Train reservations Easter week
Nov 18th, 2004, 02:03 PM
#1
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Train reservations Easter week
We are a family of four and will be traveling to Italy arriving at FCO on March 18 and departing March 27. We plan to stay in Rome for our first two nights and then travel to Positano for a week. We will return to Rome on March 26, spend one night and fly home March 27. We have traveled in Italy before but never south of Rome. Ordinarily I would purchase train tickets after we arrived. But given it will be Easter week I am wondering if we should buy our Rome/Positano tickets in advance. I am particularly concerned about the trip from Positano to Rome on March 26 since that is the day before Easter. Thoughts?
Nov 18th, 2004, 02:29 PM
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First of all, read my postings:
"Rome to Positano: the FAST way" and
"Three types of trains between Rome and Naples" (for Salerno you'll use either the Eurostar Italia or the Intercity train, NOT the Diretto train)
Second, I suggest that you purchase your round-trip train tickets Rome Termini/Salerno upon your arrival in Rome on March 18 or 19. That should be sufficient lead time, and moreover, you won't have to worry about buying the ticket for your return on March 26.
Remember that you still need to get to and from FCO, either by train to Termini (an additional fare of 9.50 Euros one way), or by taxi/limosine.
Also, you'll need to use the inexpensive SITA bus from Salerno to Positano (changing buses in Amalfi) in the event that there is no ferry service on March 20th.
As March 26 is a Saturday, you may want to take advantage of the "Sabato di Trenitalia" promotional fare from Salerno to Roma Termini, and travel by FIRST class Eurostar train for a fixed fare of 30 Euros per person (although I should note that the regular second class fare is 25.31 Euros and the regular first class fare is 36.46 Euros, so the savings is not all that significant). You can lock into this rate by internet purchase, or locally when in Rome.
www.trenitalia.com
www.sita-on-line.it
www.salernocity.com (ferry service)
"Rome to Positano: the FAST way" and
"Three types of trains between Rome and Naples" (for Salerno you'll use either the Eurostar Italia or the Intercity train, NOT the Diretto train)
Second, I suggest that you purchase your round-trip train tickets Rome Termini/Salerno upon your arrival in Rome on March 18 or 19. That should be sufficient lead time, and moreover, you won't have to worry about buying the ticket for your return on March 26.
Remember that you still need to get to and from FCO, either by train to Termini (an additional fare of 9.50 Euros one way), or by taxi/limosine.
Also, you'll need to use the inexpensive SITA bus from Salerno to Positano (changing buses in Amalfi) in the event that there is no ferry service on March 20th.
As March 26 is a Saturday, you may want to take advantage of the "Sabato di Trenitalia" promotional fare from Salerno to Roma Termini, and travel by FIRST class Eurostar train for a fixed fare of 30 Euros per person (although I should note that the regular second class fare is 25.31 Euros and the regular first class fare is 36.46 Euros, so the savings is not all that significant). You can lock into this rate by internet purchase, or locally when in Rome.
www.trenitalia.com
www.sita-on-line.it
www.salernocity.com (ferry service)
Nov 18th, 2004, 02:40 PM
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On Saturday, March 26th, you could save still more money by taking the direct Intercity (IC) train from Salerno to Rome for 15 Euros in FIRST CLASS (Saturday promotional fare).
The most likely IC train you would want to take departs from Salerno at 15:43, and takes no longer to reach Rome Termini than does the Eurostar train, which costs twice as much. This way, you save 60 Euros on the return trip, and can still travel in style. Bear in mind, however, that this particular IC train originates in Palermo and Siracusa, so it could be running late by the time it reaches Salerno. You would only take this train if you have seat reservations.
The most likely IC train you would want to take departs from Salerno at 15:43, and takes no longer to reach Rome Termini than does the Eurostar train, which costs twice as much. This way, you save 60 Euros on the return trip, and can still travel in style. Bear in mind, however, that this particular IC train originates in Palermo and Siracusa, so it could be running late by the time it reaches Salerno. You would only take this train if you have seat reservations.
Nov 19th, 2004, 07:27 AM
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Let's say you purchase the "Sabato di Trenitalia" promotional fare of 15 Euros, first or second class, for the Intercity (IC) train departing Salerno for Rome Termini at 15:43, only to find out on the afternoon of departure that the train (which originates in Sicily) is running 3 hours late!
