Six week Dream Trip Italy Need help w train or good travel agent
 

Hi all-
I really thought I could plan this trip on my own - but finding out specifics about train travel is a big issue - can't book room if I don't know when or how I'll get to city.

Must arrive at Sinalunga train station on Saturday the 8th to begin 3-weeks working at a vineyard - but after days searching through train websites trying to find out how to get to Sinalunga from Rome - or possibly Venice - I'm totally frustrated.

I'll SEND A GREAT BOTTLE OF ITALIAN WINE TO ANYONE WHO CAN WALK ME THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF TRAIN TRAVEL FROM ROME TO SINALUNA + AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE THERE FROM VENICE...and Sinaluna to Amalfi..

Would also love some feedback on possible itineraries. Open to different routes, cities, other hotels, B+B, etc, input on need for car, or any other suggestions.

ITINERARY #1
-NY-ROME-SINALUGA (Tuscany:Venice/Flore/Siena) -AMALFI COAST - NY
SEPT 1st :Fly NY to ROME: spend week at Hotell Navona ($1374 for 7-nights...unless you know something I don't). SEPT 8: Take train to Sinaluga for 3 weeks working at vineyard (Spending weekends traveling through TUSCANY by train on for over-nights in Venice, Sienna + Florence ...unless that's to ambitious?). Sept 28th: Take Train to AMALFI COAST (afterthought - never been. Know I have to take train to Naples and then find train to get there (haven't a clue) Spend 1 week in Postano at Palazzo Talama ($1300- looks to0 good to be true)

ITINERARY #2 - (Start from Venice (in north, before it gets too cold)+ Skip Amalfi Coast)
NY-VENICE-SINAGULA(Tuscany: Florence/Siena) - ROME (with day trips) - NY

ITINERARY #3 - NY-VENICE-SINAGULA (Tuscany) - ROME - AMALFI COAST - NY

I can deal with finding out that the order of my itinerary was not the best, and that I could have found better, more practical, better located places to stay - But I have to know the specifics of train travel from Rome or Venice to Singula, and then Singula to Amalfi Coast - because if I'm off my lodging reservation will be messed up, and may have unexpected travel expense that I can't afford.

I've gone to the websites of the 2 train systems, but in the date - but nothing comes up - can't read the timetable and don't understand the how to make connections - or the best way. 50+ woman, lone traveler - will be lugging a suitcase and computer and overnight bag. If a bus is easier - I'm game.

Need to book my air by Monday or my vouchers expire...need to confirm space at B+B or hotel before I book air - so I need to have the specifics of the travel by train down pat.

Can anyone out there guide me through the train portion of the trip?
Input on which itinerary is the most realistic would also be appreciated.

Thanks for your help!
Nicole

Saturday the 8th of what?

I assume it's the 8th of September. Trenitalia says Rome to Chiusi, then Chiusi to Sinalunga. Total trip anywhere from 2.5 to a little over 3 hours. Says one segment of the trip can't be purchased in advance (I'm guessing that's the Chiusi to Sinalunga segment). Doesn't look complicated.

You might want to work with a knowledgable travel agent. You can find one at: www.asta.org/

Check under "Find A Travel Agent".

Looks pretty straightforward from Venice, too - you change in Chiusi. Total trip is 5-6 hours from Venice, though.

Sinalunga is available by train. It is on the Chiusi -Siena line. From Rome Termini you take a Regionale and or an Intercity train heading toward Firenze and in about 2.5 hours you reach the Chiusi-Chianciano Terme stazione.
Here you connect ( change trains ) to an intercity train towards Siena and in less than 30minutes you reach Sinalunga.
I had no trouble on the Trenitalia site looking up this information, but it will only allow you to search for trains that are less than 90 days out.
You should have no problem buying tickets for this when you arrrive in Rome from a ticket agent or ticket machine.
The fare that was quoted was 17.00 Euro to Chiusi and 3.70 Euro to Sinalungan 2d class.
Hope this helps.

joe, I plugged in September 8 2012 as the date and Trenitalia came right up with all the information. Maybe you're thinking of the French SNCF site?

Ah yes,You can now get all the summer train schedules as they have loaded it all in the system, but you may not be able to purchase until 90 days out.
I will wave to you on 8 Sept as our party of 4 will be boarding at Chiusi after dropping our rental car off and heading up to Firenze for a few days.
We will be ending our week at Vivo D'Orcia and continuing to Firenze and finally Venice.
Enjoy!

