem. We find driving in Italy to actually be pretty easy (although admittedly we don't drive IN Rome!). From the States I've gone through AutoEurope, they usually hook us up with EuropCar at FCO, we've never had a problem.

cambee

Gordon_R, thanks for your information. When you said it is a nightmare getting around FCO, do you mean as in sitting in traffic for hours to move? If that is the case, then even taking a taxi could take a long time to get to a train station or car rental?It sound like it take a long time just to get out of Rome no matter what means you go by. Any other alternative to bypass the traffic situation on ring road around Rome.

Ann1

Wow, you're doing a lot in 11 days. Mapping the route on the computer will help you see the roads and time. The AutoEurope website will tell you where they have drop offs.

Since our flight always lands early in the day, we have never hit traffic from FCO. That's not to say you won't. It is easy to access the highway. My only question is after such a long flight, will the driver be alert enough to drive the 3-4 hours. We always use AutoEurope because it is a US company. They have contracts with the other agencies so you get low mileage cars, reduced insurance, etc. We've even had damage to a car and had no problem and nothing to pay......it was one of those super tight streets and a stone wall ...

I understand what you are saying about your mom. Getting to Roma Termini, waiting for the next train, getting on the train, etc. could be hard for an 80 year old.

In the end, it's your choice. If it were me and taking an 80 year old, I would drive. You can stop and see whatever you want on the way.

LJ

We lived about 1/2 hour from Pescara and have both driven frequently directly from the airport in Rome after picking up a rental car the same day as a flight and taken the bus from Tiburtina to Pescara after overnighting in Rome. Either work. It is a lovely drive either way.

Personally, I can't imagine subjecting myself (half that age) let alone an 80-year-old lady to that bus trip with all the connections after a long flight,though, but thats just me.

susoir

This company runs buses directly from Fiumicino airport to Pescara:

http://www.prontobus.com/102007/inde...d=20&Itemid=13

I think a rental car would be more comfortable, but if you decide to use a bus, this one would be easier than getting from the airport to Tiburtina station and then getting a bus from there.

cambee

If we rent a car and get out of the Rome area, could you recommend lodging along the way to Pescara. This would be in case my husband changes his mind about driving all the way to Pescara on arrival day.
I also thought about asking Italian relatives to meet us halfway between Rome and Pescara to drop off Mom. Maybe we could stay overnight in that town.
We also need lodging near the Rome airport the day before we depart. We prefer a clean , nice hotel mid-price.Any recommendations? Thanks again for all your advice!

Gordon_R

Cambee, getting round the GRA is really unavoidable if you're heading for Pescara by road. If you imagine Rome surrounded by the GRA as a clockface, then FCO is at the 9 o'clock position, and you need to get to the A24 road at the 3 o'clock position. I normally take the southern route as the northern one has more roadworks. Generally the traffic is start/stop due to the sheer volume of traffic, exacerbated by the spectacularly bad driving exhibited by some of the locals, but it should not involve being stuck for hours unless you really are unlucky.

If you really are too tired to drive the 3 hours to Pescara on arrival day, you could either stop near the airport or for more atmosphere, how about Tivoli which is a beautiful small town just a few km off the A24, about 30km east of the centre of Rome. Lots to see here, including the famous Villa D'Este and Villa Adriana.

primeranoche

Your 80 year old mother is likely to have a very difficult time negotiating any Italian train transport -- not only the staircases inside the stations you'll need to use, but also getting on and off the train in many stations, where the step up or down from the train carriage and the platform can be extremely steep. One sees very few Italians of 80 using the trains. The same can be true of the stairwells inside Italian long-haul buses, although bus drivers can obviously be helpful with assistance and your mother moving slowly. Still, coaches in Italy often have cramped seating. I wouldn't want to risk that for a 4-hour plus trip.

Nor would I want to risk the GRA after a long flight if you've never driven it. Roman drivers drive close in and fast. I suggest you book a hotel to go to upon arrival, either at the airport or get a private car transfer to a location that allows you to pick up a car after you're all well rested and be on your way.

cambee

Thanks for all the information. I need to decide between whether the bus that goes directly from the Fiumicion airport to Pescara or taking a car and stopping in Tivoli is better idea in our situation. Does anyone know of a car service that may pick-up at the airport and drop off in Pescara? I realize this would be expensive ,but I should look at it as an option.

Ann1

You can contact any of the airport shuttle services. Many of them will transport to other cities. They may not list it on their website so you will need to e-mail or call them. I know many people have listed them on Fodors. One I can think of is www.romeshuttlelimousine.com .

cambee

Thanks for all the information! It looks like relatives will come to Rome on arrival day to pick-up Mother. We will be visiting Pescara at the end of our trip and to pick-up Mother for return trip to U.S..
We are now looking at renting a car in Pescara for 2 or 3 days so we can use it to go back to Rome.We will be arriving by train in Pescara.

Can anyone provide information on the best place to rent a car. We thought Pescara airport, but unsure of distance from train station.

Ann1

On AutoEurope.com they give you a list of spots to pick up the car. Many times they have an agency at the train station. Otherwise ask your family which is closest and take a taxi. Your family may pick you up to take you, also.

That's great that the family is picking your mom up. Very considerate.

cambee

Ann1, thanks for the link. Have you used GPS while in Italy or just rely on good tourist map?

Ann1

I am one of those people who have fun getting lost and have had some of our best experiences and finding the best places that way. No, I don't use GPS......but many people do. I have found mapping on the internet rather than looking at tiny roads on a map good for us. I don't use GPS at home either so I'm not the best to ask I guess.

AutoEurope is good and a lot of people on Fodors use them. They are a consolidator and use Hertz, Avis and Europe Car. It's a company based in the US so if you have a problem, they can help from here. They have a contract with these agencies that you will get a younger car and the insurance is included. Look at their site and if you have questions you can call them. It's a good company.

primeranoche

cambee,

You should arrange for wheelchair assistance for your mother through the Rome airport. If she is a frequent traveler who has recently been through an international airport and tells you she doesn't need it, maybe I wouldn't fight her, but otherwise I would do my utmost to persuade her if she resists. It is a huge busy and poorly laid-out airport, often with long, long waits at passport control and baggage claim.

You might as well get a GPS and if you don't like it, turn it off. I learned to drive in Italy without them so for me it's a distraction but other people swear by them -- and even I always pack mine when I go on the road for back up. Personally, I hate getting lost when I'm behind the wheel.

But you will still need a good map -- and more than just a good "tourist map." You need a Michelin map for precisely the areas you will be driving -- not to look at the roads but to look at what towns lie in the direction of your route so you can follow the signs. (If you are driving from Pescara to Rome, you need to know the major towns between Pescara and Rome because the signs will only point you to the next biggest town, not Rome. That is also true for small towns. If you want to go to Ascoli Piceno from Pescara, you need a map to tell you what towns are in between so you can follow the signs in the right direction, moving from town to town.)