What are your options?
At the Salerno train station, you can EXCHANGE your promotional fare tickets for new tickets for a different train (e.g. the train leaving at 14:21 or 16:22, both of which require a connection in Naples), simply by paying the DIFFERENCE between the promotional fare you've already paid (15 Euros) and the regular fare for the newly selected train. The exchange MUST be made at least ONE HOUR PRIOR to the scheduled departure time of your original train, i.e. no later than 14:43.
Something to bear in mind in case you're seriously considering the "Sabato di Trenitalia" promotional fare of 15 Euros for the IC train.
Remember too that you can travel on the Eurostar Italia (ES) train on Saturday for a fixed promotional fare of 30 Euros (although this represents less of a discount over the regular ES fare). There are more ES trains than IC trains to choose from between Salerno and Rome Termini.
www.trenitalia.com
What are your options?
At the Salerno train station, you can EXCHANGE your promotional fare tickets for new tickets for a different train (e.g. the train leaving at 14:21 or 16:22, both of which require a connection in Naples), simply by paying the DIFFERENCE between the promotional fare you've already paid (15 Euros) and the regular fare for the newly selected train. The exchange MUST be made at least ONE HOUR PRIOR to the scheduled departure time of your original train, i.e. no later than 14:43.
Something to bear in mind in case you're seriously considering the "Sabato di Trenitalia" promotional fare of 15 Euros for the IC train.
Remember too that you can travel on the Eurostar Italia (ES) train on Saturday for a fixed promotional fare of 30 Euros (although this represents less of a discount over the regular ES fare). There are more ES trains than IC trains to choose from between Salerno and Rome Termini.
www.trenitalia.com
Nov 19th, 2004, 10:18 AM
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Thank you very much GAC. Since both our travel days are Saturdays, I think we will probably go the 15Euros IC train route. I looked at the www.salernocity.com website and it does not appear to report times for departures after September, 2004. If we take the 11:45 a.m. train from Rome to Salerno, we arrive about 2:15. Assuming no bad weather cancellations, does the 3:30 p.m. ferry usually run in March? If it does, I gather it's the last one of the day? If we don't catch it, it looks like the Sita bus. We are renting an apartment in Positano and I don't yet know when or where we are to meet whomever will be giving us the key. I hope all this won't be a problem.
Thank you again for your help.
Thank you again for your help.
Nov 22nd, 2004, 01:53 PM
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I don't know whether the ferries from Salerno to Positano will be running in late March. This is still winter season. As you will be travelling on a Saturday, I would guess so, but you'll need to re-check the website during the spring to re-confirm availability and departure times.
Nevertheless, you can count on the SITA bus service, which requires a layover/bus change in Amalfi of as much as 45 minutes (great for a gelato, a coffee, or to visit the beautiful cathedral). The total bus fare from Salerno to Positano is 1.80 (to Amalfi) plus 1.30 Euros, and travel time is 2 hours, excluding the layover.
You should also remember that you could get off the train at Napoli Centrale (sooner than Salerno), and take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento (65 mins., service every 30 mins, fare 3.15 Euros), from where you catch the SITA bus to Positano (50 mins., service hourly, fare 1.30 Euros).
Connecting in Naples rather than Salerno will actually be faster if the ferries to Positano are not running. Nevertheless, some travellers prefer the connection in Salerno in order to experience nearly the full length of the Amalfi Drive by bus.
Nevertheless, you can count on the SITA bus service, which requires a layover/bus change in Amalfi of as much as 45 minutes (great for a gelato, a coffee, or to visit the beautiful cathedral). The total bus fare from Salerno to Positano is 1.80 (to Amalfi) plus 1.30 Euros, and travel time is 2 hours, excluding the layover.
You should also remember that you could get off the train at Napoli Centrale (sooner than Salerno), and take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento (65 mins., service every 30 mins, fare 3.15 Euros), from where you catch the SITA bus to Positano (50 mins., service hourly, fare 1.30 Euros).
Connecting in Naples rather than Salerno will actually be faster if the ferries to Positano are not running. Nevertheless, some travellers prefer the connection in Salerno in order to experience nearly the full length of the Amalfi Drive by bus.
