Katerbug

Hi folks. On Sept 28, I'm doing the same thing DVC did back in April; early landing in Rome, then train to Salerno then on to Positano. My question is how much time do we allow for picking up checked bags, clearing customs, and getting over to the Termini station to catch a train to Salerno? Would it be pushing it to catch the 9:45am? The next non-stop is at 11:45am; nothing non-stop in between! Darn. I'm gonna purchase e-tickets in the next week based on your all's input...THX!

Rochelle1

I can't tell you how long it will take. I stayed in Rome for a week before heading to Positano in 2004. I will tell you that it was difficult lugging the luggage onto the train and up and down the stairs in the train stations. Check to make sure that the trains are not striking - they are kind enough to post this info. in advance.We had to adjust our trip accordingly. I can recommend a wonderful hillside villa ( Casa Assunta) that was surprisingly inexpensive/ there are a great deal of stairs, but the view is outstanding. For dinner a must is the shoreside restaurant - Ristorante La Cambusa on Piazza A. Vespucci in Positano - Jionny is an excellent waiter - he even ran to the store to purchase a special request. Tell him some ladies from Texas sent you. We have sent many people his way since our visit. The buses are amazing and we witnessed many close calls, the roads are too narrow for them to pass each other in some parts. We chose to have Claudio Lucibello at tel. 089.873063 pick us up from the train station he is a taxi driver. After that we hired a driver - the driver drove us to Pompeii and after we explored returned us home. Agree on a price before hand - they will quote you a full day price. Enjoy your trip you are in for some beautiful scenery.

ira

Hi K,

>Would it be pushing it to catch the 9:45am?<

I don't know, when will you arrive?

When we arrived at FCO, it took us 3 hr after our flight was scheduled to arrive to get to the head of the tracks at Rome TE.

If you allow for 3 hr, you will not miss your train.

If you are there early, there is a nice self-serve restaurant at Rome TE, where you can have a cuppa and a snack and get into the mood of Italy while waiting for your train.

Have a nice trip.

PalQ

also investigate direct buses that go from FCO direct to Positano at a cost perhaps cheaper than by train and less hassle. A friend reserving a Positano hotel was advised by the hotel to take this bus.

ira

Hi PAL,

I know that that www.marozzivt.it goes from Rome Tiburtina to Positano (some days), but which bus goes from FCO?

PalQ

Well that's the question i don't know the answer to but the hotel told me friend to take it, right from the airport to Positano - i think it may have left only once a day in the morning. But i have no hard info on it. Perhaps it was some kind of mini-bus service but was cheaper than train it seemed and quicker.

PalQ

and maybe my friend had it wrong and he was to take train to Tiburtina and then bus but he said right from airport.

Betsy

PalQ, could you try to get the details on this? I think a lot of people on the board would be interested to know if the possibility of busing from FCO to Positano actually exists.

Katerbug

Sorry ira, etal. I meant to include that! We land at 8:30am from Toronto-where the Air France plane crashed and burned today. No casualties thank G.

Katerbug

Rochelle, we're confirmed at Hotel Palazzo Murat in Positano. Do you know of it? We'll definetly try La Cambusa! (we're from So Cal) I've been emailing Francesco Marrapese the limo driver at the advise of some fodorites. He seems more organized (not cheaper tho) than Renato Cuomo. The hotel has a driver too. I had friends who said they cleared customs in 30 min and were at train station within an hour! So I think I'll take the 11:45am and not worry! We're not too keen on taking the bus.

caroline_edinburgh

This is what I did and would do again.

Get to Termini. Use self-service ticket machine to buy tickets on next convenient train to Salerno (taking into account which ones are faster/slower). Get on train.

Saves stressing over making connections and doesn't cost any more if you're just getting a single.

ira

Hi K,

You will not make the 9:45 from Rome TE if you are arriving at 8:30.

You should make the 11:45 without difficulty.

Katerbug

Thx Ira. That's what I thought. Anyone else out there have current dealings with limo driver Francesco Marrapese? His website is visually nice-cute map of pennisula and a suggested tour he does...