Part of the problem could be that Trenitalia doesn't recognize/interpret typos.

SINALUNGA

http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html

If you choose the itinerary that includes the Amalfi Coast, you would train to Naples (use above link) and then from the Naples train station take a commuter train (different train company downstairs) to Sorrento where you would take a bus or ferry to Positano. Here's the link to the Naples-Sorrento commuter train:

http://www.vesuviana.com/web/en/Orari

And a link to bus and ferry timetables:

http://www.amalficoastweb.com/amalfi...s_ferries.html

Just got my Mac back and found all of your responses - Thanks so much! I was sent an email with the incorrect spelling of Sinalunga, so that could have been why nothing was coming up.

Anyone have any thought on the order of my itinerary? I was considering starting with a week in Rome before going to Sinaluga area to spend 3-weeks working on a vineyard. Since will have 2-days off each week I thought I'd do bus or train trips to Sienna, Florence and Venice for overnite stays. Didn't realize that Venice was 6-hours north.

Now I'm wondering if I should fly into Venice for a few days, then head south to Sinaluga for the 3-weeks (with over-nights in Sienna and Florence) - and then finish up with a week in Rome.

George Clooney aside, the Amalfi Coast has great appeal - but my fear is I'll book a place in an area that isn't central or not easy to get around. Then there's the fact that Naples is the train hub to get to the coast, and I'd have to double back to fly home to NYC. (No non-stops from Naples, but I can live with that) Also, since I'll be in Naples twice, perhaps I should consider spending less time on coast on few days in city?

I plan on working, as usually, thru this trip. Every B+B and even the vineyard says they have WiFi, and I have my iPad 4G services for backup. The reality is, if I can't get email service and place or received the occasional call (without clients knowing I'm overseas) I'm in deep trouble. But if there are no hitching with the WiFi and phone service - I could extend my trip.
Problem is I have to book my air by May 11 - I have voucher that will expire if I don't book by next Friday.
Anyone have any experience with phone or internet/email services in Italy?

I've got Tuscany covered from Sept 8-Sep 29, but not sure what order to put Rome and Venice in - and if the Amalfi coast via Naples is pushing it.

Does anyone have any suggestions about my itinerary, order of cities - or how long or where to stay?

Thanks again!

What's your budget for hotels?
Flying into Venice first for a few days sounds good as it is a bit far for a short weekend trip from Sinaluga. Weekend trips to Florence and Siena should be fine.

Don't know your budget but last year we stayed at the Locanda Orseolo and LOVED it. Super lovely and helpful people run it, lovely old Venice decor, great breakfast and great location close to San Marco. In spite of being so close to San Marco the hotel was nice and quiet as it is kind of tucked away. If you splurge on a water taxi from the airport it will take you right to the hotel and they have this cool "water door" to give you access to the hotel.
If you take public transit it isn't terribly far to walk from the vaporetto stop.

If I were you I'd start with Venice and end either with Rome or the Amalfi coast. If you want to see both Rome and the Amalfi,then go to Rome after your vineyard stint and then take the train from Rome to Naples and from Naples take the Circumvesuviana train or the ferry to the Amalfi coast.
On the Amalfi if you are worried about being central you could always stay in Sorrento which makes it easy to get back to Naples to fly back home to NYC. ( Sorrento is not technically on the Amalfi coast but close enough for access to all the things you might want to do there.)

I am going to the Amalfi coast in early Oct. and breaking the trip up between Minori and Sorrento. In Sorrento we are staying at the Hotel Mediterraneo.

Re: your reference to George Clooney, I think his house is in Lake Como which is in the north of Italy.

Perhaps you could start in Venice, then Tuscany, then the train to Salerno and the public bus to Positano, and then head to Rome through Salerno to end your trip. This would eliminate having to go through Naples.

I was having trouble as well...hired RoninRome. HUGE ...help.He help with planning, lodging, and trains . Check out his site.
Good luck. Julie

Yes, tink yo uare confused about Clooney. His villa is near Lake Como in the far north of Italy - nowhere near the Amalfi Coast.

Agree to go to Venice first - other wise it wil be hard to fit into the trip. For the Amalfi area I would stay in Sorrento (we do) since travel from there is easier - by train, ferry or bus down along the coast.

As for places to stay - you really need to provide a specific budget in euros.